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The Optimize Podcast

The Optimize Podcast

Written by: VisibleThread
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 The Optimize Podcast brought to you by VisibleThread. We bring you the best and latest insights for everything from government contracting on topics such as BD, capture, proposal management, and business writing.2023 - VisibleThread Economics Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • If Your Name Isn’t on the Board, Leave- Integrity - First Source Selections

    If Your Name Isn’t on the Board, Leave- Integrity - First Source Selections
    Jan 21 2026

    In this episode of Optimize, host Chris Hamm sits down with Lisa Grant, a veteran acquisition leader whose career spans mission-critical federal contracting and senior procurement leadership, including serving as Deputy Clerk and Chief Procurement Officer for the U.S. House. Lisa walks through the experiences that shaped her leadership style, from high-tempo environments where timelines and consequences are real, to complex procurements that draw intense scrutiny.

    A central thread of the conversation is procurement integrity, not as a buzzword, but as a set of deliberate behaviors and guardrails. Lisa shares a standout behind-the-scenes moment from a high-profile source selection when unlisted attendees began piling into the room and how she enforced the structure so the process stayed fair, credible, and defensible.

    Lisa also explains the practical mechanics that protect trust: disciplined communications, clear roles, visible processes, and the leadership backbone to hold the line even when senior stakeholders want updates. The episode closes with hard-earned advice on reputation, trust, and leaving every job with integrity.
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    54 mins
  • The Answer Can’t Be No - Inside Real Acquisition Reform

    The Answer Can’t Be No - Inside Real Acquisition Reform
    Jan 7 2026

    In this episode of Optimize, host Chris Hamm sits down with Soraya Correa—former Chief Procurement Officer and Senior Procurement Executive at the Department of Homeland Security—to get specific about what it actually takes to modernize acquisition from the inside. Soraya walks through her career path across procurement and program leadership, then explains how she launched the DHS Procurement Innovation Lab by focusing on speed, outcomes, and the flexibilities already available “within the four corners of the FAR.”

    They dig into what “top cover” looks like in practice: letting contracting officers try new approaches, learning from failure, and sharing repeatable playbooks across government. Soraya also addresses the risk environment leaders face today—and why she believes the acquisition workforce (not legislation) drives the most meaningful reform.

    Finally, Soraya shares what she’s building now as CEO of the National Industries for the Blind (NIB)—supporting the AbilityOne ecosystem, expanding services like closeout support, and creating real economic independence for Americans who are blind or visually impaired.

    Useful timestamps (MM:SS)

    00:04 — Welcome + why Soraya’s DHS acquisition role mattered

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    00:59 — Soraya’s career path: contract specialist → CPO (and why it took 40 years)

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    03:35 — Moving to the program side: learning IT and building acquisition muscle

    07:32 — The Procurement Innovation Lab origin story: “I didn’t ask for permission”

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    09:47 — Starting with closeouts: removing friction and cleaning up the backlog

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    10:40 — “Show me” evaluations: using practical tests (including “bad code”) to assess vendors

    12:10 — Coalition of the willing: sharing playbooks across agencies (and why reform starts with practitioners)

    14:20 — Do leaders still provide “top cover” for innovation in 2026?

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    17:50 — “The answer can’t be no”: partnering with political leadership, legal, IT, and CFO

    21:52 — The most unexpected DHS buy (and what it taught her about mission support)

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    25:00 — What NIB does: AbilityOne, Skillcraft, and building employment pathways

    29:14 — Marketing services like closeouts and accessibility at scale

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    32:01 — Wrap-up and where to connect
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    34 mins
  • Protests, Production OTs, and SBIR Mills: A Candid Look at DoD Acquisition

    Protests, Production OTs, and SBIR Mills: A Candid Look at DoD Acquisition
    Dec 17 2025
    In this episode of the Optimize Podcast, host Chris Hamm sits down with David Rothzeid — Principal at Shield Capital, U.S. Air Force reservist, and former acquisition lead at Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) — for a candid look at how protests, OTAs, and SBIR policy really shape DoD innovation.David walks through his journey from ROTC and early Air Force contracting roles to DIU, where he helped stand up the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) model and use Other Transaction Authority (OTAs) to pull non-traditional tech companies into defense. He explains how a high-profile production OT for Raincloud was protested and sustained on a “ticky-tacky” issue — and how that single GAO decision effectively froze enthusiasm for production OTs and hurt both the company and the mission.Chris and David then connect that experience to today’s landscape: new “speed of delivery first” guidance from the Secretary, the FORGE and SPEED Acts, and why schedule — not cost or performance — must become the sacred variable for defense acquisition.In the second half, David talks about leaving active duty to join Shield Capital, what he actually does as a venture investor for dual-use startups, and why he’s been pushing hard on SBIR/STTR reform to shut down “SBIR mills” that live off endless grants with no commercialization intent. He shares his work supporting the INNOVATE Act, his view of how SBIR should work, and how he helps founders decide when (and when not) to pursue DoD.They close with a lighter segment on Sweat Equity, David’s early-morning workout and networking group on the National Mall — a healthier, more human way for the national security community to connect.In this episode, you’ll learn:How OTAs evolved from NASA’s early days to DIU’s CSO model — and why their flexibility and collaborative nature matter so much.What actually happened in the Raincloud protest, why GAO sustained it, and how it chilled production OT usage across DoD.Why protests and cultural risk aversion make it harder for leaders to override decisions, even when they believe they were right.How new guidance and legislation aim to make speed of delivery the primary success metric for defense acquisition.What “SBIR mills” are, why David calls them exploitative, and how the INNOVATE Act could reset incentives toward commercialization.How a national-security-focused VC like Shield Capital works with startups on capability gaps, GTM strategy, and when to tackle DoD.Why leaving uniform actually made it easier for David to engage Congress and senior leaders on acquisition reform.The story behind Sweat Equity and why he thinks we need new ways to build community in the defense innovation ecosystem.Timestamps (approximate)00:00 – 04:10 – Meet David Rothzeid: ROTC, discovering acquisition, early Air Force contracting roles, and the road to DIU.04:10 – 08:10 – Joining DIU, DIUX 2.0, and the push for new authorities like OTAs and CSOs.08:10 – 12:30 – OTAs 101: NASA origins, DARPA, codifying prototype authority, and why DIU built the CSO process.12:30 – 16:30 – “Being right but early is the same as being wrong”: institutional pushback, being called a heretic, and the Raincloud production OT.16:30 – 20:30 – The Oracle protest, GAO’s decision, and how one sustained protest killed momentum for production OTs.20:30 – 24:30 – Secretary’s memo, FORGE/SPEED Acts, and elevating schedule over cost and performance.24:30 – 28:30 – Leaving active duty for Shield Capital, staying in the reserves, and discovering how accessible Congress and senior leaders can be.28:30 – 32:30 – SBIR/STTR, SBIR mills, the INNOVATE Act, and why perpetual grants are “asinine.”32:30 – 35:30 – What David actually does as a VC for founders: government translator, strategy coach, and talent advisor.35:30 – 36:30 – Sweat Equity workouts and closing thoughts.Resources & links🔗 Optimize Podcast hub: https://www.visiblethread.com/podcasts/🔗 Connect with host Chris Hamm on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hamm-304103/🔗 Connect with guest David Rothzeid on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-rothzeid-7a116961
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    36 mins
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