Posts tagged "Small business"
The Federal Government Achieves Small Business Procurement Contracting Goal for the 4th Consecutive Year
May 19, 2017

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that the federal government reached its small business federal contracting goal for the fourth consecutive year, awarding 24.34 percent in federal contract dollars to small businesses totaling $99.96 billion, an increase of over $9 billion from the previous year. 

"I am pleased to report that for the fourth year in a row, the federal government has exceeded its small business contracting goal," Administrator Linda McMahon said.  "It is a win-win for federal agencies to get small business contracts into the hands of the innovative small business owners that create jobs in their communities and help to fuel the nation's economy." Read Full Article.

 

 
Posted in In the News
Tags: Government procurement Federal contracting Small business

Comments

Krivtsov Afanasy said: We are an Oil & Gas Trading Company which deals on Russian Petroleum Product Service such as JP54, D6, D2 with good and workable procedure.. We are expert in exportation of Russian Petroleum Product around the globe... Regards; Krivtsov Afanasy (Mr.) 4 Blvd. Kirishi, Leningrad Region Russia 187110 E-mail: Krivtsovoilconsultant@yandex.ru Email: krivtsovoilgasconsultant@mail.ru Skype: krivtsovoilandgasconsultant
Oct 14, 2017
Add Comment
Bill would help small businesses applying for federal contracts
Apr 13, 2017

MICHIGAN -- U.S. Senator Gary Peters today visited MessageMakers in Lansing to announce that he will be introducing bipartisan legislation with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to help protect small businesses from falling victim to fraud when they register to procure federal contracts.

The Procurement Fraud Prevention Act would require small businesses to be notified that free assistance is available for help in procuring government contracts through federal programs, including Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Many business owners are unaware these resources exist and fall victim to scams that mislead them into paying high sums of money for contract procurement assistance. Read Full Reference Article

 

Posted in In the News
Tags: Small business Government procurement
Add Comment
Congresswoman Hahn Requests Federal Investigation Into Small Business Contracting Fraud
Apr 9, 2015

PETALUMA, Calif., April 8, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a member of the House Small Business Committee, Congresswoman Janice Hahn from California's 44th District has proposed an amendment that would request a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into the diversion of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts unfairly awarded to Fortune 500 companies.
Congresswoman Hahn's decision to request the new GAO investigation was based on research by the American Small Business League (ASBL). Hahn expressed concern about the government's claim that 23% of all federal contracts were actually being awarded to small businesses when that number included billions of dollars to Fortune 500 firms such as Apple, Chevron, Disney, Verizon and Bank of America.
The last GAO investigation into the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants was in 2002 and was prompted by information provided by ASBL President and founder Lloyd Chapman. That investigation found over 5,300 large businesses were receiving federal small business contracts. Chapman was invited to testify before the House Small Business Committee after the results of the GAO investigation were released. Read full article.

Posted in In the News
Tags: Small business Sba Small business goals Government contracting

Comments

Modesta said: I keep hearing that SEO isnt effective or business is dying, what's your opinion about the way forward for search engine optimisation? Added a share on my Facebook, hope you dont mind
Jan 9, 2017
Add Comment
Small Business Administration Finally Releases 2013 Contracting Data
Aug 1, 2014
PETALUMA, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 31, 2014) - In a statement released on July 30, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced they are finally going to release their fiscal year 2013 Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard, as confirmed by the American Small Business League. The Scorecard will report on the specific dollar volume and the percentage of federal contracts awarded to small businesses.
 
New SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet will release the data in a press conference at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Senator Ben Cardin, D-Md.
 
A series of federal investigations and investigative reports have found the SBA continues to include billions of dollars in federal contracts to Fortune 500 firms and thousands of other large businesses in their small business contracting statistics.
 

 

Posted in In the News
Tags: Government Small business Contracting data Sba
Add Comment
Acquisition Strategic Sourcing's subtle effects on small business
Jul 24, 2014

Do federal strategic sourcing initiatives put price ahead of good business relationships -- and hurt both small businesses and the agencies seeking their services in the process?

"The strategic sourcing that Wal-Mart does builds long-term relationships with suppliers," said Emily Murphy, senior counsel of the House Committee on Small Business. The federal government's brand of strategic sourcing, however, has become "more about leveraging buying and limiting the number of companies that might be able to compete."
 
That emphasis on pricing in the government's growing strategic sourcing efforts can work to squeeze small businesses out of the running for government contracts, she said. Unclear regulations from the Small Business Administration concerning how smaller businesses can partner with larger ones to vie for large contracts add to the pressure.
 
"We need industry to point out that there could be long-term harm," Murphy said. Although strategic sourcing can produce savings as competitors vie for an initial contract, "those savings won't continue" as the initial incentive to get the lowest price tends to fade as contracts are locked in. Full Article.

 

Posted in In the News
Tags: Small business Lpta Government rfp Pricing Proposals Sourcing Capture management
Add Comment
Posey, Local Business Leaders Coordinate Conference
Jul 24, 2014

conference is free and open to business leaders
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Congressman Bill Posey will host a Federal Contracting Conference at Florida Tech’s Denius Student Center in Melbourne August 4 - 5.
 
The event is a chance for government contractors to have one-on-one meetings with procurement representatives from Atlanta and Central Florida to explore new contracting opportunities. Read Full Article.
 

Posted in In the News
Tags: Florida Government procurement Conference Small business Government contracting
Add Comment
Small-business federal opportunities the most protested in fiscal 2014
Jul 14, 2014

Of the many thousands of procurements solicited by the federal government each year, some receive more protests — disputes against the terms of a solicitation, proposed award or award of a contract — than others.
 
