Surprisingly the answer is in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). By placing an order in accordance with FAR 8.4, the ordering agency achieves best value at the lowest overall cost alternative to meet the government’s need. Or in plain English, the system works – pricing is good – when you use it like you areRead… Read more »
The Coalition hopes everyone had a wonderful Independence Day! July 4th reminds me that it is time to start thinking about the Coalition’s annual fundraiser, the Wounded Veterans Fund Golf Tournament. This year’s tournament will be held on August 29th at Whiskey Creek Golf Course (back by popular demand). Due to the generous support fromRead… Read more »
On June 22, 2012, the Office of Management and Budget issued a Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agenciesentitled “Reducing Reporting and Paperwork Burdens.” The memorandum states that “Eliminating unjustified regulatory requirements, including unjustified reporting and paperwork burdens is a high priority of this Administration.” It then directs agencies to take further stepsRead… Read more »
Guest Blogger: Carolyn Alston, Executive Vice President and General Counsel I read with interest Steve Kempf’s, testimony before the Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce. Kempf, who is GSA’s Commissioner for the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) acknowledged that GSA needs greater agility, federal agencies need faster access to emerging solutions, and GSA needs toRead… Read more »
Last week the General Services Administration (GSA) announced its Demand Based Model for the Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) program. Under the Demand Based Model GSA will close some schedules for new offers ending continuous open seasons for those schedules or for certain SINs within a schedule. GSA’s goal is to balance the number of scheduleRead… Read more »
In thinking about the Next Generation Schedules initiative, I am reminded of Redskins Coach George Allen’s famous quote “The future is now.” The time for the Next Generation Schedules is NOW. In responding to the budgetary challenges facing GSA’s customer agencies, the federal government will increasingly look to shared services models to leverage resources andRead… Read more »
As promised, this week’s blog post proposes draft Best Practices for Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs). The purpose is to promote practices that enhance competition and opportunity for government and industry. Sound FSS BPAs leverage requirements and deliver best value to customer agencies. Correspondingly, sound FSS BPAs result in positive business outcomesRead… Read more »
Guest Bloggers: Richard Oliver and Agustin Orozco McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP The Small Business Administration (“SBA”) recently issued a proposed rule which, for the first time, would allow venture capital operating companies, hedge funds and private equity firms (“investment companies”) to meaningfully participate in the Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) and Small Business TechnologyRead… Read more »
The operative message from last week’s GSA Expo is that GSA has an opportunity for constructive change. During his meeting with the Coalition, Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini discussed the ongoing top down review of GSA’s operations and his outreach to customer agencies regarding how GSA can provide even greater value in delivering sound, efficient andRead… Read more »
Guest Bloggers: Christopher Loveland and Jonathan Aronie, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP Since 2005, anyone with even a passing familiarity with GSA’s Multiple Award Schedules Program knows that compliance with the Trade Agreements Act is a key enforcement area of the Office of Inspector General, the Department of Justice, and whistleblowers. It was inRead… Read more »