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		<title>GovPartners Blog</title>
		<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
		<description>GovPartners Blog</description>		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Massive Government Contracting Drives Economy]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON, DC&mdash;Federal procurement and contracting is huge, and this spending drives the 10 jurisdictions of the Greater Washington, DC&nbsp;office  market. Indeed, this market is the largest recipient of contract  dollars in the nation at $83.4 billion, followed by California at $57.9  billion. And, the national contract spending total was $470.8 billion in  2017.
In this exclusive, Robert Hartley, director of research for the Greater Washington, DC metro area of Colliers International, shared insights into how this federal spending tips the scales for a positive or negative outcome of economic growth.
&ldquo;When we look at the revenue/R&amp;D spending last year, the federal  government procured $116 billion in R&amp;D, more than Amazon, Google,  Apple, Facebook, GlaxoSmithKline and Monsanto combined,&rdquo; Hartley tells  GlobeSt.com. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an absolutely massive amount of spending and where  these dollars flow really drives the regional economy. When you think of  what Amazon has done for Seattle and what Apple has done for Cupertino,  the impact to those areas is great. The DC region is the largest  recipient of federal dollars of any area in the United States, and it is  an enormous driver of our economy.&rdquo;
Hartley points out that Northern Virginia is the largest beneficiary  of federal dollars in this region. It received $41.8 billion &mdash; half the  region&rsquo;s obligated contract dollars &mdash; while 54.7% or $22.9 billion was  received from the Department of Defense.
&ldquo;When we start looking at nodes of government contractors and their  impact on commercial real estate in our region, most of their business  is done in Northern Virginia,&rdquo; Hartley tells GlobeSt.com. &ldquo;A lot of it  is Defense, which involves high end, advanced types of work:  cybersecurity, command and control, aerospace, weapons systems, national  security, intelligence, aerospace and medical research. This work is  tied to some of most sophisticated research in the US.&rdquo;&nbsp; Read Full Article]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 28 Sep 2018 10:26:43 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[New GSA administrator seeks to shine light where the shadows of federal procurement live]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The General Services Administration is exploring how it can add more  transparency to the procurement process, particularly with its $35  billion schedules program.
Since its inception, GSA&rsquo;s schedules program has been hidden behind a wall  where only vendors with a contract could see the solicitations and  awards. The lack of transparency about what happens on those  &ldquo;members-only&rdquo; contracts has frustrated good government groups, the  media and vendors who aren&rsquo;t on the contracts, but may want to join.
So GSA Administrator Emily Murphy, who was confirmed by the Senate  about two months ago, has made transparency one of her four goals and is  seeking not just an agency solution to this challenge, but one that  would work governmentwide. Reference Article]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 08 Feb 2018 08:54:10 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Two-Year Government Transportation Contract Up for Grabs]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Scott AFB, Illinois, Feb.  05, 2018  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
The United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)  currently seeks a contractor to complete transportation and storage  services for privately-owned vehicles. This lengthy procurement began  back in January of 2017 and is soon coming to a close.
This  contract will have a two-year base period with the option to continue  on with the contract until 2024. The current provider of services for  this requirement is International Auto Logistics LLC (DUNS 078597284).  They are a transportation company who has been awarded over $687 million  in government contracts since 2014.
The&nbsp;provider on the  new contract will be responsible for shipping multiple vehicles  worldwide and storing vehicles for an average of 2-3 years. All  requirements and modifications that have been posted in regards to this  solicitation (Solicitation ID: HTC711-17-Z-R003) can be found on  third-party, US Federal Contractor Registration&rsquo;s Advanced Procurement  Portal.&nbsp; Reference Article
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 06 Feb 2018 10:18:10 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Businesses win millions in government contracts after hurricanes]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Peanut butter. Bottled water. Hygiene kits. Diesel fuel. Surgical supplies.
These are just some of the supplies and services the U.S. government  has purchased through the nearly $614.3 million in contracts it has  awarded since hurricanes Harvey and Irma pummeled Texas and Florida,  according to the Federal Procurement Data System, which compiles  government-wide contracts as of Thursday.
And that pot of money is expected to grow exponentially.
Among the recipients of these contracts are big players, including  medical device maker Medtronic, aerospace and defense company General  Dynamics, as well as smaller outfits, like family-owned Foster Fuels, a  provider of emergency fuel.
As the government continues to assess damages, more companies can  expect to get awarded contracts for office supplies, dumpsters, portable  toilets and other essentials needed to help clean up and rebuild homes  and infrastructure. Read Full Article.
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 19 Sep 2017 11:22:25 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Federal Government Achieves Small Business Procurement Contracting Goal for the 4th Consecutive Year ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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&nbsp;24.34  percent in federal contract dollars to small businesses totaling $99.96 billion, an increase of over $9 billion from the previous year.&nbsp;
&quot;I am pleased to report that for  the fourth year in a row, the federal government has exceeded its small  business contracting goal,&quot; Administrator Linda McMahon  said.&nbsp; &quot;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.&quot; Read Full Article.
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 19 May 2017 10:06:16 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[New Law Lets Federal Employees Expense Uber & Lyft]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a law that ensures federal employees traveling on government business can be reimbursed for using Uber, Lyft and other transportation network operators.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) introduced the Modernizing Government Travel Act in January, and it passed the House that month. This month, the bill cleared the Senate.
Already, the U.S. General Services Administration, which oversees civilian travel programs, had given federal agencies the go-ahead to reimburse for transportation network companies, according to a July 2016 bulletin. Then, the GSA permitted federal agencies to use such operators &quot;when advantageous to the government and permissible under local laws and ordinances.&quot; Read Full Reference Article]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 19 May 2017 08:24:16 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Trump targets federal procurement with 'Buy American' order]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Dive Brief:

    President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order on &quot;Buy  American and Hire American&quot; policies in an effort to increase the  domestic share of labor and products used in federal projects.
    The new order calls upon Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to  investigate current government procurement policies at federal agencies,  with an eye toward disabling poor monitoring, weak enforcement and  ineffective compliance efforts, Politico reported.
    In addition, the administration will assess guest worker programs  and the cost-benefits of free trade provisions, allowing for national  treatment of foreign contracts compared to the reciprocal access.&nbsp; Read Full Article Here.

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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Apr 2017 11:08:02 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Bill would help small businesses applying for federal contracts]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 13 Apr 2017 13:25:25 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Congress rolls back fed contracting 'blacklisting' rule]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Senate has passed a Congressional Review Act resolution disapproving  the Aug. 25, 2016, &ldquo;Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces&rdquo; federal acquisition  regulation. 

Approving the CRA on March 7, the Senate now sends it for President  Trump&rsquo;s signature in order to officially roll back the final rule,  which has not yet gone into effect because of a Texas federal court&rsquo;s  preliminary injunction. In addition, the CRA prevents future  administrations from promulgating a similar rule.
&ldquo;The Statement of Administration Policy on the resolution stated the  Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces regulation would &lsquo;bog down federal  procurement with unnecessary and burdensome processes,&rsquo; &rdquo; said David  Berteau, president and CEO of the Professional Services Council. &ldquo;PSC  agrees and urges President Trump to sign the resolution expeditiously to  remove this significant overhang from the acquisition process.&rdquo; Full Article
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Mar 2017 09:45:21 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[ Update on Government Contracts Ramifications of the Trump Administration]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[In December 2016, Jones Day issued &quot; Government Contracts Ramifications of the Trump Election,&quot; a Commentary in which we discussed several likely impacts of the Trump Administration in the government contracts arena. Specifically, we discussed that the new Administration would:

    Seek repeal of numerous Executive Orders affecting government contractors.
    Reject some Obama Administration procurement policies, such as: the preference for fixed-price type contracts; the preference for lowest-price technically acceptable (&quot;LPTA&quot;) evaluation schemes; and the preference against outsourcing government jobs to private companies.
    Embrace Commercial Item contracting.
    Increase government spending for defense, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and immigration-related activities.
    Decrease spending by many agencies, including the Department of Education, Environmental Protection Agency, and Internal Revenue Service.
    Focus on compliance issues such as rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse, and ensuring compliance with the Buy American Act and Trade Agreements Act.
    Withdraw from, or renegotiate America's participation in, certain trade relationships, which could affect companies' supply chains.
    Decrease the federal workforce, which could result in understaffing and undertraining within the acquisition workforce.
    Appoint the members of the FAR Council, including the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (&quot;OFPP&quot;) Administrator, Secretary of Defense, Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Administrator of General Services Administration. Read Full Article.

&nbsp;
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
			<guid>https://www.govpartners.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=290</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2017 08:59:28 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[New FAR Rules Impact Small Business]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[New rules in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) may impact how you do business with the Federal Government. &nbsp;A number of these new rules relate specifically to small businesses. 
Consolidation and Bundling: &nbsp;DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement sections of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and regulatory changes made by the Small Business Administration, which provide for a Governmentwide policy on consolidation and bundling.
Small Entity Compliance Guide: This document is issued under the joint authority of DOD, GSA, and NASA. This Small Entity Compliance Guide has been prepared in accordance with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. It consists of a summary of the rules appearing in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-91, which amends the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). An asterisk (*) next to a rule indicates that a regulatory flexibility analysis has been prepared. Interested parties may obtain further information regarding these rules by referring to FAC 2005-91, which precedes this document. These documents are also available via the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
Sole Source Contracts for Women-Owned Small Businesses: DoD, GSA, and NASA have adopted as final, with a minor edit, an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement regulatory changes made by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provide for authority to award sole source contracts to economically disadvantaged women-owned small business concerns and to women-owned small business concerns eligible under the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program.
Updating Federal Contract Reporting of Veterans&rsquo; Employment: DoD, GSA, and NASA are adopting as final, without change, an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement a final rule issued by the Department of Labor's (DOL) Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) that replaced the VETS-100 and VETS-100A Federal Contractor Veterans' Employment Report forms with the ETS-4212, Federal Contractor Veterans' Employment Report form. Reference Article]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2016 14:29:35 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Obama urged to issue directive against anti-gay bias in federal contracting]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[With all the advances made on the LGBT front in recent years, you might think that fight has been won.
Yet closets remain in Uncle Sam&rsquo;s space. Walter works in one, figuratively.
Walter  is a government contractor on an Army facility. He runs a small,  Florida consulting firm. He&rsquo;s gay and he doesn&rsquo;t want Sam to know.
&ldquo;What  would happen if I came out, I&rsquo;m not 100 percent sure,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;but I  don&rsquo;t recognize a lot of messages that it&rsquo;s all right.&rdquo;
That why  Walter and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) want  President Obama to order federal agencies not to discriminate against  LGBT companies. In an era in which they can marry, and openly serve in  the military, Congress and high federal positions, some gay contractors  still fear that they could lose federal business if their sexual  orientation were known.&nbsp; Read Full Article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2016 09:04:28 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Boeing Received $16.6 Billion in Federal Contracts Last Year]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Major beneficiary of U.S. tax dollars trying to sell airliners to Iran for billions


A Boeing 747 of Iran's national airline is seen at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran / AP


BY:  Morgan Chalfant			 			
July 12, 2016 5:00 am
Boeing, the company trying to sell billions worth of commercial  airliners to Iran, is one of the largest beneficiaries of U.S.  taxpayer-funded government contracts and federal loan guarantees.
The U.S. government is the only force standing between Boeing and a  deal to sell roughly 100 aircraft to Iran&rsquo;s state-owned Iran Air, which  would bring as much as $25 billion to the Chicago-based aircraft  manufacturer. If the deal goes through, Boeing would become the first  large American company to take advantage of the removal of U.S.  sanctions on Iran as a result of the nuclear accord finalized one year  ago.
The deal is being challenged by congressional lawmakers, who last  week approved two measures aimed at preventing Boeing from selling  airliners to Iran. 
Boeing has received tens of billions from Defense Department  contracts over the years, and has consistently been one of the top  beneficiaries of U.S. taxpayer dollars. The Boeing Company received  $16.6 billion in federal government contracts within the last fiscal  year, making it the nation&rsquo;s second-largest contractor after Lockheed  Martin, according to federal procurement data.
Over the past five years Boeing has received over $108 billion from federal contracts. Read Full Article]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2016 11:31:59 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[How to win at the RFP game]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Ahhhh, the request for proposal(RFP) &mdash; for many, giving birth to an elephant is a more appealing option than responding to an RFP.
And yet, while most despise answering an RFP, many professionals rely on them as a meaningful source for new business.
If  you&rsquo;re one of these people, I encourage you to start developing thought  leadership as a means to endear yourself to the all-powerful,  all-knowing purchasing agent.
To know you is to love you
Purchasing  agents (PAs), who were once heavily reliant on and influenced by  salespeople, now do a majority of their due diligence via the internet.  This has effectively taken the salesperson out of the equation and  leveled the playing field.
In  fact, a recent Corporate Executive Board study found that nearly 60  percent of the purchasing decision is now completed before the agent  ever has a conversation with a supplier.
Here&rsquo;s what this means:

    The ability to educate PAs and earn credibility during their due diligence process is vital to winning their business
    Most  purchasing agents have formed their opinion about each vendor and have  already determined their favorites prior to receiving their RFP
    If the PA team learns about your company for the first time while reading your response to their RFP, you&rsquo;ve already lost

For  most companies, PAs are asked to source a wide variety of products and  services and thus, they tend to have a limited understanding of them.  Today, it might be an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.  Tomorrow, it could be a supply chain management firm to handle the  design and development of a new distribution center in Idaho.
When  coupled with the complexity of all the decision-making criteria and the  large number of people involved, PAs need to get educated quickly, and  their go-to educational resource is the Internet. It is during the due  diligence stage that the PAs are at their most receptive and  impressionable.
Not  coincidentally, this will be your best opportunity to demonstrate your  expertise and secure your place on their &ldquo;favorites&rdquo; list. Read Full Article]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:42:53 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[A future where price is no longer a factor for many RFPs]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The General Services Administration first brought up the concept of having an &ldquo;unpriced&rdquo; schedule a year or so ago.
The idea is to evaluate vendors for their capabilities, past  performance and overall skillsets, and not on their prices. And then let  the price competition happen at the task order level.
This concept would be a huge change in the federal market where price has always been a factor in the evaluations of bids.
But the recent success of governmentwide multiple award contracts  such as OASIS, and the acceptance of a similar approach for the recent  $11.5 billion Human Capital and Training Solutions (HCaTS) procurement  and the soon-to-be released solicitation for Alliant 2, there is a  growing recognition that this may be the future of federal contracting  for multiple award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity vehicles. Reference Article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
			<guid>https://www.govpartners.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=284</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2016 10:04:17 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Civil Service: Mystery Visits To Evaluate Service]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The cabinet had approved the introduction of the Mystery Shopping  Exercise project, also known as mystery evaluation, whose objective is  described as being to enhance the quality of service. A number of  organisations will be participating in this exercise.
For the purpose of implementing this project, a &lsquo;mystery shopper&rsquo;  will be sent to particular departments to assess the quality of service  and the compliance to established standards. He might be a &ldquo;mysterious  patient&rdquo; at a hospital who will evaluate the behaviour of the medical  personnel towards him. This exercise might also last for several days.  It will not always be done through visits, though: rather, a phone call  might sometimes do the job.
After the completion of the exercise, the &lsquo;mystery shopper&rsquo; will  produce a report with his conclusions. These will be used to formulate  corrective measures as required. According to l&rsquo;Express.mu,  this is not meant to render civil servants jobless. Rather, the ministry  will be providing its support to improve counter/customer service  scheme. Full article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2016 09:31:36 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GovPartners Wins the Virginia Lottery]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
    
        
            
            
                
                    
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                            
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                                                GovPartners
                                                Prepare to Win. Perform to Expand. &trade;
                                                Taking the Mystery Out Of Customer Satisfaction, One Trip at a Time. &trade;
                                                
                                                44927 GEORGE WASHINGTON BLVD., SUITE 230
                                                ASHBURN, VA 20147
                                                PHONE:&nbsp;(571) 252-3868
                                                www.govpartners.com
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                
                            
                        
                        
                    
                
            
            
        
        
            
            
                
                    
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                            
                                                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                GovPartners Acquires New Contract with The Virginia Lottery
                                                
                                                Ashburn, VA (August 20, 2015) &ndash;&nbsp;GovPartners, LLC&nbsp;(GovPartners) a leading provider of complete Customer Experience Management solutions, today announced that has been awarded with the &ldquo;VIP Experience and Travel Support&rdquo; contract from the Virginia Lottery. The contract requires GovPartners to facilitate the booking of trips and VIP experiences for Virginia Lottery winners.&nbsp;GovPartners will work with the Virginia Lottery to plan, develop itineraries, and execute VIP experiences for Lottery winners. &ldquo;We are extremely excited to work with the Virginia Lottery and provide support to its winners.&nbsp; We look forward to enhancing their recompenses by providing memorable travel experiences,&rdquo; said Cynthia Karnik, GovPartners CEO.
                                                
                                                About&nbsp;GovPartners
                                                Founded in 2009,&nbsp;GovPartners, a certified LDBE and SWaM company, specializes in Customer Experience Management solutions providing travel service solutions, mystery shops/rides, passenger/customer surveys, competitive intelligence, complete acquisition management, and contract compliance services. GovPartners&nbsp;currently serves transportation industry clients that represent some of the most innovative and successful customer-focused organizations competing in the marketplace. Their transportation focused experience management solutions deliver value to companies in need of administrative and management support services. For more information about&nbsp;GovPartners, visit our websites at&nbsp;http://www.govpartners.com&nbsp;andhttp://www.coverttravelers.com
                                                &nbsp;
                                                About the Virginia Lottery
                                                When it comes to education, the Virginia Lottery is game.&nbsp; The Lottery generates more than $1.4 million per day for Virginia&rsquo;s K-12 public schools. Operating entirely on revenue from the sale of Lottery products, the Virginia Lottery generated nearly $534 million for Virginia&rsquo;s public schools in Fiscal Year 2015.
                                                
                                                For more information please contact:
                                                GOVPARTNERS, LLC. &ndash; Elizabeth Montes de Oca, Information Analyst
                                                44927 GEORGE WASHINGTON BLVD. SUITE 230
                                                ASHBURN, VIRGINIA 20147
                                                Phone:&nbsp;(571) 252-3868&nbsp;Email:&nbsp;info2@govpartners.com
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                
                            
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                            
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			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2015 10:07:43 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Webinars Will Address How to Win and Comply With Federal Contracts]]></title>
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BRAMBLETON,  Va. (Aug. 25, 2015) ─ With a call to U.S. hotels to get their share of  government conference and meeting business, tempered by a warning that  they must comply with federal labor, tax and contracting protocols, Federal Hospitality Solutions today announced a five-part webinar series outlining a cradle-to-grave approach to federal procurement.
Elizabeth Perrin,  the company's chief solutions officer, said the webinar series is  designed to help hotels, destinations and conference facilities  understand how to comply with federal procurement regulations and  successfully identify, bid, execute and invoice federal contracts for  individual travelers, meetings, training sessions and conferences.
&quot;The critical need for federal procurement education within the  hospitality industry becomes more evident with each news report of  overcharges and other contract violations,&quot; she said. &quot;Hospitality  professionals need to understand the big picture of federal contracts,  including areas outside of their individual job responsibilities.&quot;
The webinar series, Federal Procurement Sales Cycle,  will cover representations and certifications, state and federal  business opportunities, the federal bid process, federal contracting and  program implementation and billing and records retention.
Sessions will be offered Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning next  month. The Tuesday series will be held Sept. 8, 15, 22 and 29 and Oct. 6  from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day. The Wednesday series will be held  Sept. 9, 16, 23 and 30 and Oct. 7 from 1-2:30 p.m. each day. Each  session will include 60 minutes of formal instruction and 30 minutes for  questions.
To register, go to www.federalhospitality.com/registration/.
Perrin  (pictured right) has 30 years' experience in government and military,  including positions with American Airlines, BCD Travel, Dolce  Hotels and Resorts and Courtesy Associates. She is an adjunct faculty  member with the Society of Government Meeting Professionals and has  addressed conferences sponsored by SGMP, the Destination Marketing  Association International and Hospitality Sales and Marketing  Association International.
For more information about Federal Hospitality Solutions and its training, consulting and webinar services, go to www.federalhospitality.com. Reference Article


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			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2015 09:18:45 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Importance of Mystery Shopping in the Transportation industry]]></title>
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                                                Prepare to Win. Perform to Expand.
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                            
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                                                Mystery shopping is a tool used by private and public organizations to measure the quality of customer service, operations, safety, contract compliance, and the overall experience of the everyday customer.
                                                
                                                Most people think this tool is only used for retail and restaurant businesses, but nowadays it is used by the government sector (Federal, State, and Local), transit agencies, parking garages, airports, taxis bureaus, colleges, and airlines just to name a few.
                                                
                                                Today, the&nbsp;transportation industry is using &ldquo;mystery shoppers&quot; to ride buses, trains, subways, and even&nbsp;taxis with one goal in common: Generate a positive customer experience in public transportation. Most of the time these mystery shoppers/riders are from a third party contractor with industry specific experience and they are secretly scheduled to board the routes the transit agency picked beforehand, &nbsp;making observations and gathering all the data possible about customer service, safety, appearance,&nbsp;ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)&nbsp;compliance, operations, and overall experience.
                                                
                                                &quot;Our overall goal is to monitor our operators - like a quality assurance check,&quot;&nbsp;said Houston METRO's Senior Director of transportation.&nbsp;&quot;We'll have eyes and ears out on our service from an objective point of
                                                view, so we can monitor where we need to do some actual work.&quot;
                                                
                                                
                                                When a transit agency like METRO sets a Mystery Shopping program in place, there are important variables to consider like the size of the fleet, routes, time of the day to evaluate (morning/evening rush hour), etc. A primary key value to consider during the mystery rider observation is safety. Safety concerns &nbsp;include running a red light; not following speed limits; a bumpy ride; or hard turns where passengers feel like they're about to fall off a seat.&nbsp;Another advantage of using Mystery shoppers/riders is that the transit agency can compare the hard data vs customer complaints. &nbsp;
                                                
                                                &quot;It's to pinpoint what is really happening. Our main goal is to see a decline in the number of complaints that come in,&quot;&nbsp;said Marie Turner, operations support analyst.&nbsp;&quot;We want the public to see a difference.&quot;
                                                
                                                Kim&nbsp;Wells,manager of customer service at Houston METRO, says using mystery riders is a&nbsp;great tool.&nbsp;&quot;If you use it like in your retail environment - to improve the quality of service you offer - why wouldn't you do it in the transit industry?&quot;&nbsp;Houston METRO is not the only transit agency doing this.&nbsp;Chicago Transit Agency&nbsp; started a &quot;mystery shopper&quot; program back in 2008. They asked their mystery shoppers to evaluate key values such as providing on time, safe, clean, courteous, and efficient service.
                                                
                                                The use of technology used by&nbsp;Covert Travelers, mystery shopping and customer experience programs brings to the transit industry a whole new concept and opportunity to improve their customer service, safety and operations with a real time&nbsp; feedback from front line operations.
                                                
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                
                            
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                            
                                                GovPartners specializes in customer experience management.&nbsp;Service offerings include mystery shops/rides, passenger/customer surveys and competitive intelligence.&nbsp;If you&rsquo;d like to know more about our services and customer experience solutions, please e-mail inquiries to&nbsp;info2@govpartners.com&nbsp;or visit our website at&nbsp;www.govpartners.com&nbsp;I&nbsp;www.coverttravelers.com
                                                
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                                                            A successful company must have the ability to understand and effectively respond to the customer&rsquo;s needs and concerns. Sales is often perceived to be mostly about trying to convince the customer that they need the product/service. Excellent customer service starts by knowing your customer and providing a beneficial solution to their needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Supply to the demand,&nbsp;don't&nbsp;demand to supply.
                                                            - Cynthia Karnik
                                                            Customer Experience Officer
                                                            
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                                                            Apple working on designs for a car, could start testing&nbsp;soon
                                                            
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    
                                                
                                                
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                            
                                                
                                                
                                                    
                                                        
                                                            
                                                            China Eastern uses safety video to warn about battery charger use
                                                            
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    
                                                
                                                
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                
                            
                        
                        
                    
                
            
            
        
        
            
            
                
                    
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                            
                                                
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                
                            
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                August
                                                NPA Convention 7 Exposition 2015 - Miami, FL
                                                
                                                8/31/2015 -&nbsp;9/3/2015
                                                Airport Ground Transportation Association - Call Conference
                                                8/30/15 - 9/2/2015
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                            
                                                
                                                September
                                                Transportation Association of Maryland Inc. First Annual Expo&nbsp;
                                                
                                                9/29/15 - 10/2/2015&nbsp;
                                                &nbsp;
                                                Pennsylvania Parking Association (PPA) Annual Conference&nbsp;9/30/15 - 10/2/2015
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			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2015 08:58:13 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[White House Silent On New Date For Canceled Small Business Event ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[PETALUMA, Calif., May 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The White House has still not announced a new date for a major event that was abruptly canceled on the last day of National Small Business Week.
&nbsp;
The  largest White House event in history to celebrate the announcement of  the government's annual Small Business Procurement Scorecard was abruptly canceled just hours before it was planned to begin. The event was to be led by Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet and was to be attended by several members of the Presidents Cabinet and other senior Obama Administration officials.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The original date for the event was Friday, May 8,  but the White House suddenly announced the event had been canceled late  Thursday afternoon. Washington Business Journal journalist Kent Hoover released an article on Friday titled, &quot;It's time for the SBA to get real about small business contracting numbers.&quot; He reported the event was abruptly canceled approximately an hour after he contacted the SBA Press Office, headed by Terry Sutherland,  and requested the names of the top 100 recipients of federal small  business contracts. Hoover also notified the SBA &quot;he planned to ask  Contreras-Sweet about what the agency had done to ensure their small  business contracting numbers were accurate.&quot;
&nbsp;
The  sudden cancellation of the event may have been to reduce media  attention on the fact the majority of the top 100 recipients of federal  small business contracts were actually Fortune 500 firms, their subsidiaries and other large businesses.
&nbsp;
The decision to cancel the event may have also been based on the release of an embarrassing investigative report on Wednesday, by Pubic Citizen titled &quot;Slighted&quot;  with the subtitle &quot;Accounting Tricks Create False Impression That Small  Businesses Are Getting Their Fair Share of Federal Procurement Money,  and the Political Factors That Might Be at Play.&quot;
&nbsp;
The report was prompted by research done by the American Small Business League (ASBL) that has found every year of the Obama Administration the vast majority of the top 100 recipients of federal small business contracts were actually corporate giants and large businesses. ASBL President Lloyd Chapman was interviewed for the report.
The House Small Business Committee has unanimously adopted an amendment requesting a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into fraud in federal small business contracting based on research done by Chapman's ASBL.
&nbsp;
The first GAO investigation into small business contracting fraud in 2002 was also based on research by Lloyd Chapman. A February 2003 article in Washington Technology reported, &quot;In December, the General Accounting Office began its own investigation based on information Chapman provided, said Dave Cooper, Director of GAO's Acquisition and Sourcing Management Office.&quot;
&nbsp;
SBA Press Office Director Terry Sutherland  has refused to speak with anyone from the press since the sudden  cancellation of the White House Small Business Procurement Scorecard  event, and no new date has yet to be announced.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140811/135286&nbsp; Reference Full Article. 
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			<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2015 10:00:40 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Missouri Brother and Sister Team Named Small Business Persons of the Year ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
WASHINGTON, May 8, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Maria Contreras-Sweet,  Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration recognized and  awarded this year's National Small Business Week national award winners  including the Small Business Person(s) of the Year at a ceremony and  reception in Washington, D.C.
&quot;It is my extreme pleasure to announce that Alan Doan and his sister Sarah Galbraith  are this year's Small Business Person(s) of the Year. It was just seven  short years ago that Alan and Sarah bought a quilting machine and a  small building to house it. Their business, Missouri Star Quilt Company,  now owns 15 buildings, encompassing 116,365 square feet. They are  considered the largest employer in Caldwell County, with 148 employees,&quot; said Contreras-Sweet.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&quot;In  2013, the owners received an SBA 504 loan to construct a 45,000  square-foot facility to be used primarily for warehousing and shipping,  as well as for customer service, sales and a photo/ catalog studio. This  unique business is a combination of e-commerce and a bustling brick and  mortar operation that has brought new life to Hamilton.  Quilting tutorials posted on YouTube and hosted by Alan and Sarah's  mother Jennie became a big hit. The company now ships hundreds of  packages every single day to customers all over the globe. Due to their  popularity on YouTube, the brick and mortar shop has become a quilting  destination.&quot; Read Full Article.
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			<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2015 15:47:49 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[SBA Announces Results of 2014 Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON, May 6, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, May 8, SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet  will join cabinet officials and senior executives from the Departments  of Labor, Agriculture, Homeland Security, Treasury, and the U.S. Agency  for International Development, the General Services Administration&nbsp;and  the U.S. Social Security Administration to announce the results of the  2014 Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard at the White House.
&nbsp;
The annual Scorecard is an assessment tool that measures how well  federal agencies reach their small business and socio-economic prime  contracting and subcontracting goals and reports agency-specific  progress. The prime and subcontracting component goals include goals for  small businesses, small businesses owned by women (WOSBs), small  disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), service-disabled veteran-owned small  businesses (SDVOSBs), and small businesses located in Historically  Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones).
&nbsp;
Every fiscal year, the SBA  works with each agency to set their prime and subcontracting goals and  their grades are based on the agreed upon goals. Each federal agency has  a different small business prime contracting goal. SBA  ensures that the sum total of all of the goals exceeds the 23 percent  target established by law. Agency specific data from previous years can  be found at: http://www.sba.gov/content/small-business-procurement-scorecards-0
&nbsp;
WHAT: Press Conference on Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard
WHO:&nbsp;SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet
Christopher Lu, Deputy Secretary, Department of Labor
Alfonso Lenhardt, Acting Administrator, U.S. Agency for
 International Development
 Adam Neufeld, Acting Deputy Administrator, General Services Administration
WHEN:&nbsp;Friday, May 8, 12:30-2 p.m.
WHERE:&nbsp;The White House
Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Room 430
HOW:&nbsp;Press must RSVP and provide their&nbsp;press credentials for the White House event to Tiffani.Clements@sba.gov by noon, May 7.
Contact:&nbsp; Tiffani S. Clements (202) 401-0035
Miguel Ayala (202) 205-6420
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news
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			<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2015 11:09:16 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Congresswoman Hahn Requests Federal Investigation Into Small Business Contracting Fraud ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
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.
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			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:29:27 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[U.S. May Stay in Afghanistan After '16]]></title>
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WASHINGTON &mdash;  A White House official on Friday appeared to leave open the possibility that American troops could remain in Afghanistan after President Obama  leaves office, in what would be a marked shift from the  administration&rsquo;s insistence that only a small force based at the embassy  in Kabul would remain after 2016.
With  the Taliban insurgency still raging, the administration has been  weighing options to slow the pullout of the roughly 10,000 American  troops and thousands of contractors in Afghanistan. The number of troops  was supposed to be cut by almost half at the end of this year, but  officials have said in recent days that Mr. Obama was nearing a decision to keep much of the current force in place well into next year to continue training and advising Afghan forces.
While  most officials have said that the 2016 deadline for a pullout remains  firm, Jeff Eggers, a senior National Security Council official, said  Friday that discussions about what to do in the next year or so would  lead to a decision about what to do in 2017, &ldquo;given the intent to  maintain this ongoing dialogue&rdquo; with the Afghan government.&nbsp; Read Full Article
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			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2015 09:57:53 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Army commits $500 million to GSA's OASIS contract]]></title>
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The Army is moving hundreds of millions of dollars to the OASIS professional  services governmentwide contract.
The Army and the General Services Administration signed a memorandum of  understanding Monday with new incentives for the service to use OASIS.
&nbsp;
The service is committing to spend $500 million a year on the OASIS professional  services contract across five main areas &mdash; program management, consulting,  science, financial services and logistics.
Harry Hallock, the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for procurement, said the  goal is to minimize duplicative contracting efforts where the risk is low, while  also increasing efficiencies.
&nbsp;
But the real reason for committing so much money through OASIS is money.
&nbsp;
Hallock said the Army will pay a fee of 0.1 percent instead of what other agencies  pay to use OASIS, 0.75 percent, meaning the service will get a significant  discount. The Army sends hundreds of millions of dollars annually to GSA in  exchange for using their assortment of contracts. A reduced fee of 0.65 percent  means the Army can use that money for mission-critical necessities.
&nbsp;
&quot;The first task orders have already come through. We already are using OASIS,&quot;  Hallock said during a press briefing on the MOU at GSA headquarters in Washington.  &quot;What's nice about the arrangement we agreed upon is going back to Jan. 1, I think,  those that already are done prior to the signing of the agreement as of Jan. 1 fall  under the OASIS requirements. We are there. We're doing it. We're using it.&quot; Read Full Article. 
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			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2015 10:12:55 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[What the private sector can learn from the Fed's new procurement strategy]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[ 
 Brian Seipel on   Friday, March 6, 2015

The US government kicked the year off with plans to improve spend categorization in the federal marketplace.  Leading high-spending agencies broke spend into 10 overarching  categories to be led by subject experts. Procurement professionals in  the private sector have long recognized the benefit of proper category  management - but for any business that hasn't begun the process already,  the federal spend categorization might make a good case study to  follow.
A move towards private sector practices

Plenty in the private sector may do a double take at the idea of taking a  cue from public sector strategies. &nbsp;However, the government's new  initiative parallels private categorization in a number of ways. First  and foremost is the reason categorization is so important. Anne Rung,  Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, and Tom  Sharpe, Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service, summed up the  issue simply: &ldquo;Far too often, our acquisition professionals are making  these purchases with very little insight into what their counterparts  across the government are buying, who they are buying it from, what they  are paying, and how they are buying it. In general, there is very  little coordination and sharing of information and best practices across  government. In fact, there is no single place a government contracting  officer can go to find out important details regarding existing contract  vehicles for any particular commodity area.&rdquo; If these sound like  familiar issues, it is because all businesses face these procurement  challenges &ndash; even if spend in our own organizations is a bit below the  federal mark of $400 billion. The goal of this categorization is to  bring clarity and coordination to a disparate set of buyers and  suppliers, just as it is in the private sector.

Another similarity is in the categories the government selected as key  priorities. Here are three of the finalized 10 categories:

    Technology &ndash; This category includes spend on software,  hardware, and the consultants and outsourced work needed to manage both.  Security and telecommunications spend also make the list in terms of  crucial tech spend.
    Professional Services &ndash; The most varied of the categories  developed, professionals services runs the gamut from business  administration to marketing and PR to financial services.
    Facilities and Construction &ndash; Considering it encompasses  everything from construction materials and services and the purchase and  lease of federal facilities, it is easy to see why this category ranks  as number one in terms of spend, weighing in at $72.1 billion.

