We've learned in the past few years that cybersecurity scams are on the rise, and they aren't as simple as the infamous gift cards for your boss gimmick. Bad actors have become more skilled in their phishing and hacking, making it more important than ever to have a strong cybersecurity posture. As a government contractor, you inevitably deal with sensitive government information, data, and software, so there are certain government regulations you have to follow to defend against compromising your network.

The day has arrived—after over 5 years of development and delays, the Department of Defense (DoD) has released the final rule for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). It was released for public comment earlier this week and officially published in the Federal Register on October 15. The rule will take effect on December 16, 2024, and will establish the CMMC program and process into law. Let’s dive into what this rule entails and the timeline for implementation so you can be prepared for this new requirement.

When we enter a new year, it’s common to spend time reflecting on the past year and set goals for the next 365 days. While our calendar year isn’t over just yet (don’t worry we aren’t glossing over Halloween), the federal government Fiscal year (FY) just ended on September 30th, and we are taking the time to glance back at 2024 and report our findings.

To answer your question right away, no, you don’t have to hire a consultant. GSA doesn't require you to have help, but the real question is—will you need it? This is a question that many contractors do not consider initially, and may end up needing assistance last minute. If you have several years of experience selling to the government and have a team dedicated to government acquisition and sales, you probably won’t need to hire someone. However, many of our clients are small businesses who may not have the bandwidth or resources to handle GSA Schedule acquisition and maintenance. Your GSA Schedule contract can last up 20 years, and within that timeframe it requires a lot of special attention, beyond the initial process of getting your contract awarded.

Another opportunity is on the horizon for GSA IT contractors. GSA has released the final draft solicitation for Pool 1 of their new Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) called Ascend. This contract vehicle will serve as a one-stop-shop for government customers to acquire secure cloud service offerings from GSA contractors. The first pool focuses on Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (Paas), and will be followed by 2 other pools geared toward Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and and cloud-IT related professional services. Let’s breakdown this upcoming BPA and what it could mean for you as a GSA IT contractor.

Every four years, as U.S. citizens, we elect a new President, Vice President, and an assortment of Congressional Representatives and Senators. Throughout the campaign trail, one of the most important, if not the top issue at hand will be government spending and budget. As taxpayers, it’s natural for us to want some insight and agency over how the government spends money and what initiatives they have on the horizon.