Government Contracting Blog

When the economy starts to turn south in the commercial sector, the public sector can start to look very appealing to a wide range of businesses. 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 public sector consultants, we at Winvale help our clients acquire a GSA Schedule and offer maintenance and compliance assistance throughout the entire contract. With 17 years of experience, we’ve seen the many ways our clients have profited from public sector consultants. Let’s examine how utilizing public sector consultants can be a worthwhile investment for you and you company:

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, GSA and the agencies procuring through GSA Schedules are adapting to the needs of American citizens. An increase in purchasing through the Schedules program has brought along a slew of revisions to procedures and procurement efforts. Normally we discuss contracting from the vendor perspective, however, it is important to understand changes on the procurement side in order to gauge contracting activity and efforts to prepare for potential contracting opportunities and partnerships. From a buyer’s perspective, one of the most significant changes by way of the pandemic is an update to both the Micro-Purchase (MPT) and Simplified Acquisition (SAT) Thresholds. 

In the United States and across the globe, citizens are adjusting to the new “normal” of social distancing, working remote, classes being cancelled, and the constant COVID-19 news cycle. For many, this is a jarring change of pace in the everyday and we’re all adjusting as further developments are announced. Will we all be working from our homes for another 3-4 weeks, or possibly more? It’s hard to tell at this time, but one thing that’s certain is the US Government’s need for innovative and valuable solutions in times of crisis. As part of the contracting community that provides these solutions for the government, GSA Schedule Contractors play an essential role in responding to and eventually resolving crises – and COVID-19 is no different. 

Last week the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) provided guidance to federal contractors regarding payment for contractors that have been impacted by coronavirus. Contractors that have received stop work orders or other delays may now be eligible for continued payment under OMB Memorandum M-20-18 and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). Section 3610 of the CARES Act, which we covered in a previous blog, provides further clarification under the following section of the act entitled “Federal Contractor Authority.” This section of the act states that Contracting Officers have the granted authority to continue paying contractors in order to maintain employment for contractor personnel, even if the contract is subject to a stop work order or other delay. 

On Friday, March 27th, President Trump signed a historic $2 Trillion Dollar Coronavirus aid package into law. This legislation, otherwise known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), will provide emergency relief to several groups including individuals, small businesses, large corporations, public health facilities, state and local governments, and education institutions. The CARES Act provides the largest emergency stimulus package in United States history as a result of bipartisan legislation negotiated by Democrats and Republicans to provide an immediate response to the growing COVID-19 crisis sweeping the nation.

The first case of Coronavirus in West Virginia occurred on Tuesday, March 17th, meaning the virus has now impacted all 50 states. With the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 climbing in the United States, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday afternoon that his administration is ramping up its response to the virus through invoking the Defense Product Act. President Trump said the following in response to invoking the Defense Product Act, “It can do a lot of good things, if we need it, and we will have it all completed, signing it in just a little while.”