GSA to Increase Contract Opportunities for 8(a) Firms
The SBA and GSA have partnered to increase contract awards to 8(a) contractors through the creation of an 8(a) pool for eligible GSA Schedule contractors.
GSA MAS Solicitation Refresh #16
When GSA releases refreshes #16 in May 2023, it will bring regulatory changes to the MAS solicitation, updates for Joint Ventures, and changes to Special Item Numbers (SINs) which may require an additional action or change the way your contract is managed. All new and existing GSA Schedule contractors must be aware of updates and review this refresh carefully.
Will the Recently Awarded CATTS IDIQ Survive the Dozen Protests Submitted?
The $1.5 billion CATTS IDIQ contract, meant to help small businesses build long-term relationships with the government, is facing 12 protests. Although Commerce claims it was executed correctly, protesters want Commerce to reevaluates the bids or even cancel the entire procurement and starts over.
VA Sales Reporting and IFF Remittance Portal Transition Coming Soon
The VA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) is continuing to work closely with General Services Administration (GSA) to update and revise systems. One major update in 2023 will be the transition to use GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) Sales Reporting Portal (SRP).
VAAR – VA Acquisition Regulation Finalizes Cybersecurity Ruling
As of February 17, 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs has finalized a ruling to revise, interpret definitions and clarify requirements for Cybersecurity Restrictions for VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR)
OASIS+ Final RFP Imminent
GSA issued a Second Draft OASIS + RFP, and the Final is imminent. It appears that GSA is in a hurry to put the OASIS+ RFP on the street. To find out more register for Industry Day coming up.
SAM Sends Erroneous Emails to Numerous Contractors
The System for Award Management (SAM) database has experienced numerous (and ongoing) issues in recent times. If your entity is registered in SAM, then you may have received an erroneous email earlier this month. If you were one of these recipients, here’s what you need to do.
GSA To Upgrade Acquisition Tools to Reduce Processing Delays
There are many factors that can cause processing delays at GSA. Some delays are due to underfunded resources and a lack of contract support. To correct this, GSA is planning a surge in contract support and improve resources.
GSA MAS Solicitation Refresh #15
GSA is releasing a solicitation refresh #15 on January 18, 2023. These changes include description clarifications, Price Proposal Template updates, and NAICS size standards adjustments.
Inflationary Small Business Size Standard Increase
The Small Business Association (SBA) has reviewed economic trends and influences and released a final rule to allow for monetary size standards to be increased in line with inflation. This will benefit small businesses since it will allow them to continue to compete for government opportunities set aside for small businesses.
Update on the FY 2023 Congressional Budget
The Biden Administration has released its full FY 2023 budget with a base discretionary funding request of $1.582 trillion, 7.4 percent more than the comparable FY 2022 level. GSA contractors can expect a proposed increase for the upcoming budget. It is now a good time to ensure that your GSA Schedule pricelist and catalog are up to date and ready to receive orders.
Updates Available for the Upcoming GSA OASIS +
For those following the OASIS + contracting vehicle, there have been several recent developments to report. On November 15, GSA posted a draft RFP for industry comment as well as an industry survey. How can you prepare for the upcoming OASIS Plus?
A Review of 2022 to Map 2023 GSA Strategies
Government contractors continue to face challenges where they need to understand and adapt to the changing rules quickly, in order to stay competitive. We will summarize the changes over the past year and provide insights on how contract holders can map 2023 GSA strategies.
GSA and DAU Collaborate to Improve the Acquisition Processes
As GSA continues to look for ways to encourage collaboration between agencies and centralize solutions, their recent effort makes federal purchasing easier. GSA, together with the DAU have created a new tool for government buyers. It is an acquisition regulation comparator (ARC) which simplifies regulations comparisons with the goal of ensuring greater interagency compatibility, collaboration, and shortening the acquisitions process timeframe.
Will The TDR Program Come to an End?
The office of Inspector General (IG) at General Services Administration (GSA) released a report in September 2022 after reviewing how the contracting personnel perform price analyses to ensure GSA gets the best prices. Although the IG recommends terminating the program, GSA plans to move forward and expand the program to all contractors.