Ask Fed Point: Managing Printers in Deltek Costpoint Web
Dear Fed Point:
I’m having a lot of trouble managing the printers in Deltek Costpoint. I setup my printers, only to “lose” them repeatedly. What’s the solution for this printer confusion? – Jane M.
Dear Jane:
Although there are detailed instructions attached to the Costpoint Web Installation Guide, managing printers via the application can be labor intensive and often frustrating. Users have found that the Actuate Process Management Daemon can lose printer definitions, often confounding users as it appears as if the printer is there. Two options are available to solve this problem: Continue reading »
Introducing “Ask Fed Point!” – You Ask, We Answer
It’s hard to believe, but the one year anniversary of Aronson Fed Point is fast approaching! In the past year, we’ve blogged about the topical, and sometimes controversial, issues we think the Federal Contracting community wants to hear about – and judging by your response, you want even MORE! Based on this incredible input, we are excited to introduce a new feature to our blog, “Ask Fed Point”. Here is your chance to get the answers to all of your burning questions about GSA, Deltek, the FAR, tax regulations, and more…click here to submit your questions TODAY!
Top 100 First Time Winning Federal Contractors in FY 2009
For federal government FY 2009 starting October 1, 2008, federal contract award records show 4,990 companies winning business for the very first time. This number seems to be approximately at par for the same period last year, except that the current list contains mostly small businesses.
Last year some very big companies won well over several hundred million dollars as “First Timer Contractors”, however this year no such large business names appear on the list. Consequently, the amount of dollars awarded is also significantly less. The largest contract award for $62,539,000 went to Crossland Construction Co. from the Department of Veteran Affairs, Office Of Facilities Management. Continue reading »
GSA Announces “Stimulus Solutions Event”
Are you waiting to see how GSA will respond to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009? Expect to get some answers at the just announced GSA “Stimulus Solutions Event“ - scheduled for March 5th in Washington, DC. This event is part of GSA’s communication and outreach plan for Federal agency customers. Its initial focus is to emphasize the availability of offerings through the Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) program, FAS Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), and e-tools available to support procurement actions.
GSA released preliminary information regarding its overall role in the Stimulus and how the GSA Schedule contracts will factor into upcoming acquisitions. As expected, GSA’s Public Building Service (PBS) will be heavily utilized to revitalize infrastructures and “green” federal buildings. PBS announced its intentions to contract this work through the GSA Schedules Program and is already soliciting GSA Schedule partners to enter into Blanket Purchase Agreements in four major functional areas: acquisition management services, legal support, project management, and energy services. PBS advises interested contractors to watch eBuy closely for RFQ opportunities and expect them to have short turnaround times.
As you would expect, lots of information on the Stimulus will continue to flow in the days and weeks ahead…be sure to keep checking FedPoint for the most up-to-the-minute information from Aronson & Company.
Get the Escalation You’re Entitled to – Dec 2008 Cost Index Data Released
Working on a multi-year cost proposal and wondering what escalation factor to use? Or thinking about requesting an increase to your GSA Schedule labor rates? Selecting an appropriate index is important when negotiating escalations and price increases with the Government. And, knowing which market indices Contracting Officers rely on is essential. Frequently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost Index (ECI), is a good basis for escalations.
The Employment Cost Index news release, issued by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, is a great index for a variety of industries. For instance, the ECI average for Management, Business, and Financial industry occupations is 3.0% for the 12 months ended 12/31/08, which is a slight decrease from 3.1% last quarter and 3.1% from last year. The ECI average for Professional, Scientific, and Technical services increased from 3.6% to 3.8% for the quarter ended 12/31/08, although it is a slight decrease from last year’s rate of 3.9%.
During this time of economic uncertainty do not let contracting officers keep your annual escalation artificially low; use the ECI to aid you in getting what you are entitled to. Keep in mind, not properly escalating your labor costs can affect your ability to provide competitive salaries and can hurt your bottom line for several years.
Negotiating escalation rates is just one of the ways Aronson & Company can increase your profitability. If this sounds good to you, contact Hope Lane today at 301-231-6266 or hlane@aronsoncompany.com to learn how we can help improve your bottom line.
Four M&A trends for 2009
An optimistic outlook for M&A activity for government contractors in 2009 was indicated in a recent report from Aronson Capital Partners (ACP), an investment bank serving federal contractors. Quoted by Washington Technology, the report, titled ” Federal Sector Market Update and Outlook”, mentioned four trends to watch:
- Persistent strong buyer interest
- Well positioned firms will continue to command attractive valuations
- Portfolio shaping will become a necessity
- Tax policy will continue to favor sellers
The complete report published by Aronson Capital Partners can be found at: http://www.aronsoncapitalpartners.com/emails/Feb09_ExecLetter_full.html
Having closed one transaction already in 2009, with five others already under letter of intent, Aronson Capital Partners offers clients unparalleled levels of experience and execution in this challenging environment. ACP offers clients a unique understanding of the business and its marketplace, strong relationships with strategic buyers aggressively pursuing acquisitions, and an unmatched track record of achieving superior results for shareholders. Contact Larry Davis, Managing Partner, 301.231.6225, ldavis@aronsoncapitalpartners.com for more information.