Read full article.
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			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2015 10:22:56 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Reston Limo's COO Tony Simon joins GovPartners Event Panel on TNCs]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[COO Tony Simon joins panel on TNCs
February 4, 2015 | By Therese Howe



Tony Simon and National Limousine Association board member Robert Alexander

Likening ride-hailing services to &ldquo;organized hitchhiking,&rdquo; COO Tony  Simon represented the livery industry&rsquo;s perspective on Transportation  Network Companies at a recent breakfast panel hosted by GovPartners,  an Ashburn-based company that specializes in government acquisition  support service. About 50 transportation executives from private  companies and government entities such as the DC Taxicab Commission and  the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority attended the event, which  took place Feb. 4 at Clyde&rsquo;s in Tysons.
Other panelists at the event included:

    Nick Ramfos, director of Alternative Commute Programs for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
    Aaron Brandenburg, an economist and statistical information manager for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
    Professor Matthew W. Daus, president of International Association of Transportation Regulators and partner at Windels Marx

Click here to watch Tony Simon&rsquo;s presentation in full:

Reference Blog Post]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2015 09:21:04 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[TNC's...The New Cab?]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[ 
It's that time again, sign up to attend GovPartner's quarterly panel discussion! 


This breakfast event will be held&nbsp;Wednesday, February 4th&nbsp;at Clyde's in Tysons Corner, Virginia at 8:30 a.m. The location is 5 minutes walk from the&nbsp;Greensboro Metro Station.
&nbsp;
The theme of this event is &quot;TNC's Transportation Network Companies... The New Cab?&quot;  The focus is to bring together parties from local government,  traditional taxi companies, and TNC's to have a discussion of the pros  and cons of TNC's and their place in the transportation industry.
&nbsp;
Our panel includes&nbsp;Nick  Ramfos, Director of Alternative Commute Programs for the Metropolitan  Washington Council of Governments; Tony Simon the Chief Operating  Officer for Reston&nbsp;Limousine; Aaron Brandenburg an Economist and  Statistical Information Manager for the National Association of  Insurance Commissioners; and Professor Matthew W. Daus the President  of&nbsp;International Association of Transportation Regulators and Windels  Marx Partner.
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Don't miss out on this discussion and great networking opportunity!
Questions? Interested in becoming a sponsor? &nbsp;Please, contact us at&nbsp;info2@govpartners.com
&nbsp;

Stay tuned for further event details!

Thank you to our Sponsors

&nbsp;
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;





&nbsp;
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			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2015 14:00:34 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small companies to take on bigger contracts under SBA proposed rule]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
A new rule proposed by the Small Business Administration could help small  companies team up to go after larger government contracts.
&quot;Projects in the federal procurement arena have gotten larger, more complex, and  it's become more difficult for individual small businesses to pursue these types  of projects,&quot; John Shoraka, associate administrator of government contracting and  business at SBA, said on theFederal Drive with Tom Temin Tuesday.
SBA issued the proposed rule on Dec. 29, nearly a year after Congress passed the  fiscal 2013 Defense Authorization bill changing certain provisions in the Small  Business Act.

John Shoraka, associate administrator of government contracting and business development, SBA

&quot;Generally, if a contract is set aside for small businesses, the business that  wins has to do 51 percent of the project. Unfortunately, the small business can't  do all of that 51 percent, and so it then prohibits the small business from  participating. What this allows is that if your subcontractors are similarly  situated &mdash; in other words, if they're also a small business &mdash; together  you can count against that 51 percent,&quot; Shoraka said. Read Full Article. 
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			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2015 09:00:25 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[CBO: Spending Estimates Indicate Sequestration Not Required in FY 2015 ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[A new report by the Congressional Budget Office says that sequestration is not required for fiscal year 2015 as budget appropriations for defense and nondefense programs do not exceed caps on discretionary budget authority.
CBO said Monday that the enacted defense funding for fiscal 2015 is equal to the limit of $585.8 billion, while the nondefense budget of $513.8 billion is slightly below the cap of $514.1 billion.
The caps have been adjusted to include a total of $86.3 billion for overseas contingency operations, disaster relief, Ebola outbreak emergency requirements as well as Medicare, Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income program integrity initiatives, CBO noted.
The report states that if Congress later adds appropriations that breach the budget caps before the end of the fiscal year, CBO will reduce its estimated limits on discretionary spending for fiscal 2016.
CBO also said that automatic spending reductions included in the Budget Control Act of 2011 will reduce the discretionary budget caps for fiscal years 2016 through 2021, but the amount will still gradually increase from $1.02 trillion in fiscal 2016 to $1.14 trillion in fiscal 2021.Reference Article]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2015 09:20:09 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[In wake of military cuts, Sen. Warner wants to diversify Va. economy]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[RICHMOND - Sen. Mark Warner says Virginia needs to diversify  the economy in the wake of sequestration cuts, which have hit the  military-heavy commonwealth hard.&quot;Sequestration  was about the stupidest option possible, and Virginia, we bore the  brunt of sequestration cuts more than virtually any other state,&quot; he  said. The 2011 Budget Control Act's spending cuts could take nearly  3,000 Army and civilian jobs at Fort Lee.Warner  appeared via Skype at Wednesday's AP Day at the Capital program, a  gathering of journalists sponsored by the Associated Press Media  Editors, Capitol Correspondents Association and Society of Professional  Journalists Virginia Pro Chapter.&nbsp;&quot;We're asking  our military to do more abroad, as we see threats from ISIL, when we  see our troops deployed to Africa for Ebola,&quot; Warner said. The trouble  will be finding additional funding for defense.&quot;The  idea that that's going to come at the cost of cutting education,  infrastructure and research isn't a good business plan for the country,&quot;  he said. He thinks reform of the national tax code, and entitlement  reform, are key to the budget issue.The Army is  in the planning process of downsizing from a wartime peak of 526,000 to  about 420,000 troops. Under the latest Army report, Fort Lee would lose  2,794 troops - including 879 already cut in the deactivation of the  49th Quartermaster Group - and 746 civilians. That worst-case scenario  would ding the region's economy by an estimated $338.4 million in sales  and $243 in income, for a total of $581 million.Warner  also discussed Virginia's dependence on defense spending, highlighted  in recent years locally by sequestration and the government shutdown. He  thinks Virginia can take a prominent role in the areas of  cybersecurity, unmanned aerial systems, commercial space operations and  advanced manufacturing.&quot;I concur with the governor and others&hellip; we've got to think about diversification of Virginia's economy,&quot; Warner said.&quot;We  have assets in Northern Virginia, Central Virginia and Hampton Roads.  We've got expertise at Virginia Tech,&quot; for cybersecurity. Read Full Arrticle.
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			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2014 09:03:59 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Big changes may be awaiting GSA's schedules program]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[he Federal Supply Schedules &mdash; the government&rsquo;s large catalog of  contracts that generates tens of billions of dollars worth of federal  purchases &mdash; appears likely to see major revisions in the months ahead.
The  General Services Administration, which manages the schedules, is  reviewing whether the current supply schedules program still makes sense  in an era of when most agencies make purchases via bulk-purchasing  contracts such as blanket purchase agreements and strategic sourcing  programs.
&ldquo;Everything should be on the table with schedules,&rdquo; GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini said at a conference earlier this month.
He  said it&rsquo;s time for GSA to take a thoughtful look at how the agency uses  the schedules program &mdash; technically called the Multiple Awards  Schedules &mdash;  and where it fits in a digital age where people expect to  be connected to products and services with the click of a button.
&ldquo;We  can really even ask some bigger meta questions about what is the role  of the schedule in an environment in which you can have digital access  to multiple-award vehicles across the government,&rdquo; Tangherlini said.&nbsp; Read Full Article. 

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			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2014 10:24:46 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Procurement fraud or not, here's why FedBid won't get barred from federal contracting]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Sure, details in an inspector general&rsquo;s report painted a pretty  sordid story of alleged contract fraud and planned intimidation tactics  to ensure FedBid  Inc. held on tight to its government dollars. Still, most procurement  experts guess that it will generally be business as usual for the  Vienna-based company.
What arguably raised the most eyebrows about the Veterans Affairs Department's IG findings, which were first reported by Federal News Radio last week, were details of how FedBid executives allegedly planned to pressure Jan Frye,  deputy assistant secretary of the VA&rsquo;s office of Acquisition and  Logistics, after he barred the use of the company&rsquo;s reverse auction  services.
But those details won&rsquo;t likely be enough to suspend or debar the contractor from federal contracting.
&ldquo;Tough to make a black and white case here, despite the report,&rdquo; said Larry Allen,  president of Allen Federal Business Partners and former president of  another industry group, the Coalition for Government Procurement. &ldquo;There  are other remedies, like canceling contracts, fines. Most IG reports  don't lead to suspensions or debarments, but other penalties.&quot; Read full article. 
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			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2014 09:04:49 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA to temporarily suspend adding new vendors to services schedules]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
The General Services Administration will stop accepting new vendors on its  professional services schedule in the coming months. The decision to temporarily  close down the seven schedule contracts for services to new companies is part of  how GSA is giving its entire program a facelift.
Tiffany Hixson, the GSA's Federal Acquisition Service's professional services  category executive, said the suspension of new vendors getting on the schedules  could last between three and six months.
&quot;The other challenge for us is going to be if there is a federal agency that needs  a contractor to get on schedule, we will have to accommodate that,&quot; Hixson said in  an exclusive interview with Federal News Radio.
She said the decision to suspend new entrants on services schedules, including  MOBIS, professional engineering and financial services, will not impact the  current 3,500 schedule holders, nor how agencies use the schedules to buy  services. Agencies spent about $11 billion on these seven schedules in 2013, with  MOBIS and the financial service schedule leading the way.
Hixson is leading an effort to change how GSA provides services under the schedules program. She said the  goal over the next 18 months is to make it easier for agencies to purchase integrated services and reduce the costs for GSA to administer these schedule  contracts. Read full Article.
&nbsp;
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			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:55:30 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GovPartners, Covert Travelers Transport to the Future]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Transportation: Honoring the Past, Treasuring the Present, Shaping the Future
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ashburn,  VA (August 20, 2014) &ndash; GovPartners, LLC (&ldquo;GovPartners&rdquo;, &ldquo;Covert  Travelers&rdquo;) a leading provider of complete acquisition management  support services, with Covert Travelers, today announced they will be  holding the 1st in a series of breakfast events at the  National Conference Center in Lansdowne, VA Oct. 22nd from 8:00 am to  10:30 am.&nbsp; The theme of this event is &ldquo;Transportation: Honoring the Past, Treasuring the Present, Shaping the Future&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;  The aim of this Series will be to inform Leaders, Sponsors, and Clients  in the Transportation Industry of current events and an inside track as  to what the future may hold.

This event will include speakers of varying viewpoints and diverse  backgrounds who can provide some insight into where the transportation  industry is headed, how it can improve upon its past, and the issues  affecting the present.&nbsp; The keynote speakers for the Fall Breakfast are  Bill Lanham Manager, Landside Contract Division of Metropolitan  Washington Airports Authority - Dulles International Airport; David  Dacquino President/ CEO of Skylink Air &amp; Logistics USA; Ralign  Wells, Director Office of Parking and Transportation of Maryland  Aviation Administration, Baltimore/Washington International Airport; and  Paul Mounier Transit and Commuter Services Division Manager, Loudoun  County.

The speakers will focus their discussions on the expected changes within  the transportation industry; where we started, how we have evolved, and  where we expect to be in the future.&nbsp; The presentation will include all  areas of transportation&mdash;ground, air and sea.

&ldquo;The future is delivered from the station of dreams to the destination  of success, facilitated by various modes of transportation. We hope this  event informs, enlightens, inspires, and cultivates innovations within  the industry. GovPartners is honored to present such a prestigious panel  of visionaries,&rdquo; said Cynthia Karnik, GovPartners Customer Experience  Officer&trade; (CEO).&rdquo;

A portion of the ticket proceeds from the Fall Speaker Series will go to the Dulles Area Transportation Association (DATA).&nbsp; 

About GovPartners and Covert Travelers
Founded in 2009, GovPartners, a certified small woman &amp; minority  owned business and LDBE, provides complete acquisition management,  contract compliance and performance evaluation services.&nbsp; Their mission  is to engage with clients to help determine what should be measured and  how, advise on the most effective ways to analyze the data and provide  reports with conclusions and recommendations.&nbsp; Covert Travelers  developed as the Customer Intelligence Analyst (CIA) Division, the  clandestine arm of GovPartners.&nbsp; Covert Travelers is comprised of an  experienced team focused on providing clients with objective metrics to  measure customer experience and operational performance, currently  serves transportation industry clients that represent some of the most  innovative and successful customer-focused organizations competing in  the marketplace.&nbsp; Their surveying and experience management solutions  deliver value to customer-focused companies in an array of industries.&nbsp;  For more information about GovPartners and Covert Travelers, visit their  websites at www.govpartners.com and www.coverttravelers.com.
&nbsp;
For more information please contact:
Meg Galvan / Creative Analyst
GOVPARTNERS, LLC
44927 GEORGE WASHINGTON BLVD. SUITE 230
ASHBURN, VIRGINIA&nbsp;&nbsp; 20147&nbsp;
Phone:&nbsp; (571) 252-3868 | Email: info@coverttravelers.com
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			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2014 09:09:29 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Agencies losing faith in prices on GSA schedules?]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[A  growing number of agencies no longer believe prices under the General  Services Administration schedules program are &quot;fair and reasonable.&quot; 
Along with the Defense Department, NASA quietly issued a memo in March that requires its contracting officers to do  additional research to ensure GSA schedule prices are the best value for the  government. Industry sources say other agency memos could follow from the likes of the departments of Health and Human Services,  Homeland Security and Energy.
And nearly five months after the Defense Department's Dick Ginman, director  for procurement and acquisition policy (DPAP), created quite a stir by changing almost two decades of  precedent around GSA schedule prices, Tom Sharpe, the commissioner of the  Federal Acquisition Service, finally responded publicly to these major changes.
&quot;I support what Dick Ginman has done in terms of telling his contracting workforce  to go ahead and apply techniques to get the best price, value and other things  important to the taxpayers when they raise orders or otherwise contract &mdash;  that  means getting competition and that means negotiating prices,&quot; Sharpe said in an  interview with Federal News Radio. &quot;I think where Dick was at, and I agree with  him, is we didn't know how often contracting officers were receiving discounts. If  you have any type of large volume at the order level, you should in fact be  competing orders and negotiating discounts. The schedules were set up to enable  that.&quot;
&nbsp;
Sharpe said by standardizing part numbers and descriptions on the schedules, GSA  will use the data to make decisions about how much price variability in the  schedules make sense, and agencies can use the data to make better buying  decisions. He said GSA also plans to propose a rule to require schedule  contractors to provide prices paid data and all demographics around it.
&nbsp;
Sharpe said FAS will put that data in a tool so buyers can use it to help them  shape  how they should price that order.
&quot;I support the agencies getting the best prices they can,&quot; he said. &quot;I'm in the  process at FAS of setting the conditions, particularly on the multiple award  schedule, such that possibly those deviations would no longer be needed, and I'll  defer to those customers.&quot;
&nbsp;
Despite Sharpe's support of DoD, and presumably NASA too, industry experts aren't  happy with this growing trend. Several sources say DoD, and now NASA, aren't  solving a problem with the schedules, but rather not addressing a problem with the  training of contracting officers. Read Full Article. 
&nbsp;
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			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2014 08:28:15 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[ GSA increases contract duplication one solicitation at a time]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
A little over two weeks ago GSA awarded the Federal Strategic  Sourcing Initiative (FSSI) Office Supply 3 (OS3)  Indefinite-Quantity-Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) contracts&mdash;the third  generation FSSI for office supplies. These new OS3 IDIQ contracts  duplicate the current GSA Schedule 75 for office supplies&mdash;so much so  that the OS3 solicitation used GSA Schedule 75 pricing as a benchmark.  Moreover, for those GSA Schedule 75 contractors who now have OS3  contracts&mdash;the OS3 contract terms require pricing consistency across both  vehicles, essentially incorporating by reference the operative GSA  Schedule 75 contract terms!
&nbsp;
As a result of this effort, GSA and  the firms competing OS3 together spent millions of bid and proposal  dollars for a duplicative contract vehicle. Time and money could have  been saved through the competitive establishment of BPAs under the GSA  Schedule 75. More importantly, task order competitions using the GSA  Schedule 75 would have leveraged individual agency requirements in a  cost effective and efficient manner.&nbsp; Read full article. 
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			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2014 08:25:39 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Obama Administration Achieves 2013 Small Business Federal Procurement Contracting Goal]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON &ndash; The U.S. Small Business  Administration today announced the federal government reached its small  business federal contracting goal for the first time in eight years,  awarding 23.39 percent in federal contracts to small businesses totaling  $83.1 billion of eligible contracting dollars.  SBA Administrator Maria  Contreras-Sweet made the announcement at a press conference held at the  National Aeronautics and Space Administration&rsquo;s (NASA) Goddard Space  Flight Center with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and U.S. Senator  Ben Cardin,
D-Md.

&ldquo;When we hit our small business procurement  target, it&rsquo;s a win.  Small businesses get the revenue they need to grow  and create jobs, and the federal government gets the chance to work  with some of the most responsive, innovative and nimble companies in the  U.S. while the economy grows,&rdquo; said SBA Administrator Maria  Contreras-Sweet.  &ldquo;Thanks to the President&rsquo;s leadership and a team  effort among all federal agencies, we were able to meet this goal.&rdquo;

Performance  in four out of five of the small business prime contracting categories  showed significant improvement, with increases in performance against  statutory goals. While contract dollars have gone down in all categories  as a result of overall reduced federal spending, small businesses still  secured a greater percentage of the contracting dollars.  The SBA has  worked with federal agencies to expand opportunities for small  businesses to compete for and win federal contracts.

&ldquo;This is  big news for our region especially,&rdquo; remarked SBA mid-Atlantic Regional  Administrator Natalia Olson-Urtecho.  &ldquo;We have a large concentration of  government contracting opportunities in the DC corridor, and that wealth  spreads outward and benefits citizens and businesses throughout the  country.&rdquo;

Alongside the announcement, the SBA released the FY  2013 Small Business Procurement Scorecard, which provides an assessment  of each federal agency&rsquo;s yearly small business contracting achievement  against its goal with 20 agencies receiving an A or A+.  Overall, the  federal government received an &ldquo;A&rdquo; on the government-wide Scorecard.

The  individual agency scorecards released today by the SBA, as well as a  detailed explanation of the scorecard methodology, is available online  at http://go.usa.gov/Nxxd. Reference Article. ]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Aug 2014 09:03:26 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small Business Administration Finally Releases 2013 Contracting Data  ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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.
&nbsp;
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.
&nbsp;
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.
&nbsp;
Read more:  http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2094183#ixzz399j36dDW
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			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Aug 2014 11:47:42 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[It's almost the end of the federal fiscal year: time to sound the sequestration alarm bells]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Perhaps it&rsquo;s because the federal fiscal year wraps at the end of  September, kicking off budget talks. Or perhaps it&rsquo;s that they&rsquo;re sick  of talking about Iraq. Either way, defense officials are resounding the  sequestration warning bells, pointing to everything from military  readiness to the space race as vulnerable.
&nbsp;
The two-year budget deal that essentially pushed off sequestration  cuts until 2016 has led to a noticeable lull in conversation about the  measure. It&rsquo;s also caused some to regard the initial panic over  sequestration to be much ado about nothing &mdash; even as agencies did report that they experienced some pain from it in 2013.&nbsp; Reference Article.
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			<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2014 12:09:00 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Acquisition Strategic Sourcing's subtle effects on small business]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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?
&quot;The strategic sourcing that Wal-Mart does builds long-term  relationships with suppliers,&quot; said Emily Murphy, senior counsel of the  House Committee on Small Business. The federal government's brand of  strategic sourcing, however, has become &quot;more about leveraging buying  and limiting the number of companies that might be able to compete.&quot;
&nbsp;
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.
&nbsp;
&quot;We need industry to point out that there could be long-term harm,&quot;  Murphy said. Although strategic sourcing can produce savings as  competitors vie for an initial contract, &quot;those savings won't continue&quot;  as the initial incentive to get the lowest price tends to fade as  contracts are locked in. Full Article. 
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			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:44:44 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Posey, Local Business Leaders Coordinate Conference]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
conference is free and open to business leaders
BREVARD  COUNTY &bull; MELBOURNE, FLORIDA &ndash; Congressman Bill Posey will host  a&nbsp;Federal Contracting Conference&nbsp;at&nbsp;Florida Tech&rsquo;s Denius Student  Center&nbsp;in&nbsp;Melbourne August 4&nbsp;-&nbsp;5.
&nbsp;
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.
&nbsp;
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			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:28:52 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Wiehle-Reston East Parking Garage Ceremony and Open House on July 19 ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Wiehle-Reston East Ceremony and Open House on July 19&nbsp;
 

One week before trains travel down the tracks on Metro's Silver           Line, Fairfax County will host a  ceremony and open house for the new Wiehle-Reston East           transportation center.&nbsp; &nbsp;
&nbsp;
The public is invited to celebrate and explore this  multi-modal facility on Saturday July 19 at 10           a.m.  On the 19th, the garage at Wiehle-Reston East, which is            located at 11389 Reston Station Boulevard, will be open for free            parking if attending the ceremony, starting at 9 a.m. Enter from           Wiehle Avenue to Reston Station Boulevard.
&nbsp;
Following the ceremony,  visitors may tour the facility and talk to           representatives  from Fairfax Connector, Metro, Dulles Rail Project,           Loudoun  County Transit, and others. The open house runs until 3 p.m.
&nbsp;
Wiehle-Reston East is the  only onsite parking garage at the five           new Metro stations in  Phase 1 of the Silver Line. It offers:

    2,300 public parking spaces
    45 &quot;Kiss and Ride&quot; spaces
    10 bus bays on the north side, 5 on the south
    A secure locker room for over 200 bicycles.

It officially opens on July 26,  the same day the Silver Line           starts operating service from  the Wiehle-Reston East rail station,           located in the median of  the Dulles Toll Road adjacent to the site.
&nbsp;
The county owns the commuter  garage, and Metro will collect parking           fees. The same as  other Metro garages in the county, the fees are:

    $4.85 per day
    $65 a month for  reserved parking
    $75 a year for using the secure,             bike locker room. The $75 fee includes a one-time $15             registration fee and $60 for the first year's annual             membership.&nbsp;

The bike room is the first  of its kind for Fairfax County. It           can accommodate over 200  bikes, with both vertical and regular           parking, and room for  over-sized bikes or bikes with trailers. It           features two  fully-equipped &quot;fix-it&quot; stations with pumps and tools,           and a  work bench where bike repairs can be made. Additional bike            parking is also available for non-members. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
The bus station at  Wiehle-Reston East features 10 bus bays           on the north side of  the Toll Road, and five bus bays on the south           side of the Toll  Road.&nbsp; &nbsp;In addition to Fairfax           Connector service, Washington  Flyer will operate its Silver Line           Express from the north  side, and Loudoun County Transit will operate           bus service from  the south side.&nbsp; A Connector Store is           located on the north  side bus platform, where passengers can purchase           fare media,  speak to a customer service representative, and find           maps,  timetables and information. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Because Wiehle-Reston East will open on July 26, the  Sunset Hills Interim Park and Ride will permanently close           at midnight, July 25, 2014.&nbsp;  The 600-space lot, located at           the intersection of Sunset  Hills Road and Town Center Parkway,           offered temporary parking  while Wiehle was under construction.
&nbsp;
Starting July 26, Fairfax Connector will dramatically           change its bus routes in order to serve the Silver Line.           Connector will:

    Launch 16 new routes
    Change 28 existing routes
    Eliminate five routes

These are the most  significant changes in 20 years. Currently, there           are 34 bus  routes operating in the Dulles Corridor, carrying 18,000            passengers per weekday.
&nbsp;
For more information about the ceremony, members of the media only           may contact Beth Francis at 703-877-5602, TTY 711. Source: MWAA Newsletter

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			<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2014 08:19:59 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The demands of the RFP process are heavy ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Others (particularly the method of evaluation)  are either unique to RFP procurement or of a greater order of magnitude  in relation to an RFP.
&nbsp;
One of the most important distinctions  between an RFP and a tender relates to the kind of submissions that  bidders are expected to make.
&nbsp;
In a tender, the bidder completes a  relatively simple form which requires price and other basic information.  It may also be expected to provide a few additional documents (i.e., a  bonding commitment) to confirm that it will be able to carry out the  contract if awarded. Since this kind of information is usually readily  available to any commercial supplier, or contractor, from the bidders  perspective, a tender actually represents a relatively simplified and  low cost method of seeking business, in comparison to the lengthy wooing  efforts that are usually employed in private sector procurement. 
&nbsp;
With an RFP, there is a manifold increase in the  burden imposed upon the supplier, and contractor in order to prepare and  submit a proposal and thereby participate in the contract competition.  For example, in relation to an RFP issued by the City of Kyle, Tex., in  2007, for the design and construction of a recreation facility, the  bidders were required to submit proposals that satisfied specific  content requirements. This proposal was required to include a conceptual  site plan, study models, perspective sketches, electronic modeling or  combinations of these media, touching upon relevant aspects of the City  of Kyle Parks Master Plan, recommendations by staff, and citizen surveys  as part of the overall layout and conceptual design of the facility,  and assessing staff usage, operation and space relationship at the  facility.
Any drawings prepared were required to be  provided in AutoCad format as well as jpeg and PowerPoint. After the RFP  submission deadline, and the evaluation of those proposals by the city,  the RFP contemplated that a short-list of proponents would be selected  and invited firms to participate in an interview by the city&rsquo;s park  board. Selected candidates would be expected to make a 15 to 30 minute  presentation regarding their proposal and answer related questions, so  that each interview would last approximately one hour.
&nbsp;
Requirements of this kind are far from  unusual in Canada. It is self evident that in order to accommodate the  complex kinds of proposals that are submitted in response to an RFP, it  is necessary to move a considerable distance from the rules that govern  an ordinary request for tender.
&nbsp;
In part because the RFP process is so  demanding on suppliers, and contractors, and because it is no less  demanding on municipal staff, one option that is often considered is to  engage in some sort of pre-qualification exercise, in which a short-list  of prospective suppliers is identified before the detailed work begins.
&nbsp;
In such cases, the municipality&rsquo;s bylaw needs  to deal with whether the list of prospective suppliers should be  limited to those who have pre-registered or pre-qualified; when (if  ever) should pre-qualification be mandatory; how should the  pre-qualification process be conducted; and what considerations are  relevant.
&nbsp;
Over the years pre-qualification is becoming  more common with municipalities over a certain dollar amount. As I see  it, contractors are finding it harder than ever to first pre-qualify for  a large construction project, and then win the bid by having the best,  or most qualified RFP response.
&nbsp;
One small mistake and you are disqualified  after spending so much time preparing the bid. Municipalities should try  to make it easier, not harder for contractors to understand what the  municipalities are looking for the in RFP scoring process. Reference Article.
&nbsp;
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2014 09:44:49 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small-business federal opportunities the most protested in fiscal 2014]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Of the many thousands of procurements solicited by the federal  government each year, some receive more protests &mdash; disputes against the  terms of a solicitation, proposed award or award of a contract &mdash; than  others.
&nbsp;
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.&nbsp; Read Full Article. 
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jul 2014 08:05:34 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GovPartners Expands Covert Travelers]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
GovPartners is Taking the Mystery out of Customer&nbsp;Satisfaction, One Trip at a Time
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ashburn, VA (June 11, 2014) &ndash; GovPartners, LLC&nbsp;(GovPartners)  a leading provider of complete acquisition management support services,  today announced they have extended their market research services for  the transportation sector within the DC Metropolitan area. GovPartners&rsquo;  newly developed Customer Intelligence Analyst (CIA) Division, the  clandestine arm of GovPartners, is comprised of an experienced team  focused on providing clients with objective metrics to measure customer  experience and operational performance.

GovPartners  has successfully developed a transportation specific program that  provides their clients with quality market research and customer  intelligence reporting. &ldquo;Our objective results significantly contribute  to improving the way our clients do business, increases the productivity  of our client&rsquo;s vendors, and saves our clients&rsquo; money, while improving  the end users overall traveling experience. &nbsp;We are very pleased that we  are able to further expand our core competencies with a goal to be  recognized as the market leader in the transportation industry,&rdquo; said  Cynthia Karnik, GovPartners Customer Experience Officer (CEO).&rdquo;
&nbsp;
GovPartners  plans to expand its market reach to include land, air and sea  transportation providers nationwide. Click on the following link to  learn&nbsp;more.


About GovPartners&nbsp;
Founded  in 2009, GovPartners, a certified small woman &amp; minority owned  business and LDBE, provides complete acquisition management, contract  compliance and performance evaluation services.&nbsp; Their mission is to  engage with clients to help determine what should be measured and how,  advise on the most effective ways to analyze the data and provide  reports with conclusions and recommendations. &nbsp;GovPartners currently  serves transportation industry clients that represent some of the most  innovative and successful customer-focused organizations competing in  the marketplace.&nbsp; Their surveying and experience management solutions  deliver value to customer-focused companies in an array of industries.&nbsp;  For more information about GovPartners, visit their websites at&nbsp;www.govpartners.com&nbsp;and&nbsp;www.coverttravelers.com
For more information please contact:
Meg Galvan / Creative Analyst
GOVPARTNERS, LLC
44927 GEORGE WASHINGTON BLVD. SUITE 230
ASHBURN, VIRGINIA&nbsp;&nbsp; 20147&nbsp;&nbsp;
Phone:&nbsp; (571) 252-3868 | Email:&nbsp;info@coverttravelers.com 
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2014 16:22:40 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GovPartners - Meet the Employer Recruiting Event]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Please join GovPartners for our Meet the Employer event (Wednesday, May 14 -  9:30AM-11AM) for walk-in interviews for our part-time Covert Traveler  position(s).  We are currently recruiting for positions in the DC Metro Area.

Event Details:
Arlington Employment Center -- Meet the Employer (Recruiting event)
2100 Washington Blvd (1st Fl), Arlington, VA
Wednesday, May 13 -- 9:30AM-11:00AM

or Apply Online (Covert Traveler) - https://www.govpartners.com/index.php/careers
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
			<guid>https://www.govpartners.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=248</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2014 17:23:33 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[ GSA Federal Schedule Contracts: Pros And Cons]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[You  may have heard that the path to government contracting riches is paved  with a General Services Administration (GSA) multiple-award schedule  (MAS) contract, also known as a Federal Supply Schedule contract.&nbsp;
Contracts awarded via the GSA's MAS program are indefinite-delivery,  indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicles against which government  buyers can place orders directly with the schedule holder for commercial  products and services (including of-a-type variations) that the  contractor agrees to sell at prenegotiated prices and terms and  conditions. GSA puts the items, prices and terms in an online catalog  visible to all on the Internet.
&nbsp;
But while its true schedules hold advantages for sellers and buyers  alike, there is no guarantee that you will end up with orders: Of the  5,400-odd companies in possession of a schedule contract for information  technology products and services during federal fiscal year 2010, about  39 percent did no schedule business whatsoever. Another 17 percent  didn't do business worth more than $100,000.
&nbsp;
There's a lot to think about when embarking on the GSA schedule  process. You need to consider your position in both the private- and  public- sector marketplaces, and your plans for the next five years in  both sectors before making decisions about your go-to-market strategy  and the role of a GSA schedule contract within that strategy.
&nbsp;
The generic business case for getting a schedule contract is that  schedules are the only purchasing program accessible by all federal  agencies. Schedules also let contracting officers narrow the field of  potential sellers, permitting them to review and evaluate a handful of  quotes rather than dozens, thus speeding the procurement process -- and  government buying decisions tend toward the path of least resistance.
&nbsp;
A schedule means you can sell to federal agencies without contracting  officers having to spend time figuring out if you're responsible or  capable for each procurement -- GSA has done that already. You can  participate in schedule-restricted competitions, and because competition  requirements are relatively lower for schedule purchases, also be in a  position to sell directly to agencies. And although agencies can further  negotiate schedule prices down prior to placing an order, and sellers  often discount below the GSA catalog price during order-level  competition, schedule prices have gained an official GSA stamp of  approval as &ldquo;fair and reasonable.&rdquo; As a result, GSA-approved schedule  prices can be the basis for a transaction, even if the buyer ultimately  uses another contracting method or type.
&nbsp;
The GSA stamp of approval can mean a lot to companies of a certain  size, especially ones that don't have a lot of name recognition within  their niches. A schedule contract demonstrates that you have a good past  performance record, that you have financial capability, and that you  have processes in place to ensure delivery and post-sale support. A  schedule says you're a serious business, and serious about getting  government business as government contractor.
&nbsp;
But there are some circumstances under which a company might not need tacit endorsement from GSA.&nbsp; Read more.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2014 10:34:39 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA, OPM team up to tackle training]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Office of Personnel Management is moving to jointly manage a  major training and management contract with the General Services  Administration.
&nbsp;
CIOs and other federal managers can expect to get better-focused,  cost-effective training packages for their employees under a memorandum  of understanding between the two agencies unveiled April 28, according  to GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini and OPM Director Katherine  Archuleta.
&nbsp;
OPM and GSA will jointly manage the solicitation and award of a new  strategically sourced, multiple-award contract vehicle that will support  OPM's Training and Management Assistance (TMA) program.
&nbsp;
Tangherlini said the goal is to collapse the time it takes a CIO to  identify a skills gap and get training for his or her employees to  address the gap. Archuleta said better-focused training regimens will  result from the agreement. Read more.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Apr 2014 09:43:26 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[ Committee Approves Bill to Increase Agencies Small Biz Contracting Goals]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[&nbsp;

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.
&nbsp;
The package approved Wednesday would particularly affect the  construction industry, women, and disabled veterans. It includes a plan  to raise agencies&rsquo; small-business prime contracting goal from 23 percent  to 25 percent and establish a 40 percent goal for small-business  subcontractors.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Greater small business involvement in federal contracting benefits  companies and taxpayers alike,&rdquo; said panel Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo.,  who sponsored the bill outlining the new contracting goals. &ldquo;Small firms  are innovative, and increased competition often leads to savings for  the taxpayers.&rdquo;&nbsp; Read full article.
&nbsp;

&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 07 Mar 2014 09:07:12 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[2014 FAR agenda includes rule to encourage small business set asides  ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Proposed changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulations for 2014  include a rule that would encourage agencies to set aside contracts for  small businesses.
The interim rule would codify part of the 2010 Small Business Jobs Act&nbsp;that  addressed set-asides of task- and delivery-orders as well as partial  set-asides under multiple-award contracts, the 2014 FAR regulatory agenda says.
The interim rule would only strengthen what's already happening in  the government, said federal procurement expert Larry Allen. Agencies  already regularly set aside contracts for small businesses, he added.
&nbsp;
&quot;It's a further step to enshrine a practice that already happens,&quot; Allen said. This year's agenda will also include a proposed rule to clarify  regulatory coverage on organizational conflicts of interest--when a  contractor provides two types of services to the government that have  conflicting interests.

