by Linda Rawson | Aug 6, 2025 | Artificial Intelligence, Federal Government Contracting
At DynaGrace Enterprises, we believe that clarity is the cornerstone of ethical contracting. As President, I’ve seen how vague language, misaligned expectations, and rushed scopes can derail even the most promising projects.
Technology moves fast. Contracts must move with intention. — Linda Rawson
Clarity in contracts means:
- Defining deliverables with precision
- Aligning scope with mission
- Embedding ethical boundaries and feedback loops
- Ensuring all parties understand their role in the system’s impact
We use the Soulprint Framework to guide our approach:
- We begin with intention
- We protect stakeholders through clear terms
- We reflect shared values in every clause
- We evolve agreements to meet real-world needs
- We tell stories that empower—not confuse
Why It Matters
In federal contracting, clarity isn’t just operational—it’s energetic. It sets the tone for collaboration, trust, and transformation.
Whether we’re building AI systems, deploying cloud solutions, or crafting public-facing platforms, our contracts must be as thoughtful as our technology.
A contract is a container. What we put inside it shapes the future. — Linda Rawson
Our Commitment
At DynaGrace, we don’t just sign contracts—we shape them. We work with agencies and partners to ensure every agreement is clear, conscious, and aligned with purpose.
Let’s lead with clarity. Let’s contract with care.
🔗 Learn more at https://dynagrace.com
Listen to the Podcast at: https://govcon-biz.com/episodes/
by Linda Rawson | Apr 9, 2019 | Air Quality, Federal Government Contracting
GSA Schedule 66 Announcement
DynaGrace Enterprises, a WOSB, professional services company has been awarded the GSA Schedule 66 – Scientific Equipment and Services Schedule Contract. The first women-owned firm in Utah to be a vendor on that prestigious GSA schedule.
It’s more than DUST. The employee who works in a dusty environment is exposed to a deadlier form of dust, silica. The average person is also exposed to a massive amount of air pollution that you can see with the human eye. DynaGrace Enterprises helps people breathe cleaner air by providing products and services for monitoring respirable dust particles and visible emissions.
“This federal government contracting vehicle enables us to reach more occupational health and safety managers as well as those agencies concerned with worker safety and air quality regulation and compliance, “ stated Linda Rawson, President, and Founder of DynaGrace Enterprises.
The arduous process of getting the prestigious GSA schedule was made easier by utilizing the State of Utah’s, Governor’s Office of Economic Development program of offering a referral to LSI’s GSA consulting assistance from PTAC. Linda Rawson states, “LSI was another member of our team, and I consulted with them often to ensure I was answering the questions appropriately.”
The respirable dust products surround the Nanozen DustCount 8899, a real-time, wearable, respirable dust monitor. Instantaneous reporting makes compliance with OSHA Respirable Crystalline Silica
Master Sgt. Donnie Bogan saws cutting lines in concrete, licensed under the terms of the United States Government Work.
standard easy. The Nanozen DustCount 8899, a real-time, wearable, respirable dust monitor detects air particulates down to a microscopic level in real-time.
OSHA has recently changed the Respirable Crystalline Silica Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) to 50 mg/m3 for 8 hours and the Action Limit to 25 mg/m3. Employers need to evaluate and control the exposure limit for their employees.
One way to do that is to have a worker wear the DustCount, for 8 hours and obtain the Total Weight Average (TWA). The rugged DustCount fits into a vest pocket or clips on a belt. The results can be analyzed real-time and downloaded at the end of the shift. The filter is then sent to an AIHA approved lab to be analyzed for silica levels.
The second product line surrounds visible emissions and offers a Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) called Digital Opacity Compliance System (DOCS) by Virtual Technology LLC out of Arizona. The system can determine plume opacity from smoke, soot, and visible dust. Some of these are necessary, but the software helps determine how much is too much. The software ensures EPA Method 9 compliance and EPA Method 22 for the frequency of emissions.
Scientific professional services are also available including Data Security Analyst, Software Systems Engineer, Technical Writing and Editing, Technical Support and Visible Emission Consulting.