The top six opportunities with the most Government Accountability Office bid protests in fiscal 2014 were all partially or fully set aside for small businesses. They were also all task orders and valued at least $1 billion.  Read Full Article.

Posted in In the News
Tags: Small business Award protest Fiscal year 2014 Government protest
Add Comment
Committee Approves Bill to Increase Agencies Small Biz Contracting Goals
Mar 7, 2014

 

The House Small Business Committee has marked up and approved a six-pack of contracting reform bills, including legislation that would raise the current agency goals for steering work to small businesses.
 
The package approved Wednesday would particularly affect the construction industry, women, and disabled veterans. It includes a plan to raise agencies’ small-business prime contracting goal from 23 percent to 25 percent and establish a 40 percent goal for small-business subcontractors.
 
“Greater small business involvement in federal contracting benefits companies and taxpayers alike,” said panel Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo., who sponsored the bill outlining the new contracting goals. “Small firms are innovative, and increased competition often leads to savings for the taxpayers.”  Read full article.
 

 

Posted in In the News
Tags: Small business Government
Add Comment
Small businesses often lose in GSA schedule contracts, Hill investigation finds
May 17, 2013

An investigation from the House Small Business Committee found what a lot of contractors have said for years: The General Services Administration's Multiple Award Schedule program doesn't always pay off, and can actually leave companies in the hole.
 
Between fiscal 2008 and 2012, the GSA canceled 3,300 MAS contracts, which give businesses the ability to sell goods and services to agencies, because the companies didn't meet a requirement to make at least $25,000 in sales under the contract per year.
 
Those that had their contracts canceled in a lot of cases are worse off than when they started, having invested anywhere from $6,000 to $40,000 to win the contract, not to mention the time and money required to then bid on purchase orders.
 
"Competing for a federal contracting is not only time-consuming but very costly, especially for small businesses, who often don’t have a large procurement team like larger corporations may have," the committee noted in a released statement.
 
The GSA guarantees that each business will receive at least $2,500 in sales and is required to pay out that amount should the company fall short and lose its contract. The committee found, however, that the GSA has failed to live up to that end of the bargain — and had not paid the required termination costs to small businesses for at least five years.
 
Of the 3,300 companies that had their contracts canceled, 1,334 were eligible for a minimum guaranteed payment from the GSA, and 1,281 of the eligible firms were small businesses. Read full article.

Posted in GSA News
Tags: Gsa schedules Small business
Add Comment
Changes in HUBZone area designations
May 8, 2013

The HUBZone Maps landing page has recently been updated with PDF and Excel documents displaying the most up to date qualifications for counties. Last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released 2012 annual unemployment data, which we use to determine nonmetropolitan county eligibility. The results are in!
  • 39 counties that were previously redesignated or not qualified are now Qualified. If you know a firm located in one of these areas, please spread the word—these areas are now HUBZones, and firms from these counties can now apply at any time.
  • 35 counties that were previously qualified by unemployment have become redesignated.
Are you affected by these changes? Visit the HUBZone Maps landing page and open the PDF or Excel document for counties to check on the status of your county. If your county has become redesignated, its HUBZone status will expire in May 2016. If you have further questions about the HUBZone Maps or how this may affect your firm, please visit the maps section and the maintaining certification section of the FAQ page. Reference Article.

Posted in In the News
Tags: Sba Hubzone Small business
Add Comment
GSA Acting Administrator Announces New Mission and Priorities
Jan 18, 2013

“The mission of GSA is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to government and the American people.”
The interactions that inspired this new mission statement have also enabled us to focus on six priorities for GSA in the upcoming year:
 
Delivering Better Value and Savings.By using the purchasing power of the federal government, we will drive down prices, deliver better value, and reduce costs to our customer agencies. As a result, these agencies can focus their resources and attention on their core missions. We will also step up our efforts to save agencies money by creating 10 new ways that the entire government can purchase resources smarter and more efficiently. In addition, we are looking to maximize the value of our real estate assets and reduce our federal footprint. At the same time, we are looking to help our partner agencies find the space and services they need to serve the American people.
 
Serving our Partners. GSA will ensure that doing business with us is as easy and reliable as possible by simplifying and streamlining our processes and systems. We are dedicated to providing an excellent customer experience for our partner agencies and vendors. GSA will create a culture of continuous improvement by always searching for better ways to meet our customers’ needs and expectations.
 
Expanding Opportunities for Small Businesses. Delivering the best value for government and the American people requires taking advantage of all resources. Central to that approach is expanding opportunities for small businesses throughout the country. GSA will share ideas and best practices across the organization and with our customer agencies. We are working with the small business community, including businesses owned by veteran, women, minority, and disadvantaged entrepreneurs, to strengthen partnerships and support the success of our vendors.
 
Making a More Sustainable Government. Going green saves green, and we are committed to a sustainable government that reduces energy and water use in federal buildings, responsibly disposes of electronic waste, and greens the federal fleet. GSA will also continue to work with businesses to make sustainable products and services readily available and affordable to our partner agencies. GSA has begun including life-cycle costs into our planning and decision making. We are also beginning the widespread implementation of innovative technologies and best practices from sources such as our own Green Proving Ground. Through our efforts, we can reduce our government’s environmental and fiscal footprints.
 
Leading with Innovation. GSA is a leader of innovation in public service. For example, GSA was the first government agency to move to the cloud and to offer a process to streamline security of cloud services for the entire federal government. We are promoting an innovative, flexible, open workplace that will shrink the federal footprint while also serving as a model for federal offices for the future. In the coming year, we will continue to develop innovative cost-saving solutions that will be shared across the government.
 
