A new Final Rule will introduce the support of price competition in AbilityOne Program contracts. The Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, which operates as the U.S. AbilityOne Commission, published a Final Rule in late March clarifying the Commission’s authority to consider different pricing methodologies. The rule went into effect on April 22, 2024. Since the Program’s inception in the 1930s, price hasn’t been a major factor in awards, unlike the rest of the government contracting world. Let’s talk about this new legislation and how it impacts government contractors.

As global conflicts continue, causing inflation, supply chain shortages, and other negative economic impacts, many businesses turn to the public sector to expand their markets and find a more stable stream of opportunities. Even if the commercial markets are not performing well, the government is always in need of supplies and services to keep our agencies and programs running. However, even if you know some of the government contracting basics, getting your own government contract and finding time to maintain contract compliance can be a large ordeal to take on yourself. As GSA Schedule consultants, we at Winvale help our clients acquire a GSA Schedule and offer maintenance and compliance assistance throughout the entire contract. With over 20 years of experience, we’ve seen the many ways our clients have profited from public sector consultants. But we know it's not always easy to justify hiring someone to help you through this process.

When you go through the GSA Schedule acquisition process, you are evaluated on many levels. From administrative and financial records, to past performance and your pricing, GSA takes a close look at your company. This is because GSA wants to ensure you are going to be a reliable contractor and can supply the products and services you intend to offer. However, once you have made it successfully through the acquisition process and are awarded your GSA Schedule contract, the evaluations don’t necessarily evaporate.

Two U.S. Senators recently introduced a bipartisan bill to cut through some of the red tape of the procurement process and make it more accessible for agencies and contractors. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Ted Cruz (R-TX), jointly introduced this legislation titled the Federal Improvement in Technology Procurement Act, or FIT Act for short.

GSA has been teasing a spring Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation Refresh release for the past few months, and the time has come—Refresh #20 will be released in April 2024. This Refresh will be accompanied by a Mass Modification, which must be accepted within 90 days. Let’s talk about this Refresh including what changes GSA plans to make and how it affects you as a contractor, so you’re well prepared to accept the Mass Modification when it’s released.

As a small business GSA contractor, it’s essential to understand if your company qualifies for additional set-asides. Depending on your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code, you could qualify for certain small business contracting programs or opportunities that are only available to a certain subset of contractors. There are several types of socio-economic set-asides including veteran-owned/service-disabled veteran-owned, economically disadvantaged, women-owned, and historically underutilized business zones. This blog takes an in-depth look at one program specifically: the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program. Let's talk about the WOSB program, how to certify, and benefits it could bring your business.