The pilot program for RFP-EZ has shown to have many advantages for the federal government. Not only did RFP-EZ make it faster and easier for federal agencies to acquire technology, but it also has the potential to create substantial savings for taxpayers. The Small Business Administration (SBA) analysis of four common IT projects showed that bids received on RFP-EZ came in 30% lower than similar bids received on the FedBizOpps procurement portal.

In recent months the General Services Administration (GSA) has placed significance on the importance of having a digital certificate. In fact, some GSA Schedules already require a digital certificate to access the applications GSA’s eOffer/eMod system. With the increased prominence and use of digital certificates it is important to be informed on what they are, why they are important and how to obtain them. A digital certificate is essentially a way of verifying an individual’s identity and securing internet transmissions. It is reassures the parties involved in the transmission, as it creates verifiable digital signatures and enables secure transmissions of data through encryption and decryption. It is for these added security and verification benefits that the GSA desires its contractors to have these digital certificates.

Breaking news was announced when the Inspector General (IG) released a report stating that The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has spent over $50 million on at least 220 conferences for their employers for the past three years. A total of three congressional committees are currently being investigated and a Justice Department criminal investigation is also under way, according to NBC.

The General Services Administration (GSA), in partnership with a federal cybersecurity interagency working group (comprised of members of the DoD, GSA, DHS, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)), released an RFI for stakeholders’ input to improve the governments’ cybersecurity acquisition and implementation.

According to a recent interview with the Federal Times, Acting GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini presented the case that GSA remains undaunted by current budgetary uncertainties. The agency is making efforts to expand market share by rededicating its efforts to channel more federal procurements through GSA contracts. In fact Tom Sharpe, GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service commissioner, highlighted in a separate interview that GSA is creating agency specific plans to help agencies cut costs and save money by using GSA programs and schedules.

If you recently had your GSA Schedule Contract canceled due to not meeting the minimum sales requirements, you might have been short changed. Since 2008, the General Services Administration (GSA) has failed to fulfill the Guaranteed Minimum Clause I-FSS-106, as reported by the U. S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Small Business. The clause serves to guarantee contractors within the Multiple Awards Schedules (MAS) Program a minimum of $2,500 in total orders. Should a contractor receive total orders for less than $2,500 at the expiration date of their contract or if cancellation is initiated by the government, GSA is to pay the difference. This minimum guarantee is essentially a payment by the government for the contractor’s promise to deliver the agreed upon goods and services at the agreed upon prices.