https://simplecast.com The Lion's Table Welcome to The Lion’s Table, where real conversations meet real opportunity. Hosted by Scott and April Gaeta, two seasoned insiders in the government contracting world, this podcast pulls back the curtain on how small businesses can win big in public sector work, without selling their soul to bureaucracy. Each episode serves up honest, digestible insights on navigating RFPs, decoding public spending, and structuring your business for long-term sustainability. Whether you’re a founder with a dream, a $15M contractor looking to diversify, or still scribbling your business plan on a napkin, you’ve got a seat at the table. We’re not here to gatekeep. We’re here to feed families, build legacies, and teach you how to do the work yourself. No jargon. No fluff. Just decades of experience, stories that stick, and tactical advice you can act on today. Pull up a chair. Let’s talk shop. 2025 The Lion's Table and 9/8 Central en Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000 Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:00:16 +0000 https://the-lions-table.simplecast.com The Lion's Table https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/5ebaf1dd-2480-4ea0-8544-a9ad0071bf94/04074c1c-07f9-47cb-b499-c43fd20706cf/3000x3000/podcast-20thumbnail.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://the-lions-table.simplecast.com episodic Welcome to The Lion’s Table, where real conversations meet real opportunity. Hosted by Scott and April Gaeta, two seasoned insiders in the government contracting world, this podcast pulls back the curtain on how small businesses can win big in public sector work, without selling their soul to bureaucracy. Each episode serves up honest, digestible insights on navigating RFPs, decoding public spending, and structuring your business for long-term sustainability. Whether you’re a founder with a dream, a $15M contractor looking to diversify, or still scribbling your business plan on a napkin, you’ve got a seat at the table. We’re not here to gatekeep. We’re here to feed families, build legacies, and teach you how to do the work yourself. No jargon. No fluff. Just decades of experience, stories that stick, and tactical advice you can act on today. Pull up a chair. Let’s talk shop. Lion National Corporation false https://feeds.simplecast.com/mAnO5EGZ government contracting 9/8 Central admin@98c.org 27670999-9e19-45a4-a1d9-755b94d8afe2 How Cooperative Purchasing Helps Public Agencies Buy Smarter, Faster, and Cheaper What if public agencies could skip the long bid cycle and still buy ethically and competitively?

 

In this episode of The Lion’s Table, April and Scott Gaeta sit down with Rex Robbins from OMNIA Partners—the largest cooperative purchasing organization in the U.S.—to explain how co-ops streamline the procurement process for schools, municipalities, and nonprofits.

 

You’ll learn:

--> How cooperative contracts are competitively bid on the front end

--> Why public agencies turn to OMNIA when timing and transparency matter

--> How vendors benefit from pre-approved pricing and faster project starts

--> The truth about compliance, documentation, and ethical procurement

 

They also discuss what suppliers need to understand about cooperative agreements, including how to position themselves for selection and why co-op membership is growing across the country.

 

If you’ve ever wondered how to get in front of more public buyers—or how your agency can accelerate procurement without cutting corners—this conversation is a masterclass in modern public-sector strategy.

Learn more about government contracting and your business at https://www.lionnational.com/

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000 admin@98c.org (9/8 Central) https://the-lions-table.simplecast.com/episodes/how-cooperative-purchasing-helps-public-agencies-buy-smarter-faster-and-cheaper-T8U2eO2T What if public agencies could skip the long bid cycle and still buy ethically and competitively?

 

In this episode of The Lion’s Table, April and Scott Gaeta sit down with Rex Robbins from OMNIA Partners—the largest cooperative purchasing organization in the U.S.—to explain how co-ops streamline the procurement process for schools, municipalities, and nonprofits.

 

You’ll learn:

--> How cooperative contracts are competitively bid on the front end

--> Why public agencies turn to OMNIA when timing and transparency matter

--> How vendors benefit from pre-approved pricing and faster project starts

--> The truth about compliance, documentation, and ethical procurement

 

They also discuss what suppliers need to understand about cooperative agreements, including how to position themselves for selection and why co-op membership is growing across the country.

 

If you’ve ever wondered how to get in front of more public buyers—or how your agency can accelerate procurement without cutting corners—this conversation is a masterclass in modern public-sector strategy.

