A lot of businesses are looking to the federal government and the public sector to keep their businesses profitable during an economically uncertain time. Thankfully, the U.S. government is taking steps to try to help out Economically Disadvantaged Businesses through methods like those outlined in the OMB Memorandum. The federal government is also prepared for times of emergencies and has put statutes and clauses in place that specifically address small business set-asides and sole-source opportunities in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Stafford Act. If you and your company are economically disadvantaged due to the effects of the Coronavirus, let’s review how set asides, sole source opportunities, and the updates to the MAS program can help your business.

As "shelter in place" orders are mandated across the country, unemployment surges, and commercial businesses are being required to close their doors, COVID-19 has caused considerable uncertainty for U.S. companies. Working with commercial customers can be confusing and concerning for small business as many consumers are looking to tighten their belts to face the economic hardship that the Coronavirus has caused. Thankfully there are some markets that are stable and even growing during this uncertain time. Selling to the government is a safe opportunity during times of crisis. With the $2 Trillion Coronavirus Stimulus Package coming into play, the federal government is one of the safest buyers in the world, and they need solutions now more than ever. Selling to the government is significantly different than selling commercial during times of crisis. The government is buying more due to the crisis and with the government’s fourth quarter quickly approaching, the government is buying on an even larger scale.

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.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been a main topic of discussion in recent months as it has continued to spread rapidly worldwide. Since the Coronavirus hit the United States, the US Federal Government as well as State and Local Governments have had to take action to respond to this global pandemic. With that action comes the need for solutions. Federal Government Contractors – get ready for a rapid increase in sales.

As the nation battles the coronavirus pandemic, the government has stepped in and spending has risen at the federal, local, and state levels. Always one of the government’s primary procurement vehicles, the GSA Schedule contracts become especially important during national emergencies because of the Disaster Recovery purchasing which can be added to contracts.

As the Coronavirus continues to surge, federal, state, and local governments are working to respond in a timely manner to reach those most susceptible to the disease and slow the spread. While social distancing is something that we all can do as individuals to respond to the crisis, it’s important to note how federal contractors come into the mix. We’ve mentioned how the General Services Administration can prepare for the pandemic and how contractors can best come to the aid of state and local governments through the Disaster Purchasing Program. Now that the military is starting to be called to contain the coronavirus, it’s crucial to consider how defense contracts will play the situation surrounding COVID-19. Enter DPAS. The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) is used to prioritize national defense-related contracts/orders throughout the U.S. supply chain in order to support military, energy, homeland security, emergency preparedness, and critical infrastructure requirements. We’ve broken down DPAS to show you how it applies to you as a defense contractor.