Acting as One for Smarter Acquisition

With the GSA on a never ending mission to simplify and streamline procurement and acquisition, the Acquisition Gateway is a newly updated tool for the Federal Acquisition Workforce to collaborate and better understand the needs of end users. It’s becoming a smart system for acquisition learning.

You might be thinking- how many different tools do the Contracting Officers really need? They already have access to not only all the same website that contractors do, such as www.gsaadvantage.gov and www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov but they have comparison features and competitive analysis features that contractors don’t have access to.

But the Acquisition Gateway is a little bit different. It's a work space for Federal Contracting Officers, which will help them learn the best ways to do their jobs. In turn, that helps the contractors! It’s collaboration tool that can crowd source information from purchasing experts within the Federal Acquisition Workforce to benefit everyone. It’s a more effective tool to find solution comparisons, tools, templates, success stories, and prices paid data, creating more successful outcomes at each step of the acquisition lifecycle.

The Gateway is broken up into 19 separate hallways: Administrative Support, Card Services, Cleaning Supplies & Chemicals, Employee Relocation, Facilities & Maintenance, Freight, IT Hardware, IT Security, IT Services, IT Software, Motor Vehicles, Professional Services, Security & Protection, Small Package Delivery, Talent Development, Telecommunications, Tools & Hardware, Travel, and Workplace Environment. For each hallway, there is a plethora of information provided like expert articles on subject matter, solution finders to make sure they are buying exactly what they need, historical pricing data and community support.

Currently, the tools are only open to Federal government users, but public access is a priority. Contractors will have access to some (but not all) of the same tools as they work on RFPs and pricing their products and services for the government marketplace.

If you’re interested in seeing what exactly the newest updates are, the GSA has created a handy infographic to explain everything. There’s also a great preview video showing what’s new and what’s coming up. 

Special requirements for GSA Schedules

Last week we discussed the MOBIS requirements and received a lot of emails requesting more information about other requirements for different schedules. I thought it would be beneficial to just go over a few requirements that are applied to all schedules:
Financials: for every offer a company must submit two years of balance sheets and income statements. You will not be awarded a schedule if you do not complete this requirement. If there are any negatives on your financials, you must explain why.
Invoices: If your company is submitting a Commercial Pricelist you will need to submit invoices for pretty much every line item on that CPL. The invoices must be within 3 years of submitting.
Labor Categories: for every labor category submitted, there must be a description, minimum education requirement, and minimum years experience attached.
Pathways Training Certificate
FOR NON-VA OFFERS:

o   Digital Certificate: every offer that is not a VA offer must have proof of a digital certificate. If you do not have a digital certificate than you will not be able to submit your offer

o   Open Ratings Report

Again, please let us know if you have any questions. We’d be happy to help explain the requirements in more depth because really this blog just scratches the surface.

Feel free to email us at info@gvoconsvcs.com if there is anything else you’d like more clarification on!

Two Ways That Small Businesses Can Simplify Their Government Purchases

Among America’s small businesses—especially those with 20 employees or less-- that seek government contracts, many are too resource strapped to handle the burdensome paperwork involved.  Recognizing this, the federal government has at least two programs that significantly reduce the red tape. 

One involves federal contracts that meet the Simplified Acquisition threshold which involves most government purchases of less than $150,000.  The paperwork for such contracts is less onerous. 

A second way is with micro-purchases.  These purchases typically are under $3,500 but can range up to $15,000 with some government purchasing officers who have an extra allotment of SmartPay credits.  The benefit of micro-purchases is that small companies can make these without having to register on www.FedBizOpps.com.   To find out more, read paragraphs 1 and 2 of 3 Easy Ways For Small Businesses to Wind Government Contracts According to US Federal Contractor Registration.  Just click on the following link:  http://www.itbusinessnet.com/article/3-Easy-Ways.    

GSA: Doubling Market Share by 2017?

With high hopes, new interactive purchasing tools, and a new digital system of contracting offerings the GSA plans to more than double its market share of government spending. Commissioner Tom Sharpe feels it is time for the GSA to really show what it is capable of and how it can help other government agencies.

“I would argue the Federal Acquisition Service at GSA should be a centralized buyer — and we are going to make that case and we are going to fight for that,” Sharpe said to the Federal Times. He also stated that the agency plans to boost its market share from 14 to 33 percent by the end of FY2016.

Sharpe claims that the GSA is able to give customers data on what they are spending on goods and services. With this data the GSA is able to see if there is a way to save any money by using different contracts or implementing internal reforms.

By the end of 2015 the GSA will make the website interactive and will provide the tools agencies need to enter into contracts, giving them the opportunity to choose the services they want. These areas will include professional services, human resources, transportation services, and IT hardware and software.

The GSA is also making its new contracts more flexible to avoid wasting money on contract duplicates. An example of this new model is the recently released OASIS contract.

Sharpe realizes that this is a huge challenge is aware that mistakes are possible but what is important is that they learn from those mistakes and reach the end goal.