Building a Stronger GSA. We must provide our own employees with the same high-quality service and support that we provide our partner agencies. Within GSA we need to give our employees the very best training and resources available so that they can deliver our mission as efficiently as possible. We will emphasize collaboration and cooperation across our business lines and throughout the agency so that our customers are receiving the best service from GSA. We will guarantee that when we do something, we do it once and do it well.
Read full article.

 

Tags: Gsa Strategic initiatives Small business
Add Comment
Obama signs legislation to deliver more government contracts to small businesses
Jan 7, 2013
Washington’s elected officials are taking new steps to direct more government work to small businesses, just as contractors are bracing for the threat of sequestration.
 
President Obama on Tuesday signed as part of the military spending budget a series of provisions to help small firms compete for more federal contracts and ensure that agencies take their annual small business contracting goals more seriously. Most notably, the law requires that small business contracting performance be part of employee reviews for senior agency officials, which factor into their consideration for bonuses and promotions.
 
The change comes after the federal government missed its stated small business contracting goal (23 percent of total procurement across all agencies) for the eleventh straight year in 2012. Though lawmakers stopped short of imposing penalties like reducing budgets or senior level compensation for agencies that fall short of the annual goals, as had been previously proposed in both chambers, this is the first time they have provided formal incentives to encourage agencies to deliver on their annual pledge to small businesses. Read full article.

 

Posted in In the News
Tags: Government contracts Small business
Add Comment
Entering the Government Marketplace
Nov 14, 2012

A panel composed of the director of the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, a Vice President and General Manager from Computer Sciences Corporation, and a Founder and CEO of a telecommunications company held a discussion early in November at the Tysons Tower Club.

When speaking about how his agency determines the specifications of upcoming solicitations, Kevin Boshears, Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization said that his agency “looked at all the tools that we have in the toolbox in order to craft the solicitation, based on the market research results that we receive."  It's very important for small companies to respond to Sources Sought notices, as they allow government agencies to get a better understanding of what products and services are available in the market place, as well as what sort of businesses are capable of providing such services.  For example, if enough Veteran owned or woman-owned firms respond to the Sources Sought notice, it's possible that the solicitation may mark the solicitation as a Set-Aside for that particular business.

From a large prime contractor's standpoint, Patrick Schambach, Vice President and General Manager of Computer Sciences Corporation’s DHS Division, advised that small businesses that want to become subcontractors to a contract should approach Prime Contractors "as a prime".  By that, he means that small businesses should initiate conversation with a specific deal and agenda in mean.  That means identifying the capabilities that you have as an organization, as well as doing research on the Prime Contractor and their requirements prior to coming in and making a pitch.  More specifically, potential subcontractors should establish an intimacy with the client, have a proven past performance with the services being provided, and understanding your organization and how it fits into the big picture.

Meanwhile, Joe Fergus, the Founder and CEO of Communications Technologies, Inc., advised that small businesses must be able to bring a value proposition to the table.  Mr. Fergus advised that relationship building was the key to get the ball moving.  Subcontracting is a means through which a small business can participate and get their foot through the door on a contract.  Constructive dialogue is a must when seeking to participate on a contract with a prime as a subcontractor.

What happens once you become a subcontractor?

Mr. Schambach notes that one of the major keys to continuing work participation is by continuing to build the relationship between the Prime and the subcontractor.  As a subcontractor, you must continue to excel in performing according to the contract requirements.

In terms of protecting yourself as a subcontractor, and that you receive the amount of work that was promised to you, Mr. Schambach advised that you should hold a kickoff meeting with the senior team involved with the contract.  In this meeting, both the subcontractor and the prime have an eyeball-to-eyeball discussion, and they should make sure that they hold the person who agreed to the amount of work guaranteed to the subcontractor accountable. 

Other methods of acquiring government contracts.

It should be noted that the opportunities that are released on FedBizOpps.gov only comprise 20-25% of all business opportunities within the government.  The rest of that government business is being conducted on a task order basis. 

Task orders are a way of acquiring government business.  A small business that is in the process of acquiring such business should ask themselves, “is our organization in a position to prime one of these task orders?” or “how do we get ourselves on a team that would allow us to get into one of these task orders?”

 

 

Posted in In the News
Tags: Small business Subcontracting Subcontractor Prime Prime contractor Task orders Dhs Department of homeland security Csc Computer sciences corporation
Add Comment
DOT Announces Mentor Protege Pilot Program
Apr 13, 2012

On April 10, 2012 US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the launch of a DOT Mentor-Protégé Pilot Program during DOT’s Small Business Day: Moving Forward.  This pilot program was created to enhance the capability of minority and small business owners to successfully compete for and perform in federal procurement opportunities. Managed by the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), the program will provide an opportunity for small businesses to create strategic alliances with successful large or prime contractors to receive technical assistance and move their businesses to the next level.

 
Posted in In the News
Tags: Dot Mentor protege Sba Small business

Comments

Vighter Medical Group LLC said: We would be very interested in the Mento protege program. We are set to go and no one will entertain us with it. Sean 5047-313-0484
Apr 30, 2012
Vighter Medical Group LLC said: Please check us out we are interested in the Mentor Proege program Dunns #808862705
Apr 30, 2012
Add Comment
Congress turns heat up on small-biz goals
Jan 26, 2012

 

Under a new bill, a department that misses a set goal to contract with small businesses could lose 10 percent of its budget as a penalty.
Rep. Bill Owens (D-N.Y.) introduced the Small Business Growth and Federal Accountability Act (H.R. 3779) Jan. 18, saying the government’s annual 23-percent small-business contracting goal is regularly ignored by agencies.
He said his bill would “ensure that Washington lives up to its promise to foster an environment of success for small businesses.”
Owens, a member of the Small Business Committee, said federal agencies typically fail to meet their small-business contracting goals and they currently face no penalties for the shortfalls.
Under his bill, if an agency misses the set small-business contracting goal, their budget would decrease by 10 percent in the following fiscal year, with that percentage of funds going to pay down national debt.
“It is critical that federal agencies be held accountable,” Owens said.
The bill also would offer agencies more authority to give “preference” to small companies when awarding contracts. The term “preference” is not defined in the bill.
The bill has been sent to the Small Business Committee for consideration.  Read full article.