Linda Rawson passionately says “Let’s face it. We don’t want anybody years from now spitting a piece of their lung on the sidewalk from silicosis. We are deeply concerned about the air quality of the nation. We are concerned with the air people breathe both at work and in their daily lives and want to make sure the air is safer.”
Customers can learn more about DynaGrace Enterprises by visiting the company’s website at DynaGrace.com or by calling the company directly at 888-676-0058. DynaGrace Enterprises will be at the AIHA conference in the Nanozen booth #1502.
Read the official press release here -> DynaGrace Enterprises Awarded the GSA Schedule 66 – Scientific Equipment and Services
by Linda Rawson | May 24, 2018 | Federal Government Contracting, General
DynaGrace Enterprises is one of the most recent beneficiaries of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce (USWCC) Federal: Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Certification. DynaGrace Enterprises’s President and CEO, Linda Rawson and Vice President, Jennifer Remund accepted the award from the USWCC. Under Margot Dorfman’s leadership, the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce is an approved 3rd Party Certifier for the federal government Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program as authorized by section 811 of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000, Public Law 106-554 (15 U.S. C. 637(m)).
The USWCC is the leading advocate for women on economic and leadership issues.
Margot Dorfman, CEO, USWCC
As the economic leader for women, the USWCC creates opportunities, drives progress, advocates, and provides tools and solutions. By doing these amazing things they support the economic growth of women across America. The USWCC (uswcc.org) is a not-for-profit 501(c)6 organization founded in 2001 with over 500,000 members; its headquarters are in Washington, D.C.
DynaGrace Enterprises was an SBA self-certified, EDWOSB but chose to obtain additional certification to support the USWCC.
Also, the USWCC are bringing three significant issues to the forefront for EDWOSB’s performing government work. Those issues are:
- Adding a sole source in alignment with other socioeconomic programs
- Removing the Contracting Officer’s obligation to verify the validity of self-certification
- Holding agency leaders accountable for using the program.
“It is a great privilege to be not only a rural business, but a women-owned, family business, and we are excited to utilize programs like the USWCC EDWOSB program to obtain more work to provide jobs,” stated Linda Rawson, President, and CEO of DynaGrace Enterprises. “DynaGrace Enterprises has been heavily involved in Department of Defense work and is moving full forward in obtaining more government contracts. The government is providing the mechanism, socioeconomic set-asides, additional insight, and resources needed to acquire government contracts which in turn provide jobs. The EDWOSB opportunity is a win-win for our small business.”
Groups, like the USWCC, are making a difference.
Furthermore, their lawsuit compelled the SBA to implement the Equity in Contracting for Women Act of 2000. The federal government is failing. They are not meeting the 5% goal and women-owned firms have lost over $120 Billion in contracting dollars.
As of today, the Small Business Dashboard shows some 4.08% which is one percent lower than the required spend of 5%.
Furthermore, with only four months to go in the fiscal year the government is in the final stretch. As a result, the anticipated WOSB set-asides should increase.
DynaGrace Enterprises is a 100% Women-Owned Small Business and provides Information Technology, System Integration, Writing and Business services, quality products and innovative solutions for government and commercial businesses of all sizes.
Customers can learn more about DynaGrace Enterprises by visiting the company’s website at DynaGrace.com or by calling the company directly at 888-676-0058.
by Machelle | Jan 29, 2018 | Business, Federal Government Contracting, General
Introduction—what is the General Services Administration?
The General Services Administration (GSA) is an executive agency of the US government responsible for managing equipment and property. It was established in 1949 and was tasked with the mandate of purchasing and distributing supplies to all government agencies. This includes maintaining supplies of important materials. Among its functions, the GSA oversees the construction of government buildings. As well as maintaining the various computers and communication devices used by the Federal Government.
Historical perspective of the GSA
July 1, 1949, saw the birth of the GSA. This was made possible by the US President, Harry Truman. Truman created and established the agency to streamline the tedious and administrative work of the Federal Government. The creation of the GSA saw the consolidation of various agencies of government into one federal agency. This included: Public Building Administration, National Archives Establishment, the Office of Contract Settlement, the Bureau of Federal Supply, the federal Work Agency and the War Asset Administration.