&nbsp;
Another proposed rule would implement a uniform Procurement  Instrument Identification numbering system. That system will require the  use of Activity Address Codes to identify contracting offices and other  offices in an effort to standardize procurement transactions across  agencies.
&nbsp;
But the gears of regulatory reform might move slowly this year, Allen  said, because there will be no full time head of the office of  procurement policy when Joe Jordan leaves at the end of January.
&quot;History has shown, with the absence of someone there full time, the wheels will turn more slowly,&quot; he said.
For more: - go to a Federal Register notice for the FAR regulatory agenda

Read more: 2014 FAR agenda includes rule to encourage small business set asides - FierceGovernment http://www.fiercegovernment.com/story/2014-far-agenda-includes-rule-encourage-small-business-set-asides/2014-01-09#ixzz2q0EUu6ty

&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jan 2014 08:50:56 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Contractors should resolve to adapt in 2014]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[From shutdowns to changed buying methods, the federal contracting  market is evolving. Smart contractors will not only face down these  changes, but find the best ways to take advantage of them.
Here is a look at how to get ahead in 2014:
&nbsp;
Move past sequestration and the shutdown. The federal sequester and recent budget cuts &mdash; in addition to the  2013 shutdown &mdash; mean that federal spending is being scrutinized like  never before, putting extra pressure on government contractors.
Companies  should focus on winning future business, rather than past obstacles.  Smart business development strategies include finding new money in the  federal budget.
&nbsp;
For example, the 2014 federal budget request  includes $76.5 billion in information technology spending. The more  important figure could be $17.9 billion, or the amount of money included  for new projects &mdash; as opposed to maintenance costs &mdash; in the budget  number.
&nbsp;
Stay ahead of the contract-type curve. Over time, agencies change their contracting practices. Some contract types grow popular while others fall out of favor.
&nbsp;
In  2009, General Services Administration schedules and government-wide  acquisition contracts began losing market share to agency-specific,  indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract vehicles.
&nbsp;
Now,  spending patterns are shifting back, with GSA schedule and  government-wide acquisition contract spending increasing, while  agency-specific vehicles decline in use. Though agencies give up some  control by using multi-agency contracts, it&rsquo;s cheaper and easier to rely  on a program that&rsquo;s already in place. Read Full Article.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Jan 2014 13:16:46 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Top Ten Things Every Government Contractor Should Know About Bid Protests]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
As government contracting continues to become more competitive in response to shrinking budgets for federal contracts, more disappointed offerors are pursuing bid protests to protect their interests. After climbing rapidly through the mid-2000s, federal government spending on contracts reached a high of almost $541 billion in Fiscal Year (&quot;FY&quot;) 2008. Since then, spending has dropped to $517.1 billion in FY 2012 and continued to decline in FY 2013. As contractors fight to maintain their piece of the federal procurement budget, it is increasingly important for these contractors to understand their options for challenging agency procurement decisions through bid protests.
&nbsp;
1. Interested Party/Standing
To file a bid protest, a protestor must demonstrate that it has standing as an interested party, meaning the protestor must be an actual or prospective offeror whose direct economic interest would be affected by the award of a contract or by the failure to award a contract. Thus, while a protester challenging the terms of a solicitation must be an actual or prospective offeror, a protestor challenging an agency's selection decision must also demonstrate that it would be next in line for an award but for the agency error or that it would regain the opportunity to compete if its protest was sustained.
&nbsp;
2. Forum Selection
A contractor challenging a federal procurement may generally choose to file a bid protest before the agency administering the procurement, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), or the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC). Agency-level protests typically offer the least expensive and quickest option for a disappointed offeror, followed by GAO protests, and then COFC protests. For agency-level protests, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires agencies to use best efforts to resolve a protest within 35 days after the protest is filed, although some agencies have implemented their own rules requiring shorter timeframes for resolution. The FAR similarly imposes a strict deadline for resolving protests filed before GAO; however, GAO has up to 100 days after the initial protest filing to issue a decision. By contrast, there are no time constraints on COFC's authority to resolve bid protests.
Further, because none of these forums hold appellate jurisdiction over the others, a protestor who is unsatisfied with the result of a protest may re-file the protest in a different forum, with limited exceptions. For example, a protestor disappointed with the outcome of a GAO protest may be able to file a COFC protest, but a protestor that starts at the COFC cannot later file a GAO protest based on the same issue. Thus, contractors may want to start with an agency-level or GAO protest before going to the COFC.
Although agency-level protests may be relatively quick and inexpensive, they also have significant disadvantages compared to GAO and COFC protests. For example, agency-level protestors have no right to discovery. By contrast, GAO and COFC protests require limited discovery, which means agencies must produce an agency report or administrative record containing all documents relevant to the protest. Further, in some cases, a COFC protest may allow for additional discovery (e.g., depositions).
Another important distinction between agencies, GAO, and the COFC is the difference in remedies available to a disappointed bidder. While agencies and GAO have limited authority and only can issue recommendations, the COFChas the power to enforce its judgments. Although this distinction has the potential to significantly impact forum selection, as a practical matter agencies generally follow GAO's recommendations.
&nbsp;
3. CICA Automatic Stay
One significant advantage only offered by GAO protests is the availability of an automatic stay of contract award or performance under the Competition in Contracting Act (&quot;CICA&quot;). To obtain a CICA stay, the protestor only needs to file its protest within 10 days of the contract award or within five days of its debriefing. However, the requirement for a CICA stay is not triggered until GAO provides notice of the protest filing to the contracting agency. Further, because GAO has up to a day to provide the required notice, contractors should file protests in advance of the filing deadline when requesting a CICA stay to ensure that GAO has sufficient time to notify the contracting agency.
By contrast, CICA stays are not available in COFC protests. Nonetheless, the COFC may stay contract award or performance through granting injunctive relief, although grants of injunctive relief require the protestor to satisfy a relatively high standard. Further, protestors must not only satisfy a high burden to warrant injunctive relief, but also must post security in an amount deemed appropriate by the court to pay the costs and damages sustained by a party found to have been wrongfully enjoined or restrained.
&nbsp;
4. Agency Debriefings
Even though competitive procurements require the agency to conduct a debriefing with an offeror following the award decision, the manner and content of debriefings vary greatly. In some procurements, the agency may provide a written debriefing, while in others the agency may provide an in-person or telephonic debriefing. Moreover, some debriefings include detailed analysis, redacted versions of source selection documents, and even an opportunity for the protestor to have the agency respond to specific questions. Other debriefings, are limited to the information required under the FAR�e.g., evaluation of significant weaknesses or deficiencies in the offeror's proposal, overall evaluated cost or price and technical rating, or overall ranking of the offerors. Unfortunately, despite the lack of uniformity and the limited regulations governing the scope of debriefings, an offeror cannot protest the content of its debriefing.
&nbsp;
5. Pre-Award vs. Post-Award Protests
Regardless of which forum a protestor chooses, protests challenging the terms of a solicitation must be filed prior to the closing date for proposal submissions. After that deadline passes, a protestor only can challenge the terms of a solicitation if those terms contain a latent ambiguity, meaning that the solicitation error was subtle and not capable of being identified until the evaluation. The latent ambiguity exception, however, often can prove a difficult standard to meet. Thus, before the proposal submission deadline, contractors should carefully review solicitations for any unclear or potentially discriminatory terms and consider addressing those terms with the agency and, if necessary, filing a protest. By contrast, post-award protests may challenge a much broader range of issues and follow different timeliness rules.
&nbsp;
6. Timeliness Rules
Except when based on alleged improprieties in a solicitation, agency-level protests and GAO protests must be filed no later than 10 days after the basis of protest is known or should have been known, whichever is earlier. Agencies however, may consider the merits of a protest filed outside the 10 day requirement for good cause or when the agency determines that a protest raises issues significant to the agency's acquisition system. Further, where the protest challenges a competitive procurement under which a required debriefing is requested, the protestor has until 10 days after the debriefing to file a protest. However, the protest must be filed within five days of the debriefing to secure a suspension of contract performance. Unlike agency-level and GAO protests, the COFC does not require protestors to satisfy strict filing deadlines in most cases, although the COFC has effectively adopted GAO's timeliness rule for protests challenging solicitation improprieties.
&nbsp;
7. Hearings
Although hearings are regularly held in protests before the COFC, GAO holds hearings in a limited number of protests. Generally, GAO will hold a hearing only to resolve a factual dispute that requires assessing witness credibility or whereGAO determines that a hearing would be more efficient than proceeding on written submissions only. As evidence of how rarely GAO conducts hearings, between FY 2008 and 2012, GAO conducted hearings for only 260 of 10,768 protests filed.
&nbsp;
8.. Filing Trends
Although the number of GAO protests continues to rise, the rate of increase has tapered off in recent years. In FY 2012, GAO saw 2,475 protests filed, compared to 2,353 in FY 2011, 2,229 in FY 2010, 1,989 in FY 2009, and 1,652 in FY 2008. By contrast, the COFC hears a relatively stable number of protests each year. Between FY 2005 and FY 2010, only 454 protests were filed before the COFC.
&nbsp;
9. Success Rates
Despite the noted increase in GAO protest filings, the sustain rate has remained relatively stable. In FY 2012, GAO sustained 18.6% of protests, compared to 16% in FY 2011, 19% in FY 2010, 18% in FY 2009, and 21% in FY 2008. Although these figures may seem low, GAO tracks this data only on protests where GAO issues a formal recommendation. As such, GAO's statistics fail to account for protests in which a protestor successfully obtains corrective action from an agency.
&nbsp;
10. Potential Changes to GAO's Handling of Protest
Despite the drastic increase in protest filings, GAO continues to maintain a manual docketing system. However, GAO's FY 2014 budget request asked Congress to provide GAO the authority to collect a filing fee for protests so that it could fund development, implementation, and maintenance of an electronic docketing system. In response to GAO's request, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate appropriations bills have included language that would authorize GAO to collect the fee, although neither bill specifies the amount of the fee. Reference Article.
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Nov 2013 11:32:54 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Berry Aviation, Inc. Strengthens Fleet With Four New Aircraft]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS, November 11, 2013 - Berry  Aviation, Inc. (BAI) announced today that it has recently made several  fleet additions. &nbsp;The aircraft acquired are three de Havilland Canada  DHC-6-300 Twin Otters and one Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia, all purchased by  the company.
&nbsp;
The Series 300 Twin Otters were acquired to support  BAI&rsquo;s expanding contract airlift services for the US Department of  Defense (DOD), a segment of the company that has experienced healthy  growth in recent years. Two of these Twin Otters were dispatched to  Burkina Faso, Africa to provide short take-off and landing (STOL)  services to the DOD throughout the Trans-Sahara region. There they will  provide passenger, aerial delivery, casualty evacuation, and cargo  airlift support services.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;We are excited to expand into Africa utilizing the Twin Otter. It is  highly regarded for its reliability and is well suited for utility air  transportation in remote and austere environments,&rdquo; commented Sonny  Berry, CEO and President.&nbsp;
The third Twin Otter will remain at the company&rsquo;s headquarters in San Marcos, Texas to be used for training exercises.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia was added to expand  BAI&rsquo;s On-Demand Cargo (ODC) operational capabilities. Berry Aviation  acquired its first EMB-120 in June 2012 and shortly thereafter decided,  based on market demand, to purchase a second one. Both planes perform  cargo airlift primarily throughout North America.&nbsp;
In regards to this, Sonny Berry added, &ldquo;The Embraer 120&rsquo;s payload  capabilities serve to diversify our On-Demand Cargo offering. We feel  that the addition of this airframe will allow us to expand our ODC line  of business.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
These additions bring BAI&rsquo;s current fleet to 25 aircraft:&nbsp;
&bull; 3 Fairchild Metro II&nbsp;
&bull; 7 Fairchild Metro III&nbsp;
&bull; 4 Fairchild Metro III Heavy&nbsp;
&bull; 4 de Havilland Canada DHC-8-200&nbsp;
&bull; 3 de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300&nbsp;
&bull; 2 Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia&nbsp;
&bull; 2 Dornier DO 328-120&nbsp;
***BAI also operates four US Army owned UH-72 Lakota Helicopters&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Berry Aviation, Inc. (www.berryaviation.com) is  a trusted leader in private aviation, with a portfolio of services that  includes Government, Private Charter, Scheduled and On-Demand Freight,  Maintenance, and FBO operations. Since its foundation in 1983, BAI has  grown into a dynamic, customer-focused company with the knowledge,  experience and manpower to operate on short notice with turnkey safe  aviation services. More information on the company&rsquo;s awards, services,  certifications, history, and industry leadership can be found on the  website.&nbsp; Reference Article.
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 13 Nov 2013 11:04:36 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[RFP-EZ and Innovative Contracting Tools]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Making it easier for the government to do business with small,  high-growth tech companies, and enabling the government to buy better,  lower-cost tech solutions from the full range of American businesses.
&nbsp;
RFP-EZ improves the operations of government by making it easier for  small businesses to sell their services to government buyers, and by  making it easier for contracting officers within government to navigate  the process of purchasing. &nbsp;In Round 1  of the PIF program, the RFP-EZ team opened the door to small businesses  by building a platform for small, creative businesses to more  effectively sell to the Federal Government. The objective of the RFP-EZ  2.0 team is to improve upon the existing product and scale the tool  across additional government agencies so that fewer taxpayer dollars are  spent getting the technology that government needs to do its work for  the American people.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
As RFP-EZ is tested and scaled, a new effort will be launched to  improve Federal procurement by building a portal of prices paid by  agencies under their contracts.&nbsp; Improved information sharing, both  within and between agencies, about prices paid for common-use goods and  services will make it easier for agencies to find &ldquo;best in class&rdquo;  spending options.&nbsp; More informed decision making promises to help save  substantial amounts of money each year by pooling resources in the  vehicles that offer the best value for the taxpayer. Reference Article. 
&nbsp;
For opportunities, visit https://rfpez.sba.gov/
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Oct 2013 09:30:20 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Practice Pointers For Agency Debriefings ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
As the end of the government fiscal year looms, a frenzy of contract awards generally follows, accompanied by an uptick in the number of bid protests filed at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Court of Federal Claims. Below, just in time for protest season, are some best practice reminders that relate to debriefings:
1. Debriefings are an opportunity for your company to learn more about the circumstances of an award, to gather data that will help you to improve future offers and determine if a basis for protest exists. The purpose of the debriefing is to obtain as much information about the procurement as possible. Per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.506, a post-award debriefing must include:

    the agency's evaluation of significant strengths and weaknesses in your proposal
    the overall evaluated cost or price, and the technical rating, of your offer and the awardee's offer
    information about how your past performance was evaluated
    the overall ranking of all offerors, if done
    a summary of the rationale for the award
    reasonable responses to questions about whether the evaluation scheme and applicable regulations were followed

Some agencies will provide additional information, although agencies cannot disclose confidential, trade secret or source selection information, or any information that would not be releasable under the Freedom of Information Act.
2. Always ask for a debriefing, even if you are the awardee. For unsuccessful offerors, it never hurts to find out why your efforts to secure a contract have been unsuccessful. If you are the awardee, details about the strengths and weaknesses of your proposal and why you won are always useful.
3. Be sure to make a request for a debriefing within three days of the notice of an award. Debriefings are not required in FAR Part 8 or Part 12 procurements. Sometimes agencies will provide them anyway, although all the agency is required to furnish is a brief explanation of the award decision. In a Part 15 procurement, the agency is required to give a full debriefing when one is timely requested.
4. Debriefings should generally take place within five days of a request. Always take the first debriefing date offered by the government, even if it is inconvenient or if it means you must conduct the debriefing telephonically rather than in person. Competition in Contracting Act statutory stays are triggered from the first debriefing date offered, not the actual debriefing date. Once you have asked for a debriefing, the GAO may dismiss as premature any protest filed before the debriefing. Depending on your actual debriefing date, you could be put in the position of being too early to file a protest but too late to obtain a stay if you do not accept the first offered date.
5. Bring the following with you to the debriefing:

    a list of debriefing items to which you are entitled under the FAR
    a list of other questions specific to the procurement
    a copy of the solicitation, particularly the evaluation factors for award as described in Section M
    at least two people � one to listen and one to take notes
    a good attitude � it is not the time to be confrontational or accusatory

It is generally not a good idea to bring your lawyer, even if you think it very likely that you will file a protest, as the presence of your attorney tends to limit conversation.
6. Ask for the following at the debriefing:

    the names and job titles of everyone in attendance
    a copy of the source selection memorandum (You will likely will be provided with a redacted version, or only that portion that relates to your evaluation)

7. After the debriefing:

    discuss with your attorney possible grounds for protest (but be sure to get your attorney involved before the protest, as soon as you receive a notice of the award)
    you may send post-debriefing requests for clarification or follow up questions to the agency but these will not extend your deadline for filing a protest
    conduct a &quot;lessons learned&quot; session with the proposal team and other relevant personnel .

Reference full article. 
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			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Sep 2013 09:15:31 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Federal OASIS Program Could Quench IT Providers' Thirst ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The business impact of the OASIS program is huge. A reasonable estimate of the potential value of contracts resulting from OASIS could be $80 billion over the 10-year life of the program. The IT component is significant enough that GSA is using the program to promote other government IT goals, such as promoting the use of open source solutions and open technology where practicable.Anytime the U.S. government signals it is embarking on a program to invest tens of billions of dollars, potential vendors take notice -- especially during a time of spending restraint.
The federal government, through the General Services Administration, has launched a new program for the procurement of a wide range of professional support services. GSA has branded it the &quot;One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services,&quot; or OASIS. The idea is for government agencies to use a common contracting vehicle for support services, versus individual agency-by-agency procurement programs, to make such contracting more efficient.
The OASIS initiative represents GSA's solution to reducing contract proliferation and duplication across government.
&quot;This is a problem for both government and for contractors, and when we look at what the government spends annually on professional services, the numbers are significant. GSA uses the buying power of the federal government to bring down costs and reduce duplication,&quot; says GSA Public Affairs Officer Cara Battaglini in a blog post.&nbsp; Read full article. ]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Sep 2013 10:52:50 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[United States issues RFP for new passenger locos ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[

THE United States Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has  issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for 35 200km/h diesel-electric  locomotives for use on inter-city and commuter services in Illinois,  Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, Washington, California, and Oregon.
&nbsp;

The Illinois Department of Transportation is leading the procurement  with the first deliveries expected in 2016. The FRA has allocated $US  808m to manufacture the 35 locomotives and 130 double-deck coaches, with  the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) awarding the  American subsidiary of Sumitomo, Japan, the $US 352m coach contract in September 2012.  The coaches are being built at Nippon Sharyo's plant in Rochelle,  Illinois and are scheduled to be delivered between autumn 2015 and early  2018.

The RFP states that the locomotives should use ac traction motors and  meet EPA Tier 4 emissions standards. The winning bidder for the  locomotive contract will be announced in early 2014. Many of the new  locomotives and 88 of the coaches will be operated on upgraded  infrastructure between Chicago and St Louis, and Chicago and Detroit (IRJ January p28).
&nbsp;
This is the second locomotive contract to be procured under the  standardised regulations outlined in Passenger Rail Investment and  Improvement Act (PRIIA) 205 specifications for the Next Generation  Corridor Equipment Pool Committee. Southern California Regional Rail  Authority selected EMD on May 31 to supply up to 20 F125 Spirit  diesel-electric locomotives, which will also be designed to meet EPA  Tier 4 standards, for operation on Southern California's regional rail  service, Metrolink.
&nbsp;
&quot;The new uniform standards will drive down costs and allow more  manufacturers and suppliers to compete, fostering healthy competition  while re-establishing the US domestic supply chain for passenger rail  equipment,&quot; says federal railroad administrator, Mr Joseph Szabo. &quot;The  intent to purchase 35 new locomotives comes as intercity passenger rail  ridership continues to post and exceed ridership records. The need for  new rail equipment has never been greater.&quot; Reference Article.

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			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Aug 2013 13:11:00 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Berry Aviation, Inc. Expands Airlift Support to Africa]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Berry Aviation Inc., San Marcos, Texas, has been awarded a $10,725,000  fixed-priced, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for  Trans-Sahara short take-off  and landing (STOL) services.&nbsp; The contract provides  for casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), personnel airlift, cargo airlift, and air drop  services.&nbsp; Services will be performed throughout the recognized political  boundaries of Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,  Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo,  Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria,  Senegal, Sudan, South Sudan, Tunisia, and Uganda, with an expected  completion date of June 27, 2017.&nbsp;  The value, including  the base period and three one-year option periods, is $49,092,472.&nbsp; The  contracting activity is U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of  Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base,  Ill., (HTC711-13-D-C013)
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			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:14:27 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Price vs. Quality: When to Draw the Line for LPTA]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[ASHBURN&mdash;As the federal government continues to tighten their budget, the same goes for all of the federal departments and agencies. What does this mean for companies interested in pursuing government contracts? Well, with less money to spend, it means that contractors should expect most of the contracts to be awarded to the Lowest-Price, Technically Acceptable (LPTA) offeror.
&nbsp;
Though lowest price technically acceptable is often referred to as the alternative to best value, it is actually stated in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) as a type of best value. FAR Subpart 15.1&mdash;Source Selection Processes and Techniques defines Best Value as:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Best Value - Defined
FAR 15.101 Best value continuum
An agency can obtain best value in negotiated acquisitions by using any one or a combination of source selection approaches. In different types of acquisitions, the relative importance of cost or price may vary. For example, in acquisitions where the requirement is clearly definable and the risk of unsuccessful contract performance is minimal, cost or price may play a dominant role in source selection. The less definitive the requirement, the more development work required, or the greater the performance risk, the more technical or past performance considerations may play a dominant role in source selection.
&nbsp;
Below the above description, the FAR presents LPTA as a subsection of best value, stating:
&nbsp;
LPTA - Defined 
FAR 15.101-2&nbsp;Lowest price technically acceptable source selection process.
(a) The lowest price technically acceptable source selection process is appropriate when best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable proposal with the lowest evaluated price.
(b) When using the lowest price technically acceptable process, the following apply:
(1) The evaluation factors and significant subfactors that establish the requirements of acceptability shall be set forth in the solicitation. Solicitations shall specify that award will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated price of proposals meeting or exceeding the acceptability standards for non-cost factors. If the contracting officer documents the file pursuant to&nbsp;15.304(c)(3)(iii), past performance need not be an evaluation factor in lowest price technically acceptable source selections. If the contracting officer elects to consider past performance as an evaluation factor, it shall be evaluated in accordance with&nbsp;15.305. However, the comparative assessment in&nbsp;15.305(a)(2)(i) does not apply. If the contracting officer determines that a small business&rsquo; past performance is not acceptable, the matter shall be referred to the Small Business Administration for a Certificate of Competency determination, in accordance with the procedures contained in&nbsp;Subpart&nbsp;19.6&nbsp;and&nbsp;15&nbsp;U.S.C.&nbsp;637(b)(7)).
(2) Tradeoffs are not permitted.
(3) Proposals are evaluated for acceptability but not ranked using the non-cost/price factors.
(4) Exchanges may occur (see&nbsp;15.306).
&nbsp;
The above FAR provisions exhibit that Best Value speaks for itself, the government wishes to obtain the best quality service they can for a reasonable price. Though they are seeking a fair and reasonable price, the quality of the service is of more importance than price. On the other hand, when it comes to LPTA, as long as the evaluators deem the bidder as acceptable under the proposal requirements, then the price becomes the sole determining factor.
&nbsp;
So, why is LPTA such a big deal? Most people would assume that with sequestration affecting all of the agencies, this should be a fairly good solution. This may be true, but does lowest price guarantee the best quality? 
&nbsp;
Historically, Lowest-Price, Technically Acceptable solicitations were primarily used for the purchase of products and non-complex services with little risk, especially towards national security matters; such as janitorial services. However, recently we see LPTA solicitation within extensively complex services; services in which quality is far more important than price. This is not to say that the government should spend an outrageous amount of money for these projects, but should a few hundred dollars be the difference between two-star and five-star quality service? Additionally, will the compromise to service end up costing the government more money in the long run?&nbsp;For example, the old saying &ldquo;you get what you pay for&rdquo; may hold true for LPTA contracts. In the end, the awardee may not perform to standards; which risks the government needing to spend additional funds to manage the contract, or potentially terminating the contract to then put it out for recompete. The push for lower prices and acceptable quality will not save the government money if performance is sacrificed.
&nbsp;
The best way to determine the quality of service to be expected from a contractor is from their Past Performance records. As a requirement under Best Value solicitation, Past Performance holds a hefty weight in the evaluation/selection process. Within LPTA solicitation, it is &lsquo;technically&rsquo; a requirement; however, it has a considerably large loophole.
&nbsp;
According to the DoD&rsquo;s Source Selection Procedures past performance is considered required criteria to be provided within a proposal for evaluation. It states the following:
&nbsp;
A.2.1.2. Past Performance. 
&ldquo;Past performance shall be used as an evaluation factor within the LPTA process, unless waived by the PCO in accordance with FAR 15.101-2(b). It shall be evaluated in accordance with FAR 15.305 and DFARS 215.305. However, the comparative assessment in FAR 15.305(a)(2)(i) does not apply. Therefore, past performance will be rated on an &ldquo;acceptable&rdquo; or &ldquo;unacceptable&rdquo; basis using the ratings in Table A-2.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

    
        
            
            Table A-2. Past   Performance Evaluation Ratings
            
        
        
            
            Rating
            
            
            Description
            
        
        
            
            Acceptable
            
            
            Based on the offeror&rsquo;s performance record, the Government has   a reasonable expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the   required effort, or the offeror&rsquo;s performance record is unknown.
            
        
        
            
            Unacceptable
            
            
            Based on the offeror&rsquo;s performance record, the Government has   no reasonable expectation that the offeror will be able to successfully   perform the required effort.
            
        
    

&nbsp;
Though one would think that this is sufficient for determining whether a bidder has the necessary qualifications and experience to support the proposed task, it is flawed. Within the appendix, directly below this table, it states:
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Note: In the case of an offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available or so sparse that no meaningful past performance rating can be reasonably assigned, the offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance (see FAR 15.305 (a)(2)(iv)). Therefore, the offeror shall be determined to have unknown past performance. In the context of acceptability/unacceptability, &ldquo;unknown&rdquo; shall be considered &ldquo;acceptable.&rdquo;&rdquo;
&nbsp;
This note nullifies the entirety of the past performance requirements within the LPTA source selection framework as it allows offerors to essentially disregard this requisite. If a bidder&rsquo;s past performance record is &ldquo;not available or so sparse that no meaningful past performance rating can be reasonably assigned&rdquo; one would typically assume that they are thus unqualified for the job; for the lack of experience in handling a task or assignment of relevance, or they could have opted to disregard the section based on unacceptable performance history. However, rather than being deemed unacceptable, the bidder is given a free-pass. 
&nbsp;
&ldquo;LPTAs may be used in situations where the Government would not realize any value from a proposal exceeding the Government&rsquo;s minimum technical or performance requirements, often for acquisitions of commercial or non-complex services or supplies which are clearly defined and expected to be low risk.&rdquo; 
(Source: http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/policy/policyvault/USA007183-10-DPAP.pdf)
&nbsp;
This is not to say that LPTA solicitation is in any way defective or insufficient, only that it should be offered towards those services in which it was initially meant for. There are countless jobs and services that would be a perfect fit for LPTA based solicitations; however, when it comes to complexity, quality past performance must be a primary evaluation factor during the source selection process.
12 July 2013 -- Written By: Christine Ray
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			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:50:09 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[National Small Business Week 2013, Recap]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[ASHBURN, VA &mdash; As the festivities come to a close, small business leaders return home to put what they have learned into practice. From June 17th to the 21st, small business employees and entrepreneurs traveled from across the country to participate in the 50th anniversary of National Small Business Week.
National Small Business Week is a major event held annually for all existing and potential (future) small businesses, as the Small Business Administration (SBA) dedicates an entire week to celebrating and educating small businesses and their entrepreneurs.
Throughout the week, small businesses had the opportunity to learn from seminars, gain advice from successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, attend informational workshops, and were given the chance to participate in hands-on experience led by experts in the field. The Small Business Administration (SBA) conducts this week-long culmination of events every year with the goal of educating people on the importance of small businesses, as well as assisting these businesses (present and future) to be successful.
For a promising end to the celebration, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced on Friday June 21, that the National Prime Contractor of the Year and National Subcontractor of the Year were awarded to a service-disabled veteran-owned small business contractor and to a woman-owned mapping technology company, (source: www.sba.gov).
&ldquo;When federal contracts get into the hands of small businesses, it is a win-win for the federal government, small businesses, the economy and the job market,&rdquo; said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. &ldquo;The federal government awarded nearly $100 billion in federal contracts to small business like the ones being honored today. These businesses and the industry leaders who contract with small businesses help boost the nation&rsquo;s economy and they are stellar models of how to successfully navigate the federal contracting arena.&rdquo; 
(Source: http://www.sba.gov/about-sba-services/7367/680421)
The main events were held in Seattle, Washington (June 17th); Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (June 18th); St. Louis, Missouri (June 19th); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (June 20th); and Washington, D.C. (June 21st). With the exception of St. Louis, all of these events were sold out. Small business gathered their forces and came together to help educate each other in hopes of learning and growing for the future. People who could not attend the events could access a live stream, as well as media/news articles and coverage, on the SBA official website. More information about the events, awards, and news throughout National Small Business Week, can be found at http://www.sba.gov/nsbw/.
25 June 2013 -- Written By: Christine Ray
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			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:54:19 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GovPartners Small Business Recognition]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[June 10, 2013
In honor of Loudoun County&rsquo;s Small Business Week 2013, GovPartners, LLC has been recognized by the Department of Economic Development for its excellence as a thriving small business. Supervisor Volpe met with GovPartners&rsquo; CEO, Cynthia Karnik, to present her with the award.

&ldquo;We are delighted and honored to be recognized by the department for our accomplishments,&rdquo; said GovPartners&rsquo; CEO Cynthia Karnik. &ldquo;It is a pleasure to provide assistance and support to the needs required by small and large businesses. Our experienced and dedicated team continues to grow as we strive to provide the best possible service for our clients.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Founded in 2009, GovPartners &mdash;a Virginia certified Small Woman and Minority (SWaM) owned business, and certified Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB)&mdash; supports the needs of commercial businesses that request assistance with capture and proposal management, GSA supply schedules, contract management/administration, and formulating contractor teaming agreements with approved government contractors. GovPartners offers acquisition management and support services to government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels; also holding a GSA MOBIS schedule, Contract # GS-10F-0369Y. Read more about GovPartners at http://www.govpartners.com
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			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:41:22 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Federal Acquisition Regulation; Uniform Procurement Identification]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition  Regulation (FAR) to implement a uniform Procurement Instrument  Identification (PIID) numbering system, which will require the use of  Activity Address Codes (AACs) as the unique identifier for contracting  offices and other offices, in order to standardize procurement  transactions across the Federal Government. This proposed rule continues  and strengthens efforts at standardization accomplished under a  previous FAR case.&nbsp; Reference Article.
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			<pubDate>Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:40:10 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Town of Leesburg is home to Loudoun County's only HUBZone!]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Small Business Administration's&nbsp;Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program helps small businesses gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities.&nbsp; The shaded area on the map below is the Leesburg HUBZone - the only HUBZone in Loudoun County.

To qualify for the HUBZone program, a business must meet the following criteria:

    It must be a small business by SBA standards
    It must be owned and controlled at least 51% by U.S. citizens
    Its principal office must be located in a designated HUBZone
    At least 35% of its employees must reside in a HUBZone

Benefits of the HUBZone Program include:

    Competitive and sole source contracting
    10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions, as well as subcontracting opportunities.

Reference Article.
Is your company eligible for HUBZone?&nbsp; Contact us for assistance.&nbsp; 
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			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:49:54 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Obama to propose lower cap on contractor executive reimbursement  ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[President Obama this week will propose legislation that would reduce  payments for executive compensation tied to cost reimbursment contracts,  Federal Procurement Policy Administrator Joe Jordan said in a May 30 blog post.
Currently, under part of the fiscal 1998 national defense authorization act&nbsp;codified as 41 USC &sect;1127,  companies with cost reimbursment contracts can claim as part of their  overhead relevant portions of executive compensation capped at $763,000  annually. If Congress doesn't pass legislation that lowers the cap, it  will go up to more than $950,000 in the coming weeks, Jordan said.
&nbsp;
Obama is proposing to abolish the current formula for the cap and tie  the reimbursement cap to the president's $400,000 a year salary and  apply it across-the-board to all defense and civilian cost-reimbursement  contracts, Jordan said. Read full article.

&nbsp;
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			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Jun 2013 11:02:02 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA could lose $250 million in funding]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[If the idea of the sequester is to save the government massive amounts of money and cut the deficit, a GSA report indicates that budget cuts actually may hamper the agency's ability to cut back on waste.
&nbsp;
According to Federal Times, the GSA stands to lose $250  million in funding next year. That funding would force it to cut back  on projects that find waste and fraud impacting American taxpayers.
&nbsp;
Estimates indicate that more than $3 billion in savings could be missed due to the cuts. Read more.

