The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a Shields Up Advisory amid growing geopolitical tensions surrounding Russia and Ukraine. In addition to the recent tensions, CISA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have observed regular targeting of U.S. cleared defense contractors (CDCs) by Russian-state sponsored cyber actors from January 2020 to February 2022.

In the wave of modernizing sites like SAM.gov, the Vendor Support Center (VSC) and GSA Interact, GSA is transitioning from the DUNS number to a new Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Starting April 4, 2022, the new Unique Entity ID will the be official governmentwide identifier used for federal awards. This means the third-party DUNS number will be retired, and you will need a Unique Entity ID found in the System for Award Management (SAM) to do business with the government. This change is part of an effort to streamline systems within GSA. So, how can you prepare for this? Here are some tips to make sure the transition goes smoothly for you and your business.

The word “contract” may sound binding by nature, but since you can have your GSA Schedule for up to 20 years, it’s bound to change. Whether it’s your prices, the products and services you offer, or your company address, you’ll inevitably need to make changes. This can be done through GSA Schedule modifications. Modifications are an important part of managing your GSA Schedule and are required to keep your contract current, complete, and accurate.

If you have dealt with the federal government before whether it’s for taxes, going to the DMV, or applying for a grant, you know that you have to abide by a set of rules and follow a specific procedure. The same goes for federal contracting. Contractors and government agencies follow the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) when they want to sell or buy through government contracts. The FAR is essentially the “rulebook” for federal procurement. While there are several important clauses in the FAR, we’ll highlight 4 clauses you should pay special attention to as a current or prospective GSA contractor.

GSA Advantage!, an online shopping platform for government buyers, acts much like Amazon. A government buyer can hop onto the site, type in a keyword for what they need or browse by several categories, and electronically purchase products in just a few clicks. But what happens next? We talk a lot about how important it is as a GSA contractor to maximize your product listings on GSA Advantage! and keep it updated, but once a buyer chooses one of your items, it’s just as important to know how to handle the backend of the orders.

When it comes to traveling, whether it’s for a vacation, visiting family, or for work, expenses can pile up. Luckily, for GSA Schedule contract holders, several costs associated with traveling under your contract are covered by Joint Travel Regulations (JTRs). Joint Travel Regulations establish travel and transportation allowances. Depending on the agency you are performing the work under, JTRs could also be referred to as Federal Travel Regulations (FTRs), which are similar in nature. Here’s what you need to know about Joint Travel Regulations and when they apply to you.