 

Posted in In the News
Tags: Small business Congress New bill
Add Comment
OMB|SBA - Improving Small Biz Procurement Data, Quality and Process
Nov 17, 2011

On 14 Nov 2011, OMB and SBA issued a memorandum to Procurement officials regarding the improvement of small business data.  Quality and timely Federal procurement data are essential to increasing Federal small business contract awards and achieving the agencies small business contracting goals. Actions are being taken to improve the quality of procurement data on small business contract awards.

As a result of these changes separate processes related to small business data quality are being aligned to increase awareness and attention on small business contracting data. Integrating small business data quality reviews into routine agency processes and procedures is expected to reduce burden on the acquisition workforce, facilitate improved acquisition planning, and increase data accuracy of awards made to small businesses.

Accordingly, OMB and SBA asks all procurement officials to increase the attention given to small business data quality as part of their ongoing data validation efforts. Reference memorandum.

Posted in In the News
Tags: Omb Sba Small business Procurement Quality
Add Comment
Fall DOT Biz Journal: OSDBU Expands Small Business Programs Throughout the Country
Oct 31, 2011

OSDBU is pleased to make the Fall DOT Biz Journal available for download. This issue is chock full of highlights on several small business programs and events that have been held recently by the OSDBU across the country, as well as important information on planned and potential procurement opportunities for federal and state transportation-related contracts. Recent and ongoing programs highlighted include several DOT Safety Days hosted by the OSDBU’s Small Business Transportation Centers and the continuation and expansion of the hugely successful Bonding Education Program in its second year into several cities around the nation.

With the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1st, OSDBU released its FY 2012 Procurement Forecast and we provide an overview of how to search the online system for potential opportunities with the Department in the next 12 months. This edition also discusses some of the key transportation infrastructure proposals that are included in President Obama’s American Jobs Act presented to Congress in September. Also included are articles on the states of Illinois and Maine multi-year transportation plans which provide key insight into planned highway, bridge and transit projects in their states in the coming years as part of the regular Follow the Money feature. (Reference DOT electronic notifications 31 Oct 2011)

Click the following link to download the DOT Biz Journal [Download]

 

Posted in In the News
Tags: Osdbu Small business Dot
Add Comment
Small Vendors Attract Big Firms
Oct 27, 2011

With Congress poised to slash spending to cut the deficit, more large companies are seeking an edge in the competition for federal dollars by acquiring small contractors.

Acquisitions of small government vendors rose by 22.4% last year to 71, the highest level since 2000, according to calculations by Houlihan Lokey, an investment bank in Los Angeles.

Last year was "the most transactions in this space ever," and this year's acquisitions are on pace to match it, said Jean Stack, a managing director at Houlihan Lokey. Read Full Article

Posted in In the News
Tags: Small business Teaming Government business
Add Comment
FARs: Constitutionality of Fed Contracting Programs for Minority-Owned &Other Small Biz
Sep 13, 2011

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to address the impact of the decision in Rothe Development Corporation vs. the DoD and the U.S. Department of the Air Force (USAF) on small disadvantaged business concerns and certain institutions of higher education.

DATES: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat at one of the addresses shown below on or before November 8, 2011 to be considered in the formation of the final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in response to FAR Case 2009-016 by any of the following methods: Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by inputting ``FAR Case 2009-016'' under the heading ``Enter Keyword or ID'' and selecting ``Search.'' Select the link ``Submit a Comment'' that corresponds with ``FAR Case 2009-016.'' Follow the instructions provided at the ``Submit a Comment'' screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and ``FAR Case 2009-016'' on your attached document. Fax: (202) 501-4067. Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB), Attn: Hada Flowers, 1275 First Street, NE., 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20417. Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAR Case 2009-016, in all correspondence related to this case. All comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal and/or business confidential information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Karlos Morgan, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-2364, for clarification of content. For information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat at (202) 501-4755. Please cite FAR Case 2009-016.  Reference notice.

Posted in In the News
Tags: Nprm Small business Minority owned business
Add Comment
Fast 50 winners have cause for celebration, concern
Aug 2, 2011

Washington Technology's annual Fast 50 rankings is generally a celebration of the achievements of some of the best small businesses in the market.

This year is no exception. The companies making the list have had extraordinary growth, starting with No. 1 company, SAVA Workforce Solutions, which achieved a five-year compound annual growth rate of 326.05 percent.

The small businesses on this list have shown an ability to adapt and change with the market. Many are taking advantage of various small business programs to build businesses that will stand the test of time.

The types of companies that populate the Fast 50 range from resellers to consultants and IT services providers to research and development firms. The list is entrepreneur heavy with most companies having a founder or team of founders at the helm.

The aggregate value of 2010 revenue for the Fast 50 is $1.4 billion. The No. 50 company NextPoint Group, came in with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 62.49 percent. Not too shabby. Read More.

