GAO denied a protest where offeror’s proposed product did not meet agency’s salient characteristics–should the offeror have filed a pre-award protest?
Source: Salient Characteristics in Government Solicitations: Close Isn’t Good Enough – SmallGovCon
A Health and Human Services Department small business specialist had a simple and straightforward message for contractors at Washington Technology’s HHS Industry Day recently: “ACT” differently in today’s market.
Source: HHS message to contractors: ‘ACT’ right — Washington Technology
Both the civilian and defense sides of the government are seeing procurement reforms launched by both the administration and Congress. Where is it all heading? Hundreds of vendors and government managers explored that topic last week. Alan Chvotkin, executive vice president and counsel at the Professional Services Council gives a recap on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.
Source: Alan Chvotkin: Industry, federal leaders explore procurement reform – FederalNewsRadio.com
Finally, after eleven years, something different. “Federal TechTalk” has spent over a decade conducting weekly interviews with a wide range of people and topics. The focus is on how to help the beleaguered federal information technology professional.
Source: “…And now for something completely different.” – FederalNewsRadio.com
Offerors must avail themselves of every reasonable opportunity to obtain solicitation documents. Otherwise, they risk being eliminated from consideration.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an RFQ (Request for Quotation) to provide armed and unarmed detention officer services in California. Nu-Way security and Investigative Services (Nu-Way) was one of the bidders. DHS issued four solicitation amendments. Three of the four extended the deadline for proposal submissions. Amendment No. 2 made several changes including three modifications to the pricing spreadsheet including a transition period line item, a project manager for San Diego, and increased mileage reimbursement rates. All of these changes were summarized on page one of the amendment.
Source: PNWC’s Government Contracting Update: Failure to Submit “Responsive” Offer Leads to Lost Opportunity
I just returned from the Annual meeting of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) in Austin, Texas. With 46 state governments represented and over 650 technology professionals in attendance, NASCIO continues to maintain its status as the premier conference for access to state CIOs.
If small businesses are the backbone to our economy, then veterans of the armed forces are the backbone of our country. Even after their sacrifices through military service, many veterans continue to serve our great nation by providing innovative information technology (IT) solutions to government.
GSA prides itself on delivering mission critical IT solutions that make a meaningful difference to the agencies we support and the citizens that count on them. This philosophy is at the center of our development of new IT contract vehicles and I’m proud that it played a vital role as GSA created our new Veterans Technology Services 2 (VETS 2) Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC).
Source: Veterans Technology Services 2 (VETS 2) GWAC Awarded
Senior leaders at CACI explained on a Nov. 2 earnings call that bookings were down in the most recent fiscal quarter in part because federal agencies are bridging existing contracts rather than making awards in recompetes while the gears grind on reorganization plans.
This week on “Off the Shelf”, Bob Metzger from Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, P.C., tackles the “cyber DFARS.”
As a widely acknowledged thought leader on cyber compliance, Metzger analyzes the Department of Defense’s new cyber rule, Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting.
He sets the stage by expanding on the nature and extent of the cyber threat for government and industry. Metzger highlights the key goals of the new rule and what it means for contractors.
He shares his insights regarding the timing for compliance with the new cyber rule and its key features, including the role and content of the contractor’s System Security Plan (SSP).
Source: DFARS: What does it mean for contractors? – FederalNewsRadio.com
This week on “Amtower Off Center”, host Mark Amtower interviews Cameron Leuthy and Dan Snyder, both from Bloomberg Government in a wide-ranging discussion on government contracting.
Cameron Leuthy & Dan Snyder, Bloomberg Government
Topics include:
- the emerging contractual landscape (contracts in process and those soon to be awarded)
- BGovs top 20 opportunities for 2018
- BGov special reports on CDM and HCatTS
- which contracts will be hot for training opportunities
- hot areas for the Army and the IC
- funding awards under a CR, including OTAs