The General Services Administration (GSA) has been investing in sustainable, innovative technologies, as a part of America’s economic recovery. For the last year under Martha N. Johnson’s new leadership GSA has supported sustainable industries including green buildings. Federal buildings are being made green by modernizing them both externally and internally and equipping them with the latest sustainable technologies. Some of these cutting edge technologies include green and reflective roofs, solar panels, temperature-adjusting envelopes, high-insulation/performance windows, energy-saving heating and cooling systems and low-flow plumbing. GSA reports that these innovations will immediately improve the performance of federal buildings and save millions of taxpayer dollars in the long term.

It’s no secret that the business landscape has changed over the last decade. It has been irrevocably altered in many of the same ways as the world around us. In both our private lives and commercial endeavors, there is an increased level of connectivity that allows for near instant sharing of thoughts, plans, and ideas. Anyone with an internet connection, meaning everyone, can immediately flood the world with their thoughts on the latest congressional budgetary hearings, or how their server messed up their lunch order, or anything in between. We all know the names of the assorted sites and services that can be used in this manner so I won’t mention them directly in this post (not that we are afraid of you. Bring it on Zuckerberg; your character didn’t seem so tough in the movie). It is clear that in the modern world, and as an extension of that, the modern business landscape, communication has become a core tenet of existence. Nowhere is that more true than in the world of government contracting. With the new Open Government initiatives, critical news and information from the government itself seems to be coming from every imaginable source. In addition to this, most contractors are now attempting to utilize new web based tools to increase efficiency both in house and with partners. There often seems to be a swirl of information around us, and it is up to the diligent contractor to pull out and retain the most relevant bits and pieces as he builds his federal contracting strategy. Without the right information, and the ability to find it at the exact moment it is needed, your government contracting efforts will appear substandard in relation to your peers. Having more information from the government, and increased communication both in-house and with industry partners, stands to increase your value in a competitive marketplace.

As a part of America’s economic recovery the General Services Administration (GSA) has been investing in sustainable, innovative technologies. For the last year under Martha N. Johnson’s new leadership GSA has supported sustainable industries including green buildings. Federal buildings are being made green by modernizing them both externally and internally and equipping them with the latest sustainable technologies. Some of these cutting edge technologies include green and reflective roofs, solar panels, temperature-adjusting envelopes, high-insulation/performance windows, energy-saving heating and cooling systems and low-flow plumbing. GSA reports that these innovations will immediately improve the performance of federal buildings and save millions of taxpayer dollars in the long term.

As of February 4, 2011, Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) can begin taking steps toward participating in a new federal contracting program that is aimed at expanding their federal contracting opportunities. Back in 2000, a study found that WOSBs were receiving merely 2.3% of the $200 billion federal contracts awarded annually—a far cry from the 5% goal projected by the federal government. While the process for increasing opportunities to WOSBs has been slow, this month the initiative has taken major steps. With this new initiative referred to as the Small Business Administration's (SBA) 8(m) program, contracting officers now have the capability to set-aside certain federal contracts for eligible WOSBs or Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSBs). The WOSB Program identifies 83 four-digit North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) codes where WOSBs are underrepresented or substantially underrepresented. Starting July 2011, Contracting Officers may set aside contracts in these industries if the contract can be awarded at a "fair and reasonable price", the contracting officer has a reasonable expectation that two or more WOSBs or EDWOSBs will submit offers for the contract and the anticipated contract price is not greater than $5 million for manufacturing contracts and $3 million for other contracts.

Does your company have any skeletons in its’ closet? Any records of suspension, debarment, or non-responsibility determinations? Has a procurement official ever denied or reduced your award fee as a result of reckless or negligent behavior? Or perhaps your contract was recently terminated all together for fault and defective price determinations? Are you sure?? If your answer is “Yes” to any of the above, you may be disheartened to learn that a new government database tracking contractor misconduct and performance is expected to be made public by April 15, 2011. In a dramatic attempt to shed light on the conduct of firms that do business with the government, the GSA will be opening up its Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) for public viewing. The publicizing of this system, which was previously available only to federal officials, will fulfill a provision in the wartime supplemental appropriations bill signed by President Obama in July, 2010, which requires that GSA disclose on a public website all information in FAPIIS.

Lately I have been using the GSA Schedule Sales Query often to help clients conduct research regarding sales made using GSA Schedule contracts. This tool is incredibly useful in providing historical sales data across different categories from the past five years. I wanted to provide an overview of how the system works and some possible uses for this wide variety of data.