Posted in In the News
Tags: Small business Fast 50 rankings
Add Comment
D.C.'s small business chief resigning
Jul 15, 2011

Antonio Hunter, the director of D.C.'s Department of Small and Local Business Development, who was confirmed by the D.C. Council in April, is leaving for a job with a division of Magic Johnson Enterprises, the Washington Business Journal has learned. His resignation is effective at the end of July, an agency official said.

Hunter did not return calls and emails for comment.

I'm told his exit was simply a matter of a job opportunity he couldn't pass up, not one related to his job performance. That said, Hunter hadn't generated much momentum for small and local businesses in his brief stint, small business leaders say. How could he, in only seven months? Read Full Article

Posted in In the News
Tags: Dc Small business
Add Comment
DIA Small Business Outreach
Jul 8, 2011

The Defense Intelligence Agency will host outreach events for small concerns interested in teaming on DIA contracts. These events will be held August 8, 11, and 12, 2011, in Conference Center Side B of the Defense Intelligence Analysis Center, Building 6000, Joint Base Bolling, Washington, DC, 20340. The events will be separated into eight 1.5 hour sessions. Each of the eight sessions will exhibit a DIA prime contractor. The purpose is to explain the primes’ processes for selecting team members, as well as describing what capabilities small firms should possess in order to be successful subcontractors. All small firms are welcome. However the focus will be HUBZone small businesses. Each session is limited to 2 representatives per firm with a maximum of 60 individuals.

The sessions are scheduled as follows:

Monday, August 8:

* Session M1: SAIC, 10:00 – 11:30 am

* Session M2: BAE, 12:30 – 2:00 pm

* Session M3: L-3, 2:30 – 4:00 pm

Thursday, August 11:

* Session T1: BAH, 10:00 – 11:30 am

* Session T2: CACI, 12:30 – 2:00 pm

* Session T3: SRA, 2:30 – 4:00 pm

Friday, August 12:

* Session F1: Northrop Grumman, 10:00 – 11:30 am

* Session F2: CTC, 12:30 – 2:00 pm

Please respond to this announcement by COB Monday, August 1, 2011, via email to primary POC. State which session you would like to attend in your response. You are welcome to attend as many sessions as you like, provided they are still open.

For individuals who do not possess a community badge or TS/SCI clearance, please provide your full name, company name, date of birth, social security number, and country of citizenship in your response.
Contracting Office Address:
Bolling AFB, Bldg. 6000
AE-2
Washington, District of Columbia 20340-5100
Place of Performance:
Washington, District of Columbia 20340
United States
Primary Point of Contact.:
Kenneth Hartwell
kenneth.hartwell@dia.mil
Phone: 2022312166
 www.fbo.gov/index

Posted in Events
Tags: Small business Sba Dia
Add Comment
FOR 2nd CONSECUTIVE YEAR DOT EARNS A GRADE FROM SBA
Jul 7, 2011

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released the Small Business Procurement Scorecard for all agencies reflecting each agency’s contracting accomplishments for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. The Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is pleased to announce DOT received an “A” rating for its FY 2010 small business efforts. This is the second consecutive year DOT has received an “A” rating for its small business contracting achievements.

“We’re extremely proud to earn an “A” rating from SBA for small business contracting. It takes a dedicated team, led by Secretary LaHood, the modal administrators, small business specialists, and our regional staff to achieve this level of success,” remarked Brandon Neal, OSDBU Director.

The annual Scorecard is an assessment tool to (1) measure how well federal agencies reach their small business and socio-economic prime contracting and subcontracting goals, (2) provide accurate and transparent contracting data and (3) report agency-specific progress. The prime and subcontracting component goals include goals for small businesses, small businesses owned by women, small and disadvantaged businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and small businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones).  Reference article

The “A” rating reflects the Department’s ongoing commitment to providing the small business community the greatest access to federal contracting opportunities and to ensure that DOT’s procurement officers have the information and tools needed to connect with these innovative small businesses.

Posted in In the News
Tags: Dot Sba Small business
Add Comment
SBA and 8(a)
Jun 27, 2011

The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently made changes to the 8(a) certification program for socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses with hopes to increase the amount of opportunities awarded to small qualified and certified companies.

To qualify, a company can not exceed a certain size limit according to its industry, has to be able to meet certain economic criteria, and must be able to prove that is is socially disadvantaged, such as minority owned.

If you qualify, get your financial statements prepared.  The SBA requires many supporting documents on every qualifying aspect of an 8(a) business and its owners. 

 

 

 

Posted in In the News
Tags: Sba 8(a) Small business
Add Comment
Small Business Event
May 25, 2011

Getting Back to Business Small Business Procurement Industry Fair, Thursday, June 23, 2011 @ African American Heritage Hall, 1701 Muhammed Ali Blvd., Louisville, KY 40203. For additional information, email: r4smallbiz@sba.gov.
Contracting Office Address:
USACE District, Louisville, 600 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Place, Room 821, Louisville, KY 40202-2230
Point of Contact(s):
Jacque Gee, 502-315-6111

Posted in Events
Tags: Small business Sba
Add Comment
Small-biz trio to vie for $495M in DOD task orders
Mar 22, 2011

D.C.-area firms will bid on range of IT services.

Three D.C.-area small-business IT contractors will vie for task-order work under a Defense Department contract that has a maximum value of $495 million.

PowerTek Corp., of Rockville, Md.; NetCentrics Corp., of Vienna, Va.; and Digital Management Inc., of Bethesda Md., have each being awarded an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity, cost-reimbursement and fixed-price type multiple-award contract for a wide range of net-centric integrated IT support, services and supplies, according to a DOD announcement released March 18.
 
The services includes customer support; systems operation, administration, and maintenance; applications support, development and maintenance; and engineering services.
 
