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GovClose | Start Winning Government Contracts

Richard C. Howard
Government Contracting
Government Contracts
Sam.gov
Department Of Defense
Govclose
Consulting
Consulting Business
Proposal Writing
Small Business
Small Businesses
US Government
GSA
Government Procurement
Govclose Certification Program
Cybersecurity
Federal Agencies
Federal Contracts
Lead Generation
Small Business Administration
Veterans

The single biggest purchaser of goods and services in the world is the US government. Learn the step by step process of winning government contracts from former procurement officer Lt Col (ret) Richard C. Howard. We cover: sam.gov, Other Transaction Authority (OTA), GSA, government contracting leads, small business, subcontracts, GWACS, sole source contracts, federal certifications including: 8(a)... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes176Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for GovClose

Latest Episodes

Get the GovClose Certification: www.govclose.com/sales-certification Our students learn the government contracting skills to :1. Start their own consulting business that can earn up to $400k as a "solopreneur" advising businesses that sell to... more

Get the GovClose Certification: www.govclose.com/sales-certification Our students learn the government contracting skills to :1. Start their own consulting business that can earn up to $400k as a "solopreneur" advising businesses that sell to... more

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 inte... more

Start Your GovCon Career: 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 us... more

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Recent Guests

Bill Vear
GovClose participant, experienced government contractor
GovClose member
Episode: Will AI Replace Government Contractors in 2026?
Harold QuaGova
President & CEO of GovA Solutions; GovClose program participant
GovA Solutions
Episode: Subcontracting and Consulting Revenue From Government Contracts
Louis Orndorff
Retired Air Force Colonel; founder of Orndorff Consulting
Orndorff Consulting
Episode: Subcontracting and Consulting Revenue From Government Contracts
Tony Friel
Former Marine Corps and Navy contracting veteran, GovClose participant
GovClose
Episode: The $25M Contracts You'll Never Find on SAM.gov
Mike Knickerbocker
Naval officer approaching retirement with multiple government contracts
Independent contractor
Episode: The $25M Contracts You'll Never Find on SAM.gov
Harold Kwegyir
President and CEO of GovSolutions, AI product for SharePoint, CMMC Consulting
GovSolutions
Episode: Sam.gov New Features Replace $20K in Paid Tools
Andy Main
Retired professional MMA fighter and tech CEO with a focus on military technology solutions.
ROE Defense
Episode: GovCon Business Advice from UFC Fighter Andy Main
Zach Selch
International sales expert, coach, and speaker
Global Sales Mentor
Episode: International & Foreign Military Sales
Forrest Underwood
Former Special Operations pilot and Chief of Joint Investment Strategies for the Undersecretary of Defense
Undersecretary of Defense
Episode: Forrest Underwood: The Future of Defense Contracting

Hosts

Rick Howard
Host of GovClose program and founder, GovClose; experienced government contract acquisitions professional with a focus on training and coaching.
Richard C. Howard
Host and former government acquisitions officer; senior figure in GovClose, focusing on procurement processes and training.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 124 ratings
  • The best government contracting podcast!

    Rick’s experience as a government contract acquisitions officer, as well as selling to the government and training sales teams shines in this pod. There’s a lot of noise and misinformation out there. This is a trusted source to get real information on how to settle the government and what’s going on in the federal acquisitions landscape.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Data B
    United States7 months ago
  • Maximizing Profitability

    Focused episodes on maximizing profitability in government contracts guide listeners through financial optimization strategies.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    baranvictoe006
    United States2 years ago
  • Top-Notch Training Programs

    DOD Contract Academy offers top-notch training programs. Exceptional instructors, relevant content, and great support. Highly recommend for government contract professionals.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nkawasqke36
    United States2 years ago
  • Diverse Topics, Singular Quality

    Each episode, regardless of the topic, maintains a high standard of quality. The diversity of subjects covered keeps the podcast fresh and interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mandalnamita670
    United States2 years ago
  • Expert Advice, Easily Accessible

    This podcast is a standout resource for anyone interested in government contracts. The episode 'Picking A Conference To Win Government Contracts' was eye-opening, offering specific, actionable advice that's hard to find elsewhere. Howard's expertise makes complex topics accessible and engaging. Highly recommended for both novices and seasoned professionals.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    malsuvendu423
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality, practical GovCon insights with actionable steps
Hosts translate complex rules into usable tactics for winning bids
Production quality and interview style are consistently strong
Content stays relevant with timely GovCon updates and strategies
Guests are credible, with real-world government contracting experience

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will AI Replace Government Contractors in 2026?
Q: Will AI replace government contracting consultants, account executives, BD proposal writers, all of the above?
No, because AI alone cannot capture the nuance, relationships, and human judgments needed to win complex government contracts; the best results come from a combination of strong prompts and proven processes.
No One Says 'I Want to be a Government Contractor'
Q: What do you like about government contracting?
I love that it's very strategic and I can think about what motivates a customer and how to outmaneuver competitors.
How to Actually Grow Your Business With Government Contracts in 2026 | GovClose Q&A
Q: How applicable are sites like that, like HireGov and others for consulting shops versus an industry?
It really depends on how you're helping clients and what tools you are using for opportunity searches.
How to Actually Grow Your Business With Government Contracts in 2026 | GovClose Q&A
Q: For subcontracting under primes, do we keep the same agency focus and prioritize the opportunity?
It depends on whether you have past performance in an agency and if you can find opportunities early by reaching out to the office and primes.
The Right Way to Use Small Business Certifications
Q: Is the 8A program going away?
No, the 8A program is not going away, but it may become harder to use and experience more scrutiny.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About GovClose

What is GovClose about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical deep-dive into winning government contracts, with emphasis on SAM.gov, OTA (Other Transaction Authority), and the federal procurement process. Listeners usually learn how to find opportunities beyond core portals, build relationships with contracting officers and program managers, and leverage GovClose's training to win multi-six- to seven-figure contracts. The show stands out for translating complex regulations into actionable steps, featuring guests with military and government contracting backgrounds, and for its clear framework around targeting, market research, and programmatic roadmaps that help listeners scale a GovCon practice.

Where can I find podcast stats for GovClose?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for GovClose. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to GovClose and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does GovClose get?

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What are the audience demographics for GovClose?

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How many subscribers and views does GovClose have?

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Which podcasts are similar to GovClose?

These podcasts share a similar audience with GovClose:

1. Govcon Giants
2. Winning Government Contracts
3. The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Deep Dives with Chris Koerner
4. My First Million
5. BigDeal

How many episodes of GovClose are there?

GovClose launched 5 years ago and published 176 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact GovClose?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for GovClose?

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What guests have appeared on GovClose?

Recent guests on GovClose include:

1. Bill Vear
2. Harold QuaGova
3. Louis Orndorff
4. Tony Friel
5. Mike Knickerbocker
6. Harold Kwegyir
7. Andy Main
8. Zach Selch

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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