GSA Releases Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation Refresh #17
Last month, GSA released Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation Refresh #17 along with a Mass Modification. As usual, this Refresh includes changes to the overall Solicitation along with specific Large Category updates. One of the most notable changes in this Refresh is the implementation of the GSA/SBA 8(a) partnership agreement, which aims to increase contracting opportunities for 8(a) contractors. This will be accomplished by establishing a unique MAS 8(a) pool. Once in the pool, MAS 8(a) contractors will be eligible for both competitive and sole source set aside awards through their GSA Schedules.
Other notable updates in this Refresh include:
The addition of a new subgroup under Special Item Number (SIN) 541611 in the Professional Services Large Category, titled "Program Evaluation Services."
An update to clarify sustainability requirements and reference the GSA Green Procurement Compilation.
Removing highly competitive language from SIN specific Price Proposal Templates (PPTs) and revision of SIN descriptions in several Large Categories.
Contractors have 90 days to accept the Mass Mod once the Refresh is released. If you want to learn more about Refresh #17 and what changes are included, check out our blog.
Couldn't make it to last month's webinar? Watch it here on demand. In this webinar, we discuss the importance of Q4 and how to prepare your GSA Schedule so you are ready to take advantage of all the spending that will go on for the next few months.
From our clients and partners, to employees, and the local community, Winvale is dedicated to supporting our nation's veterans. We are especially proud to support a local Richmond organization, Tech for Troops. Tech for Troops provides veterans and their families with computer, skills, and IT workforce training. To learn more about our involvement with the veteran community, check out our video.
GSA UPDATES & UPCOMING EVENTS
GSA Events:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
1:00 PM ET – 2:00 PM ET
How Do I Keep My GSA MAS Contract Compliant 8/10/23 This virtual session will cover topics including maintaining compliance with the MAS contract and understanding the Industrial Operations Analyst (IOA) compliance assessment process. The training will also provide an open forum for vendors to seek additional clarifications from expert GSA ITC MAS contracting personnel. Register for the event here.
The GSA, Office of Small Business Utilization is hosting this 30-minute webinar for all small businesses looking for additional information and guidance on GSA and their opportunities. The webinar will include an overview of the GSA Multiple Award Schedule Program, Public Buildings Service, Federal Acquisition Service, Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts, Section 889 guidance, and more. Register for the event here.
As a government contractor, especially if you work with the Department of Defense (DoD), you will inevitably have access to sensitive U.S. government information, making you a potential target to cyberattacks. How do you ensure you are taking the steps to mitigate the risk of threats and keeping your information secure?
In this webinar, Bailey Bickley, the National Security Agency's (NSA) Chief of DIB Defense will provide an overview of the NSA Cybersecurity Collaboration Center and how the center's free cybersecurity services can help defense contractors reduce their risk of compromise. Jerry Craig, the Senior Director of Security/CISO of Ntiva will join the NSA to discuss how contractors can take proactive steps to protect their networks and remain in compliance.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published All Agency Memorandum Number 243 effective June 27, 2023, outlining that Health and Welfare Fringe Benefit Rates have been increased for government contractors offering services to the federal government with Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS), also known as Service Contract Act (SCA), labor categories.
In this DOL update, the Health and Welfare Fringe Benefits Rates for low-level and high-level (average cost) contract employees is set to $4.98 per hour, $199.20 per week, or $863.20 per month, and will be routinely updated based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost Index summary of Employer Cost for Employee Compensation, published to SAM.gov and DOL.gov/WHD.
The average cost fringe benefit wage determinations will only be issued for contracts where the previously grandfathered high-level benefit rate is applied. If contractors receive wage determinations without the new Health and Welfare rate, they are advised to contact their Contracting Officer or DOL-WHD for clarification. Contractors who have not seen an update to their wage determination fringe benefits should contact their Contracting Officer to manually update their current wage determinations.
QUICK TIPS
Error Message for Unawarded Special Item Numbers (SINs)
Catalog data is currently migrating to the new Authoritative Catalog Repository (ACR). Due to the transfer of information, contractors may see a new error message stating, “Special Item Number [SIN] is Unauthorized for Contract.” This will occur even if no products are listed under the SIN.
When you submit a catalog transaction that contains SINs not awarded to your contract, you will receive an error message. SINs listed in the contract and product level must be awarded to the contract. If not, then your transaction will be rejected.
What to do if you receive an error message:
Remove the unawarded SIN(s) and resubmit the catalog transaction.
Check GSA eLibrary to verify which SIN(s) are awarded to your contract. You can see your awarded SIN(s) by searching your entity and then looking under the “Category” column.
You can add SINs to your catalog by submitting an Add SIN modification through eMod.
The implementation of ACR is GSA’s effort to improve the catalog management infrastructure. Additionally, ACR allows GSA Advantage! to publish updates faster.
EMERGING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Food Service Equipment
As America’s combat logistics support agency, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) provides the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, other federal agencies and partner nation armed forces with a full spectrum of logistics, acquisition and technical services. Subsistence’s Food Service Equipment (FSE) Program Office is seeking industry feedback on sourcing, storing, and installing FSE items to include all food service equipment/kitchen appliances. This opportunity is listed under NAICS Code: 333241 - Food Product Machinery Manufacturing. Responses are due by Sep 30, 2023, 11:59 pm EDT. More information can be found under Notice ID SPE3T.
A Solicitation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Contract Proposals
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) are soliciting proposals from small business concerns that possess the research and development (R&D) expertise to conduct innovative research that will contribute toward NIH or CDC mission needs and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program objectives. This solicitation is listed under NAICS Code:
54171 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Responses are due by November 7, 2023. More information can be found under Notice ID PHS-2024-1.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is a Procurement Instrument Identifier (PIID)?
A: A Procurement Instrument Identifier (PIID) is an alpha-numeric ID for procurement artifacts such as contracts, solicitations, and agreements throughout the procurement process. It was implemented back in 2017 as a standardization method for the sake of procurement organization and efficiency.
Q: What does my PIID mean?
A: The code can be broken down into 4 different sections: digits 1-6 is the department or agency and the office of whoever issued you your PIID, digits 7 and 8 are the last 2 digits of the fiscal year it was issued in, digit 9 is a single letter that corresponds to the type of instrument such as Blanket purchase agreement = A, Indefinite-delivery contracts=D, or basic ordering agreement=G. Lastly, digits 10-17 are 4-7 numbers determined by the issuing agency for the specific type of solicitation or contract.
Q: Why are PIIDs important for GSA contractors?
A: It's helpful to keep track of a system that was made for organization and tracking. These codes come up repeatedly throughout the entire procurement process and will be requested on some of the significant documents as well as some of the necessary online programs you will need access to. If you have gotten a GSA Schedule recently, or are planning on renewing yours soon after the 20 years is up, your GSA Schedule number will be in the form of a PIID.
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