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			<pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2013 11:50:33 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small businesses often lose in GSA schedule contracts, Hill investigation finds ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
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.
&nbsp;
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.
&nbsp;
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.
&nbsp;
&quot;Competing for a federal contracting is not only time-consuming but  very costly, especially for small businesses, who often don&rsquo;t have a  large procurement team like larger corporations may have,&quot; the committee  noted in a released statement.
&nbsp;
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 &mdash; and had not paid the  required termination costs to small businesses for at least five years.
&nbsp;
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.
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			<pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2013 09:56:59 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Why not 'functionally better' instead of 'technically acceptable'?]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
As agencies deal with budget cuts, the government is missing an  opportunity for innovation and leadership by establishing &quot;lowest price,  technically acceptable&quot; as the default approach to the acquisition of  IT assets.
&nbsp;
The LPTA approach has its place and can work well for commoditized  services with clearly defined, low-risk requirements &mdash; think facilities  maintenance. But &quot;technically acceptable&quot; implies minimum performance  expectations based on what we know has worked in the past and does  little to keep up with new demands or evolving threats. In other words,  LPTA encourages government and industry to settle for &quot;good enough&quot; just  to hit a price point.
&nbsp;
And when it comes to the acquisition of new technology solutions and  services, the LPTA approach offers short-term savings at the expense of  long-term mission effectiveness. It hurts the business of government  because technically acceptable does not anticipate the needs and threats  of tomorrow &mdash; or provide for the technology and systems to address  them. As the fiscal pressures intensify, it is essential that we reach  new levels of performance and efficiency for the short and long term  alike.
&nbsp;
The time is right to get more from our acquisition approach by  changing from &quot;lowest price, technically acceptable&quot; to &quot;lowest price,  functionally better&quot; (LPFB). Read Full Article.
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			<pubDate>Thu, 09 May 2013 09:12:46 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Changes in HUBZone area designations]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
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&mdash;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.
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			<pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 16:25:54 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[ State Department budget cut halved, no sequestration furloughs required]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON &mdash; Despite budget cuts requiring most federal agencies to  furlough workers, the State Department says it will not have to force  any of its employees to take unpaid leave. 						

State&rsquo;s top management official said Friday that the budget  sequester cut for the department would be only $400 million, less than  half of $850 million that was originally estimated. Read full article. 
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2013 13:11:43 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA's ENERGY STAR Buildings Save Taxpayer Dollars]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
15 federal buildings in national building competition make deep cuts in energy use
&nbsp;
April 30, 2013: Washington, DC -- Today, the U.S. General Services Administration  (GSA) announced that 15 of its buildings saved an estimated $961,470  taxpayer dollars and met top energy benchmarks in the 2012 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition.  GSA is meeting energy performance standards in buildings across our  portfolio with a variety of strategies, and our efforts are improving  federal buildings and saving taxpayer dollars, while easing the  government&rsquo;s impact on the environment.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;These 15 buildings saved nearly a million taxpayer dollars, and  across our portfolio of federal buildings we are finding ways to bring  down costs and deliver better value to the American people,&rdquo; said  Dorothy Robyn, GSA&rsquo;s Public Buildings Service Commissioner. &ldquo;GSA is  proud to have so many of our buildings meet top rankings in such a wide  competition. We are using variety of strategies to make our existing  buildings more energy efficient, and they are paying off.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Two of GSA&rsquo;s facilities achieved energy reductions of more than 30  percent and made it into the top 10 rankings in a competition that  included more than 3,000 schools, businesses, and government buildings  nationwide. &nbsp;The Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse in Newark,  New Jersey achieved a 36.8 percent energy savings and the San Antonio  Federal Building in San Antonio, Texas achieved 34.4 savings. GSA had 13  more buildings that were remarkably strong competitors in this contest  and reduced energy consumption by at least 20 percent.
GSA&rsquo;s participation in this contest drove down utility bills and  substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions. GSA used advanced meters  and smart buildings technology to monitor improvements. Some other  examples of the measures taken in these buildings included insulation  projects, sealing structures, manually adjusting window shades, using  smaller water heaters, and retrofitting light fixtures.
&nbsp;
The 2012 Energy Star National Building Competition measured energy  performance for the entire 2012 calendar year. GSA tracked monthly  energy consumption using EPA's free online energy tracking tool, Energy Star Portfolio Manager.  The energy reductions for each of the top competitors were verified by  an independently licensed professional engineer or registered architect.  The program calculated cost savings using the national average costs  for commercial utilities. More information on the 2012 Energy Star  National Building Competition, including top overall finishers and top  finishers by building category, an interactive map of competitors, and a  wrap-up report: http://www.energystar.gov/BattleOfTheBuildings.
&nbsp;
In his 2009 Executive Order,  President Obama directed federal agencies to lead by example in their  environmental, energy, and economic performance. GSA has made our  portfolio of federal buildings more energy efficient through an array of  strategies including EPA&rsquo;s ENERGY STAR programs, Energy Savings  Performance Contracts, GSA&rsquo;s Shave Energy Program, advanced metering,  and Green Proving Ground Program.
&nbsp;
Below is a complete list of GSA&rsquo;s 2012 ENERGY STAR National Building  Competition facilities that reduced energy consumption by at least 20  percent.&nbsp; Read full article.
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			<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2013 13:06:16 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[ DOD Competes Fewer Contracts]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
According to a report published March 28, the Defense Department held fewer competitions for contracts in FY12 than in FY08, declining in total by 5.5 percent during the  four-year span. The majority of  the non-competitive contract awards were tagged as having only a single  company able to do the work, justifying a sole-source award.
In FY12, the DOD obligated $359 billion through contracts and task  orders, of which $205.3 billion, or 57%, went to competitive  awards. In 2008, DOD obligated 62.6 % of its money through the  competitive process, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found in its  analysis of spending data.
The 2012 competition rate varied widely across the services.. The Air  Force had the lowest competition rate at 37.1%. The Defense  Logistics Agency had the highest rate at 83.3%.
More Information
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			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:42:10 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Federal procurement office requires agencies to improve their assessment of contractor performance]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Federal  agencies have been directed to set &ldquo;aggressive performance targets&rdquo; to  improve collection and use of information about contractor performance.
In a memo  to agency Chief Acquisition Officers (CAOs) and Senior Procurement  Executives (SPEs) Joseph Jordan, head of the Office of Federal  Procurement Policy (OFPP), underscored the importance of collecting and  using information on contractor performance and integrity.&nbsp;Assessing  government contractors&rsquo; performance &ldquo;is critical to informing source  selection and award decisions and ensuring the government builds  relationships with high-performing suppliers,&rdquo; he said
Jordan  stressed that efforts by OFPP working with agency acquisition officers  and procurement executives have developed new management tools to  provide contracting officers with valuable contractor information to  help them make selection and award decisions.&nbsp;Now, Jordan said agencies must increase the use of these tools&rdquo;to avoid poor acquisition outcomes in the future.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
The memo sets three goals for agencies to improve the collection and use of contractor performance information:&nbsp;1) set aggressive performance targets; 2) establish a baseline for reporting compliance; and 3) guarantee workforce training. Read full article.

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			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:35:14 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[New warnings sounded on sequestration's impact]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The automatic budget cutting set for March 1 would hamper the  government&rsquo;s ability to protect the public in a range of areas,  according to several warnings that were sounded Wednesday.
The Department of Homeland Security said sequestration &ldquo;would roll  back border security, increase wait times at our Nation&rsquo;s land ports of  entry and airports, affect aviation and maritime safety security, leave  critical infrastructure vulnerable to attacks, hamper response time&rdquo; and  weaken cybersecurity protections.
&nbsp;
In a letter  to Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (Miss.), the ranking Democrat on the House  Homeland Security Committee, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said  frontline law enforcement personnel would have to be furloughed for a  total of 14 days and the department might have to lay off employees.
&nbsp;
The letter did not specify the potential scheduling of furloughs, but the Defense Department, facing similar cutbacks  as are nearly all federal agencies, has said it would spread out the  unpaid furlough days starting in April through the remainder of the  fiscal year that ends Sept. 30. Furloughs could not begin until after a  30-day notice period and certain aspects are subject to bargaining, in unionized workplaces. Read full article.
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			<pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:04:11 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA Acting Administrator Announces New Mission and Priorities]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
&ldquo;The mission of GSA is to deliver the best value in real  estate, acquisition, and technology services to government and the  American people.&rdquo;

The interactions that inspired this new mission statement have also  enabled us to focus on six priorities for GSA in the upcoming year:

&nbsp;
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&nbsp;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.
&nbsp;
Serving our Partners.&nbsp;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&rsquo; needs and expectations.
&nbsp;

Expanding Opportunities for Small Businesses.&nbsp;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.
&nbsp;
Making a More Sustainable Government.&nbsp;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&rsquo;s environmental and fiscal footprints.
&nbsp;
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.
&nbsp;
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.
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			<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:14:14 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA chief plans 10 strategic sourcing efforts by 2015]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Obama administration officials are going to the janitor&rsquo;s closet, the  tool chest and the IT office to find the next round of savings.
The General Services Administration intends to launch 10 strategic  sourcing initiatives in the next two years by targeting a range of  products and services that all agencies use, such as cleaning supplies,  tools and wireless devices, wrote Dan Tangherlini, GSA&rsquo;s acting  administrator, Jan. 10 on &ldquo;The GSA Blog.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Everyday shoppers know that buying in bulk saves both time and money,&rdquo;  Tangherlini wrote, &ldquo;and the government has a similar responsibility to  use its buying power to get the best value for the taxpayer.&rdquo; The  agency&rsquo;s goals are saving &ldquo;hundreds of millions of dollars by delivering  better value,&rdquo; increasing business for small companies and boosting  efforts to buy environmentally friendly products. Furthermore, officials  want to make it easier for agencies to comply with spending rules,  Tangherlini wrote. His announcement comes a month after the Office of  Management and Budget ordered GSA&nbsp;to launch five strategic sourcing initiatives in fiscal 2013 and 20
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			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:52:47 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[ Obama signs legislation to deliver more government contracts to small businesses]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Washington&rsquo;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.
&nbsp;
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.

&nbsp;
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.
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			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:36:53 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Holiday Season Stocking Stuffer - Market Analysis]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[

Not sure what opportunities to pursue or team? GovPartners is paying it forward by offering a market analysis to selected small businesses, as a stocking stuffer to ring in the New Year.&nbsp; E-mail us and find out what government contracting opportunities are available for your business today. 
Below is a list of the top ten Agencies that distributed government contracts for Fiscal Year 2012.


These contracts demonstrate previous opportunities awarded to commercial contractors, ranging from the acquisition of transportation services to the provision of paper clips.&nbsp; This proves that there&rsquo;s a wide range of products and services that the government procures from the commercial market.
There are currently two versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the government anticipates deliberations this week.&nbsp; The House version of the Act includes a provision that would increase the goal for small-business contracting from 23 percent to 25 percent of all contracting dollars; while this provision is not included in &nbsp;the Senate version of the bill.
&nbsp;
The entire team at GovPartners wishes you a safe and happy holiday season and best wishes for a fulfilling 2013.
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:29:18 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Tis' the Season to be Teaming!]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Tis' the Season to be Teaming!
It's the Holidays and in the spirit of the season, GovPartners is pleased to announce the launch of our SubTeamPartners (STP) network and offer it as a digital stocking stuffer for all of our newsletter subscribers. STP is a networking resource designed to assist contractors find teaming and/or subcontracting opportunities with prime contractors and government vendors.  This network is not a government-wide opportunity search; it is a live network of targeted opportunities posted by government contractors, seeking to form team(s) of qualified vendors to respond to active solicitations.
With access to this invaluable network, your company will have the ability to source and post opportunities, request business, participate in forum discussions, search for subcontractors and teaming partners; with the added capability to facilitate partnerships between prime and subcontractors within any socio-economic category, worldwide. This online tool will reduce the amount of effort and time needed to research opportunities,  while exposing your business to government requirements with a demand for your product or service offerings.  
Below are images of a few of the features that the SubTeamPartners network provides to its users:




To find out more and register, click here.&nbsp; 
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			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:18:33 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Changes in federal acquisition environment taking toll on vendors]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[If there was ever any question about the course correction the federal  contracting market has been going through over the past three years, a  new survey from Grant Thornton puts it all to rest.
Government contractors say they are making less money than at any time  in the last 18 years, including 56 percent of the respondents revealing  they made less than 5 percent profit off their government contracts in  2012.
&nbsp;
Grant Thornton's 18th annual study of the government contractor industry  details the impact of the changing federal procurement environment.
&nbsp;
&quot;I think we are seeing, probably, the government is spending less money  on contracts, and that's being reflected in the revenues and the  companies are beginning to diversify,&quot; said Lou Crenshaw, who leads  Grant Thornton's aerospace and defense industry market and is a retired  Navy vice admiral. &quot;This year, for instance, less companies received  work from the federal government as an overall percentage of their  revenue. So we are seeing a move of the companies to the commercial  sector.&quot;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Crenshaw, who presented the preliminary results of the survey at a  luncheon sponsored by AFFIRM in Washington Friday, said vendors overall  saw a 9 percent drop in revenue and a 16 percent drop for those working  with DoD last year.
&nbsp;
Additionally, 38 percent of the respondents said they saw decreased  revenues &mdash; a 9 percent increase over last year &mdash; while 35 percent saw  increases, a 15 percent decline over 2011.
Not only is revenue down, but profits are down too. Grant Thornton found  the percentage of vendors making less than 5 percent profit or no  profit grew in 2012 by 31 percent over 2011.
Federal procurement spending down $20 billion. Read Full Article. 
 	
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			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Dec 2012 09:55:51 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Bipartisan WOSB Contracting Amendment Unanimously Approved as Part of Defense Bill]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[A bipartisan group of United States Senators led by Olympia         J. Snowe (R-Maine) and Mary L. Landrieu (D-Louisiana) were         successful in adding an amendment to bolster contracting         opportunities for women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) to         the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2013 (S.         3254).&nbsp;&nbsp; The measure would eliminate a         current-law restriction on the dollar amount of a contract         that women-owned small businesses can compete for, putting         them on a level playing field with the other federal small         business socio-economic contracting programs.&nbsp; The         federal government has consistently failed to meet its         annual women's contracting goal of five percent, and this         provision will assist in satisfying, if not exceeding that         goal.&nbsp; The amendment was cosponsored by Senators         Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Scott P. Brown         (R-Massachusetts), Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland), Mark Kirk         (R-Illinois), and Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania).&nbsp;

&quot;Simply put, women-owned small businesses have yet to         receive their fair share of federal contracting dollars,         and as the fastest growing segment of our economy,         women-owned small businesses will play a critical role in         helping our nation recover from the recent recession,&quot; the         Senators said.&nbsp; &quot;This inequity was the impetus behind         the women's contracting program that Congress authorized on         December 21, 2000, and over a decade later, the program was         finally implemented by the SBA.&nbsp; While we applaud this         Administration's efforts to finally put in place a         functioning program, the unfortunate fact is that         women-owned small businesses will still face a disadvantage         when compared to HUBZone, 8(a), and service-disabled         veteran-owned businesses.&nbsp; Our amendment will help put         women-owned firms on a level playing field with these other         socio-economic groups to ensure their maximum participation         in the federal contracting process.&quot;

Women-owned small business advocates and leaders praised         the news.

&quot;This is a very important step toward bridging the gap for         women entrepreneurs who wish to do business with the         world's largest consumer - the federal government,&quot; said         Barbara Kasoff, President of Women Impacting Public Policy.         &quot;We would like to thank Senator Olympia Snowe and her         colleagues for their commitment to building a better         partnership between government and the women-owned small         business community.&quot;

&quot;Implementing a women-owned small business procurement         program but limiting the size of the awards was akin to         opening the door of opportunity only part-way,&quot; said Julie         R. Weeks, chair of the board of the Association of Women's         Business Centers and president &amp; CEO of Womenable.&nbsp;         &quot;This amendment not only will provide more opportunities         for WOSB contractors, it will increase competition and         provide greater value to federal agencies.&quot;

&quot;We congratulate this bipartisan group of Senators on their         leadership moving forward the first of the several         modifications that are needed to improve the effectiveness         of the Women's Procurement Program,&quot; said Margot Dorfman,         Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Women's Chamber of         Commerce.&nbsp; &quot;Removing the cap on federal contracts for         women is an important first step to bring parity to the set         aside programs. We hope that Congress will build on the         Senators' efforts to bring the rest of the needed changes         to provide fair access to federal contracts for women-owned         firms.&quot;&nbsp; Read full article.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:10:12 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Will protest fees have other costs?]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[A proposed fee for filing bid protests with the Government  Accountability Office could have the biggest impact on agencies and  small businesses.
&nbsp;
Large systems integrators that are competing for multimillion- or  multibillion-dollar contracts would not be put off by a flat fee of  roughly $240 to file a protest with GAO against an agency's award  decision. But companies at the other end of the contracting spectrum  will likely face a tough question: Is it worth protesting a small  contract?
&nbsp;
&quot;It will have a chilling effect on the little guy who is filing a  protest &lsquo;pro se' on a potential decision to go ahead with the protest,&quot;  said attorney John Chierichella, a partner at Sheppard Mullin Richter  and Hampton who has worked on many bid protest case.
&nbsp;
More than 50 percent of protests are filed by small companies, and more  than 60 percent are filed against defense contracts, said Ralph White,  managing associate general counsel for procurement law at GAO.&nbsp; Read full article.
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			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:42:54 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Big firms edge small for billions of dollars in awards]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Major U.S. companies including General Dynamics and Medtronic have  received billions of dollars in federal government contracts that were  supposed to go to small businesses.
About $4.74&nbsp;billion, or 45&nbsp;percent, of more than $10.6&nbsp;billion  targeted for small businesses under government acquisition rules were  won by bigger competitors in the year ended Sept. 30, 2011, according to  government data.
&nbsp;
Companies that need the revenue the most are losing opportunities,  said Margot Dorfman, chief executive of the Washington-based U.S.  Women&rsquo;s Chamber of Commerce.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;I think this particular issue should  be one of the top concerns of the Small Business Administration and the  president,&rsquo;&rsquo; Dorfman said in an interview. &ldquo;Fix it now. Let&rsquo;s not  wait.&rsquo;&rsquo;
&nbsp;
The awards to bigger companies stem in part from an  undertrained and understaffed acquisition workforce as well as an  excessive use of exemptions, according to former procurement officials  and contract attorneys. Read Full Article.
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			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:24:26 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Entering the Government Marketplace]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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&rsquo;s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization said that his agency &ldquo;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.&quot;&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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&rsquo;s DHS Division, advised that small businesses that want to become subcontractors to a contract should approach Prime Contractors &quot;as a prime&quot;.&nbsp; By that, he means that small businesses should initiate conversation with a specific deal and agenda in mean.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; Mr. Fergus advised that relationship building was the key to get the ball moving.&nbsp; Subcontracting is a means through which a small business can participate and get their foot through the door on a contract.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 
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.&nbsp; The rest of that government business is being conducted on a task order basis.&nbsp; 
Task orders are a way of acquiring government business.&nbsp; A small business that is in the process of acquiring such business should ask themselves, &ldquo;is our organization in a position to prime one of these task orders?&rdquo; or &ldquo;how do we get ourselves on a team that would allow us to get into one of these task orders?&rdquo;
&nbsp;
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:06:14 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Are You Debating Getting a GSA Schedule?]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[GSA Schedules are long-term government-wide contracts that establish set prices and terms for supplies and services.&nbsp; Because ordering from these established contracts saves government agencies administrative time and money, preference is often given to vendors on a GSA Schedule.
If you are debating on whether or not your company should invest the time and resources in having your company included on a GSA Schedule, consider the following Pros and Cons:
Pros:&nbsp; 
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A less selective competitive pool (as you will only be bidding against other companies that are already on the GSA Schedule)
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Access to Request for Proposals and Request for Quotations that are not normally published on FedBizOpps.gov
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Know who exactly who your competition is 
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An excellent marketing tool for your company&mdash;Government Agencies like it that your company has already been pre-vetted by the GSA Schedule selection process!
Cons:
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Inclusion into the schedule could be a time and resource consuming process
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The requirements for a GSA Schedule contract award are stringent: you need to demonstrate a history of financial stability, a strong past performance experience, and the capability to meet the service/product requirements
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The GSA requires prospective vendors to: possess up to date CCR and ORCA records, as well as complete a Readiness Assessment, a Pathway to Success certification, and comply with wage determination labor standards&hellip; what does all of this mean?
GovPartners has a 100% success rate in obtaining GSA Schedule contract awards for eligible companies.&nbsp; We make the process as easy as possible for our clients, providing all of the necessary services for our clients, from the cradle to the grave.&nbsp; This includes things such as submitting our client&rsquo;s Open Ratings Reports in the beginning to negotiating acceptable discount terms with the GSA prior to a contract award.

To find out more about our GSA Schedule submission services, click here.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:35:06 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Presidential Debates - Sequestration]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Presidential Debates &ndash; On Sequestration
Sequestration is set to take place a little more than two months from now.&nbsp; Both President Obama and Mitt Romney have gone on the record with their intent to prevent sequestration from occurring.&nbsp; Here&rsquo;s what each of the candidates said regarding the topic on the third and last presidential debate held on October 22, 2012.
President Obama: &ldquo;First of all, the sequester is not something that I've proposed. It is something that Congress has proposed. It will not happen.&nbsp; The budget that we are talking about is not reducing our military spending.&nbsp; It is maintaining it.&rdquo;
Governor Romney:&nbsp; &ldquo;Former chief of the -- Joint Chiefs of Staff said that -- Admiral Mullen said that our debt is the biggest national security threat we face. This -- we have weakened our economy. We need a strong economy. We need to have as well a strong military. Our military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. But the idea of a trillion dollar in cuts through sequestration and budget cuts to the military would change that. We need to have strong allies.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Our Navy is old -- excuse me, our Navy is smaller now than at any time since 1917. The Navy said they needed 313 ships to carry out their mission. We're now at under 285. We're headed down to the low 200s if we go through a sequestration. That's unacceptable to me.&rdquo;
It remains to be seen how the result of the election, if any, will factor into the impending January 2, 2013 sequestration.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:32:39 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Sequestration outlook remains cloudy]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
The threat of sequestration continues to loom over the federal  government, and perhaps the only thing more evident than concerns about  deep budget cuts is the sense of paralysis surrounding the possible  implementation.
&nbsp;
It is still far from certain that the 10 percent, $1.4 trillion  across-the-board cuts to federal spending will actually kick in on Jan.  2. And directives from the White House and Office of Management and  Budget have reinforced that sense of mere possibility, offering little  in the way of concrete guidance for agencies to prepare for the  so-called fiscal cliff.
&nbsp;
Still, there are mixed signals. Defense Department officials have  continued to warn of sequestration&rsquo;s devastating effects. Those calls  have come as recently as Oct. 19, when Defense Secretary Leon Panetta  reminded a Hampton Roads, Va., audience that such cuts would jeopardize  defense operations and that Congress must act to overturn the measure,  which is mandated by last year&rsquo;s Budget Control Act.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s still time to prevent sequestration,&rdquo; Panetta said,  according to a DOD statement.&nbsp;&ldquo;Let me be clear, no one wants this to  happen&hellip;but for God&rsquo;s sake, don&rsquo;t just kick this can down the road.&rdquo;&nbsp; Read full article. 
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:06:22 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Why not low-price, technically exceptional?]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Government and contractors must demand affordable, but innovative solutions.
&nbsp;
When I hear &quot;acceptable,&quot; I think adequate, good enough, not great  but okay. Who among us would choose an acceptable surgeon? Fly on an  acceptable plane? So I sort of cringe each time I read or hear about the  low price/technically acceptable (LPTA) procurement evaluation  criteria.
&nbsp;
No one disagrees that the government - and, more importantly, the  taxpayer - needs affordable solutions. We also need innovative solutions  that enable service delivery and mission fulfillment, that stand the  test of time, and that drive return on the investment. Should we, as  taxpayers -- and, in this discussion, as service providers in this  market -- invest in and provide solutions deemed acceptable?
&nbsp;
Acceptable really is the antithesis of innovative. LPTA is a  hold-the-nose response to the economic climate. It doesn't challenge  government or the service provider community to do anything other than  define, expect and deliver adequate work -- and we need and deserve a  lot more than adequate.
&nbsp;
Exceptional solutions and services don't just address today's needs  in an OK manner; they position for the future, they conserve resources  both fiscal and human, and they get to the right answer quickly. Why  shouldn't we demand exceptional - of ourselves and our government?
&nbsp;
Because we think it's too expensive? Mediocrity is what's expensive.  If the goal is acceptable, where is the incentive to define and provide  anything beyond that which works fairly well and might last a while?
&nbsp;
For those of us who serve the federal government, we can and should  clear a bar higher than acceptable. I don&rsquo;t think any of us wants to  claim bragging rights for mediocrity. Technology is our lifeblood; we  are equipped to design and deliver technically exceptional services and  solutions that also are appropriately priced, even low-priced.&nbsp; Read Full Article. 
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Oct 2012 09:50:41 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Acquisition Execs figuring out how to deal with budget woes]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Agency chief acquisition officers are not playing a big role in planning for  sequestration or even future budget cuts.
An exclusive Federal News Radio survey of federal CAOs and senior procurement executives found  57 percent of the respondents said they are not preparing for smaller budgets.
&nbsp;
Joe Jordan, the administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, said  the survey responses weren't that surprising. 
&nbsp;
&quot;With the budget situation overall, agencies have some good foreknowledge usually  into what their agency's budget will look like,&quot; Jordan said in an exclusive  interview on In-Depth with Francis Rose. &quot;The important thing is to make  sure that planning is integral to the acquisition process overall, make sure  agencies are doing good acquisition forecasting, creating robust plans and  conducting the appropriate market research, so they can cast a wide net for new  businesses that can deliver the goods and services they need in the best possible  way.&quot; Read full article.
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Oct 2012 09:20:30 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Federal Efforts to Assist Small Minority Owned Businesses]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
While their views varied to some degree,  federal agency officials and advocacy groups GAO contacted identified a  number of challenges that small, minority-owned businesses may face in  pursuing federal government contracts. For example, officials and  advocacy groups pointed to a lack of performance history and knowledge  of the federal contracting process as significant barriers. Officials  from advocacy groups cited additional challenges, such as difficulty  gaining access to contracting officials and decreased contracting  opportunities resulting from contract bundling&mdash;the consolidation of two  or more contracts previously performed under smaller contracts, into a  single contract. Officials from agencies that accounted for 70 percent  of federal contracting with small, minority-owned businesses&mdash;(the  Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, and Homeland  Security, and the General Services Administration) told GAO that they  conducted outreach to help small, minority-owned businesses with these  challenges. Their outreach efforts include one-on-one interviews between  contracting office staff and businesses seeking federal contracts.  Linguistic and cultural barriers were identified as a challenge on a  limited basis.
Federal agencies GAO contacted collected and  reported some information on the contracting assistance provided to  small disadvantaged businesses&mdash;including those that are minority-owned.  Two agencies GAO reviewed collected and reported data by minority group.  The Minority Business Development Agency in the Department of  Commerce&mdash;created to foster the growth of minority-owned businesses of  all sizes&mdash;reported that its business centers helped these businesses  obtain 1,108 financings and contracts worth over $3.9 billion in fiscal  year 2011. For the same fiscal year, the Small Business Administration  (SBA) reported that more than 90 percent of its primary business  development program participants were minority-owned businesses. Federal  agencies that GAO contacted said that the goals SBA negotiated with  federal agencies for contracting with various socioeconomic categories,  including small disadvantaged businesses, provided some information on  efforts to assist minority-owned businesses. In fiscal year 2011,  agencies GAO contacted met their prime contracting goal and three out of  four agencies met their subcontracting goals. GAO generally found  limited data on participants in agency outreach efforts because the  agencies are not required to, and therefore generally do not, collect  data on the minority group or socioeconomic category of businesses that  participate in outreach events for federal contracting opportunities. Read the full study.
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:52:23 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Using Sequestration to Your (GSA) Advantage]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[

Using Sequestration to Your (GSA) Advantage
In addition to the political outcome this winter, there is something else that people are concerned with, but don&rsquo;t totally understand: Sequestration. The OMB has plans to reduce the budget by nearly 10.3% by January 3, 2013.
For organizations involved with defense spending, difficult decisions will need to be made. If the Department of Defense cuts approximately 108,000 Federal employees, Contractors will be forced to make some cuts to their staff as well.&nbsp; Some defense contractors have already issued 60-day notices to a portion of the workforce.&nbsp; Even though the budget cuts won&rsquo;t immediately reflect the  10.3% decrease in spending, now is the time to start thinking about a few things:
First, what are your current staffing levels?&nbsp; If you&rsquo;ve been running lean for the last few years, do you have room in the budget for new talent?&nbsp; There will be some very accomplished professionals released from the public and private sectors.&nbsp; Think about your staffing needs and some of the changes you can make that you may not have considered before.
Are you taking advantage of all of the set-asides available to you?&nbsp; Are you bidding on every contract that has a high probability of win?&nbsp; Have you formulated a new Marketing Plan for the next ten (10) years, with these budgetary changes into account?&nbsp; Are you on the GSA Schedule?
These are all important things to look at right now.&nbsp; GovPartners understands the coming challenges and are assisting many clients navigate the uncertain future we&rsquo;re facing.&nbsp; Here are some areas we may be able to help:
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Market Research and Capture Management:&nbsp; GovPartners will research the opportunities that are available for your organization to help alleviate some of the uncertainty in the market.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If you&rsquo;re not on the GSA schedule, GovPartners can assist you in determining which schedule is right for your company, prepare the submission and follow it through to completion.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Teaming:&nbsp; GovPartners has recently relaunched the SubTeamPartners (STP) network. Through this network, GovPartners can assist you in facilitating teaming partnerships for targeted government opportunities.&nbsp; STP matches your teaming needs with other contractors complementing each company's areas of service and/ or socio economic statuses for set-aside requirements. This provides you with the visibility and capabilities to &nbsp;bid on opportunities that may not have been available to you before. 
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Proposal Preparation:&nbsp; In the past, most companies had staff that were dedicated to preparing their company proposals.&nbsp;&nbsp; The environment and economic climate has changed, and more companies are utilizing 3rd parties to assist with each proposal effort.&nbsp; GovPartners develops lasting relationships and partnerships on integrity. Our proposal preparation team allows our clients to experience a service that provides proposal with the ambiance of your own in-house proposal department. 

&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once you&rsquo;ve acquired the contract, GovPartners provides Acquisition and Contract Management and Administration to include kick-off meeting attendance, invoicing, Quality Control, Performance Evaluation, deliverables, close-out reporting, etc.

Let GovPartners help you Prepare to Win and&nbsp; Perform to Expand. 
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:41:40 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[It's Just a GovPhase]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[

Are you going through GovPhases? &nbsp;Below are tips to help survive the mid-cycle crisis.
&nbsp;If you are a current government contractor, you may be experiencing the government procurement mid-cycle crisis.&nbsp; The key to successfully mitigating a crisis is to focus on each phase of the cycle&hellip;one phase at a time. The only medicine needed is patience and dedication.
&nbsp;Phase 1 &ndash; Pre-proposal.&nbsp; It is very important to know your market.&nbsp; Prior to proposal release, conduct thorough market research and competitive analysis.&nbsp; In addition, conduct an internal review of your companies pricing structure and technical strengths.&nbsp; Continually update your Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis to determine how to strategically bid and increase your PWIN.
&nbsp;Phase 2 &ndash; Pre-award.&nbsp;&nbsp; You have submitted a winning proposal, now what?&nbsp; Take some time and Prepare to Win.&nbsp; Review the performance work statement (PWS) and contract terms and conditions and create a compliance check matrix.&nbsp; Check off all the requirements that are in place and highlight the areas that need to be implemented.&nbsp; Create a timeline and conduct a pre-award kick-off meeting with your team.&nbsp; Take full advantage of the source selection phase by proactively preparing your company.
&nbsp;Phase 3. Award.&nbsp; Congratulations, you won!&nbsp; Now it&rsquo;s time to perform.&nbsp; Revisit your timeline and add any crucial dates and milestones needed for contract execution.&nbsp; Schedule a kick-off meeting with the Contracting Officer, COTR and project team.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;Phase 4. Post-Award. Continually monitor performance through quality control processes, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and project management.&nbsp; Conduct monthly meetings, reporting and feedback with the customer.&nbsp; Know your customer.
&nbsp;Phase 5. &nbsp;Contract Compliance and Customer Satisfaction.&nbsp; This phase is critical and must be monitored on a daily basis.&nbsp; Customer satisfaction may lead to more business through past performance evaluations and future opportunities with the customer and other agencies.&nbsp; Perform to expand.
&nbsp;Phase 6. Contract Closeout.&nbsp; Unfortunately, every contract comes to an end.&nbsp; If you are fortunate enough to win the recompete for an on-going effort, then this phase comes later.&nbsp; However, if your contract expires, you will need to process the contract closeout documents in a timely manner.
&nbsp;
If you proactively plan for each phase and manage each process, the mid-cycle crisis can be avoided.&nbsp; Prepare to Win&hellip;Perform to Expand!]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:30:57 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DOD forgoes registration requirement for contractors, due to system bugs]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Prospective contractors won't have to register online to sell goods and services to the Defense Department, as required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation, because of technical problems with the government's newly launched procurement system.
An Aug. 21 memo from Richard Ginman, director of defense procurement and acquisition policy, pointed to issues with the System for Award Management in announcing that contractors would not have to adhere to the registration requirement before bidding on government work. Read full article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:37:07 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[FAR revision would streamline some set-asides ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[A proposed a rule could result in more set aside solicitations for  research and development being awarded to small business, when capable  and willing companies exist. Currently, the wording of a provision of  the Federal Acquisition Regulation regarding research and development  procurements might be an impediment to smaller firms.

The FAR states:

&quot;In making R&amp;D small business set-asides, there must also be a  reasonable expectation of obtaining from small businesses the best  scientific and technological sources consistent with the demands of the  proposed acquisition for the best mix of cost, performances, and  schedules.&quot;

Acquisition officials at the DoD, NASA, and the General Services  Administration have proposed a revision that removes the phrase:  &quot;consistent with the demands of the proposed acquisition for the best  mix of cost, performances, and schedules.&quot;

The phrase would add additional and unique condition that contracting  officers have to establish before they can proceed with small-business  set-asides, the SBA has noted.

The proposed new wording makes clear that the contracting officer need  only determine that there are small businesses capable of handling the  specialized work based on market research, in order to justify the  set-aside.

The proposed rule is intended to remove  potential barriers for small businesses, comments are being accepted through Oct. 9.&nbsp; Reference NAGC Article.
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:44:55 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Lessons from government contractors: bid more, and smarter]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Small businesses that have been federal contractors for more than 10  years, or that have won more than $1 million in government contracts,  tend to invest more time and money in seeking work, and submit more bids  than their less active counterparts, a new survey shows.
The American Express OPEN survey found, on average, these  so-called &ldquo;procurement leaders&rdquo; leaders spent $233,457 in preparing  their bids for federal contracts in 2010, both in terms of staff time  and direct expenditures. &ldquo;Casual&rdquo; contractors &mdash; those that have been  contracting for less than three years and have won less than $1 million  in federal contracts &mdash; only spent $31, 278 over the same period.

