The General Services Administration (GSA) held its annual Industry Days for Schedules 56, 66, and 73 on February 21st and 22nd 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).

In an effort to create a new online portal to procure commercial goods, the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), issued a notice announcing their interest in opening public dialogue. In the notice, GSA and OMB sent a request for information from industry stakeholders about Section 846 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2018. Section 846, dubbed the “Amazon Amendment”, would give government agencies the opportunity to procure commercial off-the-shelf products through online commercial portals such as Amazon, Overstock and Staples. The undertaking would provide agencies with a new alternative to GSA’s decades-old procurement vehicles such as GSA Advantage!, GSA eBuy, GSA Global Supply, and the Federal Supply Schedule.

Just a few days into 2018, it’s clear that blockchain technology and cryptocurrency are hot topics whose popularity will continue to surge. In 2017, at times it seemed impossible to escape a discussion with peers about how we wish we’d invested in Bitcoin starting in 2009. The spike in public interest in blockchain-based cryptocurrency has nearly everyone taking note – now even the U.S. Government. What makes cryptocurrency so valuable is the underlying technology it depends on, called blockchain. Blockchain could have a dramatic impact on internet security and communications moving forward.

Networking with government buyers and other contractors can drive business success in 2018. Now is a great time to take a NEW approach to networking beyond the usual tactics. So, how do you capture the attention of decision makers in more innovative ways? Networking channels and tactics have changed as agencies now reach out to the private sector for help driving their missions. Last week’s HHS hackathon addressing the opoid crisis with data is just one example.

Government contracting is fiercely competitive today. Often, what drives your chance of capturing a win includes having a competitively-priced, unique or timely offering, or being small-business certified. One important factor in any win is whether your company is the contract incumbent, having already done business with the agency. Traditionally, being the incumbent gives you a competitive edge though the market is changing. New research on winners and losers Grant Thornton’s (GT) 2016 Government Contractor Survey collected and analyzed data from companies who primarily do business with the federal government during Fiscal Year 2016. For six years, this survey has shed light on how companies compete for contracts.