GSA Events from the 1950s to 1960s
As the GSA took charge of government daily administrative needs, it ramped up its efforts in the 1950s by overhauling the White House. It was an effort to restructure and reorient the internal administrative affairs of the government towards achieving good service delivery and thorough maintenance. Thus, the GSA engaged in emergency preparedness by stockpiling materials that will be used in war times. The GSA retained various emergency and management functions that weren’t overhauled until they were later handed over to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 1979.
A government-wide intercity system—the Federal Telecommunication System–was created by the GSA in 1960. The problem of obsolete office buildings was addressed in 1962. The Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Office Space recommended a major new building program for better offices in Washington DC. That led to the construction of most of the office buildings that now dominate Independence Avenue.
Further events in the 1970s to 1980s
After the major progress made in the 1960s, President Nixon came onboard. In 1970, his administration created the Consumer Product Information Coordinating Center, which later became the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC). The body was responsible for the distribution of millions of consumer information publications from its facility located in Pueblo, Colorado.
Source: Canva (DynaGrace Enterprises Machelle L)
The Federal Buildings Fund was established, in 1971. It became operational in 1974 after the GSA gave out its rent bills for the first time to federal agencies. The GSA continues to deliver on its powers. In 1972, it established the Automated Data and Telecommunications Service. After 10 years, it later transformed into the Office of Information Resources Management.
The GSA also Created the Office of Federal Management Policy in 1973, and in 1978. It centralizes procurement policy through its Office of Acquisition Policy.
After the GSA introduced the use of charge cards to the federal government in 1984, with over 3 million cardholders on its Smartpay Program, the GSA opened its first ever child care center in 1987. The body now manages over 110 federal child care facilities covering over 8,000 children across the country.
GSA performance in the modern era
In 1994, the GSA through its Public Building Service introduced the Designed Excellence Program. This was in order to guide its selection of engineers and architects for major government projects. The Courthouse Management Group formed by the GSA in 1995 duly managed courthouse constructions.
Since the year 2000, GSA showed they embraced new technology and innovations like the internet for effective running of government activities. The GSA uses the internet to aid the administration of President George W. Bush in 2001, 2007 and 2009, under subsequent administrations. Also in line with global trends.
The year 2010 and 2013 saw the GSA completing over 500 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects across all 50 states, as well as increased IT spending. The GSA also introduced lots of initiative programs from 2011 to 2017. Such as the Technology Transformation Services, which is consolidating the efforts of the agency towards technology.
The GSA has been a remarkable government agency that covers the national administrative life of the US government.
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Linda Rawson is the CEO, and Founder of DynaGrace Enterprises, (http://DynaGrace.com) which is a Women-Owned, 8(a) Minority, Small Business. She is also the author of The Minority and Women-Owned Small Business Guide to Government Contracts.
Resource: http://www.gsa.gov, http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/richard-m-nixon, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009, https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/technology-transformation-services
Image Resource: Featured Image Source: Cliff via Flickr, Pres. Harry S. Truman by Edmonston Studio – The Library of Congress (http://loc.gov) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman#/media/File:Harry_S_Truman,_bw_half-length_photo_portrait,_facing_front,_1945-crop.jpg,
by Machelle | Jan 15, 2018 | Federal Government Contracting, General
What is FEMA?
FEMA which stands for Federal Emergency Management Agency is an independent agency created to respond to, plan for, recover from, and mitigate against disaster—natural or man-made. In any in part of the country of the United States. The agency is tasked with the mandate to report to the president. Also to suggests ways to arrest or resolve emergency issues.
When was the FEMA created?
The origin of FEMA as an agency can be traced to the congressional Act of 1803. It was the first Act that considers legislation on disaster because it gave assistance to a town in New Hampshire which suffered from extensive fire damage. However, the century that precedes 1803 saw an Ad Hoc legislation that passed over 100 times as a response to earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and such other natural disasters.
