Blog

NEW ADMINISTRATION MAY HAVE PEOPLE AT GSA THIS WEEK

While a GSA “landing team” has been gathering information for a smooth transition over the past month, actual members of the new administration may start to pop up at the agency as early as this week.  In previous administrations’ such people were usually designated as “Chief of Staff”, but really had a wide portfolio to assess agency operations and start making recommendations to OMB on changes they feel might be needed.  While it is unclear how much attention Federal Acquisition Service issues may get in this period, issues at the top of such a Read more

GSA AND COMMON SENSE SCORE VICTORY WITH ALLIANT 2 PROTEST WIN

Federal agencies have the right to consider technically superior offers that may not always result in the lowest pricing, according to a GAO ruling last week.  Four companies had protested GSA’s Alliant 2 evaluation methodology as not being stringent enough on obtaining the lowest possible prices.  GAO dismissed the protests, though, and said that fair and reasonable pricing for technically superior solutions could be in the best interest of the government.  While the Read more

NEW RULE SAYS YOU CAN’T REQUIRE EMPLOYEES/SUBS TO STAY QUIET ON FRAUD

The government really wants to know about your fraud, waste and abuse.  In addition to the long-standing “Mandatory Disclosure” rule, a new FAR rule effective last week prohibits government agencies from spending federal funds to contract with an entity that requires its employees or subcontractors to sign an internal confidentiality agreement that restricts the reporting of waste, fraud, or abuse to the government.  Steptoe and Johnson, who originally Read more

IS SOMETHING HAPPEN’IN HERE THAT AIN’T EXACTLY CLEAR?

The Philosopher King Keanu Reeves once said, “A simple act of paying attention can take you a long, long way”.  Government contractors caught in a matrix of government rules should take note.  Most companies don’t get in trouble because they’re out to rip off the government.  You can still pay millions in fines – and potentially earn a date with a suspension and debarment official – if you don’t pay attention to the terms and conditions of your government contract.  Allen Federal can help.  We’ve helped many companies create or update contract compliance programs.  This expense is literally “the ounce of prevention”.  Contact us before “Agent Smith” comes to see you:  info@allenfederal.com

NEW ACQUISITION LEADERS NOT LIKELY TILL SPRING OR LATER

As the Trump Administration prepares to take power, more and more top level appointees have been named and many, in fact, are primed for their confirmation hearings.  It will be some time, though, before major people in acquisition are identified.  The Administrators of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy and GSA aren’t expected to be named until Spring and may not Read more