The shutdown is finally over, and government contractors are getting back to work.

In this week’s SmallGovCon Week In Review, there are no “shutdown is over” stories, because you already know about that.  Instead, the Review offers some news and commentary that may have slipped under your radar screen, including post-shutdown contracting, the next step in the strategic sourcing initiative, a preview of some key federal opportunities on the horizon for 2014, and an interesting look at how government contracting data has spawned its own niche businesses.

• Eight agencies have committed to using the next strategic sourcing contracts.  [Federal News Radio]
• The shutdown may hit some contractor employees harder than federal employees.  [Federal Times]
• “Big Data” is a critical component of contract wins and a niche market in and of itself.  [Washington Post]
• Deltek previews some of the top federal opportunities upcoming in 2014.  [Washington Post]
• What if a contractor’s work was suspended during the shutdown?  Set-Aside Alert offers some answers.  [Set-Aside Alert]
• The DoD has confirmed that the shutdown will result in delayed contractor payments.  [FedBiz]
• A columnist discusses whether contractors need “shutdown insurance” to guard against future political shenanigans.  [GovExec]
• The GAO has set a new deadline for OASIS: October 30.  Happy Halloween, contractors.  [Federal Computer Week]
• Consultant (and all around good guy) Carroll Bernard discusses getting started in government contracting.  [CarrollBernard.com]