Archive for April, 2009

Join the Recovery Dialogue on IT Solutions this week!

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

“What ideas, tools, and approaches can make Recovery.gov a place where all citizens can transparently monitor the expenditure and use of recovery funds?“  From April 27th until May 3rd 2009, Recovery.gov is hosting a nation-wide live discussion to engage leading information technology (IT) vendors, thinkers, and consumers in answering the preceding question.  At http://www.thenationaldialogue.org you can submit your ideas, read and rate others’ ideas and learn more.

The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board and the Office of Management and Budget is hosting the discussion in partnership with the National Academy of Public Administration.  When the site closes on Sunday night, May 3rd, the feedback will be given to the Recovery Board, “where it will directly influence how the commitment to a transparent and accountable recovery is fulfilled.”  Read more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in our blog postings here.

E-Verify for Federal Contractors Delayed a Third Time

Monday, April 27th, 2009

The federal government has announced another delay to the applicability date of a controversial FAR rule requiring certain federal contractors and subcontractors to utilize the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to verify the employment eligibility of new hires and employees assigned to federal contracts. The April 17, 2009 announcement marks the third delay of the final rule and moves the applicability date from May 21 to June 30, 2009. The stated reason for the delay is to provide the new administration an adequate opportunity to review the rule.  (Courtesy of the Professional Services Council).

As a result, Contracting Officers shall not include the new FAR clause 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification, in any solicitation or contract prior to the applicability date of June 30, 2009.  For more information on E-Verify, see previous postings.

Federal Contract Awards in Maryland and Sector 541

Friday, April 24th, 2009

The U.S. Government is one of the largest purchasers of products and services in the world. In FY2008, the government issued over $435B in contracts, so clearly this is a lucrative and highly competitive market. In this post, we’ll take a look at federal contract awards from two perspectives: geographic distribution and market segment.

Geographic Distribution - The DC Metro area is a hotbed for government contracting activity. Although it is comparatively small in square mileage, Maryland is a giant when it comes to federal contracting, receiving over $25B in contract awards in FY2008.

Federal Market Segment – Of all federal market segments, NAICS Sector 541 for Professional, Scientific and Technical Services is perhaps one of the largest in government contracting, accounting for over 20% of federal contract dollars in FY2008. 

So how does Maryland stack up against the rest of the country in both overall contracts and those in Sector 541? Here are some interesting facts and figures: (more…)

GSA Determines that Controversial Ethics Clause will be Removed from the IT Schedule Solicitation

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Refresh 23 for the GSA IT Schedule solicitation issued on March 31, 2009 included a little noticed but potentially significant change to the terms and conditions.  The refresh added FAR Clause 52.203-13 “Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct” to the Group 70 IT Schedule solicitation.  This controversial clause requires the contractor to (1) have a written code of business ethics and conduct, (2) exercise due diligence to prevent and detect criminal conduct, (3) promote compliance, and (4) disclose possible violations to the Government.  In addition, large businesses must implement an awareness and compliance program as well as a sophisticated set of internal controls.

The clause is only required in contracts that are anticipated to exceed $5 million dollars in total value.  Based on further discussions, GSA has decided that the clause is inapplicable to IT schedule contracts and plans to remove the clause in the next refresh.  GSA did state however, that ordering activities may add the clause to any orders that exceed $5 million.

Martha Johnson Nominated As Administrator For The General Services Administration

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

President Obama has nominated Martha Johnson as the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA). Johnson has most recently served on the Obama Presidential Transition Agency Review Team for GSA.

Johnson is not new to GSA, she was chief of staff (oversight of 20,000 emplyees) from 1996 -2001.  She was involved in the transition of the schedules program from being a supplier of primarily of products to a supplier of both products and services in the late 1990’s.

Where has Johsnon worked?

2007 – Present: Vice President at Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)
2002 – 2007: Vice President at SRA International
1996 – 2001: Chief of Staff at General Services Administration
1993 – 1996: Assistant Deputy Secretary in the  U.S. Department of Commerce

There is some debate that the confirmation process may get held up in the Senate, due to potential conflicts of interest, related with her current employment with CSC.  CSC is one of the top awardees of GSA contracts.