A further historical perspective of FEMA
During the 1930s, the federal government started to approach the problems of natural disasters, and such concern became popular. Consequently, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation was given the green light to make disaster loans. This consisted of the repair and reconstruction of certain public facilities, in the aftermath of an earthquake, and followed by other types of disasters.
In 1934, authority was given to the Bureau of Public Roads to fund the reconstruction of highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters. Another Act known as the Flood Control Act was passed. It gave the US Army Corps of Engineers extensive authority to implement flood control projects. However, there were some lapses and problems plaguing the effective utilization of this piecemeal approach. It calls for the need for a legislation to enhance greater cooperation between government agencies.
Massive disasters were recorded in the 1960s and early 1970s, which led to the formation of the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration. It is an agency established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). However, the impact of other natural disasters such as the hurricane Carla in 1962, the San Fernando earthquake in 1971 and hurricane Agnes in 1972, led to more agitation for a better agency. There were calls to decrease the numbers of agencies task with disaster management, President Jimmy Carter was asked to centralize federal emergency functions. These led to an executive order in 1979 creating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The first director of FEMA was John Macy.
The mission of the agency
FEMA’s mission is to support first responders and citizen of the United States. To help build and improve the capability to prepare for, respond to, protect against, recover from and mitigate all forms of hazards.
FEMA’s performance today
Source: U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Alexis Velez Hurricane Maria
FEMA, still operating within the Department of Home Land Security, has been very active in coordinating the federal government response to natural and man-made disasters. Since its inception, the agency has been of great help to local and state government in tackling various hazards. Although FEMA has undergone lots of changes to increase its effectiveness, the Government Accountability Office is still recording lapses in the agency’s overall performance.
Linda Rawson is the CEO, and Founder of DynaGrace Enterprises, (http://DynaGrace.com) which is a Women-Owned, 8(a) Minority, Small Business. She is also the author of The Minority and Women-Owned Small Business Guide to Government Contracts.
Resource: https://www.fema.gov/about-agency
Image Resource: Featured Image https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FEMA_logo.svg, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USGS_-_1971_San_Fernando_earthquake_-_Collapse_of_Veterans_Hospital_buildings_1_and_2.jpg, https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/09/25/federal-agencies-continue-hurricane-maria-response-and-relief-operations
by Linda Rawson | Aug 14, 2017 | Cybersecurity, Federal Government Contracting
What does NIST SP 800-171 mean?
NIST SP 800-171
As a small business in the Department of Defense (DoD) Government Contracting realm we do have cybersecurity experience. We have done the DoD Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process (DIACAP) which has now been transitioned to the Risk Management Framework (RMF). RMF is a six-step process developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to apply risk management to Information Systems.
RMF Certification. Very time consuming and costly. My employees have been great to work through all the necessary paperwork with patience and expertise to get this certification for the Information Systems they are responsible for.
Last week, I met with Adam Austin, Reggie Hall, and Alli Bey of Haight Bey, Engineering and Security Solutions who started to put a small fear into my soul. They informed me that a little over a year ago a revision to the DoD Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) contained some new cybersecurity requirements for DoD contractors who process unclassified information. The final document is the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Nonfederal Information Systems and Organizations.
If you are a government contractor, failure to meet these requirements will result in the loss of your contracts because the confidentiality of CUI in non-federal systems is now being mandated.
The requirements in DFARS clause 252.204-7008 are:
(b) The security requirements required by contract clause 252.204-7012, shall be implemented for all covered defense information on all covered contractor information systems that support the performance of this contract.
(c) For covered contractor information systems that are not part of an information technology service or system operated on behalf of the Government (see 252.204-7012(b)(2)) –
(1) By submission of this offer, the Offeror represents that it will implement the security requirements specified by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, “Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Information Systems and Organizations” (see http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171)that are in effect at the time the solicitation is issued or as authorized by the contracting officer, not later than December 31, 2017.
