OCI has significantly improved our Quality Assurance (QA) capability by deploying an automated system called Vista Survey by Vanguard.  Noted as the most powerful survey tool on the market, OCI has been using this tool for the past five months to monitor and improve the placement and work of our consultants.  Companies such as Starbucks, Deloitte, Cisco and NASA are also use Vista. 

After the end of each assignment our HR team sends out the automated surveys. Customers can easily complete the survey in about 40 seconds. We’ve had some customers return the survey in less than a minute!

When the survey comes back, it is automatically distributed for review and filed.  This process has brought us into better contact with our customers and consultants. By analyzing the results we are able to improve the work of our consultants and the relationships with our customers. It provides detailed insight into the particulars of each task and occasionally, we get surprises that can then be constructively addressed.  As a result of this overall process, we can improve the service provided to each company as time passes. 

Daniela Guillen joined OCI as a Recruiting and Marketing Associate on April 15. Prior to joining OCI, she worked at two top public relations firms in Washington D.C., GYMR and Edelman. While at Edelman she successfully developed targeted communications for international clients; led social media projects through Twitter and Facebook; performed media analysis and effectively positioned clients in the media. She also helped the government run successful health marketing campaigns.

Daniela will assist the company by recruiting and qualifying consultants and expanding OCI’s e-marketing program. She completed a B.S. degree in Business Communications at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Spriggs Consulting Services, a trusted partner to OCI, will be offering a free government contracts seminar on June 15th, from 9AM to 4PM, at the Wingate Hotel in Fredericksburg, VA. The topic of the seminar will be “Changes, Terminations, and Subcontracting”. The seminar will be led by Bill Spriggs. Bill has over 40 years of hands-on experience with changes, terminations, subcontracting, negotiations and dispute avoidance and resolution.

Subjects covered will include:

• How the changes and terminations clauses interrelate and interact
• Importance of changes clause in terminations for default and terminations for convenience
• Types of changes, what to do about them and when they are excusable causes in default cases
• When and how changes come into play in terminations for convenience
• Application of FAR Part 31 cost principles to changes and terminations
• Changes in commercial contracts under FAR Part 12
• Beware the termination for convenience clause in commercial contracts under FAR Part 12
• How to prepare, submit and settle changes and termination for convenience proposals
• The 14 steps to a negotiated settlement without litigation
• How changes, terminations and disputes should be handled in subcontracts
• What law applies to subcontracts and which clauses flow down to subcontractors
• How to write subcontract changes, termination and disputes clauses
• Pass through agreements and sponsorship of proposals
• When and how a request for equitable adjustment becomes a claim
• How to avoid disputes and litigation over changes and terminations

All government and industry personnel dealing with contracts should attend. The seminar is free to all government and industry registrants. To register, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please register by June 6th to ensure a seat at the seminar. 

When the appropriations bill is finally passed, we believe the flood-gates will open for procurements.  Our best guess is appropriations will be finalized by late April. Since May is typically the busiest month of the year for proposals, we expect this May to be an extremely fast month. We believe May will be so busy that proposal talent will be quickly taken off of the market, and the consultant bench will be thin everywhere.

We want to provide the most responsive possible service to all of our customers.  If you have programs on the horizon and anticipate the need of additional support, please provide us as much advance notice as possible. Giving us advanced notice will help ensure that you will receive the best talent to meet your requirements at the best possible rates.