Determining the Right NAICS Code for Your Business
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes are an essential part of your GSA Schedule. From registering your SAM.gov account to adding new Special Item Numbers (SINs), you will need to have the primary NAICS Code that best fits your business. Each opportunity that is issued by a federal agency is assigned at least one NAICS Code. It’s through these codes that you will be able to decipher if even the vaguest of proposals are worth going after, and if you qualify as a small business. So how do you determine the right one? A consolidated list of NAICS Codes can be found on the official NAICS website. On this website, you can download and sort through the available listings and the SINs that fall under each NAICS Code. You can also search by top keywords to sort codes by your industry. To learn more about finding the right NAICS Code, check out our blog.
Couldn't make it to last month's webinar? Watch it here on demand. In this webinar, attorneys from McCarter & English address the significant changes made to the Buy American Act (BAA) and long-standing domestic preference rules.
Are you a small business looking to get on a GSA Schedule? This webinar, hosted by the General Services Administration (GSA), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization is open to all small businesses looking for additional information and guidance on GSA and our opportunities. Register here.
This live, interactive webinar training on Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)-IT Pre Award / Offer Preparation is focused on MAS Pre Award and Offer Preparation is hosted by a GSA acquisition professional that will review key elements of the eOffer process for obtaining a MAS contract. Register here.
In a world where cyber attacks remain a rampant threat, the federal government is constantly searching for affordable and innovative solutions. Does your company offer cybersecurity services that are in demand by federal agencies? If so, the Highly Adaptive Cybersecurity Services (HACS) Special Item Number (SIN) through GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program may be for you. In this webinar, we’ll discuss:
The scope of the HACS SIN
The current market for the HACS SIN
The five subcategories under the HACS SIN
Special requirements when adding the HACS SIN to your GSA Schedule
Laws, standards, and regulations that apply to the HACS SIN
GSA is in the process of developing the Services Multi-Agency Contract (Services MAC) also known as OASIS+. This new contract vehicle will replace OASIS which will sunset in 2024. The GSA Office of Professional Services and Human Capital (PSHC) designed Services MAC to be more flexible than OASIS in terms of allowing innovative services to be easily accessible to government agencies. Services MAC has enhanced functions designed to eliminate duplicate contracts. This contract will also allow all caps on the number of awards to be eliminated.
Due to an anticipated rise in demand for complex services, the Services MAC will mitigate and streamline the contract acquisition process. The RFP for the Services MAC is expected to launch at the beginning of FY 2023, which begins Oct 1, 2022. Ultimately, the release of the final RFP will be dependent on feedback from the draft RFP, so don’t miss the opportunity to submit responses if this contract vehicle interests you. You can learn more about the Services MAC in our blog.
3 Key Takeaways About the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request for Federal Contractors’ EEO-1 Report Data
Guest contribution by Tiffany Hubbard, McCarter & English, LLP
In case you missed it, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued a notice in the Federal Register that in response to aFOIA request from the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR), it will release the 2016-2020 EEO-1 reports data for prime contractors and first-tier subcontractors that filed a multi-establishment report called a Type 2 Consolidated EEO-1 report.
The EEO-1 report is a mandatory data collection that requires federal contractors with 50 or more employees meeting certain requirements to submit demographic workforce data. Here's what you need to know about this notice:
The three key takeaways are:
15,000 companies are impacted. OFCCP estimates this request impacts 15,000 prime contractors and first-tier subcontractors. This likely includes companies that mistakenly identified as a prime contractor or first-tier subcontractor on its EEO-1 filings. The request does not seek the data of contractors that filed a single establishment company report.
The request is limited to demographic data. The request is focused on Component 1 data, which is the demographic summary of an employer’s workforce categorized by race/ethnicity, sex, and job category. While the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission collected compensation data (called Component 2 data) in certain years, it is outside the scope of the request.
The deadline to object is September 19, 2022. OFCCP stated it has reason to believe the requested information may be protected from disclosure as confidential commercial information under FOIA Exemption 4. To object to the disclosure, your company must file its objection with OFCCP before this fast-approaching deadline. If you need help analyzing whether to file an objection, or you want assistance with filing an objection, you should consult legal counsel.
Guest Contributor: Tiffany Hubbard
McCarter & English, LLP
T: 860-275-6732
E: thubbard@mccarter.com
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Tips to Prepare for CMMC 2.0
CMMC is by no means a new topic in the government contracting world, but it’s still very relevant. Standing for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, CMMC was created to verify that contractors in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) are taking the appropriate cybersecurity practices and measures. So why are we talking about this now? CMMC 2.0 was rolled out last year, and the government plans to publish the Final CMMC Rule by March 2023 meaning you need to start preparing. Some companies have already began to enroll in voluntary CMMC assessments.
So, here are some quick tips to help you prepare:
Don’t wait—we know CMMC has been in the works for over 2 years now, but don’t get too comfortable waiting for the final dates. Use this time to prepare.
Monitor your cybersecurity readiness: You can use Project Spectrum to monitor your readiness and enhance your cybersecurity posture.
Get a plan in place—start performing gap assessment, addressing known weaknesses and scoping out your plan of action to get up to speed on CMMC requirements.
Even if you aren’t a defense contractor, familiarize yourself with CMMC. Many contracts will start including CMMC requirements once the Final Rule is rolled out.
The CDC Office of Safety, Security and Asset Management (OSSAM) has issued a Sources Sought seeking to obtain information about what commercial automation sources should be considered for future building automation system project opportunities across the five campuses currently supported by OSSAM. This opportunity is listed under primary NAICS Code 561210 - Facilities Support Services. Responses are due by October 03, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. EDT. More information can be found under Notice ID 75D301-22-R-72461.
Tax Computation and Report Writing Solution for Pass-through Entities
The Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service has issued a Sources Sought seeking information on potential tax software for pass-through entities to improve operational efficiency and security. This tax software would automate tax calculations and generate IRS examination reports for income tax examinations of pass-through entities (including partnerships, S corporations and trusts). This opportunity is listed under primary NAICS Code 511210 - Software Publishers. Responses are due by October 07, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. EDT. More information can be found under Notice ID IRS-LBI-FY2023-Pass-throughEntities.
Replacement for APX-123/A Transponder
The Department of Defense has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify possible sources in the commercial marketplace capable of providing a replacement for the AN/APX-123A(V) transponder installed on manned and unmanned systems, as well as surface and subsurface platforms. This RFI is issued for informational purposes and market research only. This opportunity is listed under primary NAICS 334511 - Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing. Responses are due by November 24, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. CDT. More information can be found under Notice ID W56JSR-22-1.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is the Common Catalog Platform?
A: The Common Catalog Platform, or CCP, is a future system currently being developed by GSA to replace the current antiquated Schedule Input Program or SIP. The CCP will be a web-based application rather than SIP’s desktop program wherein vendors can manage their catalogs, GSA can adjudicate submissions, and the Vendor Support Center can provide better troubleshooting assistance.
Q: Will the CCP integrate with current GSA systems?
A: CCP will be able to integrate with GSA sites for cross-platforming information, most notably with eMod. CCP’s Integration with eMod seeks to eliminate the need for submitting the traditional Price Proposal Templates (and potential inadvertent data entry errors) for product or services catalogs by becoming the repository for said information, expediting the approval, rejection, and negotiation processes as applicable.
Q: When will the CCP pilot be rolled out?
A: GSA has indicated as recently as July that it’s targeting a limited pilot release date for early Fiscal Year 2023 which begins in October 2022, but a definitive date or audience has yet to be announced.
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