(2)
(i) If the Offeror proposes to vary from any of the security requirements specified by NIST SP 800-171 that are in effect at the time the solicitation is issued or as authorized by the Contracting Officer, the Offeror shall submit to the Contracting Officer, for consideration by the DoD Chief Information Officer (CIO), a written explanation of
(A) Why a particular security requirement is not applicable; or
(B) How an alternative but equally effective, security measure is used to compensate for the inability to satisfy a particular requirement and achieve equivalent protection.
(ii) An authorized representative of the DoD CIO will adjudicate offeror requests to vary from NIST SP 800-171 requirements in writing prior to contract award. Any accepted variance from NIST SP 800-171 shall be incorporated into the resulting contract.
What does this clause mean to me?
Wait…December 31, 2017? Adjudicate?
What do I have to do?
The clause summarizes that DoD government contractors like me need to properly secure their OWN IT systems that process any deliverable due to the government. Examples are the following:
- Research and Engineering Data including Engineering Drawings, Associated Lists, Specifications, Standards, Process Sheets, Manuals, Technical Reports, Technical Orders, Catalog-Item Identifications
- Data Sets
- Studies, Analyses and Related Information
- Computer Software Executable Code and Source Code
- Monthly or Quarterly Reports
If you’re a DoD government contractor developing and submitting Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs), you’ll need to ensure, on your own dime, that your Information Systems meet some stringent cybersecurity requirements by the end of 2017 just like the BIG government Information Systems.
In addition to securing your IT systems, you’ll need to ensure you have a process in place to continuously monitor your organization for cyber-incidents and be able to report any such incidents to the DoD quickly.
The NIST SP 800-171 contains 14 sections of requirements broken down into 110 required controls. Each requirement is mapped to NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001 controls. You may be familiar with these controls if you have been involved in securing government IT systems. The following are those 14 sections and their appropriate “who” and “why.”
NIST SP 800 171 Requirements
The 131 risk mitigating actions, called controls, are comprised of 670 individual assessments that a contractor will need to perform to verify the measures have been taken.
What can I do to mitigate this risk?
- Understand Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
- Conduct NIST 800-171 CUI Self-Assessment provided by the Common Solutions Group (https://library.educause.edu/resources/2016/9/nist-sp-800-171-compliance-template) to analyze the gaps between my organization and the NIST SP 800-171 requirements.
- Create my Plan of Actions & Milestones (POA&M) to implement corrections.
- Build cybersecurity into my bottom line and internal processes. I need to build and execute a process to ensure continuous monitoring and assessment of the controls to mitigate risk beginning with the most critical mitigation.
- The plan has to have tasks that validate and verify the plan is being executed.
- Tasks must be performed to ensure continuous risk assessment and progress on the POA&M.
- Develop and implement a process to identify and report cyber-incidents to the DoD
- Get my CUI Self-Attestation and CUI Deliverables including the following:
- Written Information Security Program (WISP)
- Configuration Management Plan (CMP)
- Information Security Continuous Monitoring (ISCM)
- Information System Contingency Plan (ISCP)
- Incident Response Plan (IRP)
- Security Awareness Program (SAP)
- Security Assessment Report (SAR)
- System Security Plan (SSP)
Just another thing for a small business that requires planning, people, and resources. The good news is I have to write the POA&M, and that may be enough for the contracting officer to declare me in compliance.
Daunting. Doable.
If you are a DoD contractor that hasn’t yet implemented NIST SP 800-171, your organization may want to start looking at it. It could mean the difference between winning or NOT winning a contract. More and more contracting officers will be requiring companies to be in compliance. I would suggest you get ahead of the power curve.
If you are not sure if your organization is affected by this requirement reach out to the experts at Haight Bey, Engineering, and Security Solutions.
As DynaGrace Enterprises goes through the journey to this mandated tightening up of our own cybersecurity practices watch for subsequent articles about our journey.
Linda Rawson, CEO, and Founder of DynaGrace Enterprises, (http://DynaGrace.com)
A Women-Owned, 8(a) Minority, Small Business
Author: The Minority and Women-Owned Small Business Guide to Government Contracts
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