Despite strong support for IT modernization, Senators are poised to withhold funding from the one account dedicated to modernization projects until OMB and GSA can show results on money already allocated for such projects. $100 million was available during FY’18 in that specialized fund, with $45 million already being spent. The management board overseeing Read more
Demonstrating thought leadership and subject matter expertise is the number one way companies can set themselves apart from competitors, according to the recently-released 2018 Government Contractor Study. It’s not always just enough to have it, though, you have to make sure your prospective customers know you have it and will actually bring it to their project. The Study, co-sponsored by the Professional Services Council and The Merritt Group, is full of good Read more
The House Appropriations Committee marked-up its last FY’19 spending bill early this morning, marking good progress on getting appropriations measures ready for the House floor. The Senate, meanwhile, is working on an appropriations “mini-bus” that would combine a number of smaller appropriations bills with the idea that they would be easy to pass sooner rather than later. Don’t bet on it. While the Senate may stay in session for part of this August, the House is scheduled to depart tomorrow and stay out until after Labor Day. That, combined with the traditional break for the high Jewish holidays in September, will leave less than three weeks on the legislative calendar to pass any spending bills. Appropriations watchers hold out some hope that a few spending bills, such as those for the VA and military construction, could pass before Congress adjourns for mid-term elections in October. Larger measures, especially the Department of Homeland Security bill, are, frankly, political footballs that each party would rather have to kick around during the election. Post-election, it all depends on whether Republicans feel they can promote policy changes via spending measures (technically a no, no) or, if the House changes control, punt till the next Congress comes into town in January. The good news is that you and your federal customer should be used to all of this by now. Stay tuned.
Non-Priced Schedule contracts are now definitely coming thanks to a provision in the FY’19 Defense Authorization bill that gives GSA permission to pilot such contracts. The agency has long wanted to test contracts without contract-level pricing. Industry, too, has recommended that GSA consider this approach. Service contracts seem to be a logical place to test non-priced contracts due to the complex nature of developing bids for individual RFQ’s. In addition Read more
GSA contracting officer’s may no longer rely solely on Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rulings on whether the products offered for sale on Schedule contracts meet the substantial transformation test to determine Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliance. This is one of the developing issues in light of the Court of Federal Claims ruling in the Acetris case. The Court Read more