Other services include e-business systems administration, software system development, business continuity and continuity of operations, hardware and software acquisition, enterprise architecture, performance management, project management and IT training services.
 
The work will primarily be performed in the National Capital Region area.
 
The multiple-award contracts were competitively procured by full-and-open competition after exclusion as total small-business set-asides via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with 14 offers received, the DOD announcement states.
 
The Washington Headquarters Services Acquisition Directorate in Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Reference Article.
Posted in In the News
Tags: Small business It idiq Washington dc companies
Add Comment
Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses
Feb 2, 2011

President Barack Obama released a memo in January asking regulators to avoid imposing heavy burdens on small companies and to search for ways to minimize these burdens.  Obama wrote in his memo, “Agencies must carry out the regulatory law by allowing small businesses more flexibility in meeting the compliance requirement. They should take into account the resource available to small entities.”

A couple days later Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) said she plans to introduce a bill to require government regulators to consider small businesses as they draft new rules. “I intend to offer legislation in the coming weeks requiring the federal government to fully consider the economic impact on small businesses during the federal rulemaking process,” she said.

The legislation should be introduced in the next couple of weeks and small businesses should keep this on the radar.

Posted in In the News
Tags: Regulatory Small business Government
Add Comment
SBA creates a program to help undersized Firms compete Contracts
Jan 21, 2011

The SBA will award $5 million in grant funding to assist undersized firms compete for large contracts. The grant recipients will be asked to find teaming partners to bid on large contracts with them. This will include identifying the team, preparing proposals and submitting the bids.

“The Small Business Jobs Act provides critical resources to help small businesses continue to drive economic recovery and create jobs,“ SBA Administrator Karen Mills said.  “The teaming pilot program will help put contract dollars into the hands of small businesses, create job opportunities through the teaming arrangements, help drive innovation and promote economic growth for our nation’s economy.”

The SBA is projecting to make 10 – 20 grant award of $250,000 - $500,000 for FY 2011. The awards will have a base project period of one (1) year, with four (4) option 12-month extensions. Applicants must:

  • Private entity – profit or nonprofit
  •  At least 3 years old
  • Must have experience working with small business issues on a national level

The organizations that are awarded the grants will be required to coordinator their own assistance with the agency’s district offices and other federal, state, local and tribal government small business development programs.

All grants proposals must be submitted through the federal website www.grants.gov by Friday, February 25, 2011.

Posted in In the News
Tags: Sba Small business administration Small business Teaming opportunities Teaming partners Grant funding Proposal writing Contracts Government Federal
Add Comment
SBA Launches Small Business Program for Women
Dec 3, 2010

The government has a contracting goal of 5% with women-owned companies and to date the federal government has never met this goal. Starting in early 2011, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will have procedures in place to help women-owned companies gain access to more federal contracts. 

The program will allow contracting officers to restrict competition in 83 industry categories to women-owned small businesses. When the program was being defined 45 industries were deemed “underrepresented” and 38 industries were deemed “substantially underrepresented” by women-owned companies.

"Women-owned businesses are one of the fastest growing sectors of our nation's economy, and even during the economic downturn of the last few years, have been one of the key job creation engines in communites across the country," SBA Administrator Karen Mills said.

It is believed with this new program with federal government will achieve the 5% contracting goal with women-owned companies.

For more information click here.

Posted in In the News
Tags: Government Small business Women owned Sba Small business administration Federal government Federal contracts
Add Comment
$39 billion Small Business Bill signed into Law
Oct 8, 2010

On Monday September 27 2010, President Barack Obama signed the small business bill into law! The law also sets up a lending fund for small business and $12 billion in tax breaks.

“It was critical that we cut taxes and make more loans available to entrepreneurs.” Obama said in remarks at the White House. “So today after a long and tough fight, I am signing a small business jobs bill that does exactly that.”

Posted in In the News
Tags: Small business Law Government
Add Comment
SBA to Launch Small Business Program for Women
Oct 8, 2010

The government has a contracting goal of 5% with women-owned companies and to date the federal government has never met this goal. Starting in 2011, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will have procedures in place to help women-owned companies gain access to more federal contracts.

The program will allow contracting officers to restrict competition in 83 industry categories to women-owned small businesses. When the program was being defined 45 industries were deemed “underrepresented” and 38 industries were deemed “substantially underrepresented” by women-owned companies.

It is believed with this new program with federal government will achieve the 5% contracting goal with women-owned companies.

For more information click here.

Posted in In the News
Tags: Government Small business Women owned Sba Small business administration Federal government Federal contracts
Add Comment
DoD Considers Distributing Task Delivery Orders Electronically
Oct 8, 2010

The Department of Defense is proposing to standardize the process of distributing orders electronically and posting them on a central site for all contractors to access.

Currently the DoD has this capability and the proposal would officially standardize the process. The benefit and belief is the new rule will help small businesses.

If there are any concerns from small businesses or other parties, officials are taking comments on this proposal until November 30 2010.

For more information click here.

Posted in In the News
Tags: Dod Contracts Contractors Opportunities Small business
Add Comment
DOT Receives 'A' Rating from Small Business Administration
Sep 3, 2010

Small Business Administration (SBA) released its fourth annual Small Business Procurement Scorecard for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, with ratings for 24 federal agencies in prime and subprime contracting to small businesses.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) has earned an "A" rating for the fourth consecutive year. DOT was also tallied the second highest overall score for accomplishments in supporting small business contracting in 2009. This year's scorecard demonstrates that DOT is supporting the small business community with a consistent commitment.

