Government Contract Types 101

On this episode of This is Fine, host Matt Triner sits down with guests John Czaika, VP, Strategic Initiatives of Hunter Strategy, and Kevin Belanga, Chief Growth Officer of Hunter Strategy, to break down the fundamentals of government contract types. John walks through how risk shifts across fixed-price, time-and-materials, and cost-reimbursement contracts, while Kevin brings the industry-side perspective on bidding, compliance, and common misconceptions. Together they trace the policy pendulum from Better Buying Power 1.0 through 3.0 and why the government increasingly favors firm fixed price. They close with practical advice for smaller companies entering the space, most notably to build strategic partnerships early and get comfortable understanding your own costs. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Government Contracting Fundamentals 02:26 Types of Government Contracts 05:28 Understanding Risk in Contracting 08:20 Business Development and Contract Types 11:04 Government's Perspective on Risk 13:56 Common Misconceptions in Government Contracting 24:06 Navigating Government Contracting Challenges 25:10 Misconceptions in Government-Industry Communication 27:39 The Role of Market Research in Contract Types 37:10 Advice for Small Businesses in Government Contracting