Author Archive

BUDGET CUTS Are Coming … DC-Area Contractors WILL Feel It!

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

A Department of Defense budget proposal could eliminate more than 6,100 jobs in Virginia.  Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced a proposed budget that will close the U. S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM), a major employer with over 1 million square feet of real estate in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, VA.  As reported by The Washington Post on August 9, 2010, the proposal will also slash the Pentagon’s budget for military contractors over the next three years, significantly impacting the economy of the Washington region. Stephen Fuller, Director of the Center of Regional Analysis at George Mason University commented (more…)

Snowmageddon 2010 Closes DC Area Federal Government, Impacts Govt Site Contractors

Friday, February 12th, 2010

The historic snowstorm over the weekend in the Washington DC area resulted in the Federal Government closing early on February 5, 2010, full day closures February 8th – 11th, and a two hour delayed opening on February 12th.  If you are a Federal Contractor with employees working at DC area Federal Government sites, what do these closings mean to you?  Considerations:

1. What is stated in the contractor’s individual contract clauses regarding leave?
2. Are the employees covered by the Service Contract Act (SCA)?
3. Did your Contracting Officer issue a modification permitting invoicing for the federal closure?
4. What are the Contractor’s own leave and pay policies?

Possible Outcomes: (more…)

2010!! Resolutions for Government Contractors

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

As calendar year 2010 starts so do most of our “New Year’s Resolutions.”  Once again Aronson will start the new year sharing our top resolutions for government contractors to get on track, get in compliance, and get ahead.  Please come back every day to read a new resolution to improve your business and register to post any comments or questions you have to share on the topics.

Check back on Monday for the first 2010 Resolution or better yet, subscribe to our Fed Point RSS Feed and have the news delivered directly to you! (Click here to learn more about RSS).

How Does Your Organization Compare Against the Best? Deltek to Reveal GovCon Operational Trends at Clarity ‘09

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Join Aronson & Company at the Deltek Clarity ‘09 GovCon Industry Trends Event to get a first-hand look at the best practices and critical data to lead government contractors 2010 success.  Speakers and topics for the Tuesday, November 17th event include:

• Insight into Operational Trends – learn from the most successful government contractors out there – hear from Rich Wilkinson, Deltek GovCon Industry Vice President
• 2010 Industry Spending Outlook – see where the money is going and how you can get it – presented by Kevin Plexico, Senior Vice President, INPUT
• Hear the results of Clarity ‘09, one of the largest surveys of how government contractors operate

Date: Tuesday, November 17,2009, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Tysons Corner Marriott, 8028 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182
Please contact, Tina Rodell, Deltek Director, Partner Marketing Programs for more information or assistance:

Tel: 703.885.9681
Fax: 703.738.1874
Cell: 703.593.7045
tinarodell@deltek.com

$4 Billion IT Opportunity Coming Soon as NASA Consolidates IT and Data Services

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

NASA’s Information Technology Infrastructure Integration Program will procure services to provide agency-wide management, integration, and delivery of IT infrastructure services.  NASA will release the first of five RFPs as soon as September 22, 2009. The five contracts that NASA plans to compete are: (1) Agency Consolidated End User Services (ACES) contract, (2) Enterprise Applications Service Technologies (EAST) contract, (3) NASA Enterprise Data Center (NEDC) contract, (4) NASA Integrated Communications Services (NICS) contract, and (5) Web Enterprise Service Technologies (WEST) contract. Additional details follow. (more…)

Reporting Live from Deltek Insight 2009!

Thursday, May 14th, 2009

A contingent from Aronson & Company is in Orlando, FL, this week for the 2009 Deltek Insight Conference. As a Deltek Partner and Platinum sponsor of the conference, Aronson’s participation includes leading four technical training sessions.

Insight is Deltek’s annual customer conference that focuses on helping users leverage their Deltek investment, network with industry colleagues on best practices, and hear about the latest industry trends, projections and product roadmaps. Recognizing the biggest industry trend, Deltek added a new track to the program to focus exclusively on the Recovery Act appropriately named “Stimulus & Beyond”. This forum, which bridges the General Contracting and government contracting communities, kicked off with a standing-room-only keynote address by Congressman Tom Davis, former U.S. Representative (R-VA). The Stimulus forum includes breakout sessions and expert panels (including participation by Aronson’s own Hope Lane) on a wide range of topics aimed at providing participants with information they need to find and win new Recovery Act projects.

