Although GSA’s Industrial Operations Analysts (IOAs) conduct contractor assessments throughout the entire year, for some reason we see an increase in these right around this time every year. Contractor Assessments, previously called Contractor Assistance Visits (CAVs), are GSA’s way of periodically checking GSA Schedule Holders’ compliance with their agreed upon terms and conditions of their contract.

As a General Service Administration (GSA) Schedule vendor, one of the most critical tasks in maintaining your contract is reporting sales and remitting the Industrial Funding Fee (IFF) to GSA. After each quarter, GSA vendors are required to report their sales through what is called the 72A Reporting System.

Government contracting can be hard to get into—there’s so much to learn! However, like any field, you need to nurture it and let your knowledge grow.

To help with that process, we’ve gathered some resources to help in three key areas: Instructional, Compliance, and Market Research.

 

As a government contractor, you may have noticed the “spending spree” trend of the Fourth Quarter (Q4). Almost 1/3 of all federal contract dollars are awarded during Q4 consistently from year to year as many of the Federal agencies have “use it or lose it” budgets.

As a contractor, you should be prepared for this increase of business. Check out these tips to help your business take advantage of the government’s extra spending!

There is no time like the present to start keeping up with U.S. federal news. I know you may be thinking we’re talking about politics, but the reality is that Federal news covers much more than that and often covers news directly related to government contracting.

The Mentor-Protégé (MP) program is a great program for small or disadvantaged businesses just starting out in government contracting or for businesses that need a helping hand when it comes to growing their government contracting practice. The Mentor-Protégé program may work with any business size, including other than small (mid-sized) businesses. The Small Business Administration (SBA) developed two of the most well-known MP programs: the All Small Mentor-Protégé Program and the 8(a) Small Business Mentor-Protégé Program.

The General Services Administration (GSA) held its annual Industry Days for Schedules 56, 66, and 73 on February 21^st and 22^nd this year in Fort Worth, TX. Invitations are sent out in advance to current Schedule contract holders, and this event provides a forum for open discussion about managing a contract on these schedules, communication with buying agencies and networking with other contractors. Sometimes for contractors, it can feel like you’re working against GSA to maintain and manage your contract; but this event highlights the importance of the relationship GSA has with its contractors and their mutual desire for success and sales.

In the world of government contracting, rules and regulations are everything. Just as contractors have to follow procurements laws, agencies do as well. If agencies do not follow the rules, contractors could file a bid protest against them through the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

This month we focused on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, covering what a NAICS code is, how to use codes to determine if your organization qualifies as a small business, top spending trends and much more. Now that you know about NAICS codes, start using them now to find opportunities!

Each year, the government spends millions on a vast array of goods and services, buying everything from office supplies and airplanes to fitness equipment. Given the volume of procurement activities, where do you start? You can narrow down opportunities using these codes in the right way. Your NAICS codes help focus your opportunity searches, so you can zero in on the right opportunities for YOUR business.

So many acronyms, so little time! Early in my government contracting career, I had to learn a new language as new acronyms filled every page I read! To help you better understand the federal government’s world, here are the top 10 need-to-know abbreviations this year:

1. NAICS Code- North American Industry Classification System code. Your NAICS codes help determine if you qualify as a small business. Through the Small Business Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA) established size standards for NAICS codes so businesses can understand their designation and see relevant opportunities for which they qualify. Learn more about NAICS codes and see if you qualify as a small business  here.