GSA Refresh 10 Requires Vendors to Pay a Higher Minimum Wage
The General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) is releasing an update to the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation 47QSMD20R0001 – Refresh #10 on March 31, 2022. There are several significant changes coming for vendors on the...
How Does the Mentor-Protégé Program Work?
The SBA Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) is designed to cultivate strong protégé firms through mentor-provided business development assistance, and to help protégés successfully compete for government contracts. As of November 16, 2020, the 8(a) Mentor-Protégé program and...
When You Lose a Bid: Brief Explanations and Debriefings
According to the Federal Acquisitions Regulation (FAR) 8.4, unsuccessful bidders are entitled to either a brief explanation of why they were not chosen or a debriefing. Brief Explanations vs. Debriefings What are the differences? For starters, the time frame for...
Report Order Status for GSA Advantage! Orders
To improve customer satisfaction, the GSA is creating new penalties on contractors not reporting timely order status updates for purchases placed on GSA Advantage!. GSA Schedule holders that do not report order status may have their catalogs removed beginning October...
Understanding the Executive Order on $15 Federal Minimum Wage
Beginning January 30, 2022, federal agencies will start incorporating the $15 minimum wage in new contract solicitations and will be required to have it incorporated in all contracts by March 30, 2022. Any ongoing contracts will have the wage requirement at the option.
Does the Fair Labor Standards Act Apply to Your Team?
The Fair Labor Standards Act has been revised by the Department of Labor to help distinguish between employees and independent contractors.
GSA Announces Polaris: A New Small Business IT Contracting Vehicle (GWAC)
On December 31, the GSA released a draft RFP for a Government Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) intended for small business IT services-based solutions providers, including small businesses, HUBZone, and Women-Owned Small Business firms.
Final LPTA Rule to Benefit Small Business
The New LPTA Rule responds to Small Business’ complaints and narrows the definition of circumstances in which LPTA may be used.
President’s Executive Order Repeals “Right of First Refusal” on Federal Contracts
On October 31, 2019 President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (Executive Order on Improving Federal Contractor Operations by Revoking Executive Order 13495), which repeals the previous obligation of successor Federal contractors to offer qualified predecessor...
What is a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)?
A BPA, or Blanket Purchase Agreement, is a “funnel” to narrow competition to a few GSA Schedule (or VA FSS) Contractors. Per the Federal Acquisition Regulation 8.405-3 it is designed to fill the Government’s recurring needs for a Government contractor’s specific goods...
CARES Act Allows Payments to Contractors When They Can’t Work
Coley has received several inquiries from our Federal contracting community as to how to recoup revenue lost as a result of being unable to fulfil contractual obligations due to the work interruption caused by the COVID-19 national emergency. Section 3610 of the...
GSA Provides 60-Day SAM.gov Extension
You probably have many things on your mind right now other than renewing your SAM.gov registration. Given that business and government alike are focused on responding to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 national emergency, the General Services Administration (GSA) has...
Families First Coronavirus Response Act- What does it Mean for Your Business?
As part of the national response to the COVID 19 virus pandemic, President Trump signed “The Families First Coronavirus Response Act” (HR 6201), a new law that expands the “Family and Medical Leave Act” (FMLA) to include provisions for employees and their families...
