This site is for contractors who:
- Are new to federal government contracting and need to know where to start
- Have won (or are about to win) a government contract
- Are confused by FAR clauses, packaging rules, inspections, or invoicing
- Want to stay compliant, not just get awarded
- Are tired of advice that disappears once the paperwork is signed
If you’ve ever thought “I wish someone would just explain how this actually works”, then you’re in the right place.
Most GovCon resources focus on getting registered or getting awarded.
Very few stick around to explain:
- How to actually perform the contract
- What compliance looks like in practice
- How to handle inspections, audits, packaging, and invoicing
- Who to contact when something goes wrong
- How to avoid small mistakes that turn into big problems
That gap is the Rabbit Hole and this site exists to light it up.
On this site, you’ll find:
- Plain-English explanations of FAR and contract requirements
- Step-by-step breakdowns of packaging, inspection, and invoicing processes
- Realistic guidance on compliance, audits, and performance issues
- Practical advice for navigating government points of contact
- Articles written from the perspective of working the contract — not selling dreams
This is not theory.
This is what happens after the award notice.
Hello and welcome. My name is Valerie and I have been in Federal Government Contracting since 2006.
I fell into this world back in 2006 with the DoD and US Navy, knowing nothing and armed only with curiosity. With the help of mentors at DCMA Atlanta, NAVSUP, and others, I learned the ropes—bidding, awards, inspections, invoicing, audits—all centered on one truth: give them what they want.
I have seen a lot of changes take place during my tenure. Government systems have come and gone, rules and regulations have evolved, and the workforce has changed rapidly.
If you are just getting into contracting, luckily for you, there is more information available out there to learn from and utilize then when I started so many years ago.
My goal is to help in any small way that I can. It is my hope, that I can breakdown the complex information into easier understood ‘tidbits’ and to help any potential readers avoid undue frustrations.
I have the knowledge and experiences that I have acquired through my years working on the Industry side as an OEM, as a manufacturer, as a distributor, the services industry, and now in the construction industry. I also have formal training in Federal Contracts Management.
This blog is my way of giving back. Here you’ll find clear, practical insights that simplify the complexities of government contracting, especially in the military supply chain, written in plain English for contractors, suppliers, and curious minds alike.