Learn more about government contracting and your business at https://www.lionnational.com/

]]> How Cooperative Purchasing Helps Public Agencies Buy Smarter, Faster, and Cheaper 9/8 Central 00:36:40 What if public agencies could skip the long bid cycle and still buy ethically and competitively? In this episode of The Lion’s Table, April and Scott Gaeta sit down with Rex Robbins from OMNIA Partners—the largest cooperative purchasing organization in the U.S.—to explain how co-ops streamline the procurement process for schools, municipalities, and nonprofits. You’ll learn: --> How cooperative contracts are competitively bid on the front end --> Why public agencies turn to OMNIA when timing and transparency matter --> How vendors benefit from pre-approved pricing and faster project starts --> The truth about compliance, documentation, and ethical procurement They also discuss what suppliers need to understand about cooperative agreements, including how to position themselves for selection and why co-op membership is growing across the country. If you’ve ever wondered how to get in front of more public buyers—or how your agency can accelerate procurement without cutting corners—this conversation is a masterclass in modern public-sector strategy. What if public agencies could skip the long bid cycle and still buy ethically and competitively? In this episode of The Lion’s Table, April and Scott Gaeta sit down with Rex Robbins from OMNIA Partners—the largest cooperative purchasing organization in the U.S.—to explain how co-ops streamline the procurement process for schools, municipalities, and nonprofits. You’ll learn: --> How cooperative contracts are competitively bid on the front end --> Why public agencies turn to OMNIA when timing and transparency matter --> How vendors benefit from pre-approved pricing and faster project starts --> The truth about compliance, documentation, and ethical procurement They also discuss what suppliers need to understand about cooperative agreements, including how to position themselves for selection and why co-op membership is growing across the country. If you’ve ever wondered how to get in front of more public buyers—or how your agency can accelerate procurement without cutting corners—this conversation is a masterclass in modern public-sector strategy. false full 7 381247ad-d4e6-49f6-baef-1806a1aa9a1e The Government Contracting Roadmap: Finding Federal Opportunities and Navigating SAM.gov Most small businesses give up on government contracting before they even start. Why? Because the process looks too complicated, too exclusive, or too risky.

 

In this episode, April and Scott Gaeta get into the nuts and bolts of navigating SAM.gov and leveraging the power of the tool to find and vet opportunities. They provide practical, simplified steps and teach you how to:

 

--> Find relevant opportunities and determine viability

--> Read an RFP without getting overwhelmed

--> Research entities, incumbent contracts, federal wage rate requirements, and more

--> Why 150-page RFPs are mostly boilerplate (and what really matters)

 

If you've visited SAM.gov and immediately felt lost, this episode gives you the clarity and checklist to start strong.

Learn more about government contracting and your business at https://www.lionnational.com/

]]> Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000 admin@98c.org (9/8 Central) https://the-lions-table.simplecast.com/episodes/the-government-contracting-roadmap-what-to-know-before-you-bid-qzmX9d2_ Most small businesses give up on government contracting before they even start. Why? Because the process looks too complicated, too exclusive, or too risky.

 

In this episode, April and Scott Gaeta get into the nuts and bolts of navigating SAM.gov and leveraging the power of the tool to find and vet opportunities. They provide practical, simplified steps and teach you how to:

 

--> Find relevant opportunities and determine viability

--> Read an RFP without getting overwhelmed

--> Research entities, incumbent contracts, federal wage rate requirements, and more

--> Why 150-page RFPs are mostly boilerplate (and what really matters)

 

If you've visited SAM.gov and immediately felt lost, this episode gives you the clarity and checklist to start strong.

Learn more about government contracting and your business at https://www.lionnational.com/

]]> The Government Contracting Roadmap: Finding Federal Opportunities and Navigating SAM.gov 9/8 Central 00:19:05 Most small businesses give up on government contracting before they even start. Why? Because the process looks too complicated, too exclusive, or too risky. In this episode, April and Scott Gaeta get into the nuts and bolts of navigating SAM.gov and leveraging the power of the tool to find and vet opportunities. They provide practical, simplified steps and teach you how to: --> Find relevant opportunities and determine viability --> Read an RFP without getting overwhelmed --> Research entities, incumbent contracts, federal wage rate requirements, and more --> Why 150-page RFPs are mostly boilerplate (and what really matters) If you've visited SAM.gov and immediately felt lost, this episode gives you the clarity and checklist to start strong. Most small businesses give up on government contracting before they even start. Why? Because the process looks too complicated, too exclusive, or too risky. In this episode, April and Scott Gaeta get into the nuts and bolts of navigating SAM.gov and leveraging the power of the tool to find and vet opportunities. They provide practical, simplified steps and teach you how to: --> Find relevant opportunities and determine viability --> Read an RFP without getting overwhelmed --> Research entities, incumbent contracts, federal wage rate requirements, and more --> Why 150-page RFPs are mostly boilerplate (and what really matters) If you've visited SAM.gov and immediately felt lost, this episode gives you the clarity and checklist to start strong. false full 6 ab62d0fc-0bec-4ce4-85af-d78275b94591 What Actually Wins Contracts: Certifications, Capability Statements & Partnering In this episode, April and Scott are joined by Jamie Bratten, Founder and President of EZGovOpps. Together, they explore how small businesses can use certifications, capability statements, and strategic partnerships to succeed in government contracting. Jamie shares lessons learned from his own journey, offering practical advice on navigating cooperative purchasing and building strong relationships in the public sector.