Re-Align the Federal Marketing 5Ps to the Economic Stimulus Package
President Obama signed the $787 billion recovery package into law this week. Now the 5P’s of government marketing — Price, Product, Positioning, Promotion and Proposals must align with this new stimulus package, as well as with many other government objectives in a market dynamic not seen before. Vendors trying to make it into the government customer’s selection pool need to quickly build their “bridges” directly to decision makers, in an effort to arm the customer with the right solution at the right time. So here are some key facts to consider when selling to the federal government in FY 2009:
- FED FACT#1
Successful companies will understand the pressure of condensed decision-making on government officials and innovate their sales approach to quickly target core agency missions. Success will come to companies most agile and resilient in their own business models allowing them to adapt quickly to new government business processes. - FED FACT #2 Continue reading »
Three Tax Issues of Importance to Government Contractors
DC Tax Penalties and Interest: Failure to pay District of Columbia franchise or income taxes on or before the due date of the return will result in a tax bill significantly higher than the taxes owed. Continue reading specifics of DC penalties and interest, and circumstances for abatement >>
Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts: United States persons having an interest in or authority over any foreign bank accounts that meet or exceed aggregate of $10,000 at anytime during the calendar year must report that relationship each calendar year by filing TD F 90-22.1 with the Department of Treasury on or before June 30th of the succeeding year. This date can not be extended. Companies that possess foreign bank accounts that meet or exceed the $10,000 threshold at anytime during the calendar year will be required to file at least 2 form TD F 90-22.1′s for that year; one for the company and at least one for the person or persons with signature authority over the account. Continue reading more details on foreign reporting>>
Massachusetts Tax Amnesty: New Massachusetts law (signed into law on January 7, 2009) authorizes the state’s Commissioner of Revenue to establish a Tax Amnesty Program for two months (Tax Amnesty Period) in 2009 during which the state would waive all penalties (but not interest) on state tax liabilities for certain tax payers. The amnesty will expire no later than June 30, 2009. Click here for MA Amnesty tax payers eligibility details >>
For more information, contact Aronson tax experts:
Henry F. Chiwaya, Senior Tax Manager, (301) 222-8215, hchiwaya@aronsoncompany.com
Stimulus, Yes (track spending!). E-Verify stipulation, No.
With the updated $787 billion economic stimulus package approved on Feb 17th, www.recovery.gov went live allowing the public visibility into federal spending. One item dropped from the package: the stipulation that all contracts paid for with stimulus funding must use E-Verify to verify that their employees are legally authorized to work in the United States.
Proponents of E-Verify, including the Federation for American Immigration Reform, say the omission of the E-Verify provision is a disappointment, considering E-Verify to be a useful tool to protect jobs in the United States from going to illegal immigrants. From an employer standpoint, proponents point out employers who use E-Verify will not be guilty of knowingly hiring illegal aliens.
Critics, such as the Immigration Policy Center, have long criticized E-Verify because of the error rates and have warned of the danger of American workers losing or risking their jobs because of the shortcomings in E-Verify. The onus is on the contractor to disprove any findings of ineligibility. They also said E-Verify would slow the impact of the stimulus spending.
As posted in January on FedPoint!, May 21, 2009 remains the new postponed date of the FAR E-Verify rule which would require E-Verify for federal ID/IQ contracts and contracts worth more than $100,000.
Business Development Show Time – starting…Now!
by Mike Berger, Vice President, Advantage Consulting, Inc.
Wow… a new year, a new president, new people at every Federal agency (with a couple of exceptions), and, potentially, an entirely new slate of opportunities. So what to do?
Well, you can take ads in all the trade journals and hope someone reads them, or wait for the announcements in FedBizOpps and see about following up, or hire some new business development professionals and hope and pray they can fill your pipeline – OR – you might take a hard look at your strategic planning and business development processes and determine what’s needed to make them work better.
If that sounds like a plan, when are you going to start? Next quarter, this summer, “some day,” or how about RIGHT NOW. If there’s anything guaranteed in this world other than death and taxes, we can say for sure that the longer you wait to build an effective program the longer you are going to wait to see any significant results.
You didn’t think of that – OK, most people don’t – but now that you have, it’s time to assess. What are the corporate skills, capabilities, goals and strategies? What contacts do you have and which ones do you need to win? What have you been doing right and, equally important, what’s on the “don’t ever do that again” list? Is your staff involved (it is their company too you know), if not, why not, and how are you going to get them to participate?
Yeah, this is a tall order for any company but you can’t make money sitting on your butt. Need help? Call me. Mike Berger, 703-642-5153, cell 703-861-0726, or send me an email at mberger@acibiz.com. And, by the way, Happy New Year!
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What We Are Writing
- A Marriage of Inconvenience: GSA Schedule Contracts & The Contractor Code of Business Ethics & Conduct Clause
- Emerging Small Businesses: To Grow Your Business, You Must Plan For Growth
- Government Contracting: Look Before You Leap!
- GSA Schedules – Strategies for Success
- New Employee vs. Independent Contractor Considerations
- Pay on Display – Understanding the Executive Compensation and Subcontractor Data Reporting Requirements & Ramifications
- The GSA Schedule: Your Ticket to the Federal Market (May 2010)
- The New FAR Codes of Conduct and Compliance Program Provisions
- The Seven Deadly Sins (of contract compliance)