How to Prepare for Changes in a New Administration
We’re just over a month into the Trump Administration and it’s safe to say there’s been a lot of changes. From Executive Orders to new departments and budgetary cuts, contractors are trying to figure out how to navigate these waters. What’s important to remember is this isn’t necessarily new. Whenever there’s an administration shift, the new president enacts a slew of updates. What are you doing to accept these changes and maximize your success as a federal contractor? Here are 5 things you can do:
Rethink your brand and govcon strategy: Reassess how you position your business to align with the new administration’s goals.
Research budget shifts and new spending priorities: Review updated agency budgets/plans so you know where to focus your marketing/opportunity search.
Expand your contract vehicles: We expect to see less sole sourcing and more focus on GWACs and BICs with the new administration.
Submit relevant contract modifications: Submit the mods needed to adjust your product/service descriptions, pricing, terms/conditions etc. to align with the new administration.
Reevaluate your government proposal strategy: Ensure you are addressing any new evaluation criteria or technical requirements in your proposal.
Learn more about how you can prepare for new administration changes in our blog.
Couldn't make it to our last webinar? Watch it here on demand. This webinar will uncover 10 tips to keep in mind when preparing a strong and successful GSA Schedule offer.
As we enter a new Administration, the federal market will inevitably shift in priorities--are you identifying the buyers and responding to the new RFIs and RFPs? There continues to be significant business opportunities in the federal pipeline and the government is always buying. We have recently launched a weekly Bids and Awards email straight to your inbox so you can stay informed.
GSA UPDATES & UPCOMING EVENTS
GSA Events:
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 11:00 AM ET - 12:00 PM ET
MAS SRP Training: Preparing for a GSA MAS Contractor Assessment Join this webinar to learn how to prepare for a Contractor Assessment Visit (CAV). This webinar provides guidance and instruction to Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract holders about the contractor assessment process. Register here.
Are you interested in learning more about Requests for Information (RFIs) and how they can benefit your business? Join the Market Research as a Service (MRAS) team for an informative webinar providing innovative insights on how to respond to GSA's RFIs by sharing experts' tips and tricks on how to fill out these important surveys. Register here.
Are you ready to leave the Schedule Input Program (SIP) behind for GSA's new FAS Catalog Platform (FCP)? GSA has recently rolled out another wave of transitions for both products and services vendors. Join Lead Consultant, Christina Kacem, as she reviews Winvale's recommendations for a strategic approach to your GSA MAS transition, including:
Actions to prepare for the transition from SIP to FCP
Next steps when you receive your transition notice from GSA
How the system works and who needs access
Overview and notes on the FCP Product File and Services Plus File
We're excited to announce that we'll be attending ISOA Europe Industry Days in Wiesbaden Germany in April. This conference will be centered around U.S. Government and NATO contracting opportunities in Europe to support U.S. national security interests. Learn more about the conference here.
CRITICAL INFORMATION
Key Executive Orders and How They Impact Contractors
As a government contractor, you may be wondering how the Trump Administration’s recently released Executive Orders (EOs) will impact you. One of the first signed EOs placed a hiring freeze on the federal civilian workforce. This means we can expect contract delays and terminations. That said, there could be a rise in Professional Services spending through vehicles such as the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program, as a result of the gaps that federal agencies have to fill in essential areas such as cybersecurity, defense, facilities, and training.
Another EO established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). One of DOGE’s first actions was to end remote work for federal employees, which should lead to increased spending in facilities services, office management, and furnishings. DOGE has also terminated a few leases in DC of mostly empty office space, and plans to relocate tenants to nearby buildings in the GSA portfolio. Another action was to begin terminating government contracts, specifically consulting contracts mostly focused on “strategic communication” and “executive coaching." At the same time, DOGE plans to launch a software modernization initiative as well, and will be looking for government contractors to fulfill this.