Learn more about government contracting and your business at https://www.lionnational.com/

]]> Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000 admin@98c.org (9/8 Central) https://the-lions-table.simplecast.com/episodes/what-actually-wins-contracts-certifications-capability-statements-partnering-xi6kjpa5-A0SlLyF8 In this episode, April and Scott are joined by Jamie Bratten, Founder and President of EZGovOpps. Together, they explore how small businesses can use certifications, capability statements, and strategic partnerships to succeed in government contracting. Jamie shares lessons learned from his own journey, offering practical advice on navigating cooperative purchasing and building strong relationships in the public sector.

Learn more about government contracting and your business at https://www.lionnational.com/

]]> What Actually Wins Contracts: Certifications, Capability Statements & Partnering 9/8 Central 00:56:55 In this episode, April and Scott are joined by Jamie Bratten, Founder and President of EZGovOpps. Together, they explore how small businesses can use certifications, capability statements, and strategic partnerships to succeed in government contracting. Jamie shares lessons learned from his own journey, offering practical advice on navigating cooperative purchasing and building strong relationships in the public sector. In this episode, April and Scott are joined by Jamie Bratten, Founder and President of EZGovOpps. Together, they explore how small businesses can use certifications, capability statements, and strategic partnerships to succeed in government contracting. Jamie shares lessons learned from his own journey, offering practical advice on navigating cooperative purchasing and building strong relationships in the public sector. false full 5 c9c7cc97-f816-40ca-b2e4-5eb882c74d99 Start Here: The First 4 Steps to Government Contracting In this episode, we’re diving into what it really looks like to get started in government contracting. If you’ve ever thought, “I want to go after government work but don’t know where to begin,” this one’s for you.

We’re walking through the essentials: like registering on SAM.gov (yes, it’s clunky, but we’ve got your back), picking your NAICS codes, and crafting a capability statement that makes decision-makers actually want to work with you.

We also open up about certifications: woman-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone, and the powerful 8(a) program — and why they’re not just nice to have, they can actually open doors to sole source contracts and serious growth.

But more than all that? We talk about relationships. Networking. Being bold enough to reach out, show up, and follow up. That’s where the magic happens.

Whether you’re brand new to this world or already working in the private sector and ready to expand, we want to help you take those first steps. And if this episode gives you an aha moment or sparks a question, reach out! We’d love to hear what you’re working on and help however we can.

Let’s go after those contracts. Together.

Learn more about government contracting and your business at https://www.lionnational.com/

]]> Tue, 1 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000 admin@98c.org (9/8 Central) https://the-lions-table.simplecast.com/episodes/start-here-the-first-4-steps-to-government-contracting-lDxSZ9Kk In this episode, we’re diving into what it really looks like to get started in government contracting. If you’ve ever thought, “I want to go after government work but don’t know where to begin,” this one’s for you.

We’re walking through the essentials: like registering on SAM.gov (yes, it’s clunky, but we’ve got your back), picking your NAICS codes, and crafting a capability statement that makes decision-makers actually want to work with you.

We also open up about certifications: woman-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone, and the powerful 8(a) program — and why they’re not just nice to have, they can actually open doors to sole source contracts and serious growth.

But more than all that? We talk about relationships. Networking. Being bold enough to reach out, show up, and follow up. That’s where the magic happens.

Whether you’re brand new to this world or already working in the private sector and ready to expand, we want to help you take those first steps. And if this episode gives you an aha moment or sparks a question, reach out! We’d love to hear what you’re working on and help however we can.

Let’s go after those contracts. Together.