As Director Neal said, "It takes a dedicated team, led by Secretary LaHood, the modal administrators, procurement officers, small business specialists, and our regional offices to achieve this level of success over the past four years."

The annual Scorecard rates federal agencies in meeting the overall small business goal and the component contracting goals for small and disadvantaged businesses, small businesses in HUBZones, and small businesses owned by women and service-disabled veterans.

 

The DOT was one of the ten agencies that met or surpassed their goals for four of the five small business categories. These accomplishments reflect the Department’s ongoing commitment to providing the small business community the greatest access to federal contracting opportunities and to ensure that DOT’s procurement officers have the information and tools needed to connect with these innovative small businesses.

 


DOT's prime contracting achievement for 2009

 

SBA Administrator Karen Mills said, "Federal contracts awarded to small businesses are a ‘win-win,’ providing small businesses with the opportunity to grow and create jobs, and offering innovative services and essential goods to the government at great value to the taxpayers.”

Tags: Dot Sba Small business Hubzone
Add Comment
National Small Business Week May 23-25 DC
Mar 31, 2010

Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has proclaimed National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America. As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes this special impact made by outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners. In 2010, National Small Business Week will honor the estimated 27.2 million small businesses in America. Small businesses are major contributors to the strength of the American economy. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business. They also create 60-80 percent of new jobs in the country. Small businesses drive innovation, create 21st century jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness. More Info

Posted in Events
Tags: Events Small business Sba
Add Comment
DoE Small Biz Conf May 10-12
Mar 19, 2010

DoE Small Business Conf & Exp: Registration Now Open!

Are you a Small Business? Check out the Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 11th Annual DOE Small Business Conference & Expo, at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA, May 10-12, 2010.

The event will feature plenaries, educational workshops, an Exhibit Hall with 200+ exhibitors/sponsors, as well as business matchmaking sessions. Over 1,600 attendees will represent all levels of federal, state, and local government agencies, the small business community, large/prime contractors, and many more!

Please review the conference site at: http://smallbusinessconference.energy.gov

You can also call the Conference Hotline at 1-877-837-9147 or email ExpoDOE@aetherquest.com

 

Tags: Doe Small business
Add Comment
USTRANSCOM Onward and Upward
Oct 29, 2009

The United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is the Department of Defense’s (DoD) command responsible for land, air and sea transportation. With its people, trucks, trains, aircraft, ships, information systems and infrastructure USTRANSCOM provides the most responsive strategic mobility capability the world has ever seen. USTRANSCOM currently controls a fleet of military assets valued in excess of $52 billion, including: 87 ships; 1,269 aircraft; 2,150 railcars and assorted equipment, and $1.4 billion in infrastructure, as well as access through commercial partners to more than 1,001 aircrafts and 360 vessels in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) and Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) programs.

To give you an idea of the size and scope, USTRANSCOM conducts more than 1,900 air missions, with 25 ships underway and 10,000 ground shipments operating in 75% of the world's countries. The command has moved more than 1.9 million passengers; 1.1 million tons by air, 3.7 million tons by sea; and delivered more than 53.7 billion barrels of fuel by ship.

What does this mean for transportation contractors? USTRANSCOM, like all other federal agencies, need to meet their small business goals. Currently, these goals are not being met. Why? Most of the requirements are being filled by large businesses because small businesses are not responding to request for information (RFI) postings, sources sought notices, market research notices, and/or request for proposals (RFP).

USTRANSCOM Directorate of Acquisitions: Who are They and What do they Do?

USTRANSCOM's Directorate of Acquisition mission is to provide acquisition capability to include contracting and program management functions in support of transportation and distribution for the DoD. They act as a business advisor to their commander. USTRANSCOM's Acquisition division has recently gone through a reorganization. Their direct customers include UNSTRANSCOM, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), Military Sealift Command, Air Mobility Command (AMC), and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Below is a summary of each division and what they do.

 TCAQ-R National Transportation - provides responsive contracting and business advisory support for the national and regional transportation programs serving the DoD customers worldwide.

 TCAQ-I International Scheduled Services -provides procurement of international multimodal transportation services in support of DoD's peace and wartime worldwide movement of cargo.

 TCAQ-M Program Management - provides expertise on acquisition program management policies, procedures and strategies to the commander, staff and components.

 TCAQ-C International Charters - provides procurement and worldwide administration of international charter airlift requirements supporting DoD passengers and cargo during war and peace.

 TCAQ-P Business Support/Policy - provides expertise on acquisition policies, procedures and strategies. They ensure that USTRANSCOM maintains the highest ethical procurement standards while achieving world class, global warfighter support.

 TCAQ-SB - Small Business Programs - provides advices and counsel to commander on small business matters. Assist in developing strategies to ensure maximum participation and opportunities for small business concerns.

 TCAQ-S Specialized Services - provides responsive contracting and business advisory support for specialized services and research and development programs serving DoD customers worldwide.

 TCAQ-D Distribution Process Owner (DPO) Support - provides responsive contracting and business advisory support for USTRASNCOM DPO support services, as well as contracting support for SDDC national level transportation systems requirements.

Small Businesses: USTRANSCOM WANTS YOU

If you are a small business and want to do business with USTRANSCOM, contact Michelle Mendez, Director of Small Business Programs immediately at (618) 256-9619 or michelle.mendez@ustranscom.mil. Be sure to have a capabilities brief ready to reference for talking points and follow up with an email. USTRANSCOM is interested in learning of all small qualified business, the more information you provide before an RFP is constructed, increases the chances of having small business set-aside requirements. Do not be afraid to request a face-to-face meeting. The small business program office will always be able to meet with contractors and will include contracting officers for specific contracts of interest. However, they are unable to discuss open solicitations.