“Despite tough economic times, attendees at the conference are expressing continued optimism for the future and their appreciation to Deltek for the strategic value it provides as they face business challenges” said Sangeeta Dworkin, Manager of Channel Sales with Deltek.

(pictured left to right) Steve Swales, Officer of Deltek Practice-Aronson & Company, Sangeeta Dworkin, Manager of Channel Sales-Deltek, and Kevin Parker, President and CEO-Deltek

Check back tomorrow for another live report from the conference floor at Deltek Insight 2009!

Paid Leave Law Impacts Washington, DC Employers Beginning November 2008

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Beginning November 13, 2008, Washington D.C. will require most employers to provide paid sick leave to eligible employees working in the District. Under the Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008, which was passed by the Council in March, employers must pay for absences related to physical or mental illness, preventive medical care, or family care, or to an absence “if the employee or the employee’s family member is a victim of stalking, domestic violence, or sexual violence.”

The District’s act requires up to seven paid days per year for employees of employers with 100 or more employees. Employers with 25 to 99 employees must provide up to five days per year while employers with 24 or fewer employees must provide up to three days per year.  “Hardship exemptions” may be granted.

Currently, there is no federal law requiring paid sick leave. The District will become the second municipality after San Francisco to require employers to provide certain types of paid leave to employees.  These may only be the beginning of a trend with several states considering paid sick leave laws including: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The City of Milwaukee is considering one as well.

Several exemptions to the act include restaurant wait staff or bartenders who receive income based on a combination of tips and wages. It also doesn’t apply to independent contractors.

 Review the details of the act for more specific information about how this impacts your business.

Vets, Toot Your Own Horn – Nominations for Vetrepreneur of the Year

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008

The National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) is seeking nominations for it’s Vetrepreneur of the Year award.  To be eligible to receive the award, the nominee must be a U.S. military veteran with ownership of a private company (generating $1million+ annual revenues) who is primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company and an active member of top management. The judging criteria includes an assessment of financial performance, company growth, leadership and profitability.  The 2009 Vetrepreneur of the Year® will grace the cover of the November/December issue of Veterans Business Journal.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS OCTOBER 10, 2008.  For more information, visit NaVOBA’s website.

Substantial Health Insurance Subsidy Available to MD Small Businesses (updated!)

Friday, September 12th, 2008

Under Maryland’s Health Insurance Partnership, small businesses in Maryland may be eligible to receive up to a 50% subsidy of their health insurance premiums. Eligibility is limited to small businesses that have two to nine full-time employees, that have not offered health insurance to its employees during the previous 12 months, and have an average wage below $50,000 per year.

The Health Insurance Partnership is a coordinated effort between the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene (DHMH), the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC), participating insurance carriers and employers. Made possible by the 2007 passage of the Working Families and Small Business Health Coverage Act, enrollment in the small business portion of the Act began September 9, 2008, with coverage effective on October 1, 2008. Employers will have their choice of health benefit plans offered by CareFirst BCBS, Coventry Health Care, United Healthcare and Aetna.

For more information about this program, visit Governor Martin O’Malley’s webpage to see the full press release.   For more information on eligibility requirements, contact the Maryland Health Care Commission at 410-764-3460 or click on the following link: http://mhcc.maryland.gov/partnership/.

Also, Montgomery County Department of Economic Development is offering a FREE seminar on the topic on Wednesday, September 24th from 9:30am – 11:00am in the Executive Office Building in Rockville, MD.  For more information and to RSVP, email jacqueline.arnold@montgomerycountymd.gov

SCA Health & Welfare Fringe Benefits Increase June 1st

Tuesday, May 27th, 2008

Effective June 1, 2008, the health and welfare fringe benefit rate for employees covered by the Service Contract Act (SCA) will increase to $3.24 per hour, an $.08 increase.  The new benefit rate applies to all bids opened, or service contract awarded on or after June 1, 2008.  This action increases the benefit rate for all eligible SCA-covered employees regardless of the “low” or “high” method for determining compliance.  To view the Department of Labor memorandum implementing this increase click here.