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DRAFT CATEGORY MANAGEMENT DOCUMENT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT PROGRAM’S INTENT

A new circular published last week by the Office of Management and Budget sounds like the agency intends for its Category Management program to devolve into a low price, across-the-board commoditization effort.  If that’s not what leaders have in mind, the time is now to ensure that they send a clearer message to industry.  As written the draft circular, published for comment in the October 7th Federal Register, seems to confirm industry concerns that CM, Read more

GIVING A GIFT MAY PRESENT A HEADACHE

You have a customer who did a lot of business with you last year.  You’d like to say “thank you” with a gift to keep the relationship strong and help ensure future business.  This is standard practice in the commercial world.  In federal, though, you may have just caused a big headache for your customer and yourself.  There are strict limits on giving gifts to federal employees.  The standard rule is $20 per occasion, but no more than $50 from a specific company in any year total.  Some agencies have a “zero tolerance” policy for gifts.  When in doubt, ask.  The trick is Read more

WILL THE COMING ELECTION IMPACT YOUR FEDERAL BUSINESS?

Now that the 2016 Fiscal Year is over contractors are starting to ask how and if the upcoming Presidential election could impact their federal business.  In typical Washington fashion, “it depends”.  Day-to-day business may not be disrupted much, if at all.  The fact that most agencies are operating under a Continuing Resolution is likely to have more impact than who Read more

WHY ORACLE LEFT THE SCHEDULES PROGRAM AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR COMPANY

Oracle has left the (Schedules) building. No prime. No re-sellers selling for it. The reason for this decision?: Continued exposure to (sometimes substantial) False Claims Act fines tied to information that each Schedule contractor provides on its commercial sales and discount practices. In a world where pricing and discount decisions are made daily, or even hourly, it can be very difficult for a company to submit information to GSA on its practices without exposing Read more

BUDGET DEAL TO PROVIDE FULL YEAR APPROPS TO VA & MILITARY CONSTRUCTION

The Continuing Resolution finalized this week will fund the VA and all military construction accounts for the full 2017 Government Fiscal Year.  The Legislative Branch will also have full year funding.  Government operations funded from these accounts will be able to initiate new projects and plan for an entire year.  All other federal agencies would operate under a CR until at least December 9th.  The CR funds those agencies at FY’16 levels, minus an across-the-board Read more