Procurement  leaders also bid more, submitting an average of 18.9 prime bids and 5.6  subcontracting bids over the past three years, which is 83 percent and  37 percent more than all active contractors. Though they bid more,  procurement leaders appear to bid &ldquo;smarter,&rdquo; said survey research research advisor Julie Weeks. &ldquo;The  bidding activity did not go up as fast as the success rate did, so that  shows you&rsquo;re not getting more success by throwing more proposals,&rdquo;  Weeks said. Instead, procurement leaders often only bid when they  believe they will be likely to succeed.
&nbsp;
Though only a minority of  businesses surveyed hired outside consultants to research and apply for  contracts, those that did found it very helpful, Weeks said. Procurement  leaders were more likely than the average contractor to be in the   goods-producing, professional/scientific/technical services or  information industries, and slightly more likely to be located in the  D.C., Maryland or Virginia areas. But it was the manner in which they  pursued contracts that tended to be the bigger predictor of contracting  success rate than industry or location, Weeks said. When asked  what tips they had for less experienced firms, procurement leaders often   suggested getting on a General Services Administration schedule, which  is a kind of preapproved bidders&rsquo; list. But there are other paths  to success as well. Amber Peebles, president of Dumfries, Va.-based  Athena Construction Group started pursuing federal construction  contracts in 2008, but did not pursue the GSA schedule because she  didn&rsquo;t feel the schedule would be helpful for her industry,  construction.
&nbsp;
The former Marine sought contracts through  government set-asides for women-owned businesses and businesses owned by  the service-disabled veterans. Today, 90 percent of Athena&rsquo;s revenue  comes from federal contracts &mdash; instead of bidding through the GSA,  Peebles has instead developed contacts in individual government  agencies.
Prior to 2008,  Athena was focused on residential  construction. Peebles was anxious to move from commercial to federal  construction because she found the commercial sector to be sexist, and  it was &ldquo;difficult for women to succeed&rdquo; in residential construction.  Though the procurement process can sometimes be stressful, she said she  &ldquo;felt like there was a more level playing field in the government.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Peebles  emphasized that procuring prime contracts &mdash; instead of only  subcontracts &mdash; helps small businesses gain credibility, though initially  subcontracting helped her company &ldquo;get our foot through the door.&rdquo;
But  for Peebles, the most important factor in procuring a federal contract  is persistence. &ldquo;Keep calling, and keep trying,&rdquo; she advised. The AmEx study was based on 740 small businesses between August and November of  2011. Reference Article.


&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:41:36 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA announces new discount airfares for feds ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The General Services Administration (GSA) said on Thursday, 10 August,  that federal travelers can save up to 73 percent off commercial airfare under its City Pairs program beginning Oct. 1, Federal Times reported.
GSA released a list of routes online offered by the program but declined requests for more details on how the program will be changed from current offerings. GSA anticipates the government will save roughly $6 billion annually in reduced airfares through the program.
SA released a list of routes online offered  by the program but declined repeated requests for more details on how  the program will be changed from current offerings.
GSA anticipates the government will save roughly $6 billion annually in reduced airfares through the program.
One  change for fiscal 2013 is the addition of a 48-hour auto-cancellation  clause, according to GSA. Airlines will have authority to cancel  reservations that have not been paid for 48 hours before the flight  departure time. Reservations made less than 48 hours before departure  may require immediate payments.
Currently, federal employees can  reserve a seat on a City Pairs flight without paying for it. But  airlines lose money on empty seats if the employee doesn&rsquo;t cancel the  reservation, airline and travel officials said.
The 48-hour  cancellation clause falls short of mitigating the risk that airlines  assume in participating in City Pairs, said Jeffrey Haag, government  relations manager for Southwest and AirTran airlines. &ldquo;But it certainly  is a step in the right direction,&rdquo; he said.
Eleven airlines are  participating in the City Pairs program in 2013, compared with 13 this  year. AirTran Airways is now part of Southwest Airlines, and Mesa  Airlines is not participating in the 2013 program. Reference Article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Sun, 12 Aug 2012 17:19:47 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[SAM I AM...NOT.]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[GSA issues IBM a 'cure' letter for problems with procurement system: he General Services Administration has officially ordered IBM to fix the troubled System for Award Management (SAM).
Sources confirmed GSA issued IBM a &quot;cure&quot; letter Aug. 7. In the official notice, GSA told the company to develop a plan of action and milestones for how they will make SAM work more smoothly. Under the program, GSA wants to consolidate eight acquisition databases, including the Central Contractor Registration, the Past Performance Information Retrieval System and six others.
GSA hired IBM under an eight-year, $74.4 million contract in 2010.
&quot;The agency is committed to working with IBM to quickly resolve the issues with the system&quot; said GSA spokeswoman Mafara Hobson in an email statement. &quot;The goal is to get it up and running as soon as possible.&quot;
GSA's decision to issue the cure letter comes as frustration grows across the government. Sources said the Chief Acquisition Officer's Council held a meeting earlier this week and discussed SAM's problems.
Agencies issue &quot;cure&quot; letters when a vendor fails to deliver or perform according to the contract. It provides the contractor with a period of time to correct the problems and tells them what would happen if they were unable to fix the system.
GSA launched SAM on July 31 after a month-long delay, and almost immediately the system struggled. GSA took SAM offline for a few days. It went back up Aug. 7, but is still having latency and other issues.
Sources said GSA told IBM to fix the system or risk penalties. Full Article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:35:58 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Women-Owned Small Business and the DoD]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Women are changing the face of America's economy, the Bureau of the Census has reported. Women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) are increasing in number, range, diversity and earning power. As women business owners expand their companies, they contribute to the growth of our national economy.
Annually, the DoD awards nearly $2 billion in prime contracts and $2.4 billion in subcontracts to WOSB concerns. All DoD subcontracting plans are required to have a separate goal for awards to WOSBs. The DoD considers the extent of participation by small business concerns when awarding contracts.
The focus of the DoD WOSB program is the provision of effective outreach, training and technical assistance in order to increase the accessibility of WOSB concerns to DoD procurement opportunities. Reference Article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:03:37 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Seven capture $871M DISA prize]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Seven companies won spots on the Defense Information Systems Agency test and evaluation contract worth more than $871 million.
The companies will compete for task orders to provide services for  testing, scientific, engineering, logistics, administrative, purchasing  and ancillary support.
The seven companies are:

    Alion Science and Technology Corp.
    American Systems Corp.
    CGI Group
    Lockheed Martin
    ManTech International
    Science Applications International Corp.
    TASC Inc.

CGI&rsquo;s win came through Oberon Associates, which was acquired by Stanley Associates, which in turn was acquired by CGI.
The services under the contract will include operation and  maintenance of test tools, labs, networks, infrastructure and  administration.
Each company is guaranteed $100,000. The contract has a one-year base  and four one-year options. There is a phase-in period from July 30 to  Oct. 28. The first year of the contract then begins on Oct. 29.
Work will take place at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and Indian Head and Forte Meade, Md.
DISA received seven proposals for the contract. Reference Article.
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:59:11 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Alaska Native Corporations - Contract's on the Down Low]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Alaska Native Corporations (ANC's) are receiving fewer awards this year than in the past years. The reduction is attributed to the sharp drop to new measures installed last year  to minimize  the volume and size of sole-source contracts to ANCs.
&nbsp;
ANCs received $4.4 billion in contracts in 2011. About $2.5  billion of  that (57%) was awarded through sole-source  contracts valued  at $20 million or more each, according to federal  contract data. 
&nbsp;
This year, the numbers are dramatically lower: $1.8 billion in  total  obligations for the first three quarters of fiscal 2012.  Sole-source  contracts valued at $20 million or more each accounted for  $587 million,  or about 33% vs. 57% in 2011. 

Reference Article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:22:10 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[ GovPartners Awarded MOBIS GSA Schedule]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
GovPartners, LLC (GovPartners), a leading provider of government business development and management services, is pleased to announced the company&rsquo;s recent General Services Administration (GSA) contract award # GS-10F-0369Y
, approval for the company to offer acquisition support services to the government.&nbsp;GovPartners has placed management and professional services on the government's electronic ordering system, GSA Advantage!&reg;. 

&ldquo;Our GSA Schedule Award will enable GovPartners to offer complete acquisition and program management solutions to the government market worldwide,&rdquo; stated Cynthia Karnik, President. &nbsp;Our convenient location in the Washington, DC metro area has enabled us to indirectly provide government support services as a subcontractor and service provider for over three (3) years, and with our recently awarded GSA Schedule; we look forward to working directly with numerous government agencies and their customers.&rdquo;


GovPartners has successfully provided quality business development and management services to commercial and government clients, which continues to translate into quality contract acquisitions/ management, with an end result in market growth and expansion. &nbsp; 


About GovPartners

Founded in 2009, GovPartners, LLC, a certified small woman and minority-owned (SWaM) company, provides services to facilitate connections with&nbsp;qualified government business through direct and teaming opportunities. We were formed to support the needs of small and large businesses requiring assistance&nbsp;with business development, proposal writing, acquisition and procurement management, program management, contract administration, quality assurance evaluations, asset deployment assistance, staffing support, and contract compliance monitoring.
&nbsp;

For more information please contact:
&nbsp;

GovPartners, LLC
571-252-3868
info@govpartners.com
&nbsp;


# # # END # # #
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:41:00 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Sequestration:  What You Need to Know]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Sequestration - the automatic across-the-board cuts that will occur if an agreement cannot be reached regarding the nation's deficit.&nbsp; These cuts would go into effect on January 1, 2012.&nbsp; These defense cuts would take place over the span of a decade, amounting to $500 billion.


Prime Contractors in the defense industry are warning of massive layoffs, with Lockheed Martin threatening to layoff up to 123,000 personnel should sequestration occur.&nbsp; Meanwhile, lobbying expenses from military contractors has increased by 11.5%, for a total of $15.9 million, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter in 2011.&nbsp; Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin increased their spending by 51% and 25% respectively.


Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made a plea to Congress in the end of June urging Congress to prevent sequestration budget cuts from threatening &quot;the programs critical to our nation's security.&quot;&nbsp; 


Acting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Jeffrey Zients has agreed to testify before his committee on the looming defense cuts.&nbsp; This hearing will occur two weeks after the scheduled July 18 hearing in which members of the defense industry will discuss the impact of sequestration cuts on U.S. companies.


A majority of Democrats and Republicans (which includes the Obama administration) are opposed to the sequestration cuts, but both parties have so far failed to reach an agreement on the alternatives they could implement to replace the cuts.


By: Ira Evangelista, GovPartners Market Analyst

&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jul 2012 09:57:10 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small Business Set Asides: Unmet Needs]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Small businesses are the primary job creators in this country, making up greater than two-thirds of all new jobs created.

In FY2011, the Federal Government awarded more than $91.5 billion in federal contracts to small businesses, representing 21.64 percent of small business eligible federal contract dollars.&nbsp; During the first three years of the Obama Administration, the federal government awarded $286.3 billion, or 22.07 percent in federal contracting dollars to small businesses.&nbsp; This is a $32 billion increase over the three preceding years even as contracting spending overall has declined across the federal government.&nbsp;Even with these increases, however, the government has still failed to meet the statutory goals it has set for small businesses.

According to the Small Business Administration, the dollars and percentages for four of the five statutory goals have actually declined between 2010 and 2011:

1.&nbsp;SDB&nbsp;- 2010: 7.95%, $34.4 billion; 2011: 7.67%, $32.4 billion
2.&nbsp;Women-owned&nbsp;- 2010: 4.04%, $17.5 billion; 2011: 3.98%, $16.8 billion
3.&nbsp;Service-disabled Veteran-Owned - 2010: 2.5%, $10.8 billion; 2011: 2.65%, $11.2 billion
4.&nbsp;HUBZone&nbsp;-&nbsp;2010: 2.77%, $12 billion; 2011: 2.35%, $9.9 billion


There are three possible reasons for the decline in total dollar amounts.&nbsp; 

1)&nbsp; The decline in funding due to a shrinking budget/ new austerity measures. 
2)&nbsp; The expiration of many of the provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, of which over 30 percent were allocated to small businesses.
3)&nbsp; The emerging trend of Contract Bundling - even if the resulting contract is a small business set aside, only large smaller firms or joint ventures can compete, instead of smaller firms going after the individual contracts.

 Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the Small Business Committee, is sponsoring the Government Efficiency Through Small Business Contract Act of 2012 (H.R. 3850). 
If this bill is approved, it will raise the small business contracting goal to 25 percent from the original 23 percent.&nbsp; It would also seek to make senior leadership in each agency accountable in attaining those goals.&nbsp;Rep. Graves has attached this bill to the 2013 Defense Authorization bill.
By:&nbsp; Ira Evangelista, GovPartners Market Analyst]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jul 2012 09:49:34 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Modernization of Outdated Legacy Systems]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[5/10/2012 - GovPartners attended the The IT Budget Battle: Achieving Savings from Year One, Session One hosted by MICRO FOCUS.&nbsp; Below is a summary of what we learned.
Government agencies are bogged down by legacy systems that were first created before most of the programmers and software developers currently utilizing them were even born.&nbsp; 
By 2015, 70% of application modernization projects will entail fundamental and complete shifts in technologies and infrastructure.&nbsp; In an effort to cut down on costs, paperwork, for example, is going cloud.&nbsp; As long as you have ubiquitous mobile connectivity, cloud technology will allow firms and agencies to scale up and down according to their needs.
The big drivers of IT will be mobile, social, and big data.&nbsp; According to the panelists below, the next ten years in IT will be huge.
An IT Summit sponsored by Micro Focus in May included a panel of industry insiders from both the Federal and Commercial sectors:
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dorothy Aronson, Acting Director, Division of Information Systems, National Science Foundation
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Susan Drennan, Vice President of Channel Sales, North America, Micro Focus
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bob Ellsworth, Director, Platform Modernization and Application Platform Compete, Enterprise &amp; Partner Group, Microsoft
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amy Northcutt, Chief Information Officer, National Science Foundation

The panelists cited examples as to what steps agencies and commercial companies alike could implement to modernize their aging legacy systems.&nbsp; Below are the examples cited:
Agency Example:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has always been one of the agencies which adopted new technologies early on.&nbsp; In 1997, it created Fast Lane, a tool which automated processes which were originally composed of data entry flows.&nbsp; At the time, it was a big deal for a Federal Agency to become paperless.&nbsp; 
At this point, the NSF is moving towards a strategic planning phase in regards to how to modernize its legacy systems, followed by a governance process while simultaneously undertaking a performance review.&nbsp; 
The NSF has always sought to evolve in a way in which it predicts the market to be evolving.&nbsp; The experts from the NSF gave the following advice on how to position an agency or firm in regards to modernizing a legacy system:
Company Examples:
A Ferry ticketing company in Spain was able to modernize their systems seamlessly, investing in new IT infrastructures while simultaneously reducing their operating costs.&nbsp; They moved forward with modernizing their legacy systems.&nbsp; Their operating costs went from $1.2MM per year to $150,000 per year.&nbsp; However, the cost was $2MM to implement.&nbsp; Microsoft allowed the company to finance the modernization program so that they paid their usual operating costs for two years.
Another company in Richmond, VA first rehosted their mainframe application, which allowed them to save up to $6MM per year.&nbsp; They then used those savings to reinvest in a modernization/ rewrite project.
Starting Points to Modernization of Legacy Systems: 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Have knowledge of the environment
&nbsp;&nbsp; Make sure that you employ personnel which possess the right kind of skills
&nbsp; Identify what it will take to modernize the system as well as when the opportune time to act is
A poignant observation from Dorothy Aronson, is that companies must be able to discern what action is sustainable and what is not.&nbsp; NSF began virtualization early in the process, but it is only recently, after the technology and cost became affordable that modernization made sense for the organization.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2012 12:51:10 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Opportunities Exist to Expedite Development & Fielding of Joint Capabilities]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[A majority of the initiatives GAO reviewed (26 of 30) met, or  expected to meet, the Department of Defense&rsquo;s (DOD) expectation for  fielding a capability in response to joint urgent operational needs  within 2 years. However, performance in meeting schedule estimates  varied, and more than half of the initiatives experienced schedule  delays.
Initiatives leveraged three types of solutions: (1)  off-the-shelf products, (2) modifications of off-the-shelf items to add  capabilities, and (3) products requiring technology development.  Off-the-shelf solutions should be fielded the quickest because existing  products are being bought. However, while off-the-shelf solutions were  fielded quickly once a contract was awarded, it took longer than the two  other types to identify, fund, and contract for off-the-shelf  solutions. In addition to the program offices that manage traditional  acquisition programs, initiatives were also managed by research  laboratories and engineering centers, such as the Army Research  Laboratory or the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Program offices fielded  solutions faster, in part, because program offices are experienced in  the full range of acquisition activities. Also, laboratories and  engineering centers depended on funding provided by other organizations  and delays in receiving this funding affected the start of some  initiatives.
&nbsp;
GAO recommends that DOD reduce the time spent on identifying and  contracting for off-the-shelf solutions, devise methods for providing  early funding to research laboratories and engineering centers, require  that initiative decision memorandums be prepared for all initiatives,  and require acquisition organizations to communicate with the Central  Command and other combatant commands about plans for fielding  capabilities. DOD concurred with these recommendations.&nbsp; Read Full GAO Report]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:12:17 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DOT Announces Mentor Protege Pilot Program]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[On April 10, 2012 US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the launch of a DOT Mentor-Prot&eacute;g&eacute; Pilot Program during DOT&rsquo;s Small Business Day:&nbsp;Moving Forward.&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
			<guid>https://www.govpartners.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=188</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:18:14 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Sring Forward.  Team Ahead!]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[GovPartners Launches SubTeamPartners Networking Website!
GovPartners has launched the much-anticipated teaming network,          www.subteampartners.com. An upgrade to the previous system reduces the          time spent searching for a prime or subcontractor to respond to RFPs that          require multiple service and products. Not only are you able to post your          needs anonymously, the network is designed to facilitate document sharing,          teaming opportunity searching and posting, forum participation, capabilities          postings, monthly spotlights, saved searches, archives and the use of          valuable templates such as NDAs, subcontractor agreements, and teaming          agreements. GovPartners is looking for companies to join the beta testing          and help populate the network. Click here to join now.
Small Biz &amp; Big Gov = GovPartners.

Did you know that over the past year, the amount of money that small business          contractors have invested in seeking gov contracts has averaged $103,827,          which is an increase of 21% over the previous year? HOWEVER, small businesses          are bidding less. Why? The average success rates for small biz contractors          in both prime and subcontracts have also declined, because of a more competitive          and tighter environment. As the Gov's budget is streamlined, the          lowest price/technically acceptable (LPTA) buying practice is more prevalent.          It is time to get creative and manage costs, maintain a reasonable          profit, while remaining competitive.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:35:53 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small Business Procurement Reform Effort]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Last week, the House Small Business Committee advanced six (6) bills aimed at reforming a wide range of contracting policies, all aimed at helping small businesses.
1.HR 3850, the Government Efficiency Through (GET) Small Business Contracting Act which raises the small business contracting goal from 23% to 25%.
2. HR 3851, the Small Business Advocate Act which improves the ability of small business advocates (OSDBUs) to increase agency contract awards to small businesses.
3. HR 3893, the Subcontracting Transparency And Reliability (STAR) Act, which improves enforcement of subcontracting plans and increases small business teaming opportunities.
4. HR 3980, the Small Business Opportunity Act, which requires a greater role for procurement center representatives in reviewing acquisition plans for barriers and advocating for increased use of small businesses.
5. HR 4118, the Small Business Procurement Improvement Act, which requires federal agencies to include small businesses in multiple award contracts.
6. HR 4121, the Early Stage Small Business Contracting Act, which sets aside certain contracts ranging from $3,000 to $75,000 for small business startups.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:58:03 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Government adds rule for acquisitions]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[A new federal acquisition rule is seeking to ensure enough competition for purchases made through General Services Administration schedules.
GSA schedules are long-term programs meant to make the buying process easier on federal agencies by pre-negotiating prices and other terms. Multiple companies can hold a spot on a schedule, but they must compete for individual orders, meaning they have to win twice to see actual work.
Earlier this month, the government issued a rule that ensures that all companies on a given schedule &mdash; schedules are sorted by type of purchase &mdash; are notified of each opportunity worth between $3,000 and $150,000. Opportunities worth more than $150,000 are already governed by traditional procurement regulations.
These contractors must be given the opportunity to to make an offer and have it considered by the contracting officer.  Read Full Article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:32:45 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Bill strips contractor reviews from past-performance evaluations]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Companies would lose the opportunity to respond to performance reviews written by government officials under a new contracting bill. The reviews often play a major role in winning future contracts.
The Comprehensive Contingency Contracting Reform Act (S. 2139), which was introduced Feb. 29, would revise language in the Federal Acquisition Regulation that gives companies 30 days to comment, provide additional information or rebut a contracting official&rsquo;s assessment of their work. The same FAR provision requires agencies to provide companies with a copy of the work performance evaluation. Read full article]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:42:55 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Gov Contractor Revenue Survey Results 2011]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[During the past year, revenue from government contracts has grown for 50% of survey participants, while 21% experienced no significant change and 29% experienced reductions in revenue. The fact that the highest percentage of companies experienced revenue growth continues a long-term trend reported in previous surveys, indicating that government contractors are far less vulnerable than commercial companies to recessions or slow growth in the overall economy. However, the 29% of companies experiencing revenue reductions is the highest percentage reported in several surveys, indicating that government efforts to reduce deficits are adversely impacting government contractor revenue. Read Full Report.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:49:27 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Forecasting the Future - What to Expect in 2012]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Forecasting the Future
An Article on the Dulles Chamber of Commerce&rsquo;s &ldquo;What to Expect in 2012&rdquo; Discussion Panel
&nbsp;
Late in January, the Dulles Chamber of Commerce hosted a panel discussion on &ldquo;What to Expect in 2012&rdquo;.&nbsp; Members of the panel included executives from Professional Services Council, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.
The panelists discussed the expectations that 2012 has compared to 2012.&nbsp; The main themes covered were the defense budget cuts, continuing resolutions, the current budget cloud of uncertainty, as well as the external events that may play a role in shaping the defense contracting environment.
The Dilemma:
Mr. Chris Bowie, Corporate Director of the Northrop Grumman Analysis Center said that 2012 will exceed the lows of 2011.&nbsp; He also mentioned that the defense budget for 2013 will be 3% lower than 2012.&nbsp; A contraction in investment accounts should also be expected.&nbsp; 
Mr. Stan Soloway, the President of the Professional Services Council mentioned Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta&rsquo;s resolution to reduce America&rsquo;s defense budget by up to $490 billion over the coming decade.&nbsp; He briefed the panel that last year was the first time in ten years where the industry did not match the federal budget.&nbsp; 
The points mentioned above also means that the federal &ldquo;funding stream remains under a cloud of uncertainty&rdquo;, said Mr. Larry Duncan, Vice President for Federal and State Government Relations and PAC Affairs.&nbsp; Yet, in spite of this cloud of uncertain, there will not only be challenges, but opportunities that contractors could benefit from.&nbsp; Panetta&rsquo;s resolution emphasizes a shift into reconnaissance, cyberspace warfare, special operations, and missile defense systems.&nbsp; 
Mr. Mark Esper, the Vice President of Government Relations for Raytheon, brought up the fact that external events will also play a big part in into feeding into that cloud of uncertainty that hovers around the federal budget for 2012 and beyond.&nbsp; 2012 is an election&nbsp; year, and the Obama administration had to make a move to show that they are coming up with solutions to address the country&rsquo;s deficit problem.&nbsp; Of course, the winner of the elections in November will also dictate how the budgeting will be addressed in the years to come.&nbsp; Although he still sees a &ldquo;strong middle ground&rdquo; out there, Mr. Esper noted that the parties themselves are moving further apart from each other.&nbsp; He referenced 2010 when the Democrats were decimated.&nbsp; In Congress, the deficit hawks now outnumber the defense hawks.
How to Thrive During&nbsp;Challenging Times:
In short, defense spending in general will face a difficult time within the coming years. &nbsp;To meet the coming challenges, Mr. Bowie said that Northrop Grumman is reorganizing its structure so that it can better meet the new needs of the government.&nbsp; 
Mr. Duncan added that the reduction of the pie means that the bar has also been set much higher.&nbsp; There needs to be a &ldquo;resetting of expectations in terms of margins&rdquo;.&nbsp; Mr. Duncan suggested to the members of the audience that much more effective teaming arrangements be taken into consideration when it comes to resetting these expectations, as &ldquo;the tightening of the belt flows down to the subcontractors&rdquo;.
The representatives of the large prime contractors on the panel spoke of expanding their company&rsquo;s horizons to look more aggressively at international opportunities.&nbsp; They brought up USA&rsquo;s NATO allies as potential sources of opportunities, namely: Australia, Japan, and Israel.&nbsp; Potential external threats like Iran and China should also be taken into consideration when reviewing the international climate.&nbsp; Mr. Esper added that in these challenging times, it is wise to &ldquo;follow security threats are&rdquo; and identify &ldquo;where our partners and allies are&rdquo;.&nbsp; 
Conclusion:
The climate for government contractors may be cloudy, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean that there isn&rsquo;t any room for sunshine.&nbsp; The days of outrageous government defense spending may be behind us, but if a company does its homework and is able to leverage itself to respond to the changing environment, and if it is able to increase its efficiency and reevaluate its expected margins, then it should be able to thrive.&nbsp; ]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:07:14 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[U.S. Sedan Awarded GSA Schedule]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[GovPartners, LLC
Government Services Simplified
&nbsp;
44927 George Washington Blvd. Suite 230
Ashburn, VA 20147
(571) 252-3868
www.govpartners.com
&nbsp;
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
&nbsp;
U.S. Sedan Awarded GSA Schedule
&nbsp;
Ashburn, VA (February 22, 2012) &ndash; GovPartners, LLC (GovPartners), a leading provider of government business development and management services, is pleased to announced that U.S. Sedan Services, Inc. (U.S. Sedan) &nbsp;has been awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) contract # GS-33F-0007Y and are now approved to offer transportation services to the government. &nbsp;US Sedan has placed their expansive fleet and transportation services on the government's electronic ordering system, GSA Advantage!&reg;.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Our GSA Schedule Award will enable U.S. Sedan to offer reliable and safe transportation to the government market worldwide,&rdquo; stated Michael Pagano, Senior Vice President. &nbsp;Mr. Pagano further stated &ldquo;Being on the GSA schedule expands our reach to government contractors with complementary services looking to team and offer a complete turnkey transportation and services solution to the government sector. Our convenient location in the Washington DC metro area has enabled us to indirectly provide services to the government for many years, and with our recently awarded GSA Schedule; we look forward to working directly with numerous government agencies and their customers.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
U.S. Sedan has continually demarked itself by the quality of its vehicles. &nbsp;Quality transportation has significantly contributed to improving the way our clients do business by increased productivity thanks to advanced interior features catered to the &quot;VIP on the go&quot;. &nbsp;Time is valuable and U.S. Sedan saves clients valuable time.
&nbsp;
U.S. Sedan now plans to expand its market reach by offering services to GSA and its' buyers.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
About US Sedan
Founded in 1992, U.S. Sedan Service, Inc. is the preferred luxury transportation company with affiliates and locations servicing the greater DC metropolitan area and 550 cities worldwide. With its flawless details and impressive ability to cater to the client's individual needs, U.S. Sedan found its niche by providing superior class transportation services. &nbsp;For more information about U.S. Sedan, visit its website at www.ussedan.com.
&nbsp;
GovPartners managed the schedule submission process on behalf of US Sedan facilitating the application preparation, submission and negotiations with government buyers at the GSA. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
GovPartners, provides support services such as proposal writing, GSA supply schedule contracts, formulating contractor teaming agreements with approved government contractors, program management/deployment services, and contract administration support.
&nbsp;
For more information please contact:
&nbsp;
GovPartners, LLC
571-252-3868
info@govpartners.com
&nbsp;
# # # END # # #
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:25:42 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[SBA's new size limits yield mixed reviews]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Small Business Administration's recent increase in size limits for small business opens the door to more firms but has evoked mixed reviews from lawmakers and small business organizations, reports Govexec.com.
The National Federation of  Independent Business said in a statement that it is not clear why the definition was changed and National Small Business Association spokeswoman Molly Brogan told Govexec that she is concerned &quot;with it lumping together businesses that have different interests and concerns.&quot;
But Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), co-author of the Small Business Protection Act with Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), wants the government not to worry about redefining small business but instead add &quot;complementary incentives for advanced [and] growing small businesses.&quot;
The new size increase is scheduled to take effect on March 12. Reference Article]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:39:43 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Congress turns heat up on small-biz goals]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[&nbsp;
Under a new bill, a department that misses&nbsp;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&rsquo;s annual 23-percent small-business contracting goal is regularly ignored by agencies.
He said his bill would &ldquo;ensure that Washington lives up to its promise to foster an environment of success for small businesses.&rdquo;
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.
&ldquo;It is critical that federal agencies be held accountable,&rdquo; Owens said.
The  bill also would offer agencies more authority to give &ldquo;preference&rdquo; to  small companies when awarding contracts. The term &ldquo;preference&rdquo; is not  defined in the bill.
The bill has been sent to the Small Business Committee for consideration.&nbsp; Read full article.
&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:58:02 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Current Events (Week Ending 1/20/2012)]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Current Events
(for the Week Ending January 20, 2012)
5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Government and African Union forces began a heavy offensive early on Friday against insurgent strongholds on the outskirts of the capital, Mogadishu, trying to drive the Islamic militants they have long battled out of the city, officials and witnesses said.
Both U.S. and French special forces are believed to be helping with guidance and intelligence, while keeping low profiles.
4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; China&rsquo;s top energy group and its partners Qatar Petroleum and Royal Dutch Shell agreed to push ahead with plans for a $12.6 billion refinery and petrochemical complex in east China which is likely to start before similar rival facilities.
The project, which includes a 400,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery and a 1.2-million-tonne-per-year ethylene complex, is one of several joint-ventures that China, the world&rsquo;s second biggest energy consumer, hopes will provide the fuel for its expanding economy.
3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Israeli leaders held talks with the top U.S. military commander, General Martin Dempsey, following the postponement of a joint exercise that was to be the biggest ever for the two allies.
Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he stressed common interests and the important partnership between the U.S. and Israel in his meetings with Israeli counterpart Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and President Shimon Peres. He was also scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; France suspended its training operations in Afghanistan and threatened to withdraw its entire force from the country early, after an Afghan wearing an army uniform shot and killed four French troops Friday and wounded others.
1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Major powers seeking to negotiate an end to Iran's suspected pursuit of nuclear weapons on Friday signaled their openness to renewed talks with Tehran but diplomats said the powers remain divided on their approach.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who represents the group, issued a statement making clear that a diplomatic path remains open to Iran despite tougher sanctions and fresh speculation of a military strike on its nuclear facilities.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:21:47 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Current Events (Week ending 1/13/2012)]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Current Events 
For the Week Ending in 1/13/2012

1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Western oil firms remain in Iraq even as the US exits.&nbsp; Iraq has a goal of raising its oil production capacity to 12m barrels per day by 2017, which would place it in the top echelon of global producers.&nbsp; Recently, BP and CNPC finalized the first new oil contract issued by Baghdad for the largest oil field in the country, the 17 billion barrel super giant Rumaila field.&nbsp; ExxonMobil, with junior partner Royal Dutch Shell, won a bidding war against Russia's Lukoil (and junior partner ConocoPhillips) for the 8.7 billion barrel West Qurna Phase 1 project. Italy's Eni SpA, with California's Occidental Petroleum and the Korea Gas Corp, was awarded Iraq's Zubair oil field with estimated reserves of 4.4 billion barrels. Shell was the lead partner with Malaysia's Petroliam Nasional Bhd., or Petronas, winning a contract for the super-giant Majnoon field, one of the largest in the world, with estimated reserves of up to 25 billion.

2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iraq: Panetta and Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the panel that the U.S. military will continue limited counterterrorism training with Iraqi forces at up to 10 camps around the country beyond the end of the year.&nbsp; Panetta left open the possibility for continued negotiations with Baghdad over a force presence there.&nbsp; The Pentagon chief also pointed out that the United States has some 40,000 troops in the region, including in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iran:&nbsp; Iran has begun uranium enrichment at a new underground site built to withstand possible airstrikes.&nbsp; One of the scientists working in the uranium enrichment project Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan Behdast, was also assassinated this week in a car blast.&nbsp; These recent events, along with the positioning of a new aircraft carrier strike group in the Arabian Sea (and another on the way to the region) continues to increase the tension in the region.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A rotor-wing UAV makes its debut in Afghanistan.&nbsp; The U.S. military is testing a revolutionary new drone for its arsenal, a pilotless helicopter intended to fly cargo missions to remote outposts where frequent roadside bombs threaten access by road convoys. The craft have flown 20 transport missions since the inaugural flight on Dec. 17.&nbsp; They have delivered nearly 18 tons of cargo, mainly thousands of Meals Ready to Eat and spare parts needed at the forward operating bases.

5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The popularity of the unmanned aircraft continues to soar, and its relevance is only predicted to continue to grow.&nbsp; UAV missions in the military already include deploying missiles and bombs, performing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks, making cargo drops and more.&nbsp; Combat air patrols by UAVs grew 660 percent from 2004 to 2009, according to the Air Force.&nbsp; When President Obama rolled out his new military strategy earlier this month, he proposed more emphasis and resources on UAVs.

6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; China&rsquo;s Pipelines in Myanmar In order to meet energy demands in its resource-crunched eastern, southern and central parts, China is constructing oil and gas pipelines in Myanmar, almost reaching to the seashores of Bay of Bengal. Currently, the CNPC, in agreement with the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) and the Myanmar state security forces, is engaged in laying a 982 km (620 miles) long crude oil pipeline from Kyaukpyu Port on the western coast of Arakan State linking Kunming after entering the border city of Ruili in Yunnan Province of China at a cost of US $2.5 billion. Concurrently, they are also constructing another gas pipeline, capable of delivering 12 bn cm of natural gas per year, from Shwe Gas off the Arakan coast up to Kunming. At the same time, a deep underwater crude oil unloading port and oil storage facility is being constructed at Maday Island (Arakan Coast) to serve as terminus for the tankers coming from West Asia and Africa.

7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; US Military to Help Build South Sudan.&nbsp; The United States military is joining efforts to help build the newly independent nation of South Sudan.&nbsp; U.S. Defense officials say they are dispatching five officers from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and the Marines starting January 13 on the orders of President Barack Obama.&nbsp; The United States has been boosting its military assistance to Africa in recent months. In October, Obama announced the deployment of about 100 troops to Uganda and other parts of Central Africa to help armies in the region battle the Lord&rsquo;s Resistance Army guerrilla group.

