The results are in. The Small Business Administration (SBA) released its FY2019 Small Business Procurement Scorecard. This scorecard serves as an annual report showing if federal agencies met their small business contracting requirements. Although things are looking dismal in the commercial sector, the federal sector is still going strong on small business spending.
In June 2020, the General Services Administration (GSA) will assign all entities in the System for Award Management (SAM) a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). So what is a UEI and what should you expect? That's what this blog post is going to cover.
Here, we'll go over:
In the first quarter of the fiscal year, the Pentagon awarded its prestigious $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract to Microsoft.
For now.
That's because if you've been reading up on this contract, you would know it was riddled with disputes. One of which was a bid protest made by Oracle Corporation. Then, right after Microsoft was awarded, it was expected Amazon Web Services would file one as well.
In this blog post, we're going to give you the rundown on bid protests.
We are going to answer:
- What is a bid protest?
- Why are bid protests filed?
- Where do I file a bid protest?
- How should I approach bid protests?
Let's begin.
This November, FedBizOpps (FBO) is set to merge with beta.SAM.
With that in mind, it's time to talk about past big changes in the federal marketplace. That's because with every major change comes major problems. How you handle these problems will determine your success or failure in government contracting.
In this blog post, we're going to cover common issues that contractors face whenever the federal government implements a new policy or system. When you know about what issues to expect, you'll be better equipped to handle them.
In this episode of “The Government Buys...a Podcast” (TGAP), we sit down with USFCR President Eric Knellinger to discuss the upcoming merger of beta.SAM and FBO.gov. Join us as we deconstruct these impending changes and discuss how The Advanced Procurement Portal can keep you ahead of the curve.
The GSA has announced that FedBizOpps.gov (FBO.gov) will begin to be decommissioned and its functionality transitioned into beta.SAM.gov starting on November 8, 2019.
*Update for 11/8/19 at the bottom of the article*
If you've been keeping up with news in the federal marketplace, then you should know that FedBizOpps (aka FBO) is expected to be decommissioned in the first quarter of FY 2020 (the fourth quarter of 2019). Instead of a separate opportunity search website, it will be merged with beta.SAM.
Selling medical supplies is one of the biggest markets in federal contracting. For that reason, many businesses get started with that sole purpose in mind. Plus, The Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the biggest buyers of medical supplies and has preference to buy from Veteran Owned Businesses. On this podcast episode we talk with the CEO of one such business to find out about his story and about a new opportunity called the MSPV program.
The federal government's cloud contracts called JEDI and DEOS are a drama filled with twists and turns. This story is a display of government contracting at its highest levels, but it relates to the small business too. On this podcast episode, we'll explain what these mega contracts could mean for your business.
There are a number of reasons why the government spends more in the last quarter of the fiscal year. It is crucial to know when the federal government’s fiscal year actually ends and how your business can get a piece of the action. In this podcast episode we look at Fiscal Year 2019, but this information can easily be translated to Fiscal Year 2020 and beyond.
Last week, a big change in federal contracting was announced.
How big?
It could...possibly...maybe...unhinge the federal marketplace as we know it (we're not sure yet).
So what's happening?
It's over. It's finally over. The 2018-2019 government shutdown was the longest one on record lasting for 35 days. To put it lightly, things were put to a halt at a bit. However, as a contractor, you're going to want to hit the ground running. Here are four main factors that you need to consider as you get back into the federal marketplace. Everyone's situation is going to be a bit different, so let this guide serve as just a general outline.
"Government shutdown" is pretty much a fancy way of saying that the folks on Capitol Hill cannot agree on how to fund federal operations or agencies. It is not an automatic stop work order. Politicians rally, the media gets in a frenzy, and a hot potato of blame usually gets thrown around. Let's forget about the Poli Sci and opinions for a moment. Here, we're just going to focus on one thing:
As a government contractor, how do you handle shutdowns?
In 2017, $170,205,689,253.41 was spent by the government on contracts which only received one bid. Only one business submitted the bid for the contract and it was granted to them.
There are a few factors on why it could have been a one-bid contract:
The Weber Basin Job Corps Gymnasium needs a new protective coating on its roof in order for the facility to continue providing effective services to the Utah community. True to the Job Corps mission of expanding economic and social opportunities, especially for minorities and the poor, a small-disenfranchised roofing business will be given preference in the solicitation process. Businesses must submit a bid that meets all requirements by February 2, 2018.
