by JF Bierlein | B2G Marketing Tips, Industry News
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of General
Counsel overturned the VA’s previous determination that VETS First and Rule of
Two did not apply to purchases under the $10,000 micropurchase threshold. The Office of the General Counsel in fact determined
that VA micropurchases also fall under the Vets First and Rule of Two, which
opens up an additional $5 billion in business to Service Disabled Veteran Owned
Businesses (SDVOSBs). This is especially good news for SDVOSBs that sell products,
which are frequently purchased under the micropurchases program.
This follows on the case of PDS Consultants, Inc. v U.S.
(Federal Circuit 2018), decided October 17, 2018. The court determined that the Veterans
Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006, commonly called
“VBA,” takes precedence over any other Federally established procurement
requirements when applied to purchases by the VA.
The VA Office of Legal Counsel made a determination that the
court’s decision and the legislative requirements applies to all VA purchases,
including those under the $10,000 micropurchase threshold.
Five weeks remain of the government’s fiscal year and during the final month many purchases using the Government Purchase Card are made. Therefore, if you haven’t already, now is time to make a final marketing push to VA customers and contracting officers.
As a Veteran-owned Small Business ourselves, Coley GCS takes great pride in our ability to assist other Veterans in selling to the VA. Also, this legal determination opens new doors for Veteran-owned small businesses, let us know if you want our help. You can reach us via email at [email protected] or directly by phone at 210-402-6766.
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | B2G Marketing Tips, Industry News
Good news for companies receiving FOIA requests for release of information. The Supreme Court carefully and narrowly defined what information can be deemed “confidential” and thus withheld or redacted from release.
On June 24, in a 6-2-1 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court strongly upheld the protection of Government contractor’s propriety and confidential information with respect to Freedom of Information Act requests to release such information. Since FOIA requests for proposal information are becoming a standard business practice, this strengthens protections of the incumbent or winning proposal submitter against requests. (more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | Industry News
GSA recently posted they were on-ramping Pool 2 Certified Public Accountants, Tax Preparation, and other Accountants of the OASIS Unrestricted Contract. Now, GSA OASIS Small Business has announced an upcoming on-ramp opportunities for three Pools: (more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | B2G Marketing Tips, Industry News
OASIS IDIQ Contract Unrestricted on Ramp for 2018 for Pools 2
UPDATE: Pool 6 has closed as of June 2018.
On May 9, 2018, GSA posted a pre-solicitation notice for an on-ramp for the OASIS indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Unrestricted (UNR) 5-year contract for Pools 2, with the final solicitation being published on or about May 31, 2018. If past history is an indication, the solicitation responses will be due 60 to 90 days from the publication of the final solicitation, with awards following in late winter to spring 2019.
(more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | B2G Marketing Tips, Resource
A Path to Government Contracting
One of the Small Business Administration’s mission is to continuously expand Federal contracting opportunities for Small Business. In 2016, they established the All Small Mentor-Protégé Program (ASMPP) to extend SBA approved mentor-protégé relationships to every small business. The program was designed to enhance the capability of the protégé firms to win Federal business utilizing the mentor company’s business development capabilities and substantive project experience. (more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | B2G Marketing Tips
You may not have considered all the ways that you can maximize the value of your GSA Schedule. Use your GSA Schedule contract to win State and Local business. There are direct and indirect means using your GSA Schedule as the contracting vehicle to sell to State and Local Governments. In the indirect route, you may use your GSA Schedule contract as the basis to obtain a State or Local contracting vehicle.
(more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | Industry News
If Congress fails to pass an appropriations bill or a continuing resolution to fund the federal government by midnight January 19, 2018, Federal law mandates a partial government shutdown. Government Shutdowns are nothing new to contractors. As described before on our “What Government Contractors Can Expect During the Shutdown,” (more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | Resource
Athletic, Physical Education Supplies and Equipment
Athletic clothing, shoes and uniforms, fitness equipment, gymnasium seating, scoreboards, washers and dryers
Auction Services (On-Line Only)
On-Line auction services for the disposal of surplus personal property and equipment (more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | B2G Marketing Tips
Many small businesses looking to grow their State and Local government sales have come to us asking, “Which is better for my business, TXMAS or BuyBoard?” The answer will vary depending on what you are offering, to whom you are trying to sell and when will you be ready to sell it. (more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | Industry News
House Armed Services Committee Proposes DOD “Direct Buy” from Online Commercial Sellers
Industry and government have long been at odds while trying to achieve the same thing—better pricing and faster access. The government increases compliance requirements to ensure best pricing practices and industry increases prices to pay for compliance systems. House Armed Services Committee (HSAC) Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) is addressing the DOD procurement process. (more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | B2G Marketing Tips
At Coley, we frequently receive questions from our clients on whether they should respond to Sources Sought or Request for Information (RFI) notices. But first, lets look at what each of these are.
Sources Sought Notices vs. Request for RFI
An RFI, or Request for Information, is a Government technique of conducting market research. They may be used when the Government does not presently intend to award a contract, but wants to obtain price, delivery, other market information, or capabilities for planning purposes. (more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | Industry News
On January 22nd, President Trump signed a “Presidential Memorandum Regarding the Hiring Freeze,” which prohibited all Federal agencies from filling any identified position vacancies existing as of noon on January 22, 2017 and narrowly limited the circumstances under which any new positions would be created or filled. (more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | Industry News
Reminder to all schedule 738 X contract holder and potential schedule holders that the HR schedule will implement new SINS this month. We wrote regarding GSA’s announcement to modernize GSA Schedule 738 X on a previous post.
Reflecting OPM/OMB government-wide Resources Category Management Strategy, GSA is reorganizing the SIN classification of 595-21 human resources services into 11 categories. GSA’s goal is to (more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | B2G Marketing Tips
FedBizOpps, What is it For Anyway?
After all, many old Government contracting hands will tell you that if an opportunity is out for bid on FedbizOpps, or FBO, you’re too late. But is that really true? Not always. If that is true, what value is FBO to building Federal business? Well, FedbizOpps is a goldmine and not just for current bids, but as a research, business planning, and competitor intelligence tool. (more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
by JF Bierlein | B2G Marketing Tips
FedBizOpps, or FBO, is home to many useful tools that contractors have at their disposal. Here, contractors can access more than 28,000 RFQ opportunities, as well as complete information on all GSA schedule solicitations. This list also include possible future opportunities that contractors can get a head start on.
Searching the database efficiently can (more…)
Published author with 30 years’ experience working with Federal agencies and contractors, including proposal development and project delivery.