8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Marine Corps is slowly increasing its mission objectives in the African continent.&nbsp; The 180 members of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 12 (SPMAGTF-12) are serving in the Trans-Sahel region of Africa, stretches across the center of the continent&rsquo;s north along the Sahara Desert. The unit has also deployed farther east, in countries such as Djibouti.&nbsp; SPMAGTF-12 will rotate out of Italy in the spring, and 3rd Force Recon will take over the command element. Rotations for fiscal 2013 &ldquo;are being sourced,&rdquo; Winnacker added.&nbsp; While not expected grow to the level of a 2,300-member Marine expeditionary unit, the SPMAGTF could add Marines in order to be &ldquo;as relevant as possible.&rdquo;
&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:53:04 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Current Events for January (Week 1)]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[

Current Events
8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The US military unveiled its latest Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Boeing&rsquo;s A160 Hummingbird, a helicopter drone which utilizes a 1.8 gigapixel color video camera.&nbsp; These UAVs are scheduled to begin operations in Afghanistan as early as May of this year.
7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A deal between the South Korean government and Northrop Grumman for RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs has been placed on hold after disagreements over costs and delays in getting formal US government approval for the sale.
6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; During the same week, South Korea finalized a purchase with Dassault Aviation for two Falcon 2000 reconnaissance aircraft.&nbsp; These aircraft will enter service around 2017 and will be the replacement for South Korea&rsquo;s aging RC-800 (Hawker 800) aircraft. 
5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Russia handed a Nerpa class nuclear-powered attack submarine to India on a ten-year lease for $920 million.
4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Beidou, China&rsquo;s version of America&rsquo;s Global Positioning System, becomes operational.&nbsp; China becomes the third nation to develop its own satellite navigation system, after the United States and Russia.&nbsp; Analysts worry that this satellite system will be used to strengthen China&rsquo;s growing military capabilities.&nbsp; 
3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta presented on Jan. 5 the results of the Pentagon&rsquo;s strategic review of U.S. roles and missions worldwide in an era of budget cuts.&nbsp; The news conference outlined how the U.S. will posture its military to address current and future challenges: its reduction of military personnel, its plans for increased flexibility and deployability, and a refocus onto the Asia-Pacific region.
2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said on Wednesday, January 04, 2012 that Iran planned to hold more military exercises right after its 10-day drill in the Persian Gulf.&nbsp; In another escalation in rhetoric, Iran also threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz should an American aircraft carrier return to the Persian Gulf.&nbsp; The U.S., which keeps a carrier in or near the gulf at all times, shrugged off the threat.
1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The European Union agrees to embargo Iranian oil, while China has decreased its orders from Iran by more than half this month.&nbsp; China and the EU are Iran&rsquo;s largest and second largest purchasers of its oil, respectively.&nbsp; These recent turn of events have increased the price of oil to nearly $114 per barrel.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:41:54 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Current Events for the month of December]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[It has been an interesting month of December.&nbsp; For 2012, GovPartners will be releasing bi-weekly news updates from around the world which may be of interest to current&nbsp;(and potential) government contractors.&nbsp; Below is a top-ten list of the news-worthy material which have dominated the headlines for the month of December:

10.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; NATO vows to continue to carry out nighttime raids that target suspected insurgents.&nbsp; The partnership with Afghan forces will also continue to increase as well, with Afghan special forces now take part in nearly all night raids.
9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; U.S. increasingly reliant on the three transit routes which snake through Central Asia, Russia and the Caucasus to ship non-military supplies and fuel into Afghanistan as the relationship between Washington and Pakistan continues to deteriorate.
8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; General John Allen reiterated that &ldquo;the continued work beyond &rsquo;14 in terms of development of economic capability and governance will continue.&nbsp; We will also see, probably, a U.S. military capability beyond &rsquo;14.&rdquo;
7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The U.S. military may have withdrawn from Iraq, but international companies continue to pour into the oil-rich country.&nbsp; Earlier this month, Royal Dutch Shell PLC and Mitsubishi Corp. signed a final $17.2 billion, 25-year contract with the country.&nbsp; Some $12.8 billion would be spent on infrastructure and $4.4 billon on construction of a liquefied natural gas facility.
6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iraq cabinet okays 2012 budget at $100 billion.&nbsp; The new budget forecasts total government expenditures at $68 billion, including $31.6 billion set for investment spending in 2012.
5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and General Carter Ham, commander of the U.S. Africa Command, paid a visit to the country in mid-December and expressed their confidence and support in Libya&rsquo;s transition to democracy.
4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Afghanistan's government signed a deal with China's state-owned National Petroleum Corporation, allowing it to become the first foreign company to exploit the country's oil and natural gas reserves.&nbsp; The deal, initially valued at $700 million, could end up being more than ten times this amount if more reserves are discovered and developed.
3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Department of Defense&rsquo;s $662 billion budget for 2012 was approved by the U.S. Congress.&nbsp; The lawmakers agreed on $518 billion for Pentagon operations and about $115 billion to cover the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kim Jong-Il passes away, names his 27-28 (depending on source) year old son, Kim Jong-un as his successor.
1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route in the Gulf where more than 1/3rd of the world&rsquo;s ship-borne oil passes.&nbsp; ]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:30:14 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[48 firms to compete for almost $6B in Air Force work]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Forty-eight companies will vie for almost $6 billion in task orders as the Air Force unveils two indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity firm-fixed-price contracts for a variety of support services.
Twenty-nine companies have been named to two contractor pools worth a total of $4.7 billion: a full and open competition pool for large businesses and a small business pool. Both call for management and professional support services, studies, analyses and evaluations, and engineering and technical services, according to a Nov. 29 Defense Department announcement.
The task orders call for assistance for facilities at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, including Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Aeronautical Systems Center, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Institute of Technology, and National Air and Space Intelligence Command.
The Acquisition Management Integration Center in Newport News, Va., is the contracting activity.
The large business awards go to:
Booz Allen Hamilton
CACI International Inc.
Computer Sciences Corp.
Cubic Applications Inc.
Jacobs Technology Inc./Tybrin Corp.
L-3 Services Inc.
MacAulay-Brown Inc.
Science Applications International Corp.
Spectrum Comm Inc.
The Analysis Group, L.L.C.
USFalcon Inc.
Small business awards go to:
Apogee Solutions Inc.
Avanco International Inc.
Blue Force L.L.C.
Catapult Consultants L.L.C.
ComCon Technologies Inc.
D3 Air and Space Operations
Decypher-PSI
ITility L.L.C.
Object CTalk Inc.
Phantom Eagle L.L.C.
Pioneer Technologies Corp.
Sawdey Solution Services Inc.
ZCSolutions L.L.C.
B3H Corp.
Insignia Technology Services L.L.C.
Prevailance Inc.
Quantell Inc.
R&amp;K Enterprise Solutions
Under the second multiple-award contract, 19 companies will compete for a total maximum of $950 million in task orders.
These task orders also will provide support in the areas of management and professional support services, studies, analyses and evaluations; and engineering and technical services at the named facilities at Wright-Patterson AFB.
The Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, is the contracting activity on this contract.
Contractors are:
Array Information Technology Inc.
BTAS Inc.
Centech Group Inc.
DCS Corp.
Enterprise Information Services, Inc.
ERC Inc.
Intelligent Decisions
Innovative Technologies Corp.
Leader Communications Inc.
Linquest Corp.
MCR Federal L.L.C.
National Technologies Associates Inc.
Oasis Systems
Paragon Technology Group Inc.
Peerless-MacB J.V.
PESystems Inc.
Quantech Services Inc.
Spectrum Comm Inc.
Sumaria
Reference Article]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:23:56 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Women-Owned Firms in Federal Procurement: A Comparative Analysis]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[This analysis is a first-ever, in-depth review of the characteristics of women-owned firms in federal contracting and a comparison of those characteristics with those of all women-owned firms. It will enable public-policy makers, government procurement officials, women business owners themselves, and other interested parties to gain a greater understanding of the women entrepreneurs who are providing products and services to federal government agencies. Reference article.&nbsp; Download analysis.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:50:47 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Gov's Circle of Life ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Most small businesses feel intimidated when competing with larger businesses.  If you review the Top 100 Government Prime Contractors List, published by Washington Technology.com, majority of the companies are large businesses. If you are a small business reviewing a government solicitation, you may come to the conclusion that the requirement is tailored for a large business.  You may ask yourself, why bid?  In most cases, you would not bid. The truth is, the government encourages large and small business participation.  The small business set-aside programs are not only used for small businesses to respond, but the subcontracting plans that mandate  large businesses to respond to a solicitation also require a planned percentage to be subcontracted or set-aside for small businesses.  This seems to be fair for the small businesses, but the question is, is it fair to large businesses?  Why are they required to share a piece of their pie with small businesses?  
The federal government has an overall goal of setting aside 23% of prime contracts flowing to small businesses.  Every federal government purchase anticipated to be valued from $2500 to $100,000 is automatically set-aside for small businesses as long as there are at least 2 companies that can provide the product/service. Contracts over $100,000 can be set aside if enough small businesses are qualified to do the work. Contracts over $500,000 have to include a small business subcontracting plan ensuring small businesses an opportunity to obtain work under these large contracts.
Without these set-aside programs, large companies would continue to dominate the federal market and the small businesses would go out of business, never get off the ground, or never be created due to the lack of projected demand. For years, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Boeing, and other prime contractors continued to capitalize on the federal marketplace.  Without the small businesses set-aside programs, the small businesses would not be able to participate, gain financial stability, or grow into a medium to large size business.  If the government had to choose between a Top 100 prime contractor and a small business, they would most likely pick the large prime.  The set-aside programs ensure that the government gives the little guy a chance.  This also benefits the government in the long run because the small guy is enabled and expanded to become a contender for other contract vehicles.  This promotes efficient and effective competition.  It also provides the government with competitive and responsible buying options.
The 8(a) program is a good example of a fair set-aside program, when properly executed.  There is a certain time allotted for the small business to take advantage of set-aside contracts, learn the ropes, gain financial stability, capture commercial business to off-set the government revenue, and grow into a medium to large size company.  This opens up a new slot for another small business, and enables your company to subcontract and help other small businesses.  I guess you could call this the government&rsquo;s small business circle of life.  If rules are followed, it works for all parties involved.&nbsp;  
Contact GovPartners to find out how your organization can join the government's circle of life.
&nbsp;

&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:10:46 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[OMB|SBA - Improving Small Biz Procurement Data, Quality and Process]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[On 14 Nov 2011, OMB and SBA issued a memorandum to Procurement officials regarding the improvement of small business data.&nbsp; 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.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:11:31 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[New Changes in the General Services Administration (GSA)]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[

GSA Shakes Things Up a Bit&nbsp; - A Small Business Quake
In an effort to encourage more small businesses to participate in the GSA&rsquo;s multiple award contracts, it is instituting an interim rule that permits procurement officers to set aside a larger share of the awards to small, veteran owned, disadvantaged, minority, women owned businesses.&nbsp; This new rule took effect in November 2, 2011, advising agencies to seriously consider setting aside task and delivery orders for small businesses. Changes in the FAR make clear that agencies can set aside orders for small businesses on blanket purchase agreements (BPA's), under the GSA's Multiple Award Schedules and&nbsp; Contracts.
Trying to Maximize your GSA Schedule?&nbsp; Consider a CTA
Contract Teaming Arrangements (CTA's) allow for GSA holders to respond to a GSA contract requirement which they would otherwise be unable to do were they to respond to the requirements on their own.&nbsp;&nbsp; By using a CTA, ordering activities can procure a total solution rather than making separate buys for each part of a requirement and satisfy socio-economic procurement goals.

By forming a CTA, GSA contractors on different schedules can compete for orders for which they wouldn&rsquo;t otherwise qualify, increase their market share, become more competitive, reduce risk by sharing responsibilities with other team members, focus on the products and services that best match their company&rsquo;s resources and strengths, and find greater success as a small and/or disadvantaged business. &nbsp;

The differences between a CTA and a prime/subcontracting arrangement, are that each member of the CTA is considered a prime and receives direct payment and performance evaluations from the GSA purchase agency. Once member is designated as the team lead for streamlined communications.

For small businesses, there are many perks for using the CTA.&nbsp; The table below describes the differences between the new Contractor Team Arrangements and the Current Prime Contractor/ Subcontractor Arrangements.&nbsp; Take a look and find out what works best for your organizational needs:
 

    
        
            CTA
            
            Prime&nbsp;Contractor/&nbsp;Subcontractor Arrangement
        
        
            Each Team Member must have a GSA&nbsp;Schedule&nbsp;Contract.
            Only the prime contractor must have a GSA Schedule contract.
        
        
            Each team member is responsible for duties addressed in the CTA document.
            The prime contractor cannot delegate responsibility for performance to subcontractors.
        
        
            Each team member has privity of contract with the government and can interact directly with the government.
            Only the prime contractor has privity of contract with the government  and can interact with the government. The prime contractor is  responsible for its subcontracting activities. (Ordering activities are  encouraged to specify in the Request for Quotation (RFQ) that the use of  subcontractors requires prior approval by the ordering activities.)
        
        
            The ordering activity is invoiced at each team member's unit prices or  hourly rates as agreed in the task or delivery order or GSA Schedule  BPA.
            The ordering activity is invoiced in accordance with the prime  contractor's GSA Schedule contract, including any applicable price  reductions.
        
        
            Total solutions, otherwise impossible under individual GSA Schedule contracts, can be put together quickly and easily.
            The prime contractor is limited to the supplies and/or services awarded on its GSA Schedule contract.
        
    

&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:31:49 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Fall DOT Biz Journal: OSDBU Expands Small Business Programs Throughout the Country]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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]
&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:40:43 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Panetta names new DISA director ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Defense Information Systems Agency has a new director: Air Force Maj. Gen. Ronnie Hawkins will succeed Lt. Gen. Carroll Pollett as the agency's leader, according to a release from the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Hawkins returns to DISA after a brief stint at the Pentagon as the Joint Staff's deputy director, command, control, communications and computer systems, a role he has filled since July. Prior to his Joint Staff assignment, Hawkins was DISA's vice director under Pollett.
He will be based at DISA's Ft. Meade, Md., headquarters. Reference Article]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:23:34 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Procurement chief defends Obama's commitment to small business]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[A proposed rule to curb agencies&rsquo; little used capacity to offer higher payments to needier contractors &ldquo;will have no impact on the government&rsquo;s ability or commitment to drive contracting opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses,&rdquo; Dan Gordon, administrator of the White House Office of Federal Procurement Policy, said Friday.
In a blog post for the Office of Management and Budget, Gordon sought to reassure some in the minority business community that a proposed regulation issued in September by the Small Business Administration is a routine &ldquo;housekeeping&rdquo; tool designed to catch the law up with a 2008 court ruling that declared such price premiums unconstitutional.
&ldquo;The proposed rule in no way changes the fundamental policies, practices or programs that agencies have been using in recent years to achieve strong SDB participation in the federal marketplace, including the goal of awarding 5 percent of federal procurement dollars to SDBs,&rdquo; Gordon wrote.
The affected agencies &mdash; the Defense Department, NASA and the U.S. Coast Guard &mdash; have not used price premiums to attract disadvantaged small contractors in years, Gordon noted. But the administration has &ldquo;been working with the Minority Business Development Agency to strengthen the bond between contracting, small business and program offices at every agency,&rdquo; Gordon wrote. &ldquo;Since the beginning of [fiscal] 2009, agencies have awarded more than $85 billion in contracts to SDBs, exceeding the goal of awarding at least 5 percent of contract dollars to SDBs.&rdquo; In fiscal 2010, he added, contract awards to small disadvantaged businesses accounted for 7.95 percent of all eligible contract dollars, &ldquo;well above the goal.&rdquo;
Gordon&rsquo;s clarification came as the Obama administration readied a new set of executive actions designed to spur job creation in large and small businesses&nbsp; while Congress debates the president&rsquo;s larger proposed jobs package.
The perception among some that ending premium payments to disadvantaged businesses was a pullback in the administration&rsquo;s commitment was rejected by Molly Brogan, vice president of public affairs for the National Small Business Association. &ldquo;At the end of the day, small businesses just want a level playing field,&rdquo; she told Government Executive. &ldquo;Ensuring that small businesses &mdash; including SDB businesses &mdash; have a fair opportunity to compete for federal&nbsp; dollars ought to be the No. 1 goal. We don&rsquo;t believe this new rule will change [that] in any way.&rdquo;
Raul Espinosa, founder of a Jacksonville, Fla. &ndash; based university nonprofit called the Fairness in Procurement Alliance, which has been pressing for stronger rules on accelerating payments to small disadvantaged businesses, said he was grateful for the administration&rsquo;s overall effort, but worries it might be &ldquo;lip service.&rdquo; Changes &ldquo;will mean nothing unless they&rsquo;re codified into the federal acquisition regulation and referred to in actual contracts,&rdquo; he said. Reference Article]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:19:22 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small Vendors Attract Big Firms]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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 &quot;the most transactions in this space ever,&quot; and this year's acquisitions are on pace to match it, said Jean Stack, a managing director at Houlihan Lokey. Read Full Article]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:07:00 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Iraq pullout could mean more non-competitive defense contracting]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Out go all the U.S. troops by year&rsquo;s end, President Obama said Friday about Iraq. And in go the contractors, along with some familiar contracting problems, say other government officials and independent experts.
As the United States pulls out its remaining 50,000 or so troops after a decade of conflict costing around $1 trillion, many of the soldiers&rsquo; non-fighting functions will be pursued by a force of State Department-funded government contractors expected to near 15,000.
That preliminary estimate, now being circulated by the administration among lawmakers on Capitol Hill, would represent an overwhelming share of the official remaining U.S. presence in the unsettled country. But even after wide publicity about past contracting abuses and waste, new scandals may trail behind this persistent deployment, according to a commission created by Congress to study the missteps so far.
&ldquo;After a decade of war, the government remains unable to ensure that taxpayers and warfighters are getting good value for contract dollars spent,&rdquo; Dov S. Zakheim, a former Pentagon comptroller and a member of the congressionally-created Commission on Wartime Contracting, told the Senate Armed Services committee a day before Obama&rsquo;s announcement.
In an August report, prepared after a three-year study of contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the commission estimated that between $30 billion and $60 billion has been lost to waste and fraud so far in those conflicts, representing 15 to 30 percent of all that Washington has spent on contractor-provided security, civil reconstruction, training, and other nation-building work. Read Full Article]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:54:15 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Seminars aim to help veteran biz owners sell to gov]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[s the federal government one of your customers? Last year more than 80 federal agencies and departments purchased in excess of $275 million in goods and services from 235 New Hampshire based small businesses. 109 of these companies were owned by veterans and they accounted for sales to federal agencies totaling more than $50 million.
These purchases had values from the hundreds of dollars up into the millions. As the world's largest buyer of products and services the U.S. government is committed to purchasing a portion of these from veteran owned and service disabled veteran owned businesses. How do veterans get to participate in marketing and selling to federal agencies?
While it can seem like a daunting task to add the federal government as a key customer, it is being done by more and more businesses each year. More importantly, help is available to guide you through the process of identifying and responding to sales opportunities.
To help you get started in the right direction in navigating the government contracting process, representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) along the NH Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) will be presenting an overview of how the government contracting process works and how you can get started. These presentations will be made at four two-hour seminars in the months ahead. The seminars are presented for free to participants however due to space limitations pre-registration is required.
Dates &amp; Locations:
&mdash; November 9, 2011 Hesser College -- Manchester (1:30 &iquest; 3:30 p.m.)
&mdash; February 1, 2012 Hesser College -- Salem (1:30 &iquest; 3:30 p.m.)
&mdash; May 2, 2012 Hesser College -- Portsmouth (1:30 &iquest; 3:30 p.m.)
&mdash; June 20, 2012 Hesser College -- Nashua (1:30 &iquest; 3:30 p.m.)
For registration, questions or additional information contact Rachael Roderick at the U.S. Small Business Administration office in Concord 603-225-1603, email: Rachael.roderick@sba.gov or Miguel Moralez at Miguel.Moralez@sba.gov or 603-225-1601.&nbsp; For Details - Click Here. 
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:45:45 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[ACT-IAC and GSA Announce Acquisition Excellence 2012]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[FAIRFAX, Va., Sep 28, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The American Council for Technology (ACT) - Industry Advisory Council (IAC) and the U.S. General Services Administration today announced that they will jointly host Acquisition Excellence 2012 to provide a collaborative forum to discuss and develop actionable ideas on federal information technology acquisition, policy, and program management issues in these challenging budget times. The collaborative forum will expand and refocus the goals of the Interagency Resources Management Conference, commonly known as IRMCO, and will maintain a two-to-one government to industry ratio. More than 500 government and industry executives are expected to attend the forum on March 29, 2012 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C.
&quot;GSA is committed to a collaborative process where government and industry work to improve the government's acquisition and use of IT,&quot; said Kathleen Turco, GSA's associate administrator for Governmentwide Policy and Acquisition Excellence 2012 government chair. &quot;GSA selected ACT-IAC, a non-profit educational organization, as our partner for the spring conference based on their proven public-private partnership outreach with the federal IT community. ACT-IAC will be key to helping us transform this event to provide an open and collaborative environment to continue our role in assisting agencies meet IT and acquisition management challenges.&quot; Read Full Article]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:26:16 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Preparing To Succeed With a GSA Schedule Contract]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Last year, the federal government spent more than $40 billion through the GSA Schedules program.  This year it may well spend even more.   A GSA Schedule contract is, quite simply, the easiest point-of-entry into government contracting &ndash; the most effective way to get your products or services in front of the world's largest buyer of products and services.
A GSA Schedules contract gives you access to more than 260 federal, state and local government buyers who have an easier time buying from you than they do your competition.
If you know that, you've already applied, or you're planning to.
After all, it seems hard to fail once you have that contract in hand. Yet a remarkable number of companies do just that.
That's not just a one-time missed opportunity.  It can mean the end of future opportunities as well.  The GSA requires schedule-holders to do at least $25,000 worth of business through their contract in the first two years they hold it, and another $25,000 every year thereafter.  Fall short of that number, and they may terminate your contract. Full article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:46:48 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[To Bid or Not to Bid, That is the Question...]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Companies must make a realistic assessment of your chances to WIN a contract.  It is important to make the bid/no bid decision early so time is not wasted. The decision should be made before or immediately following the release of the RFP.
When analyzing the probabilities, ask yourself...how well do you know the customer?  Does the customer know you?  Chances are, if you don't know the customer and vice a versa, you should not bid.  Agencies must KNOW you in order to TRUST you are going to deliver.  Their reputation is also at stake. 
BID YES  if:
&bull;	You know and have pre-sold the customer. 
&bull;	You know the contract history and have information on your chances of successfully competing for the contract (competitive pricing, requirements and/or FOIA information)
&bull;	The incumbent has a marginal or poor past performance record. 
&bull;	You have conducted a site survey and understand the requirements
&bull;	Your capabilities meet or exceed the requirements outlined in the RFP. (Teaming relationships help with providing a full service solution)
NO BID if:
&bull;	You have NO prior knowledge of the RFP prior to its' release on fbo.gov
&bull;	The only information you have is contained in the RFP with no market intelligence or research of the agency needs.. 
&bull;	The requirements are beyond your scope of capabilities and you have no identified teaming partners to include with your technical response. 
&bull;	There is an incumbent contractor who has continued to provide good or exceptional services. Most (not all)  incumbents re-win their contracts if they have maintained a good performance record and relationship with the customer. You shouldn't bid unless you know the customer is unhappy or you have special knowledge of the procurement.
&bull;	If you don't KNOW then NO
GovTip: Spend time, resources and money doing your homework in order to make the right decision.  No one likes to lose...time, money or business!&nbsp; Need help? 
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:42:26 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[FARs: Constitutionality of Fed Contracting Programs for Minority-Owned &Other Small Biz]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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.&nbsp; Reference notice.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:34:48 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Top Twenty SubTeamPartners Features]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Top Twenty SubTeamPartners Features (1 of 2; numbers 20 through 11):
20.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A new and improved user interface
19.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Post Government Opportunities
18.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Search for teaming partners (Prime and Subcontractors)
17.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Retain your anonymity when searching for partners and opportunities
16.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Send private messages to other companies
15.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ask questions and post topics in our forums
14.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Have multiple users (e-mail addresses) from the same company
13.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Receive notifications on new messages and opportunities updates
12.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Advertising opportunities to top primes and subcontractors
11. &nbsp;&nbsp; Be featured &quot;In the Spotlight' in our newsletter and on our homepage]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:57:17 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA - FEMA RFO for Emergency Response]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Sep 08 2011: This Request for Offers (RFO) transmits the Filing Instructions (FI) for the submission of Emergency.&nbsp; Response rate offers on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other Federal civilian agencies that require transportation services for Federal disasters and emergencies. Rate offers filed in response to this RFO and its FI will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the GSA Standard Tender of Service (STOS) and this RFO and its FI. Please note in some instances this RFO and its FI will deviate from and will supersede certain provisions and requirements published in the STOS. Rate offers accepted in response to this RFO and its FI are due by 10:00 PM Central&nbsp; Standard Time (CST), October 7, 2011. Rate offers submitted and accepted for the traffic identified in&nbsp; Section 9 will be for the time period November 1, 2011 through October 31, 2012. Rate offers submitted and accepted and for the traffic identified in Section 10 will be for the period November 1,&nbsp; 2011 through October 31, 2012 with the Government&rsquo;s option to extend from November 1, 2012 through October 31, 2013.
Traffic to be included under this RFO and its FI will be freight-all-kinds (FAK) shipments moving via closed van for less than truckload and truckload, and for flatbed, single/double drop, lowboy and power&nbsp; only units. The transport of travel trailers and mobile homes is also included.&nbsp; Click here to request more information about this opportunity.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:45:56 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DCAA Compliant  Reporting For Government Contractors]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Join Unanet Technologies for this Free Webinar
Tuesday, September 13
1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
This free web seminar for consulting and services organizations will show the benefits of a web-based Time and Expense Reporting solution that reduces administration effort by 90% and enables compliance with Federal Government DCAA (Defense Contract Audit Agency) reporting requirements.
More than 750 organizations use Unanet with QuickBooks,  Deltek, Microsoft Dynamics and other accounting systems to achieve visibility in real-time into project hours, costs and comments. In addition to reducing administrative and approval effort and satisfying reporting rules for DCAA auditors, Unanet ensures correct Per Diem expense reporting based on geography.
Unanet also supports Earned Value (EVMS), resource planning and forecasting, and provides performance management for your projects and people.
Unanet software is accessed via your web browser and hosted in either our secure data center or on your own servers, and can be deployed within just a few weeks.
After registration, you will receive an email confirmation with your login information for joining the webinar.
To Register, click here. ]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:24:07 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Unified Combatand Command Spotlight: EUCOM]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Unified&nbsp;Combatant Command&nbsp;Spotlight:&nbsp;EUCOM | September 7, 2011
WHO?
The United States European Command (EUCOM) is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Its area of focus covers 21,000,000 square miles (54,000,000 km2) and 51 countries and territories, including Europe, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, and Israel. The Commander of EUCOM simultaneously serves as the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) within NATO.&nbsp; The current Commander of EUCOM is Admiral James G. Stavridis.
WHAT?
With national and international partners, U.S. European Command&rsquo;s primary purpose to conduct military operations, international military partnering, and interagency partnering to enhance transatlantic security and defend the United States forward.
WHERE?
In early 1951, NATO established Allied Command Europe and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). General Dwight D. Eisenhower was called from retirement to become the first Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). The United States sent massive reinforcements to Europe designed to deter the Soviet Union.&nbsp; The&nbsp;EUCOM was formed shortly in 1952.
During the Cold War and the Kosovo War, EUCOM was the lead command for potential operations. During the Gulf War and Operation Northern Watch, EUCOM controlled the forces flying from Incirlik Air Base.
WHEN?
EUCOM was established on 1 August 1952, to provide &quot;unified command and authority&quot; over all United States forces in Europe.
WHY?
America's rapid post-war demobilization, followed by the end of the occupation of Germany in 1949, led many to question the United States' commitment to defend Western Europe against the spread of communism. Western nations questioned how they could provide for the common defense and simultaneously questioned America's role in such defense. In 1948&ndash;1949, the Berlin Blockade motivated Western Europe and the United States to create a military alliance. In 1949, the allies established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
From 1950 to 1953 United States military personnel in Europe grew from 120,000 to over 400,000.&nbsp; 
EUCOM and its components continued to provide military assistance throughout Europe, as well as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, noncombatant evacuation, support to peacekeeping operations, and other non-traditional missions in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. For example, after the Congo became independent in 1960, EUCOM joined in several multinational operations in that country, including peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and noncombatant evacuation in 1960, 1964, 1967 and again in 1978. In the Middle East, EUCOM provided military assistance to Israel as well as noncombatant evacuation of American citizens in 1967, 1973, and 1982&ndash;1984.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:55:48 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Contractors prepare for Hurricane recovery ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Hurricane Irene has left serious damage in its path from the caribbean to Maine along the East Coast that will require cleanup, repair and relief efforts. Government agencies will begin to release contracts for recovery in the days ahead as emergency crews and regional utilities require additional assistance to quickly restore power and essential services to areas affected by wind damage and serious flooding.
Government contracts can be found using the OnDemand Government Contract Leads System offered by the National Association of Government Contractors.
Construction and utility contractors will see a spike in contract availability as damage is assessed and reconstruction begins. Some estimates of reconstruction costs have exceeded $12 billion. Most of those dollars will be spent on cleanup and construction activity.
The Small Business Administration has deployed a team from the Office of Disaster Assistance in Puerto Rico, to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Irene. In addition to the 900 employees already on board, SBA has 500 reservists ready to be deployed immediately. The SBA team is already on the ground working with FEMA in Regional Communications Centers.&nbsp; Reference Article
Business owners in the affected areas can find advice and assistance with reopening their business from ReadyBusiness.gov ]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:21:05 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Boeing Co. wins $1 billion military communications satellite Air Force contract]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Boeing Co.'s satellite  production facility in El Segundo won a $1 billion Air Force contract to  build a military communications satellite, the Department of Defense  said Thursday.
The contract is for the seventh Wideband Global Satcom, or  WGS, satellite, part of a series of spacecraft that are dramatically  improving U.S. military communications, from troops in the field to  fighter jets overhead.
The DoD announced the contract award in a statement that  included contracts to other companies. The statement was sparse on  details.
The Boeing contract also includes advance procurement for the  eighth WGS satellite, as well as an option for production and launch of  WGS No. 9.
The Air Force contract pegged the value at $1,099,800,000.
A Boeing official declined to comment on the contract and referred media questions to the Air Force.
In August 2010, Boeing won a $182 million Air Force contract to begin so-called long-lead procurement and work on WGS No. 7.
The Australian military is also participating in the WGS system.
Boeing's first three WGS satellites are also orbiting the Earth.
The others will be launched in coming years.
This latest contract is large by satellite industry standards, but was not a surprise.
Boeing had been in discussions with the Air Force over the contract for the past several weeks.
Still, the contract award comes as good news for Boeing's El Segundo facility, which this month celebrated the 50th anniversary of its satellite facility.
The El Segundo operation has been buffeted with layoffs over the  past decade. Today, the business employs about 6,400 people, about half  the number that worked there in the late 1990s.
While not specifically commenting on Thursday's award, Craig  Cooning, the Boeing executive in charge of the El Segundo operations,  earlier this month said that employment at the satellite business was  stable, with no planned layoffs, despite expected Pentagon belt  tightening.
By contrast, Northrop Grumman Corp. announced last week that  it would cut 500 jobs at its Redondo Beach-based Aerospace Systems  sector.
Source:&nbsp;Contra Costa Times
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_18807912
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:09:49 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA MAS Webinar: Intro to State & Local Programs]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Want to learn more about GSA's State and Local programs? Join the webinar for a brief overview.
Webinar:  Introduction to GSA State and Local Programs

