This is a special episode of the GovClose podcast. We're bringing interviews people in the government contracting space that are generating real results .

This footage was shot live from the GovClose workshop and inner circle event.

If you're interested in government contracting as a career or a business, this is the episode for you.

If you want to learn more about the GovClose program and see if you're a fit, head over to govclose.com, watch the overview video, and schedule a call with our advisory team.

https://www.govclose.com

Start Your GovCon Career: https://www.govclose.comMost government contractors are searching SAM.gov and missing the majority of opportunities.

In this session, I walk through the One Nation Innovation marketplace. Marketplaces like ONI are being used at an increasing rate, and it's good to know where to find and how to use the marketplaces that are alternatives to SAM.gov. I also cover why I no longer pay for government contracting research tools, how to use the MITRE consortium list to find the right OTA pathway for your technology, and how to talk to a contracting officer about an upcoming recompete (a question from one of our recent GovClose coaching calls with Harold).If you're selling innovative tech, prototypes, or services to the federal government — especially DoD — this is the workflow I use every day.⏱ TIMESTAMPS00:00 - Why SAM.gov isn't enough anymore00:50 - Vetting One Nation Innovation: is this marketplace real?02:53 - Inside an O&I challenge: USSF Go Coliseum & scoring rubrics05:02 - Why I stopped paying for government contracting tools06:40 - Tony's story: from Marine Corps to GovClose member08:08 - SAM.gov contract awards search (the new FPDS replacement)09:30 - Finding OTA awards by awardee — the trick most people miss10:45 - The history of OTA: from the Space Race to the Department of War13:40 - How to verify a consortium is actually awarding contracts15:21 - Tom Clancy's question: do you need a relationship to win an OTA?19:30 - Pulling all OTA awards from the past 90 days22:09 - Tom's follow-up: are O&I OTAs required to be listed on SAM?23:09 - Finding more consortiums: the MITRE list method27:07 - DIU and the three currently open OTA pathways29:13 - Project Titan Core: modular data centers for AI compute32:22 - Harold's question: how to ask a CO about an upcoming recompete35:53 - Why upselling existing customers is the best government sales play39:25 - GovClose graduate results: real outcomes from the program📊 RESOURCES MENTIONED- SAM.gov Contract Awards & Other Transactions search- onenationinnovation.org- USAspending.gov- MITRE OTA Consortium list (Google: "OTA consortium list")- DIU open solicitations- GAO reports on OTA and AI🎓 ABOUT GOVCLOSEGovClose is the certification and training program I built after 20 years as an Air Force acquisitions officer managing $82B+ in federal contracts. Our graduates land consulting clients, account executive roles, and high-ticket federal contracts.👉 Learn more: GovClose.com🤝 Match with a certified consultant: Match.GovClose.com#GovernmentContracting #SAMgov #OTA #OtherTransactionAuthority #FederalContracts #DoDContracts #SBIR #DefenseInnovation #DIU #FederalSales #GovCon #ConsultingBusiness #VeteranOwnedBusiness #SmallBusinessGovernment #DefenseTech

SAM.gov is the new master database for federal contract research.If you're still searching for FPDS.gov, you're being redirected to SAM.gov — and honestly, it's WAY better. In this comprehensive tutorial, I'll show you exactly how to use SAM.gov to search past contract awards, find upcoming opportunities BEFORE solicitations drop, automate your searches, and discover OTA (Other Transaction Authority) awards worth billions.

Check out the GovClose certification program: https://www.govclose.comWhether you're a small business owner, sales executive, or government contracting consultant, mastering SAM.gov is NON-NEGOTIABLE. This is where ALL federal contract data lives — and it's 100% free.What You'll Learn:✅ How to search contract awards by product service code, NAICS code, and keywords✅ The critical difference between Contract Awards and Contract Opportunities✅ How to find Sources Sought notices (opportunities BEFORE the RFP)✅ Setting up automated searches and email notifications✅ Discovering OTA awards (including $3B+ Golden Dome contracts)✅ Competition analysis: How many offers were received on contracts✅ Small business set-aside researchStop paying for third-party tools until you master the free source. SAM.gov pulls data that powers EVERY paid government contracting platform. Learn it first.Want the GovClose Certification Program? 400+ graduates, $800K–$1M annual revenue, proven track record. Learn more: https://www.govclose.comCHAPTERS:00:00 – FPDS is Dead: SAM.gov Takes Over00:57 – What is SAM.gov? Registration, Opportunities & Awards02:24 – Why You MUST Be Logged In (Unlike FPDS)03:11 – Why Search Past Contract Awards?04:03 – Navigating to Contract Awards Section04:41 – Filtering by Date: Past Day, Week, or Month05:20 – Understanding Contract Details: Obligated vs Total Value06:09 – Competition Analysis: How Many Offers Were Received?07:13 – Product Service Codes vs NAICS Codes Explained08:08 – Searching IT & Telecom Data Center Contracts08:35 – GovClose Graduate Success Story: Harold Kwegyir15:09 – Filtering by Set-Aside Type (Small Business)16:14 – Small Business Participation Rates: The 23% Standard18:04 – Case Study: Department of Justice Contract Deep Dive20:08 – Clearing Filters to Start Fresh Searches20:55 – Keyword Search: Augmented Reality Contracts23:16 – Understanding Competition Data on Awards23:33 – Switching to Contract Opportunities (Pre-Solicitation)24:18 – Sources Sought Notices: Your Early Entry Point26:18 – Setting Up Saved Searches for Virtual Reality27:26 – Automated Email Notifications for New Opportunities28:06 – Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Awards Revealed29:35 – OTA Case Study: Golden Dome ($3B+ in Awards)30:25 – Final Takeaway: Master SAM.gov Before Paying for Tools

Connect with Rick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/govclose/HASHTAGS:#SAMgov #GovernmentContracting #FPDS #SmallBusiness #FederalContracts #SBIR #OTA #DefenseContracting #GovClose #FederalSales #B2G #ContractAwards #SourcesSought #SDVOSBusiness #VeteranOwnedBusiness #FederalProcurement #USASpending #ContractResearch #SmallBusinessSetAside #GovernmentBids