ALWAYS respond to request for information, sources sought and market analysis so USTRANSCOM is aware that there are qualified small business vendors. Never assume the requirement is already earmarked for a specific contractor. The more information USTRANSCOM is provided, the more they are able to set-aside requirements for small businesses.

USTRANSCOM is a very lucrative customer. Significant programs (awarded to contractors) include:

Defense Personal Property System (DPS): Joint end-to-end web based IT System managing over 500,000 personnel property movements annually. Contract value is in excess of $50 million annually.

Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF): Provides worldwide movement of troops and cargo- Valued at $2.5 billion annually.

Hero Remains (HR): Provides movement of HR from the continental United States CONUS to final destination for fallen service members and is valued at $24 million annually.

Universal Services Contract (USC): Single point, door-to-door cargo transportation, service via ocean carriers and is valued at $1 billion annually.

Defense Transportation Coordination Initiative (DTCI): Provides transportation coordination services to improve the reliability, predictability, and efficiency of DoD material moving throughout the CONUS. After Phase III implementation, this contract is valued at $258 million annually.

Need Help? GovPartners can be your advocate. We can put together a comprehensive capabilities brief and connect you with USTRANSCOM decision makers. Our team has a long standing relationship with their team. Contact us today to get started. Alternatively, connect and team with contractors with existing contracting vehicles.

Useful Links:

http://www.transcom.mil/
Quick Search for business opportunities HTC711 @ https://www.fbo.gov/
USTRANSCOM Directory and Phone #s http://www.transcom.mil/pubs2/pubs/2598-VA33-1.pdf
 

Posted in GovPartners
Tags: Ustranscom Small business Dod Contracts
Add Comment
Are You A Small Business? The DoD Wants You..
Aug 31, 2009

The Department of Defense (DoD) is one of the largest purchasers of products and services in the world. The DoD awards contracts valued at $5 million or more each business day (source: www.defenselink.mil )If you are a small business looking to capture government opportunities, the DoD is a good place to start.

Government contracting can seem like a intimidating business development strategy for many small businesses. Many often mistakenly believe that only the top prime contractors can really compete for DoD business. The old saying is always true, if you can’t beat them, join them. But, in this case, you can beat them and join them.

The reality is that the government designates a significant amount of procurement contracts to small businesses each year. In fiscal year 2009 (Oct 01, 2008 -Sep 30, 2009) the DoD set aside over 22% of its prime contracts to small business and over 37% of its sub-contracting opportunities (source: www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/statistics/goals.htm ). This doesn't include funds set aside for small businesses owned by veterans, women, minorities and disadvantaged businesses.

That's a BIG revenue opportunity! How do you get in on the action?

Whether you are selling a service or a product to the federal government, the procurement process can be challenging for a small business to navigate. Many times, the procurement process allows 30 days or less for the vendor to respond to the request for proposal and it may take the majority of that time for a small business to understand the requirements, terms and conditions.

Defense contracting can be a viable long term business strategy. However, there are many other considerations that you will need to work through on the way to getting your share of what can be a very profitable line of business. It is important that small businesses understand the overall government contracting process. Partnering with other prime and subcontractors can help ease the pain. Sign up for SubTeamPartners to find your DoD teaming opportunity govpartners.com

A sample or recent awards:

Raytheon is awarded a Navy Research Contract. Raytheon Co. won a $7 million follow-on contract from the Office of Naval Research to continue work on a project to develop a new semiconductor for the Defense Department. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems is partnering with Raytheon Systems Limited, Glenrothes, Scotland; Soitec, Bernin, France; Teledyne Scientific Imaging Company, Thousand Oaks, Calif.; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.; Paradigm Research LLC, Windham, N.H.; IQE, Bethlehem, Pa.; and Silicon Valley Technology Center, San Jose, Calif.

Black Construction Corp., /MACE International Joint Venture, GMF Barrigada, Guam, is being awarded a $19,180,000 firm-fixed price contract for upgrades to the existing air ops water treatment plant and air ops wastewater treatment plant, and to construct a one-story warehouse and wharf utility improvements at Naval Support Facility, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory. Work will be performed in Diego Garcia, and is expected to be completed by July 2011.

Ikhana/Choate -1 LLC, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., is being awarded a $13,385,855 firm-fixed price construction contract for the construction of two child development centers at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, N.C., and is expected to be completed by June 2011.

Consigli Construction Co., Inc., Milford, Mass., is being awarded $9,039,438 for firm-fixed price task order for construction of a consolidated emergency control center at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The work to be performed provides for the construction of a three level, steel framed reinforced concrete facility with the ground level located below grade to directly support radiological emergency response as required. This facility will house the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard radiological emergency response organization and will serve as its command and control center during an emergency.

Head, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, is being awarded a $6,783,933 firm-fixed-price construction contract to repair Runways 13L/31R and repair taxiways at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. Work will be performed in Corpus Christi, Texas, and is expected to be completed by August 2010.

Air BP a division of BP Products North America, Inc., Warrenville, Ill. is being awarded a maximum $112,125,808 fixed price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for fuel. There are multiple locations of performance. Using service is the Defense Energy Support Center.
Frank Gargiulo & Son Inc., Hillside, N.J., is being awarded a maximum $13,050,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment, total set aside contract for full line fresh fruit and vegetable support.

Terex Corporation, Fredericksburg, Va., is being awarded a maximum $5,624,730 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for rock crusher jaw plant. 

GovPartners News Brief: 31 Aug 2009: By Cynthia Karnik

 

Posted in GovPartners
Tags: Small business Dod
Add Comment
GovPartners Tweets