Want to learn more about GSA's State and Local programs? Join the webinar to get a brief overview on:
Cooperative Purchasing 
1122 Program
Disaster Recovery Purchasing 
Public Health Emergencies
Date/Time: SEP 8, 2011 - 1:00pm EST
Instructions:
1. Simply click on http://gsafas.adobeconnect.com/schedules to Join.
2. Turn up your computer speakers for sound, and chat in any questions you have.
3. OPTIONAL: You may Dial 1/877-783-3073, passcode 1967262 if you need to speak and do not have a computer microphone/headset.
If you have questions about the Webinar please email david.orcutt@gsa.gov. Click here to register online.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:00:33 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Doing Business Abroad ? ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Are you ready to expand beyond America&rsquo;s borders? Doing business in other countries will expand your potential customer base, but there are associated challenges you need to tackle first. SBA provides the following resources:
International Travel Resources, Tips and Advisories :&nbsp; Provides must-read resources if you are planning to go overseas to conduct business. Country-specific resources include current travel advisories, tips for international travel and document requirements.
International Business FAQs :Lists answers to frequently asked questions about doing business abroad, facilitating overseas investment, trade restrictions and assisting foreign companies.
Department of State Office of Authentications: Outlines the Department of State's Authentications Office, which is responsible for signing and issuing certificates under the Seal of the U.S. Department of State.  The Authentications Office also verifies business documents that will be used overseas, including company bylaws, powers of attorney, trademarks, diplomas, transcripts, distributorship agreements, articles of incorporation, good standing certificates, home studies and letters of reference. The Office also ensures that the requested information will serve in the interest of justice and is not contrary to U.S. policy.
Guidelines for Foreign Business Travel: Offers guidelines for exporters, or those thinking of selling abroad. These individuals often visit foreign countries to research market conditions and understand cultural nuances. This checklist, including information ranging from &quot;A Basic Guide&quot; to exporting, details the required steps you should take when traveling abroad, and some practical tips as well.
Passports: Supplies information and services to American citizens who need to obtain, replace or change a passport.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:31:10 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA:The price-reduction clause to die another day]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Let&rsquo;s make this clear: The price reduction clause is forever.
The General Services Administration couldn't endure giving up the clause that goes hand-in-hand with its Multiple Award Schedules contracts.
Officials say the clause guarantees that companies don&rsquo;t overcharge the government. It's intended to ensure that the government gets a price as good as, if not better than, a company&rsquo;s commercial clients for what&rsquo;s being sold on the schedules. If a company lowers a price for a client, it has to give the government that price or better. Otherwise, it faces the consequences.
The clause causes headaches for companies and customers, yet officials cannot part with it.
&ldquo;Because the pricing clause is a mechanism GSA uses to ensure the government is getting at least as good a price as a contractor&rsquo;s private-sector clients, it is not feasible to change the collection process,&rdquo; GSA officials wrote in their new report on reviewing the agency&rsquo;s regulations.
The White House-ordered review of regulations had officials from all agencies hunting for ways to revoke some of their rules, which continue to pile up higher and higher on companies each year. Read full article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:08:02 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA's Small Business Procurement & Networking Event, October 6]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Don't miss this powerful one day conference featuring procurement and marketing workshops, an opportunity for you to meet and network with GSA program managers, building managers, leasing specialists, senior procurement associates, as well as small business advocates from DOD and other Federal agencies. Attendees will also be exposed to prime contractors seeking to partner with experienced small businesses to help meet and exceed their company's Subcontracting Plan goals.
Date:
October 6, 2011
Registration opens at 8:00 a.m.
Location:
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Don't miss the afternoon Prime Introduction and Networking Session!
Access to Success will close out the day by giving small businesses the chance to hear directly from large prime companies looking for small business subcontractors. These large businesses currently have contracts for major projects with the GSA and other Federal agencies. Prime representatives will introduce their firms in the open forum before they break out into individual meeting rooms. Learn about subcontracting opportunities and their vetting process for selecting small business subcontractors. The Prime participants will include: Clark Construction, Verizon, Level 3, General Dynamics and more. Plan to stay all day; great things don't just happen before lunch!  Learn more. ]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:24:15 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Fast 50 winners have cause for celebration, concern]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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. ]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:53:30 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The three R's of the gov market]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Research is the first key to success. When you are on the outside looking in, you might often wonder what it takes to get from where you are (Point A) to where those, say, on Washington Technology&rsquo;s annual Top 100 and Fast 50 lists are (Point B). All companies, large and small, have to start somewhere, but you don&rsquo;t start out on any of those lists.
When you boil it down to its basic elements, there are Three R's that are the keys to success in this government market: research, resources and relationships. While this may be over-simplifying things, the three remain basic building blocks for the market. I&rsquo;ll devote this article to the first R &mdash; research.
Regardless whether you are just getting started or bidding on your 100th contract, research is critical.
The problem for the novice is where to start. Although there are both paid and free research tools, some better than others, some harder to find, and most who are new to the market are overwhelmed by how many tools there really are. They often don&rsquo;t know which to use or how to use those they select. So it&rsquo;s better to start with some good, free resources to determine some things about your company before you start paying for resources you may not need.
For the novice, the research must start with answering the question &quot;Does the government buy what you sell?&quot;&nbsp; Read full article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:00:37 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[D.C.'s small business chief resigning]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:36:34 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Miximizing End of FY Sales: 30 Tips in 60 min]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The FOSE Conference serves the federal, state and local government technology market as well as the broader international and commercial technology community as a forum for bridging ideas and innovations between the public and private sector&mdash;and provides forward-looking view of upcoming federal IT initiatives that impact the private sector. 
Maximizing End of FY Sales: 30 Tips in 60 Minutes
When: Thursday, July 21
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Government Solutions Theater #2
FREE TO ATTEND
In good times, the end of the Federal FY is a time to reap the rewards of hard work done during the year. During an FY with a perpetual continuing resolution, the end of FY represents a time when you truly need to maximize your share of the much smaller pie. The tactics used during the final months of the FY will determine your success or failure for the year. Those attending this session will hear from seasoned veterans on how to achieve the maximum results in an otherwise tough year.&nbsp; Check out all of the Free workshops.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:13:41 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Vendors gripe at contracting conference]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[While Washington, D.C., swelters under scorching heat, Denver offered cool, pleasant weather and unusual heavy rains for the 1,300 people who journeyed to the city for the big annual meeting of the professional association of contracting professionals in industry and government., the National Contract Management Association World Congress.
The overall atmosphere here reflects a fairly sour mood about the state of government contracting. Partly, the contractors (most contractors in NCMA are from the defense industry, and some are from IT) are realizing that contracting dollars are going to be really tight given the budget situation. But there also seems to be a feeling &mdash; among the government people as well as industry &mdash; that the system is still in a mode, dating to the George W. Bush years, of laying on more regulations, requirements and burdens that are hard for the government to meet given limited resources.
Industry resents such regulations as attacks on their integrity and their bottom line. Read More. ]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:29:40 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DIA Small Business Outreach]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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&rsquo; 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 &ndash; 11:30 am
*       Session M2: BAE, 12:30 &ndash; 2:00 pm
*       Session M3: L-3, 2:30 &ndash; 4:00 pm
Thursday, August 11:
*       Session T1: BAH, 10:00 &ndash; 11:30 am
*       Session T2: CACI, 12:30 &ndash; 2:00 pm
*       Session T3: SRA, 2:30 &ndash; 4:00 pm
Friday, August 12:
*       Session F1: Northrop Grumman, 10:00 &ndash; 11:30 am
*       Session F2: CTC, 12:30 &ndash; 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
&nbsp;www.fbo.gov/index]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:22:29 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[SDVOSB Webinar]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[DLA Land &amp;amp; Maritime, Small Business Programs Office will be conducting a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Webinar on July 21, 2011 from 2:30PM until 3:30PM to instruct SDVOSBs how to do business with DLA Land &amp;amp; Maritime as we are searching for an unlimited&amp;nbsp;number of SDVSOB Manufacturers that are interested in finding opportunities in manufacturing weapon system spare parts for land &amp;amp; maritime vehicles, electronics, and gun parts for the U.S. military.&amp;nbsp; We will be conducting a series of 1 hour seminars on a monthly basis and also will be there to answer your questions on any facet of not only doing business with us, but also with the DLA Troop Support in Philadelphia, PA and DLA Aviation in Richmond, VA.
Contracting Office Address:
P O Box 3990
Columbus, Ohio 43218-3990
United States
Place of Performance:
DLA Land &amp; Maritime, Small Business Programs Office
3990 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43218
United States
Primary Point of Contact.:
Dwight deWeaver
dwight.deweaver@dla.mil
Phone: 6146927935
Fax: 6146926892
Secondary Point of Contact:
Vikki Hawthorne
vikki.hawthorne@dla.mil
Phone: 6146924864
Fax: 6146926892
&nbsp;www.fbo.gov/index]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:19:04 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[FOR 2nd CONSECUTIVE YEAR DOT EARNS A GRADE FROM SBA]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released the Small Business Procurement Scorecard for all agencies reflecting each agency&rsquo;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 &ldquo;A&rdquo; rating for its FY 2010 small business efforts. This is the second consecutive year DOT has received an &ldquo;A&rdquo; rating for its small business contracting achievements.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re extremely proud to earn an &ldquo;A&rdquo; 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,&rdquo; 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).&nbsp; Reference article
The &ldquo;A&rdquo; rating reflects the Department&rsquo;s ongoing commitment to providing the small business community the greatest access to federal contracting opportunities and to ensure that DOT&rsquo;s procurement officers have the information and tools needed to connect with these innovative small businesses.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:43:37 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[6 keys to winning bigger contracts]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Contractors lured to task-order contracts by the promise of a big payoff...
In sports parlance, it&rsquo;s known as going for the gold. The term also applies in government contracting, as more and more companies are seeking the gold to be found in the large federal indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract vehicles.
&ldquo;Come July and August, the IDIQs light up like Christmas trees,&rdquo; said Paul Strasser, senior vice president and general manager of Dynamics Research Corp.&rsquo;s federal group. &ldquo;There are task orders going out like crazy because, with the continuing resolutions, agencies are trying to spend the money they have allocated. The IDIQ has become by far the vehicle of choice. So you have to prepare.&rdquo;
&ldquo;The smarter smaller companies are looking at the vehicles earlier and seeing what resources it&rsquo;s going to take to win,&rdquo; said Mark Amtower, co-founder of the Government Market Master certificate program at the George Mason University School of Management and a Washington Technology contributor. &ldquo;The large companies have two avenues. They can buy a company that owns the IDIQ or wait until the recompete and try to win it. However, there are no guarantees for the recompete.&rdquo;  Read full article. ]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:37:28 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[4 capture $480M VA services contract]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Four companies have won parts of a $480 million Veterans Affairs contract to provide IT services.
The companies will compete for task orders under the Veterans Relationship Management IT Solutions and Support Services contract, according to a VA announcement on FedBizOpps.
The contract is a multiple-award, task-order contract.
The winners are:
Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Services 
SRA International 
Insignia Technology Services 
VetsAmerica Business Consulting Inc.
In its solicitation, VA said it would use the contract to improve communications between VA and veterans, no matter what technology they are using to reach the agency. This includes phone, web, e-mail and social media.
The contract has several &ldquo;work streams&rdquo; as VA calls them: voice access modernization, customer relationship management, unified desktop, Web/self service, knowledge management, and member and integration services.&nbsp; Read full article.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 09:46:43 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[(SeaPort-e)  The Bigger the Better]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Navy is awarding IDIQ multiple award contracts to 333 contractors that will compete for service requirements solicited by Naval Sea Systems Command; Naval Air Systems Command; Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command; Naval Supply Systems Command; Military Sealift Command; Naval Facilities Command; Strategic Systems Programs; Office of Naval Research; and the Marine Corps.
The 22 functional service areas within the scope of the contracts include:  research and development support; engineering system engineering and process engineering support; modeling, simulation, stimulation, and analysis support; prototyping, pre-production, model-making, and fabric support; system design documentation and technical data support; software engineering, development, programming, and network support; reliability, maintainability, and availability support; human factors, performance, and usability engineering support; system safety engineering support; configuration management support; quality assurance support; information system development, information assurance, and information technology support; ship inactivation and disposal support; interoperability, test and evaluation, trials support; measurement facilities, range, and instrumentation support; acquisition logistics support; supply and provisioning support; training support; in-service engineering, fleet introduction, installation and checkout support; program support; functional and administrative support; and public affairs and multimedia support.
These contracts are in addition to the existing 2,212 contracts previously awarded under the SeaPort Enhanced (SeaPort-e) acquisition program for services procurements.  The government estimates a maximum of $5,300,000,000 of services will be procured per year via orders issued under the SeaPort-e multiple award contracts.  The awards have a three-year base period with one five-year award term.  The award of these contracts is a result of the SeaPort-e Rolling Admissions solicitation.  The SeaPort-e acquisition is comprised of seven regional zones in which task orders will be competed based upon the principal place of performance.  These awards contain provisions to set aside requirements for small businesses, service disabled veteran owned small businesses, 8a business development program and historically under-utilized business zone small businesses.  Under these multiple award contracts, each contractor will be provided a fair opportunity to compete for individual task orders solicited within their zone or zones of performance.  These contracts were competitively procured via Navy Electronic Commerce Online, with 358 offers received and 333 contracts awarded.  Contract funds will be obligated at the time of task order award and as such, multiple funding types (with varying expiration dates) may be used, consistent with the purpose for which the funds were appropriated.  The Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Va. is the contracting activity (N00178-11-D-6408-N00178-11-D-6740).
The list of contractors involved are:  1st American Systems and Services, LLC*, Proctorville, Ohio; 1st Choice Staffing, LLC, dba 1st Choice Government Solutions*, Silver Spring, Md.; 22nd Century Technologies, Inc.*, Somerset, N.J.; AASKI Technologies*, Ocean, N.J.; Abex Systems, LLC*, Vienna, Va.; About Web, LLC*, Rockville, Md.; Acquisition Logistics, LLC*, Richmond, Va.; Advance Career Development*, San Jose, Calif.; Advanced Facility Management Services, dba AFMS*, Greencastle, Pa.; Advanced Integrated Technologies, LLC*, Norfolk, Va.; Advanced Resources Technologies, Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; AEG Group Inc.*, Grayslake, Ill.; Agile Business Concepts, LLC*, Reston, Va.; Agilis Group, Inc., dba AgilisIT*, San Diego, Calif.; Ahrens Consulting Group, LLC*, Dayton, Ohio; Airtec, Inc.*, California, Md.; Alainn, LLC*, Arlington, Va.; Alakai, LLC*, McLean, Va.; Alatec, Inc.*, Huntsville, Ala.; Allied Associates International*, Warrenton, Va.; Alpha Omega Technologies, Inc. *, Rockville, Md.; Alpha-Omega Change Engineering, Inc.*, Hampton, Va.; AMDEX Corp.*, Silver Spring, Md.; American Maritime International, Inc., dba AMI International*, Bremerton, Wash.; American Technology Solutions International*, Stafford, Va.; AMSEC, LLC, Virginia Beach, Va.; Amvet Technologies, LLC*, Las Vegas, Nev.; Anacapa Micro Products, Inc.*, Ventura, Calif.; Analycis, LLC*, Evansville, Ind.; Analysis Design and Diagnostics, dba AD&amp;D*, Jacksonville, Fla.; Analysis, Integration and Design, Inc.*, Melbourne, Fla.; Analytical Services, Inc.*, Columbia, Md.; Apex Skills Group*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Applied Environmental, Inc.*, Herndon, Va.; Applied EnviroSolutions, Inc.*, Tempe, Ariz.; Applied Marine Solutions, LP*, Kailua, Hawaii; Applied Systems and Technology Transfer, LLC*, Youngstown, Ohio; Apprio, Inc.*, Highland, Md.; Arcata Associates, Inc., Las Vegas, Nev.; Ardent Management Consulting, Inc.*, Reston, Va.; ARES Solutions, Inc.*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Arete Enterprises*, Richmond, Va.; ARMEC Corp.*, Knoxville, Tenn.; Armed Forces Services Corp.*, Arlington, Va.; Arnold-Hanafin Corp.*, Boca Raton, Fla.; ASR International Corp., dba ASR Management and Technical Services*, Hauppage, N.Y.; Async-Nu Microsystems*, Fredericksburg, Va.; A-Team Solutions*, Fulton, Md.; Athena Consulting Group, LLC*, North Charleston, S.C.; Atlas North America, LLC, Virginia Beach, Va.; Atmospheric And Environmental Research, Lexington, Mass.; Atteloir, Inc.*, Germantown, Md.; Aveshka, Inc.*, McLean, Va.; Avitecture*, Sterling, Va.; Aviture, Inc.*, Irving, Texas; Aya Associates, Inc., dba COMP U FLOOR*, Maitland, Fla.; Azimuth Corp.*, Dayton, Ohio;  Back Country Driving School, Inc.*, Roanoke, Va.; Bay State Computers, Inc.*, Bowie, Md.; Betis Group, Inc.*, Cape Charles, Va.; BizTech Fusion, LLC*, Laurel, Md.; Blanchard's Contracting, LLC*, Washington, D.C.; Blue Canopy Group, LLC*, Reston, Va.; Bluemont Technology &amp; Research, Inc.*, Bluemont, Va.; Bluestone Logic, LLC*, McLean, Va.; BPC Group, Inc., dba BP Consulting Group*, Orlando, Fla.; Brayman Technical Services*, Alexandria, Va.; Brillient Corp.*, Reston, Va.; Bronico, Inc.*, Vacaville, Calif.; Burgos Group, LLC*, Albuquerque, N.M.; Business Integra Technology Solutions, Inc., dba Business Integra*, Greenbelt, Md.; CANA, LLC*, Gainesville, Va.; Capriccio Software*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Capricorn Systems, Inc.*, Tucker, Ga.; Cardinal Engineering, LLC*, Washington, D.C.; Cardinal Point Captains, LLC*, Carlsbad, Calif.; Carter Safety Consultants, Inc.*, Fayetteville, Tenn.; Celerity IT, LLC, McLean, Va.; CENTRA Technology, Inc., Burlington, Mass.; Centuria Corp.*, Reston, Va.; CET, LLC*, Earth City, Mo.; Cetacean Marine, Inc.*, Dania Beach, Fla.; CH2M Hill, Inc., Englewood, Colo.; Chaos Consulting, Inc.*, Fairfax, Va.; The Chigosi Co.*, San Diego, Calif.; Childs Engineering Corp.*, Medfield, Mass.; Chronos Systems, Inc.*, Camp Springs, Md.; Chugach Federal Solutions, Inc*, Anchorage, Alaska; Circinus, LLC, dba Circinus*, Fredericksburg, Va.; CKSolutions, LLC*, Solomons, Md.; Clarke House Technologies, Inc.*, Midland Park, N.J.; Client Network Services, Inc., dba CNSI, Gaithersburg, Md.; Compendium Federal Technologies, LLC*, Lexington Park, Md.; Component Sourcing Group*, Laguna Hills, Calif.; CompQsoft, Inc.*, Houston, Texas; Computer Systems Center, Inc., dba CSCI*, Springfield, Va.; Concept Analysis and Integration*, Silver Spring, Md.; Consolidated Networks Corp.*, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Consumer Management Solutions, LLC*, Dumfries, Va.; Consummate Computer Consultants Systems, LLC, dba C3 Systems*, Lusby, Md.; Costech Inc.*, Winter Springs, Fla.; CPN-Network, LLC*, Washington, D.C.; Craytek, Inc*, Arlington, Va.; Creoal Consulting*, Rockville, Md.; Critigen, LLC, Greenwood Village, Colo.; Croop-LaFrance, Inc.*, Vistor, N.Y.; Cyber Security Research and Solutions Corp., dba CSRS*, La Plata, Md.; Cyberdata Technologies, Inc.*, Herndon, Va.; DanSources Technical Services, Inc.*, Rockville, Md.; Datawiz Corp.*, Vienna , Va.; Davis Strategic Innovations, Inc., dba DSI*, Grant, Ala.; Dennis Millican &amp; Associates, Inc.*, Coral Springs, Fla.; Dependable Global Solutions, Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; The Desilets Group, Inc.*, Bristow, Va.; Dfuse Technologies, Inc., dba Dfusetech.com*, Ashburn, Va.; DIGITALiBiz, Inc.*, Rockville, Md.; Diligent Consulting, Inc.*, San Antonio, Texas; DKJ Technologies, Inc.*, Beavercreek, Ohio; DMP Services*, El Cajon, Calif.; Donald L Blount and Associates*, Chesapeake, Va.; Driven Engineering, Inc.*, Semmes, Ala.; DSD Laboratories, Inc.*, Sudbury, Mass.; DSU Staffing, Inc.*, Raleigh, N.C.; Dunhill Personnel of Hawaii, dba Dunhill Professional Staffing of Hawaii*, Honolulu, Hawaii; Dyonyx, LP*, Houston, Texas; EclecTek, LLC*, California City, Calif.; EDC Consulting, LLC*, Washington, D.C.; Edwards Industries, dba Edwards Project Solutions*, Hanover, Md.; The Electronic On-Ramp, Inc.*, Rockville, Md.; Ellumen, Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; Elusive Solutions, Inc.*, King George, Va.; Emtec Federal, Springfield, N.J.; EnergySolutions Government Group, Inc., Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Engineering &amp; Computer Simulations, Inc.*, Orlando, Fla.; ER Williams, Inc.*, Silver Spring, Md.; Escape Communications, Inc.*, Torrance, Calif.; ETSVETS, Inc.*, Enterprise, Ala.; Federal Program Integrators, LLC*, Indian Island, Maine; Financial Systems Consultants, Inc., dba FSC*, Cape Charles, Va.; Forwardyne Systems, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; FT Technologies, LLC*, Olney, Md.; Fulcrum Technology, LLC*, Bedford, Ind.; Fuse Integration, Inc.*, Long Beach, Calif.; Futech Technolgies, Inc.*, Baltimore, Md.; G2 Ops, Inc.*, Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Gale Force Software Corp.*, Indianapolis, Ind.; Gallup, Inc., dba The Gallup Organization, Washington, D.C.; Garud Technology Services, Inc.*, Ellicott City, Md.; GBTI Solutions, Inc.*, Herndon, Va.; Gella, LLC*, Johnstown, Pa.; Global Resource Management, Inc.*, Suwanee, Ga.; Global Resource Solutions, Inc.*, Olympia, Wash.; Government Technology &amp; Business Services, Inc., dba GTBS*, Falls Church, Va.; GTANGIBLE*, Alexandria, Va.; The Hambrick Group, Inc.*, Los Angeles, Calif.; Hazard Management Solutions, Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; Hickory Ground Solutions*, Heathsville, Va.; Hi-Tec Systems, Inc., dba Hi-Tec Systems*, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.; Hooah, LLC*, Winter Park, Fla.; HVF West, LLC, Tucson, Ariz.; iAccess Technologies, Inc.*, Long Beach, Calif.; Icube Systems, Inc.*, Clifton, Va.; Ideogenics, LLC*, Washington, D.C.; iGouge, LLC*, Carlsbad, Calif.; Imagine Media Group, LLC, dba IMG Networks*, Chula Vista, Calif.; Impres Technology Solutions, Inc.*, Santa Fe Springs, Calif.; Infinity Technology, LLC*, McLean, Va.; Information Engineering Services, Inc., dba IES*, Alexandria, Va.; Information Technology Coalition, Inc., dba IT Coalition*, Alexandria, Va.; Information Technology Solutions &amp; Consulting, LLC*, Falls Church, Va.; Ingenium Corp.*, Greenbelt, Md.; Integrated Technologies of Kansas, Inc.*, Wichita, Kan.; Integrity Management Consulting, Inc.*, McLean, Va.; IntellecTechs, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Intelligence, Communications and Engineering, Inc., dba ICE-PS*, Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Intelligent Payload Solutions, Inc.*, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Intelligent Software Solutions, Inc., Colorado Springs, Colo.; Intelligent Systems Research, Inc.*, Agoura, Calif.; Intrinsyx Technologies Corp.*, Moffett Field, Calif.; iParametrics, LLC*, Alpharetta, Ga.; Ironhawk Technologies, Inc.*, Los Angeles, Calif.; Isomorphic Systems, LLC*, Trinidad, Colo.; IST Research, LLC*, Fredericksburg, Va.; IT Strategic Performance Firm*, San Antonio, Texas; ITCS, LLC*, Purcellville, Va.; ITechnology Group, LLC, dba ITGROUP*, Wayne, N.J.; J.L. Marshall &amp; Associates, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Jacer*, Fairfax, Va.; JRC Integrated Systems, Inc.*, Vienna, Va.; Kairos Consulting Worldwide, LLC*, Chicago, Ill.; Katmai Information Technologies, LLC*, Anchorage, Alaska; KEMA, Inc., Burlington, Mass.; KineTexas, Inc.*, Tempe, Ariz.; KNWEBS, Inc.*, Oklahoma City, Okla.; KORE Federal, Inc.*, Falls Church, Va.; Krozak Information Technologies, Inc.*, Silver Spring, Md.; La Jolla Logic*, San Diego, Calif.; Laxton Consulting, LLC*, Springfield, Va.; Level 4 Press, Inc., dba Level 4 Ventures, Inc.*, Jamul, Calif.; Levick Strategic Communications*, Washington, D.C.; Liberty Solutions*, Alpine, Calif.; Linium, LLC*, Albany, N.Y.; LinkVisum Consulting Group, Inc.*, Leesburg, Va.; Lion-Vallen, LP, dba LVI, Dayton, Ohio; Management Science and Innovation, Inc., dba 6 Sigma Technology Group*, Chantilly, Va.; Marc Enviro Services, Inc.*, Omaha, Neb.; The Mayvin Consulting Group, Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; McNeal Professional Services, dba McNeal Wireless Services*, Kennesaw, Ga.; MedPacs, LLC*, Seattle, Wash.; Mega-Tech*, McLean, Va.; Metro Productions Government Services, LLC*, Hampton, Va.; MicroSys, LLC*, Manassas, Va.; Mission Assurance International, dba MAI*, Tampa, Fla.; Modus21*, Mount Pleasant, S.C.; MOSAIC Technologies Group, Inc.*, Fulton, Md.; Mustang Technical Services, LLC*, Fredericksburg, Va.; National Defense Advisors, Inc.*, Fairfax Station, Va.; The NAVSYS Corp.*, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Net Esolutions Corp.*, McLean, Va.; Neubrain, LLC*, Rockville, Md.; New River Systems Corp.*, Reston, Va.; Newmoyer Geospatial Solutions, LLC*, Mount Pleasant, S.C.; Nexus Technologies, Inc.*, Reston, Va.; Noise Control Engineering, Inc.*, Billerica, Mass.; Novus Origo, LLC*, Vista, Calif.; NucoreVision, Inc.*, Lanham, Md.; NVision Solutions, Inc.*, Bay St. Louis, Miss.; Occam Solutions, Inc.*, McLean, Va.; Occoquan Crew Technologies, Inc.*, Dumfries, Va.; Oceanit Laboratories, Inc., dba OCEANIT*, Honolulu, Hawaii; Octo Consulting Group, Inc.*, Vienna, Va.; Odyssian Technology, LLC*, South Bend, Ind.; Old Dominion University Research Foundation, Norfolk, Va.; Olusys, Inc.*, Camarillo, Calif.; Omitron, Inc.*, Beltsville, Md.; OmniPulse Technology Corp.*, San Diego, Calif.; Organon Advisors, Inc.*, Silver Spring, Md.; Osen-Hunter Defense Systems, LLC*, Madison, Va.; Ostari, Inc.*, Los Gatos, Calif.; OT Training Solutions, Inc.*, Orlando, Fla.; Performance Aircraft Services, dba Performance Aircraft Fuel Systems*, Grapevine, Texas; Phigenics, LLC*, Naperville, Ill.; Pierson Computing Connection, Inc..*, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; The Pierson Group, LLC*, Washington, D.C.; Precision Computing Intelligence, LLC*, Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Precision Task Group*, Houston, Texas; Premier Consulting &amp; Management Services, Inc., dba PCMS*, Atlanta, Ga.; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, McLean, Va.; Professional Solutions Delivered, LLC, Professional Services*, King Georga, Va.; Qi Tech, LLC*, Vienna, Va.; Quantell, Inc.*, Grantsville, Md.; Quantum Technology Sciences, Inc., dba QTSI*, Cocoa Beach, Fla.; R.H. Shackelford, Inc.*, San Antonio, Texas; R3 Strategic Support Group*, Coronado, Calif.; RedHawk IT Solutions, LLC, dba RedHawk IT*, Woodbridge, Va.; Reefpoint Group, LLC, dba Reefpoint Group*, Annapolis, Md.; RoundTurn, LLC*, Richmond, Va.; S. H. Huber and Associates, Inc.*, Oxnard, Calif.; SA Technical Services, Inc.*, Niceville, Fla.; Sabio Systems, LLC*, Albuquerque, N.M.; Saras America, Inc.*, Farmington Hills, Mich.; Schultz-Creehan Holdings, Inc.*, Blacksburg, Va.; Seawolf Solutions, Inc.*, McLean, Va.; Selsoft, Inc.*, Allen, Texas; Sensis Corp., East Syracuse, N.Y.; Sericore, LLC, dba Sericore Technologies*, Hanover, Md.; Shackleton Group, Inc.*, Lakewood, Colo.; Shipley, Inc., dba Isolated Ground*, Glendale, Calif.; Sierra Cybernetics, Inc.*, Anaheim Hills, Calif.; Sierra Infosys, Inc.*, Houston, Texas; Sierra Nevada Corp.*, Sparks, Nev.; SilverRhino, LLC*, Rockville, Md.; SNR Systems, LLC*, Leesburg, Va.; Software Professional Solutions, Inc.*, Farmingdale, N.J.; Sparc, LLC*, Charleston, S.C.; Spartan Management, LLC*, Manassas, Va.; Standard Technology, Inc.*, Warner Robins, Ga.; Statscom, Inc.*, Ashburn, Va.; Stealth Network Communications*, Scotts Valley, Calif.; Strategic Applications and Technologies, Inc.*, Columbia, Md.; Submergence Group, LLC*, Chester, Conn.; Superior Communication Solutions, Inc.*, Moultrie, Ga.; Swanson Services, LLC, dba Swanson Security Guard &amp; Patrol Services*, Richmond, Va.; Symphony Consulting Group, Inc.*, Herndon, Va.; Synergy Technology Services, Inc.*, Eddystone, Pa.; Systems Software Solutions, Inc., dba 3S USA*, Bloomingdale, Ill.; TAF &amp; Associates, Inc.*, Fairfax, Va.; Talentscale, LLC*, Lake Elsinore, Calif.; TeamStaff Government Solutions, Loganville, Ga.; Technical Automation &amp; Management, Inc., dba TEAM*, Falls Church, Va.; Technology Blue, Inc.*, Cranberry Township, Pa.; Technology Concepts &amp; Design, Inc.*, Reston, Va.; Telnet, Inc.*, Rockville, Md.; TeraLogics, LLC*, Ashburn, Va.; TeraThink Corp.*, Reston, Va.; Texeltek, Inc.*, Annapolis Junction, Md.; Thermopylae Sciences &amp; Technology, LLC*, Arlington, Va.; Thor Solutions*, Annandale, Va.; Three S Consulting, Inc.*, San Francisco, Calif.; Tiber Creek Consulting, Inc.*, Farifax, Va.; Titanium Cobra Solutions, LLC*, San Diego, Calif.; Torknet, LLC*, Suitland, Md.; Total Computer Solutions, Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; TRAX International Corp., Las Vegas, Nev.; Tri Com Enterprises, Inc.*, Va Beach, Va.; Trinuc, LLC*, Buffalo Grove, Ill.; Tritus Technologies, Inc.*, Gainesville, Va.; Triune Solutions, LLC*, Washington, D.C.; Troika Solutions, LLC*, Arlington, Va.; Troy Networks, Inc.*, Lovettsville, Va.; Trusted Intelligence Support Services Corp.*, Scottssboro, Ala.; TurningPoint Global Solutions, LLC, dba TurningPoint*, Rockville, Md.; U.S. Information Technologies*, Chantilly, Va.; United Federal Systems, Inc.*, Reston, Va.; USmax Corp.*, Gambrills, Md.; Valicore Technologies, Inc., dba Valicore*, Irvine, Calif.; Vantage11, LP*, Tinton Falls, N.J.; Varilog Research, Inc.*, Beltsville, Md.; VariQ Corp.*, Washington, D.C.; Vetegrity, LLC*, Annapolis, Md.; Virsys, LLC*, Dunn Loring, Va.; VisionOnline.com, LLC, dba VOL*, Reston, Va.; Watershed Security, LLC*, Chesapeake, Va.; Web and Writing Solutions Co.*, Pasadena, Md.; Wight &amp; Company, dba Wight Construction, Darien, Ill.; Windwalker Corp.*, McLean, Va.; Wittenberg Weiner Consulting, LLC*, Tampa, Fla.; Wolf Technical Services, Inc.*, Indianapolis, Ind.; Xeeto, Inc.*, Miami, Fla.; Yearround Accounting Taxes, LLC, dba McKinley Group*, Gaithersburg, Md.; Z and A Infotek Corp., dba Xeon Info*, Parsippany, N.J.; The Zanfer Group, LLC*, Lusby, Md.; Zantech IT Services, Inc.*, McLean, Va.  ]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:49:02 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA plans to split $250M IT contract]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The General Services Administration is considering splitting a small-business contract that brought in $250 million so far but they are trying to figure out what the follow-on contracts should look like, according to a new announcement.
The first GSA IT Infrastructure Technology Global Operations (GITGO) contract was awarded to Catapult Technology in 2007, and the contract ends in April 2012. With that deadline, GSA anticipates awarding the follow-on task orders during the second quarter of fiscal 2012, according to a request for information released June 24. Read the notice.
The GITGO contract has netted $250 million in revenue for Catapult, according to data from Deltek Input.
The scope of the coming requests for proposal would establish efficient managed support of GSA&rsquo;s IT infrastructure services. At this point though, GSA wants ideas from industry on how to set up orders to match those needs.
GSA plans two separate acquisitions. The task order to get the necessary capability is called GSA Technical Operations, and the order to help manage the global effort is the GSA Independent Program Oversight and Assistance task order.&nbsp; Read full article]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:57:24 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[SBA and 8(a)]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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.&nbsp; The SBA requires many supporting documents on every qualifying aspect of an 8(a) business and its owners.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;
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			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:23:47 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Research, Plan, Market]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The pre-solicitation notice helps government agencies determine if there are qualified vendors to perform the work scope.&nbsp;It provides a &ldquo;heads up&rdquo; that the solicitation will be released and solicits capability responses from responsible vendors.&nbsp;The pre-solicitation notice also helps the government determine if the requirement can be set-aside for a small business if capable small businesses respond.&nbsp;The pre-solicitation notice is valuable to a contractor for the same reason and it also provides the contracting office with information on the company if they have never done business with them before.
The pre-solicitation notice serves its purpose.&nbsp;However, it would help first-time contract bidders if information regarding the purpose of the solicitation such as; is there an existing requirement, if so, who is the incumbent, what are the differences in work scope (if any), and overall budget for the project term.
&nbsp;
The proposal process includes three very important elements:
&nbsp;
1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Technical/Management Approach &ndash; companies must be able to perform the requirements in the Statement of Work, as well as describe how they plan to do so.&nbsp;Sales brochures or cookie cutter company descriptions will not work.&nbsp;A business owner should be prepared to write to the requirements and respond with a strong technical volume.&nbsp;Offer what they want, not want you think they want or need.
&nbsp;
2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Past Performance &ndash; companies should include strong references of relevant past performance.
&nbsp;
3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Price &ndash; Competitive pricing is expected, as long as it&rsquo;s not so low or high that it is determined that the contractor does not understand the requirements.
&nbsp;
The major differences between a solicited and unsolicited proposal are:
&nbsp;
1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An unsolicited proposal in NOT in response to a government solicitation.
&nbsp;
2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An unsolicited proposal is a submission of a new or unique idea not currently being offered or procured by the agency.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An unsolicited proposal does not result in an award, but is considered by the agency if there is a need.
&nbsp;
4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An unsolicited proposal must be independently originated and developed by the contractor.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:42:59 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Unified Combatand Command Spotlight: CENTCOM]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
WHO?
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Armed Forces.&nbsp; The current commander for CENTCOM is General James Mattis.&nbsp; He took command from acting commander Lieutenant General John Allen on August 2010.&nbsp; Lt. Gen. Allen assumed temporary command when the previous commander, General David Petraeus left to take command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan on June 2010.
WHAT?
With national and international partners, U.S. Central Command promotes cooperation among nations, responds to crises, and deters or defeats state and non-state aggression, and supports development and, when necessary, reconstruction in order to establish the conditions for regional security, stability, and prosperity.
WHERE?
Of the six American regional unified commands, CENTCOM is one of three regional commands whose headquarters are not within its area of operations.&nbsp; CENTCOM&rsquo;s main headquarters is located at MacDill Air Force Base, in Tampa, Florida.&nbsp; A forward headquarters was established in 2002 at Camp As Sayliyah in Doha, Qatar, which transitioned to a new forward headquarters at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in 2009 to serve American strategic interests of the Iraq region.
The formal Area of Responsibility (AOR) extends to 20 countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uzbekistan, and Yemen.&nbsp; International waters included are the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and western portions of the Indian Ocean.&nbsp; Syria and Lebanon are the most recent addition, having been transferred from the United States European Command on March 2004.