Innovative Small Security Companies up for Consideration
The Department of the Army posted a solicitation for quotations from small businesses capable of installing new conduit and wiring around existing security doors. The contract is reserved for small businesses who are ready to meet the requirement at a National Guard Facility in Duluth, Minnesota. The deadline to respond to this solicitation is December 18, 2017.
Naval Contracting Sources Sought Opportunity
The Department of the Navy posted a solicitation for information from manufacturers of Maritime SATCOM (Mobile Satellite Communication). The potential procurement will be for at least eight rugged, weather resistant radio systems, with the possibility of up to twenty-four.
To gage sources for the procurement, the Naval Station Weapons Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) will hold an Industry Day on January 9, 2018 at the La Quinta Inn on Coastal Palms Blvd in Panama City Beach, Florida.
Eligible federal contractors are asked to provide a static display of their proposed system. Acceptable SATCOM systems should demonstrate their ability operate under salt fog conditions, withstand dust penetration, be protected from snow and resist fungal growth. Further specifications can be found on this worksheet.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ashley National Forest, Duchesne Ranger District, released on Thursday, October 26, a combined synopsis/solicitation in which it outlined plans to procure winter stock pasture services.
Interested and qualified contractors must be able to furnish all labor, supplies, and incidentals necessary to perform all required work. According to the combined synopsis/solicitation, the pasture must provide adequate forage and water for the winter. If, during the period of performance, the forage becomes depleted, the contractor who receives the contract must provide supplemental feed. The contractor also must maintain fences and access to water sources.
The USDA, according to the combined synopsis/solicitation, plans to enter into a one-year contract, with the option to renew the contract for up to four additional years.
Responses are due by no later than November 9, 2017 at 11 a.m. MT. Interested contractors must submit quotations to the Utah Acquisitions Support Center, 2222 West 2300 South, Salt Lake City, or, via fax at 801-975-3483. E-mail submissions can be sent to twenner@fs.fed.us.
According to the combined synopsis/solicitation, the USDA will issue the contract to the offeror who submits the lowest-priced technically acceptable offer. The USDA also will evaluate bids on the offeror’s technical capabilities as well as his or her past performance.
Businesses interested in bidding on and receiving contracts from the government must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) database and have as part of the Registration all current Representations and Certifications.
US Federal Contractor Registration, the world’s largest third-party government registration firm, and a firm that not only helps companies survive but also thrive, completes the required Registrations on behalf of its clients. It also makes available information about opportunities like this, as well as training on how to locate, research, and respond to opportunities.
We also make available for our clients and for contracting officers our proprietary Advanced Federal Procurement Data Search (AFPDS). Our Advanced Federal Procurement Data Search (AFPDS) gives you in one place instant bid notifications, bid proposal prospecting, and information about government procurement officers. We make this search tool available to clients, as part of our commitment to helping each and every USFCR client succeed and thrive as a government contractor.
For contracting officers, the AFPDS gives them in one place access to a database of available contractors and also a place to post information about opportunities. Contracting officers get free access to AFPDS. We also provide interested contracting officers a list of contractors who may be able to provide a service and/or product that they need.
For more information, to get started with a SAM registration, to learn more about how US Federal Contractor Registration can help your business succeed, to find out how we can help you complete the processes necessary to become certified as one or more types of small business(es), earning HUBZone certification from the SBA, and/or to speak with our federal training specialists about how to craft a memorable proposal, call 877-252-2700, ext. 1.
Huff Bhatia
US Federal Contractor Registration, the world's largest third-party government registration firm, weathered the passage of Hurricane Irma on Sunday with little damage to its corporate headquarters in St. Petersburg. Its team of case managers, acquisition specialist, and support staff similar weathered the storm fairly unscathed. We, like many of our neighbors across the state, are dealing with cleanup (primarily fallen trees, limbs, and branches), and down power lines, and, for some of us, not knowing when power in our homes will be restored.
"I'm grateful that the Tampa Bay area did not bear the brunt of the storm," said Eric Knellinger, president of US Federal Contractor Registration. "On and off all weekend, I wasn't sure that that would be the case, but I am glad that the storm did far less damage in our area that was predicted."
