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In this episode of The Optimize Podcast, we sit down with Harrison Smith, a seasoned leader in federal acquisition innovation. Smith recounts his journey from a Presidential Management Fellow to leading digitalization efforts at the IRS and acting as an Innovation Advocate at the FDIC. The conversation centers on a shocking reality: the high cost of government "silence." Smith explains how complex, 80-page RFPs act as a financial barrier that drives away small businesses and startups, often costing companies $25,000 per page to respond. He provides a blueprint for change through the Pilot IRS program, which utilized 12-page solicitations and oral pitches to award contracts for cutting-edge tech in record time.
Topics Discussed:
The Path of an Innovation Advocate: Moving from traditional NAVSEA contracting to innovation roles at DHS, IRS, and FDIC.
The "Wired" Procurement Myth: How a lack of government communication is interpreted by industry as a pre-selected award, leading firms to abandon bids.
The Pilot IRS Model: Using 12-page solicitations and a 35-day cycle to ingest paper tax returns and de-anonymize cryptocurrency.
The $25,000 Page: Unpacking the real-world cost of solicitation complexity for industry partners.
CMMC & The "Last Mile" of Security: Navigating the friction between innovation and the looming November 2026 CMMC Level 2 requirements.
Incentivizing Federal Risk: How industry recognition (like Fed100 awards) encourages government personnel to prioritize mission outcomes over paperwork.
Useful Timestamps:
01:11 – Career Evolution: From PMF to FDIC Innovation Advocate.
08:12 – The "Wired" Misconception: Why silence breeds industry distrust.
12:15 – Understanding "P-Win" and Industry Gate Reviews.
17:00 – The "Pilot IRS" Blueprint: Awarding contracts in 35 days.
23:23 – The $25,000 Page: The actual cost of GovCon complexity.
32:08 – Security vs. Innovation: CMMC Level 2 and FedRAMP challenges.
38:00 – Offsetting Risk: Recognizing government innovators.
Additional Links:
VisibleThread Podcasts: https://www.visiblethread.com/podcasts/
Chris Hamm (Host) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hamm-304103/
Harrison Smith (Guest) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrison-smith-0029ba4/
