The last quarter of the federal fiscal year is always important, but in this case it will be unusually so for government contractors.
Source: Focus is Essential to Success at Federal Year-End | Onvia
The former head of the General Services Administration’s Federal Acquisition Service and his deputy have formed a new consultancy after leaving the agency.
Former FAS Commissioner Tom Sharpe and Deputy Commissioner Kevin Youel Page told FCW in an interview that they founded Onetegrity on July 7.
When it comes to federal procurement, the frequency and expectation of protests has had a palpable, costly, and sometimes deleterious effect on the process and those competing in it. Most companies now add an extra six to 12 months to their revenue projections in order to account for possible protests.
Source: Senate attempt to reduce protests misses the point — Washington Technology
Technology has helped the government become more efficient and transparent in many areas. That hasn’t been the case, however, for a law written to increase transparency. Now a group of agency and private-sector officials are working with agencies to develop recommendations to improve the situation.
Source: The future of FOIA — FCW
For the past several years, government spending on contracts has been stagnant or decreased. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) Contracting Data Analysis Assessment of Government-wide Trends Report (March 2017) found “that while defense obligations to buy products and services decreased by almost 31 percent from fiscal year 2011 through 2015, from $399 billion to $274 billion, civilian obligations remained fairly steady” at an average $128.3B. The Administration’s 2018 budget is likely to change spending dynamics with a proposed $54B increase in defense spending and decreases in civilian agencies ranging from a high of 33% at the Department of State to a low of 1% for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Source: How government contractors can grow in an increasingly competitive and stagnant market | Lohfeld
Supporters say measure would protect federal employees from seeing their jobs contracted out.
Source: Annual Defense Bill Aims to Rein in Pentagon Outsourcing – Contracting – GovExec.com
Federal agencies already under the gun to modernize their information technology capabilities have a new set of standards to meet as a result of an executive order President Donald Trump issued this spring. The directive not only will affect agency managers in their IT operations and acquisition activities, but also will have a significant effect on IT vendors.
Source: New Cybersecurity Policy Will Impact Federal IT Market | Government | E-Commerce Times
On the heels of a reorganization at the General Services Administration that folded the Technology Transformation Service into the Federal Acquisition Service in June, GSA announced that the entire management team for the One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services contracts will be moving to the Federal Systems Integration and Management Center to take on as yet undefined responsibilities.
Government market expert Mark Amtower advises on the importance of attending the right trade shows and other marketing events as the curtain comes down on the federal fiscal year.
Source: Mark Amtower: To boost end of fiscal year sales, choose events wisely
Companies selling to the Defense Department may be overlooking something serious under consideration by Congress. That’s a provision in the 2018 Defense authorization bill to stop DoD agencies from buying off the General Services Administration’s multiple award schedule. But sellers should never leave to chance which vehicle their customers use. Larry Allen, president of Allen Federal Business Partners, shares more on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.
Source: Larry Allen: NDAA provision alters DoD acquisition process – FederalNewsRadio.com
