An agency’s delivery order was improper because it exceeded the scope of the underlying FSS blanket purchase agreement, according to a GAO bid protest decision.
Source: GAO: Agency’s Order Exceeded BPA Scope – SmallGovCon
The Treasury Department issued a “best value” solicitation for cybersecurity services. Blue Glacier was one of the bidders but its bid, according to the Treasury Department, was late. Bids were due at 2:00 PM (Eastern). Blue Glacier submitted its bid via email around 11:00 AM, approximately three hours before the cut-off. There was a problem however. Blue Glacier’s email bid, it was eventually discovered was quarantined in Treasury’s email filtering system due to suspected “phishing”. Blue Glacier assumed that its bid was received since previous correspondence to the same email address was received and responded to. After a couple of months and not hearing anything from Treasury, Blue Glacier contacted Treasury to inquire the status of the procurement. Treasury told Blue Glacier that it had never received its bid and was not in contention for the contract. When Treasury awarded the contract to another bidder, Blue Glacier appealed stating that:
The Labor Department’s new regulations reflect 45 years of legal developments.
In today’s Top Federal headlines, new rules help gov’t hire more small business subcontractors.
Source: New rules help agencies hire more small business subcontractors – FederalNewsRadio.com
The Modernizing Outdated and Vulnerable Equipment and Information Technology Act of 2016, or MOVE IT, directs individual agencies to establish IT working capital funds.
Source: Lawmakers Introduce Alternative to White House’s $3.1 Billion IT Modernization Fund – Nextgov.com
Federal agencies will continue to spend heavily on IT over the next five years, but the pace and direction of spending will be complicated by shifting priorities, congressional constraints and a presidential election. The bottom line is that the overall rate of IT spending will be above $98 billion each year for next six federal fiscal years, according to a forecast Deltek released last month.
Source: Changes in Federal IT Spending Require Nimble Contracting | Government | E-Commerce Times
The traditional processes that have dictated how the government buys technology have likely kept it from implementing a smorgasbord of ideas, Tony Scott says.
Source: Federal CIO Wants to Change How Government Accepts Unsolicited Ideas – Nextgov.com
This week we discuss a few more data trends relating to first-time awardees between FY 2013 and FY 2015. First-time contracts have grown over the last few years despite the contraction of the overall market. This is a nice silver lining on recent trends in the government contracting space indicating that new, small firms still have opportunity despite the overall decrease in spending and total new contract awards overall.
The leader of the Strategic Capabilities Office says acquisition can be bettered through looser requirements.
Source: Director of innovative DoD office lobbies for make or break acquisition – FederalNewsRadio.com
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Anniversary Event!
US FEDERAL GOVT CONTRACTORS
SUMMER SOIREE
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Networking Event
Monday, August 8, 2016
5.30pm – 7.30pm
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The John F. Kennedy Center
KC Café — Terrace Level
WASHINGTON DC