Insider knowledge


One of the primes I work with has a director that is good friends with the client.

The client feeds information about problems or issues back to the prime before it gets escalated, allowing them to prepare for or address it before hand.

Is this shady?

No. These are the informal channels of communication you can open up if you have good relationships.

I only know about this because I met with the prime program manager for drinks, so now I have my own information source.

If you establish positive relationships with key people, you can get "insider knowledge" that can help you land 1099 gigs.


If you're interested in learning how to get your first solo 1099 federal sub-contract, check out my book:

Going 1099: How to become a solo federal sub-contractor and gain control of your working life, earn more money and unlock more free time

I'm Dale, the author of Going 1099

Going 1099 is a book that teaches you how to become a solo federal sub-contractor and gain control of your working life, earn more money and unlock more free time. I wrote it because quite a few people have asked me how they can become a 1099. I figured it was best to write a single book that I can send them and that I can share with others who are interested. This newsletter goes out Monday - Friday and covers topics that will help you succeed in starting and maintaining successful 1099 career.

Read more from I'm Dale, the author of Going 1099

When a prime calls and asks for your helpSource I switched projects over a year ago, and the prime hired someone for my position. The prime PM called me recently and mentioned that their employee wasn't performing well on a project that I had worked on and asked if I would be interested in coming back. Now, I had already worked on this project as a sub/1099 so I don't have to negotiate that part. However, they only have four months left on the contract and need to make their client happy, so...

The prime PM when I pitch $1,000/hourSource It's normal to worry about coming in too high in a billable rate negotiation. There is some risk that you'll throw out a number that is too far away from a realistic number for the prime. But, if you take some precautions this risk is low. Here is what you can do to avoid that situation: Let the prime offer the first number. They will probably be on the low end but at least you'll know whether you're $10/hour apart or $60/hour Do your research. You...

Don't let this happen to you!Source One of the concerns I had when going 1099 was managing my security clearance. Specifically, I was worried it would expire and without a company to "hold" it, I wouldn't be able to get it back. This is a legitimate concern, so you should be particularly diligent about it. A few points on this: Make sure the prime (or at least one prime) "owns" your clearance profile in DISS Build a good relationship with the FSO Keep tabs on when you need to submit for a...