Coronavirus Pandemic: How Does the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) Prioritize Spending?
As the Coronavirus continues to have a growing impact on communities across the nation, federal contractors will be called upon in response to the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and should be prepared for an increase in sales to help fight the pandemic. The DPAS grants agencies the ability to rate orders relating to federal emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery along with other national priorities to help mitigate the damage done by COVID-19. Keep in mind that industries that may not be directly related to defense support, such as technology contractors that sell conferencing platforms, will also be called upon to support the immediate needs of the federal government. It is important to note that all companies in the United States must comply with the provisions of the DPAS regulation, as the Defense Product Act can force private companies to provide much needed supplies even if they do not have a contract with the government. Now is a good time for all prime contractors to review any surge clauses to ensure if your company receives a rated DPAS order that you are prepared to deliver. FAR Subpart 11.6 "Priorities and Allocations" and 15 CFR 700.13 "Acceptance and rejection of rated orders" provide guidance on what to do if a DPAS rated order arrives and you are unable to fill the order by set date. READ MORE
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In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the federal government will spend billions of dollars and utilize emergency contract actions to minimize the impact and ensure a full recovery. By making considerable and strategic investments into health care and other relief areas, the federal government needs to act carefully to ensure these investments are well-implemented and protected. This webinar will help identify some significant issues related to federal contracting over the coming months and help attendees ensure new and continued contract performance. Specifically, Winvale leadership will discuss:
GSA MAS Requirement: Orders from the Executive Branch
GSA MAS Disaster Recovery Purchasing Program
Leveraging the new Order Level Materials (OLM) SIN
UPDATE on the GSA MAS Consolidation and Addition Modifications
OMB Memo: Managing Federal Contract Performance Issues Associated with the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Federal Contracting under FAR Part 18 - Emergency Acquisitions
Leveraging the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
Understanding The Defense Production Act and the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS)
5 Months To-Go: The $2T Stimulus Bill and a Q4 Spending Overview
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Government Purchasing Thresholds - Temporary Increases
Senior Procurement Executive, Jeffrey A. Koses of the GSA Office of Government-wide Policy has issued a Memorandum for GSA Contracting Activites and Contracting Heads regarding emergency acquisition flexibilities for COVID-19. It states that for direct purposes of the response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 the micropurchase threshold is increased to $20,000 for contracts in the US and $30,000 for contracts outside the US. Additionally, the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) is increased to $750,000 for contracts in the US and $1.5 million for contracts outside the US. The threshold increases will remain in effect until July 1, 2020, unless otherwise rescinded, modified or extended.
Am I Opted into Disaster Purchasing?
The General Services Administration is designed to function in times of national emergency or disaster. The Disaster Purchasing Program allows federal, state, and local governments to buy services and supplies directly from GSA Schedules to assist with disaster preparation, response, or major disaster recovery. Utilizing the Disaster Purchasing Program can greatly help those in need during the COVID-19 crisis in the U.S. Most contractors opt in to Disaster Purchasing when they get their contract or add additional products and services onto their GSA contract. You can check to see if you have Disaster Recovery on your contract by going to your contract’s eLibrary page, where you will see a Disaster Recovery icon if you have opted into the program. If you opted out and now wish to add Disaster Purchasing, there is a Terms and Conditions modification in the eMod system that will allow you to add it—once approved, you can participate the program. The icon should be added to your eLibrary page automatically once the modification is approved. The Disaster Recovery program is an important program that facilitates crucial disaster relief services in times of crises, so be sure to opt into the program if you and your company want to help!
QUICK TIP OF THE MONTH
Spring Cleaning: Reminder to Accept Mass Mods
GSA has been working to ensure compliance is being met. In order to remain within compliance of your Schedule contract, it is important to check the Mass Mod system to ensure you have accepted all mass mods in your queue. If you already accepted the MAS Consolidation Mass Mod, you will need to upload an updated textfile with your Terms & Conditions Pricelist into SIP within 30 days of acceptance. Without an updated Terms & Conditions Pricelist on eLibrary / Advantage, your GSA Contracting Officer may not accept any new modifications to your contract. Need help with this process? Contact our team of experts for personalized assistance.
EMERGING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Air Force COVID-19 Crisis Response Team (CRT) RFI
The Air Force has issued a Request for Information under Notice ID COVID19CRTRFI. This RFI is non-specific and provides a Google Form for everyday Americans, universities, non-profits, large businesses and small businesses to provide information on ways they can help with the COVID-19 National Emergency. Interested vendors should complete this Google Form no later than April 30.
FEMA - COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment and Medical Supplies
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published a Request for Proposal (RFP) on March 29 for COVID-19 personal protective equipment and medical supplies under Solicitation 70FA2020R00000011. FEMA has published five supply lists in which it requests diagnostics and testing supplies, RNA extraction kits, disinfectants, biohazardous waste management supplies, medical equipment and personal protective equipment.The Defense Production Action (DPA) applies to all items on the supply lists. There is no closing date for receipt of offers, so contractors may submit offers for consideration at any time.
VA – COVID-19 Sources Sought for Personal Protective Equipment
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued a Sources Sought Notice under Solicitation 36C25520Q0298. The purpose of this notice is for the VA to conduct market research to determine industry capabilities for providing personal protective equipment (PPE) against viral contamination, specifically COVID-19. The VA has identified the main necessities as medical gowns, coveralls, masks/N95 masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, anti-microbial soap, culture swabs and no touch thermometers; however, this is not an all-inclusive list. The initial response date for this opportunity is April 1st, but the VA is urging companies that can provide the items above to respond even after this response date.
MTEC Development of Treatments for COVID-19
The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) has issued a Special Notice under Notice ID MTEC-solicitation-COVID-19 to request proposals focused on the development of prototypes aimed to treat COVID-19. Focus area includes therapeutics that can treat and prevent COVID-19 and can preferably be administered in a non-hospital environment. Responses are due no later than April 8.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How can I get a Letter of Expedite to add new products and services that can help with COVID-19 Relief?
A: If you want to add products and services to help with COVID-19 relief, there is a way to make things go a bit quicker! A Letter to Expedite is a letter from the purchasing contracting officer of a federal agency stating that they intend to purchase your product or service, and that an expedited proposal review process for your company will help support their procurement objectives. If there is a urgent and pressing need for your products, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 response, that an agency would like to procure through the GSA Schedule, you can have the Contracting officer from that agency send a signed letter from the agency informing GSA of the need. A Letter of Expedite is not guaranteed to get your GSA offer/modification reviewed quicker than normal, but it is very likely that GSA will take the ordering agencies’ needs into consideration upon review and will expedite the review accordingly.
Q: Can I charge GSA a Premium due to COVID-19 Hazards?
A: In times of crisis or high demand, it can be tempting to want to raise GSA prices. However, you cannot charge GSA a premium due to hazardous conditions. In order to remain compliant with your GSA contract’s terms and conditions, you must not exceed the ceiling rate that you have offered GSA. When negotiating your GSA discounts off of your commercial prices during contract award or a modification to your contract, make sure to consider your discounts in times of need, not just in the best-case scenario for your business. Be sure to analyze your GSA discounts carefully to be prepared for times of crisis.
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