Opportunities for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, Final CMMC Rule Released, After Receipt of Order (ARO) Terms Review, FAQs about your GSA Schedule offer
A common misconception in the public sector is only the well-known companies or government contracting giants get all the business. In reality, the federal government prioritizes small business participation through small business set-asides. Two important set-aside programs we want to highlight in honor of Veteran’s Day are Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs).
VOSBs can pursue sole source and set-aside contracts at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under the VA’s Vets First Program. SDVOSBs can compete for federal sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government. As a small business, you can compete for general small business set-asides as well. We also suggest you look into some current and upcoming contract vehicles with small business opportunities such as VETS 2, Alliant 3, OASIS+, and Ascend. To learn more about the requirements for these programs and how to certify, check out our blog.
Couldn't make it to last month's webinar? Watch it here on demand. This webinar dives into the updates and benefits of Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) so you can make the right decision for your company.
Winvale won the 2024 HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor for demonstrating outstanding efforts in recruiting, employing, and retaining our nation's veterans. The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal award recognizing achievements in veteran employment and recruitment. Visit HIREVets.gov for more information
Join GSA for a brief overview of the Small Business Administration’s Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business certification program (SDVOSB) program. You will also learn about training solutions built specifically for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses to increase their ability to win and maintain federal government contracts from the Veterans Institute of Procurement (VIP). Register here.
The GSA Office of Small Business Utilization (OSBU) is hosting a webinar for all small businesses looking for additional information and guidance on GSA and its opportunities.The webinar will include an overview of the GSA Multiple Award Schedule Program, Public Buildings Service, Federal Acquisition Service, Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts, the Forecast of Contracting Opportunities, the Small Business Administration’s Subcontracting Network (SubNet), Section 889 guidance, and more. You can register here.
The most important section in your federal proposal and contract will always be pricing – just ask any CEO or federal buyer. But in today's government market, there are a lot of areas that can confuse a contractor's pricing strategy. In this webinar, join us and McCarter & English as we evaluate the business side of pricing federal contracts, highlight some best practices, and review some important legal and regulatory issues.
Pricing the right contract: Cost Plus, T&M, and FFP
Differences in "Low Price, Technically Acceptable" (LPTA) and Best Value
Profit target and pricing gate reviews
Pricing support: competitive analysis and tools available
The day we have been waiting over 5 years for has come--the Department of Defense (DoD) released the final rule for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program last month. CMMC was created to ensure defense contractors were taking actions to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI). Now that the final rule has been released, we can expect to start seeing CMMC appear in future contracts as it's slowly rolled out. The rule will take effect on December 16, 2024. For more information on what CMMC is and how you can prepare, check out our blog.
After Receipt of Order (ARO) Terms Review
GSA is reminding product contractors to make sure that their After Receipt of Order (ARO) terms are represented correctly on their product catalogs on GSA Advantage. In accordance with GSAR 552.238-86 Delivery Schedule, products’ ARO terms must correctly correlate with their Freight on Board (FOB) terms. The delivery terms for products with FOB Origin must be ARO days “Shipped.” The delivery terms for products with FOB Destination must be ARO days “Delivered.” If you are incorrectly advertising your ARO terms, you will need to submit a modification to correct your catalog s to the ARO terms in their catalog. It’s worth noting that ARO days are calendar days (including holidays/weekends).
GSA began sending MAS Refresh notices highlighting the need for these ARO corrections on May 21, 2024, and issued a reminder in early October, given the large numbers of catalogs that still have ARO terms listed incorrectly. You can learn more about this request on GSA Interact and can contact GSA with follow-up questions at supplieraccountability@gsa.gov.
QUICK TIP
New “Related Products” Functionality in GSA Advantage
GSA Advantage has recently implemented an update that enhances how related products (previously referred to as “Product Accessories”) function on the platform. The update allows Related Products to be searched for and purchased as standalone items. In addition, GSA Advantage will now include Related Products in the “Compare Available Sources” section of the product details page. This will let users compare sources for Related Products easily.
While no immediate action is required from vendors following this update, those that don’t want their accessories available as standalone items should remove them from their Product File or SIP/EDI. In addition, vendors with accessories that don’t function independently should convert them into Product Options. Access GSA’s website to learn more about Related Products versus Product Options or access the how-to guide on uploading Related Products to GSA Advantage.
EMERGING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
QA Services State of Florida
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District (SAJ) has issued a pre-solicitation for a non-personal services contract under NAICS Code 541990 – All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services to perform quality assurance services throughout the state of Florida for Civil Works, Interagency and International Services (IIS) and Military Construction Projects. The contractor will need to monitor construction contractors’ progress and document compliance for reports to the Field COR and provide experienced personnel in construction, reviewing and monitoring construction activities, and assessing construction compliance with plans, specifications, and ancillary documents. This opportunity is a total small business set-aside opportunity, and the expected period of performance is for one base year of 12 months and four 12-month option years. Proposals will be evaluated on technical, past performance, and price criteria, and responses are due by December 26, 2024 at 9:00am EST. More information can be found under Notice ID: W912EP-24-R-0011.
Water Testing & Treatment Service
The Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center is seeking potential sources for water testing and treatment services, under NAICS Code 221320 – Sewage Treatment Facilities, for the Naval Surface Warfare Schools Command (NSWSC) Engineering Training Lab located at the Naval Station in San Diego, California. The NSWSC utilized water cooling towers to cool the fresh water used as a cooling method for shipboard equipment on ships. This Sources Sought notice is for a total small business set-aside opportunity and for market research purposes only to determine if firms can fulfill the requirements. A firm fixed price (FFP) non-personal services contract is anticipated with a 12-month base period starting After Receipt of Award (ARO). Responses are due by September 11, 2025 at 10:00am EDT. More information can be found under Notice ID: N6883624Q0213.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQs About Your GSA Schedule Offer
Q: How do you remain compliant with your SAM.gov registration?
A: There are several things to be careful of when creating and maintaining your SAM.gov registration. The first is keeping an eye on your expiration date. We recommend renewing your registration shortly before submission of your MAS offer to GSA, to ensure that your registration won’t expire while your offer is being reviewed. In addition to ensuring your SAM is active, you also want to make sure that you have the correct NAICS Codes which correspond to the SINs you’re offering. Finally, make sure that you have acknowledged all the representations and certifications in both FAR and DFARS.
Q: What problems can arise from your financial statements?
A: Contractors are required to submit financial statements from the past two years, which must include a balance sheet and a profit and loss statement. These statements do not have to be audited (although they certainly can be). One of the biggest issues that can be caused by financial statements is being rejected due to marginal finances. In other words, if your financial statements show very large losses or high amounts of debt, the GSA may determine that your company is financially unstable. However, having financial statements which show a net loss does not mean an automatic rejection. If you have losses on one or both of your financial statements, you can submit an explanation along with your financial statements.
Q: What is one of the most common problems contractors have when preparing their GSA Schedule?
A: One of the most common (and most easily avoidable) problems contractors have is simply making sure they have all the correct documentation. A GSA Schedule proposal is large and complex, requiring numerous documents from many different departments of a company. Keeping track of requirements and obtaining all necessary documentation can prove to be a herculean task, especially for contractors not familiar with the GSA Schedule process. Familiarizing yourself with the solicitation requirements and creating a checklist are two simple tasks which will help you avoid lots of trouble in the long run.
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Richmond, VA
Winvale, 3951 Westerre Parkway, Suite 250, Richmond, VA 23233, United States, (202) 296-5505
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