Learn more about government contracting and your business at https://www.lionnational.com/

]]> Start Here: The First 4 Steps to Government Contracting 9/8 Central 00:44:46 If you're looking to get started with government contracting, this is the must-listen episode! We're walking through the exact steps to register your business, identify the right NAICS codes, develop a capability statement, and begin building the relationships that drive contract opportunities. This episode is a blueprint for becoming contract-ready and confident. If you're looking to get started with government contracting, this is the must-listen episode! We're walking through the exact steps to register your business, identify the right NAICS codes, develop a capability statement, and begin building the relationships that drive contract opportunities. This episode is a blueprint for becoming contract-ready and confident. false full 4 e5913a8b-bc7a-4edd-b53e-492926137fb9 Government Contracting 101: What It Is and Why Your Business Should Care Tue, 17 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000 admin@98c.org (9/8 Central) https://the-lions-table.simplecast.com/episodes/government-contracting-101-what-it-is-and-why-your-business-should-care-RFv4eSPw Government Contracting 101: What It Is and Why Your Business Should Care 9/8 Central 00:33:47 In this episode, we break down what government contracting really is—beyond the jargon and confusion—and explain who it’s for, why it matters, and how to get started. April and Scott walk through real examples, clarify common misconceptions, and share why now is the time to pay attention to this space. In this episode, we break down what government contracting really is—beyond the jargon and confusion—and explain who it’s for, why it matters, and how to get started. April and Scott walk through real examples, clarify common misconceptions, and share why now is the time to pay attention to this space. false full 2 51580ebd-4efa-457b-9ef2-3b671d5c7860 Why Government Contracting Should Be on Your Radar Tue, 3 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000 admin@98c.org (9/8 Central) https://the-lions-table.simplecast.com/episodes/why-government-contracting-should-be-on-your-radar-8IHFsNqQ Why Government Contracting Should Be on Your Radar 9/8 Central 00:13:28 "In our very first episode, we’re pulling up a chair and laying the foundation. April and Scott—co-founders of Lion National—share who this podcast is for, why government contracting should be on your radar, and how even the smallest business can access real, sustainable growth in this space. From common misconceptions to the big-picture “why” behind what we do, this episode sets the tone for what’s to come: clear guidance, real stories, and the tools to help you confidently navigate the government marketplace." "In our very first episode, we’re pulling up a chair and laying the foundation. April and Scott—co-founders of Lion National—share who this podcast is for, why government contracting should be on your radar, and how even the smallest business can access real, sustainable growth in this space. From common misconceptions to the big-picture “why” behind what we do, this episode sets the tone for what’s to come: clear guidance, real stories, and the tools to help you confidently navigate the government marketplace." false full 1 c4935274-a71e-4228-8440-faa7335ec6a5 TRAILER: The Lion's Table Mon, 19 May 2025 20:35:26 +0000 admin@98c.org (9/8 Central) https://the-lions-table.simplecast.com/episodes/trailer-the-lions-table-6OyT7eyv TRAILER: The Lion's Table 9/8 Central 00:01:14 Welcome to The Lion’s Table, where real conversations meet real opportunity. Hosted by Scott and April Gaeta, two seasoned insiders in the government contracting world, this podcast pulls back the curtain on how small businesses can win big in public sector work, without selling their soul to bureaucracy. Each episode serves up honest, digestible insights on navigating RFPs, decoding public spending, and structuring your business for long-term sustainability. Whether you’re a founder with a dream, a $15M contractor looking to diversify, or still scribbling your business plan on a napkin, you’ve got a seat at the table. We’re not here to gatekeep. We’re here to feed families, build legacies, and teach you how to do the work yourself. No jargon. No fluff. Just decades of experience, stories that stick, and tactical advice you can act on today. Pull up a chair. Let’s talk shop. Welcome to The Lion’s Table, where real conversations meet real opportunity. Hosted by Scott and April Gaeta, two seasoned insiders in the government contracting world, this podcast pulls back the curtain on how small businesses can win big in public sector work, without selling their soul to bureaucracy. Each episode serves up honest, digestible insights on navigating RFPs, decoding public spending, and structuring your business for long-term sustainability. Whether you’re a founder with a dream, a $15M contractor looking to diversify, or still scribbling your business plan on a napkin, you’ve got a seat at the table. We’re not here to gatekeep. We’re here to feed families, build legacies, and teach you how to do the work yourself. No jargon. No fluff. Just decades of experience, stories that stick, and tactical advice you can act on today. Pull up a chair. Let’s talk shop. false full 0