The General Services Administration works with U.S. tax dollars and therefore has some strict requirements for the Country of Origin (COO) of products and services that are bought and sold through the Multiple Award Schedule program. GSA contractors are very familiar with Trade Agreements Act (TAA) Compliance for their contract. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, GSA is temporarily allowing non-TAA products for crucially needed supplies to aid in the front-line response that have been in short supply. This exception to the usually firm rule regarding TAA Compliance can be a great opportunity for contractors looking to help with the COVID-19 response, but it should be noted that these items can only be on contract through July 1, 2020 unless the non-availability determination is extended beyond that date. To understand more about this exception to the rule and to learn how to add specific Non-TAA Products to your GSA Contract, read more here.
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DFARS Issues Final Rule Establishing 15 Day Payment Goal for Small Businesses that Support DoD Contracts
In the latest effort to support small businesses in the midst of COVID-19, a final rule was issued on April 8, 2020 that amends the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and implements Section 852 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for financial year 2019. This amendment provides accelerated payments to DoD’s small business prime contractors and subcontractors supporting DoD contracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000 for DoD contracts), and to contracts for the acquisition of commercial items including commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) items.
QUICK TIP OF THE MONTH
Boost your GSA Sales through Marketing Best Practices
As the public sector becomes more enticing to companies and the U.S. Government’s Q4 is right around the corner, you should be taking time now to market your schedule to best highlight your company’s scope and capabilities. Make sure you are marketing your GSA Schedule to government customers with the same efforts that you would put in to market your commercial business! It’s important to create a government-focused marketing plan. Sit down and ask yourself:
What makes you and your company unique?
Who within the government needs your products or services right now?
What is your government niche?
Make sure your company is highlighting your GSA Schedule on your website, your email signatures, your marketing materials, etc. Having a government webpage that summarizes your products and services is a great way to differentiate yourself from your competitors and show that you are invested in your GSA Contract. If you are a small business, you should definitely be marketing this in tandem with your GSA Schedule information. This can be a great draw to government agencies that may want to buy your products and services. Marketing yourself effectively can lead to greater government sales from new and current customers!
EMERGING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Department of Energy - COVID-19 Destructive System
The Department of Energy has issued a Sources Sought/ Request for Information for Far-UV products (or products with similar destructive capacity) that can be successfully deployed in DoE’s current and planned scientific, laboratory, and office spaces to destroy the COVID-19 Virus. This RFI was issued under NAICS Code 335129 - Other Lighting Equipment Manufacturing. Responses are due no later than July 1, 2020 11:59 pm CDT. The solicitation can be found on beta.sam.gov under Notice ID SourceSoughtFAR-UVLightsorSimilar.
Department of Homeland Security - COVID-19 Response
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a Special Notice under Notice ID CSOP-HQ-CV-20-00001 for innovative commercial products in support of COVID-19 response. Proposed innovative commercial products may be, but are not limited to, products that supplement shortages and/or emerging needs for personal protective equipment, enhance or expedite screening capabilities, enhance or expedite facility cleaning capabilities, extend testing capabilities, utilize technology to support the COVID-19 response, or convert existing production and logistics operations to support the COVID-19 response. The solicitation will be open and proposals accepted on an ongoing basis until August 31, 2020.
Department of the Army – On-Site Dialysis
The Department of the Army has issued a solicitation for on-site dialysis of COVID-19 patients and NON-COVID19 patients at Womack Army Medical Center (WAMC) in Fort Bragg, NC. Interested contractors must be able to bring their own dialysis equipment and supplies. The solicitation was issued under NAICS Code 621492 - Kidney Dialysis Centers. The closing date of the solicitation was recently changed from April 30, 2020 to May 29, 2020 at 4 pm EST. The solicitation can be found on beta.SAM.gov under Notice ID W91YTZ20Q0125.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q:What happens if I can’t complete my contract due to COVID-19 staffing/ telework issues?
A: In accordance with a recent White House Memorandum, agencies should be flexible in providing extensions to performance dates if telework or other flexible work solutions, such as virtual work environments, are not possible, or if a contractor is unable to perform in a timely manner due to quarantining, social distancing, or other COVID-19 related interruptions. Agencies understand the uncertainty of the time and will work with contractors to adjust to these restraints. Agencies may also consider whether contracts that possess capabilities for addressing impending requirements such as security, logistics, etc., can be repurposed for pandemic. For DPAS orders, contractors should not accept a rated order for delivery on a specific date if they are unable to fill the order by that date. Make sure to evaluate your current conditions before accepting orders!
Q: How often do I need to update the Letter of Supply I have with my manufacturers?
A: Letters of Supply (LOS) are only valid for 12 months. After 12 months, you should reach out to your manufacturer and request a new letter with the most up to date template provided by GSA. Although GSA does not require contract holders to resubmit the latest LOS every 12 months, it is crucial to keep the letters on file in the case that GSA requests an updated letter. If they request an updated letter and you are unable to provide one, GSA will ask you to remove the products effective immediately.
Q: Can my firm update the professional experience / education equivalency chart in my GSA Pricelist?
A: If you would like to change the educational equivalencies for your professional Labor Categories within the chart, a Terms and Conditions modification is required and must be approved by your GSA Contracting Officer. Once the modification has been accepted, your GSA pricelist can be updated and uploaded to be posted on GSA eLibrary.
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