Florida-based HX5 has emerged as a standout in the challenging arena of government contracts. Led by Margarita Howard, CEO/president and sole owner, the firm excels in meeting strict regulatory requirements while delivering cutting-edge solutions. Its expertise has secured it a prominent position in aerospace and defense, where it offers crucial assistance to NASA and the Department of Defense.
Howard, a service-disabled veteran, holds an advanced degree in public administration, which both compliments and enhances her leadership credentials. This dual foundation — practical experience from her time in uniform and academic knowledge from her master’s degree — enables her to navigate the intricacies of federal contracting with a blend of operational savvy and administrative acumen.
While HX5 has proven its mettle by consistently landing substantive contracts with government agencies, this accomplishment has its challenges. Their ability to secure such high-profile contracts reflects positively on the firm’s expertise, but it also ushers in a new set of hurdles to overcome. “Government contracting is laden with rules, regulations, and compliance requirements that can be daunting to new business owners,” Margarita Howard explains. “Businesses must invest in educating themselves about these regulations and ensure strict adherence to them.”
Howard notes that HX5 “had to invest heavily in time and money to navigate the complexities of these regulations and compliance requirements and have on many occasions had to hire legal or regulatory experts to assist in understanding and ensuring we’re always in adherence with regulations and compliance requirements.”
This emphasis on compliance is more than merely a box-ticking exercise for HX5. “It’s important that a company’s records are impeccable when working with the government due to the compliance reporting and audits that companies have to agree to in order to perform on government contracts,” Howard says.
Businesses typically face considerable financial costs before a government contract yields any returns. These include the costs associated with creating detailed bids, promoting their capabilities to agencies, and developing the necessary organizational structures to fulfill contractual obligations effectively. “As a small business starting up many years ago, HX5 faced these and other challenges due to limited financial resources and personnel,” says Margarita Howard.
“We were able to overcome these obstacles by prioritizing the opportunities we decided to go after, and we built strong and lasting subcontracting relationships with other companies. We also worked closely with the [Small Business Administration] utilizing various SBA resources designed to support small businesses starting up.”
HX5: Where Passion Meets Purpose in High-Stakes Government Work
Success in government contracts isn’t solely about just adhering to regulations. Howard says, “You have to certainly understand your customer’s needs and any specific requirements or regulations that may apply to them, and even though almost all work is highly competitive, building relationships with government procurement officers, government customers, prime contractors, and other stakeholders can enhance the chances of winning prime contracts by providing a better understanding of the government’s needs and challenges.”
The ability to forge meaningful professional partnerships with officials in various agencies is vital. These interpersonal bonds can significantly strengthen the working relationship between contractor and the government, and contribute significantly to the program’s overall success. “When we get to work with committed, professional civil servants who are good at what they do, and are passionate about their respective programs and missions, it’s a great teaming relationship. Howard explains.
With such relationships in mind, the CEO is passionate about her work. “I love this business and the work that we do; I’m just extremely proud of it,” she states. Margarita Howard’s team shares this enthusiasm, which is a key factor in HX5’s success.
The team at HX5 is distinguished by their unique and highly sought-after expertise, making them invaluable assets in their field. Many of these professionals choose to be part of HX5 for the excitement of contributing to monumental endeavors.
Whether it’s being part of advancing space exploration, tackling crucial international projects, or supporting its customers’ various mission operations around the world, HX5 employees are motivated by the impact and significance of their work. This emphasis on meaningful, mission-oriented tasks is deeply ingrained in the company’s culture.
The HX5 team has been privy to extraordinary opportunities in their line of work. Team members sometimes find themselves in exclusive environments that few others ever see. These extraordinary opportunities, Howard believes, make the regulatory challenges worthwhile. She says, “That’s why we do what we do, because at the end of the day, the operations and missions we support are very exciting, and cutting edge.”
Margarita Howard on the Process of Securing Prime Government Contracts
HX5’s strategy involves constant vigilance. “Most of the time, government contracts are posted on various industry-specific platforms like GovWin and others. You need to ensure you’re regularly monitoring these sites for opportunities that align with the business’ capabilities and expertise,” Howard says. The company also networks extensively and attends industry-specific events to stay informed about upcoming opportunities.
Once a relevant opportunity is identified, HX5’s approach is thorough and meticulous. “We have to carefully review the solicitation documents to understand the requirements and evaluation criteria. We then have to prepare a comprehensive bid (proposal) that addresses all the specified requirements and demonstrates our ability to perform the work successfully at competitive prices,” Howard explains.
“Once we’ve been awarded a prime contract, it’s crucial to stay compliant with all contractual requirements, regulations, and reporting obligations, and we ensure we have the best teams in place to do this.” The company also seeks feedback after each bid, regardless of the outcome, to continually improve its competitiveness.