The Small Business Administration and private-sector partners are looking to give women-owned small businesses a better shot to entering the federal contracting market through their ChallengeHER program.
Source: SBA gives women-owned businesses better shot at federal market
Agencies have reminded their employees that ethics rules and guidelines apply during a government shutdown. Federal employees can not accept a gift during a shutdown that they wouldn’t otherwise accept during normal operations. On the other hand, agencies can not typically accept volunteers to provide services during a lapse in funding, nor can they accept volunteer service to replace the services they can’t provide during a lapse in appropriations. (Department of Justice)
Source: Reminder: No gifts for federal employees, even during a shutdown – Federal News Network
Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) have garnered significant attention recently because they help our government acquire innovative technologies much faster than typical Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)-based acquisitions, which can take years to complete. Some have called OTAs the “cool new thing” in acquisition—words you wouldn’t normally hear when talking about federal contracting.
Source: How OTA collaborations are streamlining government acquisitions
Just stop for a moment and think about the last 12 months in the federal technology community and all that has happened.
The excitement over IT modernization hit a crescendo with the Centers of Excellence effort coming together at the departments of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development. The Technology Modernization Fund is among the most watched initiatives in a long time despite the limited short-term impact it can have on agency modernization efforts.
Source: Why federal IT hit a crescendo in 2018 – Federal News Network
This week on Off the Shelf, Jason Miller, executive editor of the Federal News Network and Bill Gormley, president of the Gormley Group, take a look at the key programs, initiatives, and policies that shaped the 2018 year in procurement.
Source: 2018: The year in procurement – Federal News Network
This week on Amtower Off Center, host Mark Amtower interviews Washington Technology Editor in Chief Nick Wakeman regarding some of the top stories and issues from 2018 that may impact 2019.
Source: Contracting: A look back at 2018 and what’s ahead for 2019 – Federal News Network
Being a small business owner or a startup co-founder isn’t just a chance to make money, it’s a chance to make a tangible difference in the way people live their lives. Sometimes, it’s even about increasing accessibility to the most complicated processes. That’s exactly what Amelia Friedman, co-founder of Hatch Apps, is doing to expand the D.C. tech community.
Source: Why small business owners and investors should get involved – Federal News Network
Federal contractors are getting used to this shutdown dance by now.
With Congress and the White House seemingly closing in on a short term continuing resolution to fund the seven remaining appropriations bills at fiscal 2018 levels until Feb. 8, vendors are in limbo about what will happen to them and their contracts.
Source: Contractors better prepared for real or potential shutdown
It’s axiomatic, or it has been for decades, that pricing information in contract bids remains secret — not that contractors don’t sometimes try. Some recent Freedom of Information Act decisions have upheld that principle on recompetes. Attorney Terry O’Connor, a partner at Berenzweig Leonard, talked with Federal Drive with Tom Temin about it.
Source: Lawyer says keeping award details confidential beneficial for contractors