Government Contracting Blog

The Department of Homeland Security recently gained a new agency thanks to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2018. The agency, called the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), focuses on U.S. cybersecurity, infrastructure security, and emergency communications. This new initiative will require the collaboration of a variety of private and public-sector organizations, which could mean great upcoming opportunities for government contractors!

Applying for a GSA Schedule can be a great way to grow your business, but it is not an easy and quick task, as many companies already know. What’s surprising is that the “fun” part, in the full sense of the word, begins after your contract has been awarded. Many companies achieve successful sales and retain their contract with the Government for 20 years, while others don’t even last 2 years or less from the inception date.

As a GSA MAS Schedule Contract holder, it’s important to stay current with all solicitation refreshes and potential changes to your Schedule contract. Each Schedule undergoes updates via refreshes periodically, and often, GSA will release a Request for Information to compile feedback and pertinent data from those whom the changes directly affect.

If you are reading this, you have probably heard about GSA contracts. Maybe you have read about its numerous advantages and how, for commercially successful companies, getting on a GSA schedule substantially streamlines the federal contracting process. As with many important matters, the next question that likely arises is, "so how long will it take?"

On September 4, 2018, Congress passed a bill titled “Securing the Homeland Security Supply Chain Act of 2018 (H.R. 6430)” following a bipartisan introduction led by Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. Some have noted that the bill appears to come in response largely to a growing concern over commercially-successful companies who have been contracted by the U.S. government, particularly in the IT industry, that later demonstrated to pose significant supply chain risks that are a threat to national security. While these reports generally entail foreign-based cyber firms, the bill seeks to address risky vendors both internationally and domestically.

It’s reporting season, so now is a good time to be conducting a self-audit of your invoicing practices and the repercussions for contractor visits. GSA has two types of visits: Annual Assessments and End of Term Assessments. Annual Assessments will occur every year for contractors that produce more than $150,000 in sales. End of Term Assessments will occur for all contractors approximately 12 months prior to their contract extension.