A third EO removed all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies and programs within the federal government. While this EO makes clear that it does not impact veterans and persons with disabilities, it will certainly impact contracts that relate to DEI.In direct response to this EO, GSA plans to immediately begin forbearing enforcement of all contract clauses, provisions, terms, and conditions related to DEI. If you’d like to read more about these and other EOs that impact government contractors, check out our blog.
QUICK TIP
GSA Advantage! Best Practices
GSA Advantage!, the government’s one-stop shop for product purchases, is a crucial marketing tool for GSA contractors selling products. It’s important to follow best practices to ensure you are getting the most out of your GSA Schedule.
Uploading photos to GSA Advantage! is one of the best ways to improve your listing. While photos are not required for all SINs, adding photos will increase your products’ ranking in search results, overall visibility and ultimately, sales. In addition to photos, it is critical to make sure that your products have detailed and accurate names and descriptions. At a minimum, each product listing should include part number, product name, manufacturer name, and product description, but including additional information such as Universal Product Code (UPC) is always a good idea. Within the product description itself, you should consider using targeted keywords for search optimization. Using the right keywords can help boost your products’ visibility, leading to better sales.
EMERGING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
SATOC for Title I and Title II Architect-Engineer Services for the Renovation of Hangar 225 at Hill Air Force Base, UT
The Air Force has issued a pre-solicitation under NAICS Code 541330 – Engineering Services to provide notice of an upcoming solicitation opportunity for Title I and Title II Architect-Engineer services for the restoration and modernization of Hangar 225 at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. This opportunity is a total small business set-aside and is a Single Award Task Order Contract (SATOC). The anticipated ordering period is a five-year base period with a five-year option period. The solicitation is expected to be posted on or around March 14, 2025, with a response date of April 17, 2025 at 2:00pm (Central). More information can be found under Notice ID: FA8903-25-R-0009.
North Breakwater Repairs at Redondo Beach-King Harbor
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has issued a pre-solicitation under NAICS Code 237990 - Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction to provide notice for an upcoming solicitation opportunity for repairs to a shore-connected, rubble-mound breakwater that provides protection from ocean waves to King Harbor in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles County, California. The repair services include resetting of existing armor stone, furnishing and placement of approximately 8,000 tons of new armor stone, repairs to an armor stone bench, and more. The Solicitation is expected to be released on or around March 17, 2025, with a tentative bid opening date of April 17, 2025. More information and the link for the solicitation when it is released can be found under Notice ID: W912PL25B0004.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
CMMC and FedRAMP are both frameworks for how the government implements cybersecurity standards into the acquisition of IT goods and services. Because of their similarities, many contractors confuse the two systems. Here are some of the most common frequently asked questions that will help clarify the difference:
Q: Do CMMC and FedRAMP apply to the same areas of federal acquisition?
A: No, CMMC and FedRAMP have different scopes in which agencies use the framework. CMMC is specific to the Department of Defense (DoD) and applies to contractors providing services to organizations and efforts within the DoD. FedRAMP applies to the entire federal government, so including, but not limited to, the DoD.
Q: Do CMMC and FedRAMP apply to all contractors?
A: No, these two frameworks also have different scopes for which contractors they apply to. CMMC is applicable to all contractors and subcontractors performing work or providing products to the DoD, because its mission is to safeguard sensitive DoD information. On the other hand, FedRAMP applies to all federal agencies but not all federal contractors. FedRAMP is specifically for contractors providing cloud services and technologies to federal agencies.
Q: Should I become certified for CMMC or FedRAMP, or both?
A: General reasons you should consider becoming certified in these cybersecurity frameworks are: to demonstrate your commitment to cybersecurity and compliance to federal buyers, and to position yourself to pursue opportunities that require compliance with these standards. More specifically, if you are a contractor who wants to work with the DoD, obtaining a CMMC certification is becoming increasingly important. If you want to work with a federal agency as a Cloud Service Provider (CSP), you should consider becoming certified in FedRAMP standards. Both certifications may be warranted if you are providing cloud services to the DoD.
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