Hurricane season is approaching quickly, and if you've been watching any news related to the weather, you've seen how this season is predicted to be active and full of storms. On top of the recent unexpected earthquakes and tornadoes ripping through the mid-west, the government is going to be busy preparing and picking up the fallout from these natural disasters. In order to acquire the goods and services that are necessary to rebuild in a quick and efficient manner, many government agencies are purchasing items from commercial businesses through the General Services Administration (GSA) Disaster Recovery Purchasing Program. This program is an essential part of ensuring the government’s response to disasters is successful, cost-effective, and timely.

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.

In late March 2024, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) released a much-anticipated final solicitation for their $12.5 billion multiple award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The contract, Base Infrastructure Modernization (BIM), will span 10 years with a 5-year base period and then a follow-on 5-year option to extend. The solicitation was released via PIEE under the primary North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 517111, Wired Telecommunication Carriers.

Companies with federal contracts above the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) of $750,000 and categorized as “other than small” businesses, must have a subcontracting plan in place. Any business that’s in the process of acquiring a GSA Schedule contract knows that gathering all the documentation and forming the offer together requires time and patience. While you are going to focus on prioritizing time and energy on major bulks/sections of your proposal, it’s easy to put the subcontracting plan task on the back burner.

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.

Navigating the intricacies of government contracting is an important skill for businesses seeking to expand their presence in the federal market. While both federal and commercial avenues offer opportunities for growth and profitability, they come with their own unique sets of challenges and strategies. You’re most likely very familiar with the commercial world now, but may not have as much experience selling to the government. In this blog, we'll dive into the differences between selling to the government vs. commercially to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how you can succeed in the government market.