NAICS code appeals can be very powerful, as demonstrated by a recent NAICS code appeal in which the size standard changed from 500 employees to $15 million.
Source: NAICS Code Appeal Dramatically Alters Size Standard – SmallGovCon
There’s little expectation that Congress will pass a budget. Federal contractors have been calm to this point, but what happens if the stopgap measures are relied on for too long or the government shuts down?
Government procurement is a landscape that never stops changing. With rapid evolution in technology it’s common for agencies to put out bids and RFPs for complex services such as cyber security, a concept that wasn’t even on the radar of government buyers just a few years ago…until now.
Source: How Onvia’s Advanced Search Technology Helps Clients Easily Find Cyber Security Projects | Onvia
The Department of Defense (DOD) updated its guidance late last week on commercial item determinations and the determination of price reasonableness for commercial items. Although there is a current DFARS (DoD FAR Supplement) case making its way through the rule-making process (see DFARS Case 2016-D0006), the DoD wants to jump-start the process to improve consistency and timeliness.
Source: PNWC’s Government Contracting Update: More Prodding by DoD to Increase Use of Commercial Pricing
DISA may have to rework several elements of its Encore III solicitation but LPTA will remain a key component of the $17.5 billion IT services contract.
Source: DISA loses Encore III protests but LPTA survives — Washington Technology
DoD appointed 18 members to yet another advisory committee to study the acquisition system. But this one has a much more specific task.
Source: Pentagon appoints panel to scrub acquisition regulations
GAO explicitly rejected the claim that the agency shouldn’t have used LPTA, saying the decision was justified.
Source: GAO details rationale in ENCORE III bid protest, says LPTA wasn’t the problem – FederalNewsRadio.com
SDVOSB fraud, in which a prime and subcontractor agreed to a pass-through arrangement, voided the underlying SDVOSB prime contract.
Source: SDVOSB Fraud: “Pass-Through” Voided Contract – SmallGovCon
Steve Kelman shares a longtime executive’s less-than-rosy report on federal IT.
Onvia recently conducted a survey of government procurement professionals from around the country. One of the highlighted findings that the survey revealed was that 42% of procurement staff reported that on average their competitive bids and RFPs did not receive enough bidders. We think this is something that can be improved with better collaboration between the procurement community and vendors. Here’s more:
Source: 42% of Procurement Staff Report Not Receiving Enough Bidders | Onvia