Download the GSA Forecast of Contracting Opportunities for Small Business – Updated Daily!

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Did you know that GSA itself is the largest purchaser of of goods and services from GSA Schedules?  The GSA Forecast of Contracting Opportunities informs small businesses of anticipated contracts offered by GSA for the current fiscal year (October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2009) as well as known opportunities for subsequent fiscal years. This information is made available pursuant to Public Law 100-656, Business Opportunity Development Reform Act of 1988.

The GSA Forecast of Contracting Opportunities is now available in a downloadable file which is updated daily. You can download this file into Excel (or other file type), to view all the opportunities listed in this forecast. Once downloaded, you can sort opportunities by NAICs code, place of performance, dollar value or by any category or combination of categories that make it easier for you. To download this file, click here: GSA Forecast of Contracting Opportunities (.csv Format)

SBA Proposes New Requirements for the HUB Zone Program

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has proposed some changes to the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUB Zone) program.  Currently, HUB Zone firms must certify their eligibility at the proposal stage of a HUB Zone set aside competition.  Pursuant to the proposed rule, HUB Zone firms will now be required to certify their eligibility again, prior to award of the contract.  Thus firms that have lost their eligibility between the beginning of the competition and the award of the contract would not be able to receive HUB Zone set aside contracts.   Also, the proposed rule requires participants to purchase materials manufactured or produced in HUB Zones.  There is an exception for contracts of less than $25,000.  Lastly, prime contractors would have to confirm that their subcontractor is a certified HUB Zone small business by reviewing the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database or checking with the SBA.

The proposed changes are undoubtedly in response to several recent General Accountability Office (GAO) reports that found ineligible firms receive significant contracts and that outright fraud was all too common.  As this rule is still dependent on self certification it would not seem to address the allegations of wide spread fraud raised by GAO.  After all, if you’re capable of lying once, I don’t see any reason you wouldn’t lie twice.  The real problem is that SBA doesn’t seem to have a good process for determining whether a prospective HUB Zone firm is lying on their application / certification.

The proposed rule was published in the April 13th edition of the Federal Register.  Comments are due by June 12, 2009.

GSA Schedule Sales, IFF, and Subcontracting Reporting Due April 30th!

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Just a friendly reminder to all GSA Schedule holders, April 30th is the last day to file GSA 72A sales reporting, make IFF payments, and submit your Individual Subcontracting Reports (ISR) on time! Don’t forget that completing required reporting and remitting the IFF in a timely manner are evaluation factors for your Contractor Assistance Visits (CAV). Feel free to contact a member of the Aronson GSA team if you have any questions about this reporting or other GSA compliance issues.

Time to Learn the ABCs of Government Construction Contracting? Join Us April 23rd

Monday, April 13th, 2009

Join us on April 23, 2009, as Aronson presents an overview of the federal government’s processes and procedures for awarding and administering construction contracts. Topics to be addressed will include: competition, sealed bid versus negotiated procurements, subcontracting requirements, changes, terminations, bonds, accounting requirements and the Davis Bacon Act.  The event is co-sponsored by Aronson & Company and the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) of Metro Washington.

Click here for more info and to register.

Increased Federal Market Potential for Human Resource Staffing & Training Services

Friday, April 10th, 2009

As the nation gets ready for the potential heavy spending that will unleash following the passage of the Recovery Act, an industry sector gaining a lot of people’s attention is Human Resource Staffing & Training.

The report below details six years of comparative spending for a group of industry codes that together could comprise this industry sector. But, the numbers may not paint a clear picture. For example, NAICS Code:   561110 – Office Administrative Services and 561990- All Other Support Services often mingles direct internal agency hiring with contracts awarded to companies to perform personnel hiring services. This type of hiring fulfillment escapes showing up as a direct federal expenditure for this industry group.

For further details about this report email amehan@fedmine.us or visit www.fedmine.us to see various related reports.