WHEN?
U.S. Central Command was established January 1, 1983. When the hostage crisis in Iran and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan underlined the need to strengthen U.S. interests in the region, President Jimmy Carter established the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) in March 1980.
WHY?
To provide a stronger, more lasting solution in the region, President Ronald Reagan took steps to transform the RDJTF into a permanent unified command over a two-year period. The first step was to make the RDJTF independent of U.S. Readiness Command, followed by the activation of USCENTCOM in January 1983.&nbsp; Since then, CENTCOM has been the main American presence in many military operations, including the Gulf War, the United States war in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War.&nbsp; Forces from CENTCOM currently are deployed primarily in Iraq and Afghanistan in combat roles and have bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Pakistan, and central Asia in support roles.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:41:38 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small Business Event]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 14:45:12 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small Businesses - Get Your Piece of the Pie!]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Federal Government is close to meeting its 23 percent small-business  goal.&nbsp; The percentage of contracting dollars that went to  small businesses were 21.5% and 21.9% in 2008 and 2009, respectively.&nbsp;  Small businesses are able to capture about $100 billion a year in  Federal contracts, with each percentage point equating to $4 billion in revenue for small firms.&nbsp; 

Every percentage point in small businesses' share of federal contracts  approximates to $4 billion in additional revenue for small firms.

More than thirty percent of contracts awarded with economic stimulus funds went to small businesses.&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 23 May 2011 11:43:16 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Unified Combatant Command Spotlight:  AFRICOM]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[


WHO?&nbsp; 
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Armed Forces.&nbsp; It is responsible for U.S. military operations and military relations with 53 African nations - an area of responsibility covering all of Africa, with the exception of Egypt.
WHAT?&nbsp; 
AFRICOM, in concert with other U.S. government agencies and international partners, conducts sustained security engagement through military-to-military programs, military-sponsored activities, and other military operations as directed to promote a stable and secure African environment in support of U.S. foreign policy.
U.S. Africa Command supports American national security interests by conducting a wide range of programs and activities that help African states&mdash;at their request&mdash;meet their goals of building capable and professional militaries that are subordinate to civilian authority, respect human rights, and adhere to the rule of law.
WHERE?
Headquartered at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, the territory of the command consists of all of the African continent except for Egypt, which remains under the direct responsibility of USCENTCOM, as it closely relates to the Middle East. USAFRICOM also covers island countries commonly associated with Africa;

    Cape Verde
    S&atilde;o Tom&eacute; and      Pr&iacute;ncipe
    Comoros
    Madagascar
    Mauritius
    Seychelles

WHEN?
2006 &ndash; Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld forms planning team to advise on requirements for establishing a new Unified Command for the African continent.&nbsp; A recommendation of their findings are sent to President George W. Bush.
6 February 2007 - President George W. Bush gives authority to create the new African Command and U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Robert Moeller, the director of the AFRICOM transition team, arrived in Stuttgart Germany to begin creating the logistical framework for the command.
28 September 2007 - the U.S. Senate confirmed General William E. &quot;Kip&quot; Ward as AFRICOM's first commander and AFRICOM officially became operational as a sub-unified command of EUCOM with a separate headquarters.
1 October 2008 - the command separated from USEUCOM and began operating on its own as a full-fledged combatant command.
WHY?
To bring U.S. military activities in Africa, which have previously been divided among three existing commands (European Command, Central Command, and Pacific Command), under a single one.
AFRICOM was created to counter the growing presence of China in Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, to secure long-term economic agreements for raw materials from Africa in exchange for Chinese aid and production sharing agreements and royalties.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 15:19:15 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA issues RFP for cloud services]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The General Services Administration wants to give agencies three choices to move commodity technology to providers of cloud computing services.
GSA issued a request for quotation late Monday for e-mail, office automation and electronic records management under a five-year blanket purchase agreement contract. GSA and the Defense Department are working together on the BPA through the SmartBuy and Enterprise Software initiatives.
The cloud computing contract has a ceiling of $2.5 billion over five years. Vendors must submit their bids by June 19 through the EBuy system. Questions about the RFQ should be submitted by May 20.
&quot;The objective of this RFQ is to offer five key service offerings through Email-as-a-service (EaaS) providers for ordering activities,&quot; GSA states in the RFQ.
GSA is asking vendors to provide three mandatory services and two optional ones. Under the mandatory categories, vendors must provide e-mail-as-a-service, migration services and integration services. Contractors also can submit a bid to provide office automation-as-a-service, which includes word processing, spreadsheets and presentations, and records management-as-a-service, which includes records collection, organization, categorization, storage, metadata capture, physical record tracking, retrieval, use and disposition. Reference Article. ]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2011 10:03:19 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Contractors identify yourself; it's the rule]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Defense reg requires you say who you are in person, in telephone calls and in letters.
Defense Department officials have changed the department&rsquo;s regulations to require service contractors to identify themselves as contractors, whether in person or in a letter.
DOD issued its final rule May 5, even though there has been an interim rule in effect since September 2010.
The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Supplement&nbsp;now states that service contractor employees must say they are contractors or be introduced as such in a conversation. Contractors are also required to note who they are &ldquo;in telephone conversations and informal and formal written correspondence.&rdquo;
Officials are leaving it up to agency heads to decide exactly how to carry out the new rule. Reference Article.
]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 09:39:57 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[35 firms to divvy up $2.5B Army contract]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Award has work across eight primary military operations areas.
Thirteen large contractors and 22 small businesses have been named to the Army&rsquo;s $2.5 billion Operations, Planning, Training and Resource Support Services prime contract.
OPTARSS II is an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract from the U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command Center at Fort McPherson, Ga.
The key task-order vehicle for the Army Forces Command calls for support services across eight primary military operations areas: operational planning, training, modeling and simulation, flight operations, mobilization planning and execution, deployment operations, force protection, and transformation.
Large contractor winners are:
* Alion Technical Services
* Booz Allen Hamilton
* CACI International Inc.
* CSC
* Cubit Corp.
* Eagle Support Services Corp.
* General Dynamics Information Technology
* L-3 Services
* Lockheed Martin Corp.
* Northrop Grumman Corp.
* Raytheon Co.
* SAIC
* Stanley Associates Inc. (now part of the CGI Group)
Small-business winners are:
* Accent Controls Inc.
* Aegis Technologies Group Inc.
* Ahntech Inc.
* Ahtna Support and Training Services LLC
* Automation Precision Technology Inc.
* Data Solutions and Technology Inc.
* Eagle Systems and Services Inc.
* Enterprise Information Services Inc.
* The Ginn Group Inc.
* HCI Integrated Solutions
* HRJ International Inc.
* Hughes Group LLC
* Janus Research Group Inc.
* Logistics Management Resources Inc.
* Micro Technologies LLC
* Orion Technology Inc.
* Quantum Dynamics Inc.
* Skyline Ultd Inc.
* Strategic Resources Inc.
* TechWise
* Total Consulting Group Inc.
* Unified Consultants Group Inc.
Reference Article]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 22 Apr 2011 09:56:46 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Government is Open for Business]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
&ldquo;The Government is Open for Business&rdquo;
A government shutdown occurs when a disagreement occurs between members of Congress. In this instance, Republicans and Democrats could not agree on the amount of cuts that they should implement for the year. Republicans were proposing a $61 billion budget cut while Democrats suggested slashing only 
$6 billion of this year&rsquo;s budget. Less than two hours before the government would have run out of funding at midnight, April 8, Democrats and Republicans finally agreed on a budget. Lawmakers will cut $78.5 billion below President Obama&rsquo;s 2011 budget proposal and $38 billion below the 2010 budget. 
&bull; Army Corps of Engineers: Funding at the President's request level of $4.9 billion, supports existing applications for renewable energy loan guarantees at the Department of Energy, and provides a $697 million (7%) increase for the National Nuclear Security Administration to ensure adequate funding for critical components of our national defense. 
&bull; The Continuing Resolution reduces most Treasury and Executive Office of the President accounts. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;o Reduces funding for construction of new federal buildings by more than $800 million. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;o $13 million increase over last year for the Inspector General of Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to provide strong oversight of the billions of dollars remaining in TARP assets and continues current funding for drug task forces and programs to assist small businesses. 
&bull; Homeland Security: $41.8 billion in discretionary funding is provided for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2011. This is $784 million, or 2%, below FY 2010, and $1.9 billion, or 4%, below the President's FY 2011 request. 
&bull; Department of Homeland Security: All critical frontline operations, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Agency, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service are sufficiently funded to meet mission requirements and sustain staffing levels. The bill reduces: CBP's Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology (BSFIT) account to the President's request; FEMA's first responder grants by $786 million, $264 million in funding previously targeted to earmarks, and $557 million in unobligated and lapsed balances from prior year funds. 
&bull; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD): THUD and Related Agencies section of the CR contains a total of $55.5 billion, a $12.3 billion, or 18%, reduction from fiscal year 2010 levels, and a reduction of $13.2 billion, or 20%, from the President's fiscal year 2011 request. ]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:13:35 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Contractor Database Goes Public - With Limits]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[A database housing performance reviews of federal contractors is available to the public, beginning 15 April 2011.&nbsp; But the public won't find much there, at least initially.
That's because only contractor performance information posted on or after April 15 will appear on the site.
&nbsp;
The Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information Systems (FAPIIS) site shows actions taken against contractors in the course of their work with the government. Contracting officers are supposed to use the year-old database to review companies' past behavior before awarding a contract.
&nbsp;
Members of the public must submit a Freedom of Information Act request to access any info before April 15.
&nbsp;
The General Services Administration, which created the database, hailed the public launch of the website, saying the public now can view information previously available only to federal procurement staffs and congressional leadership. The database includes contract terminations, determinations of defective or false pricing data, and contractor self-reporting of criminal, civil and administration actions.
&nbsp;
&quot;Creating the public-facing FAPIIS is akin to setting up the Better Business Bureau of federal contracting - which is good for government and good for the public,&quot; said Kathleen Turco, associate administrator of GSA's Office of Governmentwide Policy. &quot;As FAPIIS continues to be populated, it will significantly support and assist federal government efforts to make informed spending decisions and to reduce risk.&quot;&nbsp; Read Full Article.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:08:59 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Contractors brace for shutdown]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
A government shutdown seems more likely now than the near misses of earlier this year. 
Many prognosticators are putting the odds at 50-50 but leaning toward a shutdown. The government has estimated that 800,000 government employees will be sent home if it happens.
For contractors, the picture isn&rsquo;t quite as clear. They have options on how to keep working even if&nbsp;are locked out of customer sites.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been preparing for this for over a month,&rdquo; one executive told me.
&nbsp;
The big question of whether contractors work or not depends on several factors.
The first is whether the customer is exempt. An exempt customer means the contractor keeps working as normal. Another executive told me his company created teams that included operations, finance, legal, human resources and contracts. The teams then are putting work into four categories:

    Funded and essential
    Funded and non-essential
    Unfunded and essential
    Unfunded and non-essential

A second factor is where the money is coming from. If it is 2010 money, work can continue but invoices may get paid late, according to Alan Chvotkin of the Professional Services Council.&nbsp;If the work depends on money coming out of 2011 funds, work stops.
&nbsp;
&quot;If we have a contract and a statement of work and we aren't on a government site, we've got to show up for work,&quot; an executive told me.
&nbsp;
A third factor relies on&nbsp;company policy. Workers can be shifted to other work that will continue during a shutdown. That likely will not take care of most workers, and some&nbsp;companies may require employees to take paid time off rather than laying off workers. Read Full Article
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:36:49 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[What happens if the shutdown comes]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Closing would affect more than 800,000 federal employees, including some White House staffers
Contingency plans are in the works as the government prepares funding to expire on April 8.
&nbsp;
Expect about 800,000 federal employees to stop working, said a senior administration official in a conference call for reporters April 6. That figure is based on what happened during&nbsp;the last government shutdown in the mid-1990s, the official said.
&nbsp;
That rough estimate doesn&rsquo;t account for changes since the previous shutdown though, such as the Veterans Affairs Department&rsquo;s multi-year appropriations and the creation of the Homeland Security Department. Reference Article.
]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:33:37 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small-biz trio to vie for $495M in DOD task orders ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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.
&nbsp;
The services includes customer support; systems operation, administration, and maintenance; applications support, development and maintenance; and engineering services.
&nbsp;
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.
&nbsp;
The work will primarily be performed in the National Capital Region area.
&nbsp;
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.
&nbsp;
The Washington Headquarters Services Acquisition Directorate in Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Reference Article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:20:20 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Shutdown deferred for another few weeks]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
It looks like Congress has averted the possibility of the government shutting down tomorrow by passing yet another funding extension that gives lawmakers three more weeks to reach a compromise on a long-term bill.
The Senate passed the latest short-term funding measure today by a vote of 87-13. The House approved the same bill earlier in the week. The bill (H.J. Res 48) would keep the government funded until April 8 and cut an estimated $6 billion in spending.&nbsp;
The existing continuing resolution is set to expire March 18, and the government could have shut upon its expiration.&nbsp; Full article.
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:59:39 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[CACI's $450M DHS win gets thrown out by GAO]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
CACI International will need to compete all over again if it wants to hang on to a $450 million financial management systems modernization contract it won from the Homeland Security Department last year.
&nbsp;
The Government Accountability Office confirmed today that it has upheld a protest against the DHS award to CACI. The 10-year contract is valued at up to $450 million.
&nbsp;
DHS awarded the Transformation and Systems Consolidation contract to CACI&nbsp;this past&nbsp;November. Shortly afterward, Global Computer Enterprises, of Reston, Va., and Savantage Financial Services, of Rockville, Md., filed protests with the GAO. Full article
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:26:19 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Awards made to 8 for $183M Navy IDIQ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Eight companies, including Lockheed Martin Corp., BAE Systems Inc., and L-3 Services, have been named to an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity, performance-based contract that includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the individual contracts to an estimated $183 million.
Under the awards, the contractors will provide Integrated Security Systems Sustainment support services in Charleston, S.C.; Norfolk, Va.; and Washington, D.C.; according to a Defense Department announcement today.
The awardees and the value of their individual contracts are:

    Lockheed Martin Corp., $34,670,212;
    Chenega Technical Services Corp., LLC, $36,009,534;
    Dataline LLC, 36,193,425;
    BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services Inc., $36,194,645;
    M.C. Dean Inc., $35,520,355;
    DRS Technical Services Inc., $34,653,184;
    L-3 Services Inc., $33,489,745;
    Systems Applications and Solutions, $34,864,977.

Work is expected to be completed by March 2012. If all options are exercised, work could continue until March 2016, the announcement said.
This contract was competitively procured by full and open competition via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center e-Commerce Central website and the Federal Business Opportunities website, with eight offers received.
&nbsp;
The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity.&nbsp; Read full article.
&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:58:38 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[AFRICOM  says goodbye to Ward,  welcomes Ham]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[3/9/2011&nbsp;-&nbsp;SINDELFINGEN, Germany  (AFNS)&nbsp;--&nbsp;Members of the Defense Department's newest combatant command bid farewell to&nbsp;their inaugural commander.

Army Gen. William E. &quot;Kip&quot; Ward passed the reins of U.S. Africa Command to Army Gen. Carter F. Ham after nearly three years at the helm.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates officiated at the ceremony and spoke to the audience at the Sindelfingen city hall near AFRICOM's headquarters in Stuttgart. Read full article.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:29:47 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Air Force awards Boeing $35 billion Tanker Contract]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[By Charles Riley&nbsp; 

Source:&nbsp; CNNMoney
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The Air Force announced Thursday it awarded a  $3.5 billion initial contract to Boeing for the production of 18  next-generation aerial refueling tankers.
That is a down payment on a contract worth about $35 billion for 179 planes.
Aerial refueling tankers allow the military to refuel aircraft in mid  flight, greatly extending the range of operation for smaller aircraft,  while also providing the capability to carry cargo and airlift  personnel.
Both Boeing  and the North American unit of EADS -- which owns Airbus --submitted  bids for the blockbuster contract and planned to base their planes on  popular civilian aircraft, specifically the Boeing 767 and Airbus A330.
&quot;We're  honored to be given the opportunity to build the Air Force's next  tanker and provide a vital capability to the men and women of our armed  forces,&quot; Boeing CEO Jim McNerney said in a statement.
Boeing shares jumped more than 3% in after-hours trading.
The  announcement is the culmination of a decade-long process that has been  fraught with pitfalls and political pressure as lawmakers lobbied to  bring the project -- and resulting jobs -- into their districts.
Both  companies estimated the contract would support thousands of jobs, with  Boeing planning to build the aircraft in Everett, Wash., and Wichita,  Kan. EADS would have based its production facilities in Mobile, Ala.
On  Wednesday, Gulf state governors sent a letter to President Obama,  saying the contract could significantly boost their state economies,  which are reeling from natural and man-made disasters.
But on Thursday, it was Govs. Christine Gregoire of Washington and Sam Brownback of Kansas who won out.
They  had sent a letter of their own to Obama, arguing, &quot;We believe this  tanker will best meet the Air Force's requirements and prove the best  value for the American taxpayer.&quot;
Gregoire said in a statement  Thursday that it was a great day for &quot;the 11,000 aerospace workers in  Washington state alone that will play a role in assembling the NewGen  tanker.&quot;
In a conference call with reporters, Dennis Muilenburg,  CEO of Boeing Defense, Space &amp; Security, said that the program will  support more than 50,000 jobs and 800 suppliers spread across more than  40 states.
EADS has the right to protest the Pentagon's decision,  but Pentagon officials said Thursday they were confident any appeal  would fail. Still, with jobs at stake, there will be political pressure  to try and overturn the decision.
&quot;I am deeply disappointed that  the EADS team was not selected to build the next air refueling tanker  for the Air Force,&quot; Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama said in a statement.  &quot;In light of today's result, I intend to examine the process carefully  to ensure it was fairly conducted.&quot; 
The contract has had a long and convoluted history.
Northrop  Grumman and European partner EADS originally won the contract in  February 2008. But Boeing protested and the Air Force reversed its  decision and changed the requirements for the plane.
Northrop later said it would not  bid on a multi-billion-dollar contract to build the tanker because it  believed the rules for the contract favored its competitor, Boeing.
After Northrop dropped out, its partner company, EADS, asked the Pentagon for a 90-day extension to file its own bid.
The  tankers will replace the aging Boeing KC-135, which first entered  service in 1957. About 100 of the oldest &quot;Stratotanker&quot; models have been  grounded since 2006 due to age.
Originally needed to keep B-52  nuclear bombers in the air for long periods of time, the Stratotanker  quickly found new missions in Vietnam, where it enabled small fighter  bombers to strike targets anywhere in the country. It revolutionized the  use of air power, and is continuing to play that role in Iraq and  Afghanistan.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:15:55 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA to stop funding D.C.-area private telework centers]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[By Brian Kalish 03/02/2011

Source:&nbsp; NextGov
The General Services Administration will discontinue funding for 13 private telework centers in the Washington area at the end of March. About 300 federal employees work at the facilities.

Contracts for the telework centers expired Sept. 30, 2010, and GSA had been working with the center's owners to determine if they would close, or continue to operate under a private sector model. A final decision on the centers' future was due Feb. 28.

According to GSA spokeswoman MaryAnne Beatty, the number of employees working at the centers represented less than 1 percent of the Washington-area federal workforce. The government spent about $3 million annually to operate the centers -- about $10,000 a year per user. Affected employees were notified in December of potential closures.

GSA said in an e-mailed statement that telework is less about where work gets done and more about how it gets done. &quot;Advancements in technology, connectivity and culture have expanded the choices for telework beyond that of home, telework center, or office to include virtually any place at any time,&quot; the statement said.

In October 2010, Administrator Martha Johnson announced that GSA was building virtual meeting centers across the country, including five in the Washington area. The high-tech centers, which are expected to be operational in mid-2011, were intended to have people &quot;move off airplanes and on to tele presence,&quot; she said at the time.

The telework centers that will close March 31 include Bowie, Laurel Lake and Prince Frederick in Maryland; Fredericksburg and Winchester in Virginia; and Kearneysville in West Virginia.

The centers that will remain open but without GSA funding include Manassas, Fairfax, Stafford and Woodbridge in Virginia; and Hagerstown, Frederick and Waldorf in Maryland.

The College of Southern Maryland operates three of the centers that will close. &quot;The college is extremely disappointed as we have had a longtime association, since 1993, of partnering with GSA to provide this valuable service and convenience to our residents and telecommuting members of our community,&quot; CSM President Bradley Gottfried said in a prepared statement.

George Mason University, despite the end of federal funding, will keep its telecommuting facilities open and actually expand the program to operate nine centers across Northern Virginia. The university believes there is a demand for flexible locations among employees for whom working from home is not a great fit, said Keith Segerson, managing director of the Mason Enterprise Center, which runs the facilities. For example, one federal worker told Segerson his wife runs a day care from home, so he cannot work there. Also, the facilities can more easily accommodate work teams than most home offices, he said.

The university will add new features, such as workstations and private offices, Segerson said.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:55:00 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[NAGC OFFERS SMALL BIZ LOANS UP TO $5M]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Getting access to business working capital is no easy task in today's economic environment. If you need business funding and traditional bank lending is not an option, NAGC can help. Below are significant and unique advantages that only NAGC can deliver to you:
* Approvals Within 24 Hours
* Minimal paperwork - Easy Application Process
* Fast Funding - Within 5 to 7 Days
* Funds Can Be Used For Any Purpose
* Poor Credit Accepted
* No Application Fees
* Business Loans Can Be Reported To Help Build Business Credit
* Customized Repayment Terms. Easier on Business Cash Flow
* Funding Programs from $10,000 to $5 Million
* Minimum Required Time In Business - 6 Months
There is no obligation or cost to find out how much cash you qualify for. Find out more.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
			<guid>https://www.govpartners.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=115</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:58:33 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Contractors Should Brace for a Govt. Shutdown]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Contractors should brace for a government shutdown
Politicians wrangle while pay, people and procurements hang in limbo
By:&nbsp;Matthew Weigelt
Source:&nbsp;&nbsp;Washington&nbsp;Technology, Feb. 23, 2011
While there&nbsp;is still optimism that a federal government shutdown can  be averted, the threat is real and there is plenty of uncertainty over  how government contractors will be affected.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) intends to bring a  short-term measure before the Senate next week to keep the doors open  for another 30 days but Republican leaders in charge of the House have  promised to reject&nbsp;a move&nbsp;if the measure continues funding the  government at current levels, which the GOP&nbsp;believes are excessive.
Still, the chances are small for a government shutdown on March 4  when the current continuing resolution expires, although the political  situation has changed and the reasons for a shutdown have increased,  said Barry Anderson, a former acting director of the Congressional  Budget Office. He spoke this morning at a conference hosted by the  Professional Services Council on the implications of a potential  shutdown.
Meanwhile, federal employees and government contractors remain in  limbo, on the edge of a rare event that has lots of twists and turns as  many decisions depend on answers to other questions.
&ldquo;You will find there is a maze here. There are no good answers,&rdquo;  said John Cooney, who was the general counsel at the Office of  Management and Budget during the 1995 government shutdowns. He also  spoke at the conference.
If the government closes, agencies would launch their plans required  by OMB and downshift to a skeletal crew of employees. Only a few jobs  would be exempt from stopping during a shutdown,&nbsp;for example,&nbsp;those jobs  that protect government property, such as federal buildings, or those  that protect life, such as health care services or troop support. Often,  Social Security Administration offices remain open and operational, as  well as offices related to Medicaid and Medicare services.
This time, IT will be a new problem for officials to deal with.  During shutdowns in the past &mdash; even the most recent in 1995 &mdash; the  government was not so dependent on the Internet for providing services.
Cooney said the IT function would be critical during the shutdown,  even as officials try to draw a dividing line. For example, the same Web  server may host a government website offering registration services for  Medicare as well as public relations for the agency. Legal officials  would have to decide if the server should operate and if the employee  who operates it is a necessary employee.
&ldquo;OMB is going to have to think long and hard about what to do when  the same website might be supporting a portfolio of accepted and  non-accepted functions,&rdquo; Cooney said.
For government contractors some contracts may be exempt from the shutdown while others are not.
A company may have to shift employees to avoid working on&nbsp;a project  that isn't funded. The government is banned from accepting voluntary  work, Cooney said. In fact, agencies are required to keep people from  working. He suggested giving employees training that they may need or  having them work on another project that isn't affected by&nbsp;the shutdown.
Contracts paid for with fiscal 2010 money are still in operation, but  invoices might be paid late because of a shutdown. The government might  owe a little more if the payment is late. Yet the contractor would  generally be required to continue working and to bill the government  according to the terms of the contract, said Alan Chvotkin, executive  vice president and counsel for the Professional Services Council said at  today's conference.
Contracts providing products and services won&rsquo;t be affected in the same way despite using fiscal 2011 money.
Product sellers wouldn't be hit in the same way as service  contractors. Companies offering products will face changes in when and  where they would make their deliveries, but the government likely will  have already paid the companies for those products. However, services  aren&rsquo;t paid for when the contract is signed, Chvotkin said. Those  companies may be paid a number of different ways, from quarterly  payments for work to jobs done per day.
As a result, a shutdown would tear into service contractors&rsquo; pocketbooks, he said.
To deal with a shutdown, Chvotkin and Cooney both recommend that  companies talk with their contracting officers about what&rsquo;s ahead and  share their concerns. In preparation, companies should analyze the  possible circumstances and make plans in case of a shutdown. They should  document if, for example, employees' job status were changed and  account for how the shutdown affected the business, Chvotkin said.
&ldquo;Make sure you can track the costs as best you can,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The  stronger the documentation, the greater the likelihood of being able to  demonstrate the costs incurred.&rdquo;
Cooney said be patient with the contracting officer, especially if the shutdown goes on for many days.
He said, &ldquo;The contracting officer may not know and may not have any  answer because the decision being made is far above his pay grade and  being made on very different grounds.&rdquo;
The pain may be short lived, depending on whether the shutdown is  &quot;soft&quot; or &quot;hard.&quot; In a &ldquo;soft shutdown,&rdquo; federal employees would come to  work but could not do anything &ldquo;productive,&rdquo; that is, anything to carry  out the central duties of the agency.
&ldquo;Basically they&rsquo;re told the clean up their desks and consult with  friends,&rdquo; Cooney said, adding that it&rsquo;s the flipside of a snow day,  where employees come into the office or stay home.
The soft shutdown would&nbsp;occur if the president believes there&rsquo;s a  chance for a rapid compromise with Congress. &quot;We designed it to give the  president some other option besides Armageddon,&rdquo; said Cooney, who  helped draft guidance on shutdowns in the 1980s.
On the other hand, a &ldquo;hard shutdown&rdquo; would mean employees are furloughed from work.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:52:09 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[BAE Systems Expands]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[BAE Systems Inc. has completed its acquisition of L-1 Identity Solutions Inc.&rsquo;s Intelligence Services Group, which comprises SpecTal LLC, Advanced Concepts Inc. and McClendon LLC. The purchase price was approximately $297 million.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:33:32 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Fluor and Boeing Team to Pursue DOE Work]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that the company has reached a teaming agreement with Boeing (NYSE: BA) to pursue work from the United States Department of Energy (DOE) at its Sandia National Laboratories.
Sandia is a government-owned, contractor-operated facility that is
managed on behalf of the DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Sandia has major facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., and an annual operating budget of approximately $2.5 billion. The current contract expires in September 2012.
&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 15 Feb 2011 12:52:36 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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.&nbsp; Obama wrote in his memo, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;
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. &ldquo;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,&rdquo; she said.
The legislation should be introduced in the next couple of weeks and small businesses should keep this on the radar.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:37:26 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DBE Program expanded to help Small Business]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[On January 27, 2011 - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a final rulemaking that will help economically and socially disadvantaged businesses take advantage of opportunities to participate in federally funded highway, transit and airport projects. This final rule will also hold state and local agencies more accountable for including disadvantaged businesses into their transportation plans.
&ldquo;When we help small businesses, we&rsquo;re helping to get the economy going,&rdquo; said Secretary LaHood. &ldquo;This rule will help small and disadvantaged businesses get a fair shot at participating in state and local transportation projects.&rdquo;
The rulemaking also included provisions to ensure that prime contractors fulfill commitments to use Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) subcontractors. Another major change with this rule is all states will be required to accept DBE certifications obtained in other states, unless the state finds good cause to not accept it.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:39:21 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[SBA creates a program to help undersized Firms compete Contracts]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
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.
&ldquo;The Small Business Jobs Act provides critical resources to help small businesses continue to drive economic recovery and create jobs,&ldquo; SBA Administrator Karen Mills said.&nbsp; &ldquo;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&rsquo;s economy.&rdquo;
The SBA is projecting to make 10 &ndash; 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 &ndash; profit or nonprofit
    &nbsp;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&rsquo;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.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:24:19 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Berry Aviation wins $14M Government Contract]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[San Marcos-based Berry Aviation Inc. was awarded a $14.16 million (base) government contract.
The charter transportation provider is tasked with providing  fixed-wing aircraft, personnel, equipment, tools, material, maintenance  and supervision for passenger and cargo transportation services in  Afghanistan. The U.S. Department of Defense contract will begin on January 15, 2011 and will run through May 31, 2011, with four year option periods.&nbsp;
Berry Aviation, founded in 1983, operates 20 planes that complete more than 13,000 flights annually.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:20:57 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Women and Minority Business Certifications and Procurement : Back to Basics]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) is hosting a half day conference on January 12, 2011. focused on helping women and minority businesses understand certifications and procurement tactics that work for them. Hear&nbsp; from several procurement experts including: 

&nbsp;&nbsp; -Sharon Jackson, MBE Compliance and Outreach Manager, GOMA
&nbsp;&nbsp; -Shirley Williams, Chief of MBE/WBE Opportunity Office, Mayor's Office
&nbsp;&nbsp; -Gloria Larkin, President, TargetGov
&nbsp;&nbsp; -Liz Cullen, WBENC. 

Enjoy multiple breakout sessions and a Lunch Panel with success stories and networking. 
Location: Sheraton Columbia, 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, MD 21044 
Price: $50 NAWBO members/ $65 non-members
To learn more and register click here.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:27:26 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Top 5 Small Business Opportunities with the Government in 2011]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Department of Homeland Security Enterprise Solutions Office - EAGLE (Enterprise Acquisition Gateway for Leading Edge Solutions) contract &ndash; worth $22 billion. The EAGLE II solicitation will include two separate source selections &ndash; one unrestricted, and one specifically set aside for small businesses. The RFP for this contact is expected to come out during the first quarter of fiscal-year 2011.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Chief Information Office Solutions and Partners 3 (CIO-SP3) - worth $20 billion. The RFP for this contract is expected to come out during the first quarter of fiscal-year 2011. 

US Army &ndash; Program Manager, Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems (PM DCATS) &ndash; worth $19.5 billion. The RFP for this contract is expected to come out during the third quarter of fiscal-year 2011.

U.S. Coast Guard &ndash; Technical, Acquisition and Business Support Services (TABSS) &ndash; worth $11 billion. The RFP for this contract is expected to come out during the first quarter of fiscal-year 2011. 

US Army - Computer, Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) &ndash; worth $5 billion, with a percentage designated as small business set-asides. The RFP for this contract is expected to come out during the third quarter of fiscal-year 2011. 

Teaming Tip:
The dollar value of some of these opportunities may be daunting. That&rsquo;s where teaming comes in. As a small business in the government contracting world, some of your best opportunities will be through teaming arrangements.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:10:11 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[SBA Launches Small Business Program for Women]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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.&nbsp;
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 &ldquo;underrepresented&rdquo; and 38 industries were deemed &ldquo;substantially underrepresented&rdquo; by women-owned companies.
&quot;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,&quot; 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.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:56:58 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Apple to take bigger piece of Government IT pie]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Apple Corp is taking the beginning steps to formalize relationships with system integrator companies; Agilex Corp and Unisys Corp. Mobile technologies are stirring interest among government customers and Apple&rsquo;s products can meet this demand. The iPad and iPhone are among the top mobile devices Apple will use in their authorize systems integrator program. &nbsp;To learn more click here.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Dec 2010 11:25:23 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[OSDBU Enhances Short Term Lending Program]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[On November 17th, 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation&rsquo;s  Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) hosted an event to develop stronger working relationship between OSDBU&rsquo;s Financial  Assistance Division, Participating Lenders and Small Business  Transportation Resource Centers (SBTRCs).
&ldquo;We are very excited to have our SBTRCs and Participating Lenders  from all over the country here at DOT Headquarters to learn and share  ideas to help small businesses obtain working capital.  The energy and  enthusiasm of today&rsquo;s event will be channeled to each region, increasing  opportunities for small businesses to grow,&rdquo; remarked Brandon Neal,  OSDBU Director.
DOT OSDBU&rsquo;s Short-Term Lending Program (STLP) helps small businesses  gain access to the financing they need to participate in  transportation-related contracts. STLP provides certified DBE's and  other certified small businesses short term working capital financing at  competitive interest rates for DOT or DOT funded contracts and  subcontracts. The loan guarantee provides a revolving line of credit for  work on transportation-related contracts.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:44:09 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Army Tests Electronic, Updateable Field Manuals]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
The military has tested many new technologies in the past and the most recent are iPads and e-books. The main reasons to test these specific types of technologies are for the field manuals. If there any updates in the manuals the iPads or e-books would directly receive the updates reducing printing costs and distribution time.
The military is also testing smart phones. Smart phones have lots of memory, reception, applications and new operating systems. The smart phones are used in during basic training as a learning tool. There are also military affiliated contests for new iPhone Apps. The top 5 winning Apps are: a physical training program, a telehealth mood tracker, a disaster relief application, a movement projection tool for mapping routes and a program to provide information to prospective soldiers.
A huge drawback is the potential risk that the iPads, e-book and Smart Phones could get hacked as other military equipment has in the past.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:42:54 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[U.S. Air Force Faces Dilemma for  Unmanned Aircraft]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
The Defense Department&rsquo;s need for unmanned aircraft continues to increase but the technology to operate them is reaching its limitation.
The automation will increase the number of platforms and missions while minimizing the number of personnel. Fewer pilots will be able to manage several unmanned aircrafts on missions using autonomous fight software. The new technology will also allow large amounts of data to be transmitted to personnel in the US instead of needing onsite analysts.
Initial reports estimate total spending over the next 10 years to be approximately $80 billion.&nbsp; ]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:41:25 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Did You Know...]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[There is a new Mobile Gov IT App. Designed by Winvale, this app has the latest Government IT news, CIO blogs, FY2011 IT budget forecasts and GSA&rsquo;s IT Schedule 70 information. This FREE App is the first of its kind for Government Technology. Download it at the Apple&rsquo;s App Store.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:40:15 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[$39 billion Small Business Bill signed into Law]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
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.
&ldquo;It was critical that we cut taxes and make more loans available to entrepreneurs.&rdquo; Obama said in remarks at the White House. &ldquo;So today after a long and tough fight, I am signing a small business jobs bill that does exactly that.&rdquo;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:54:04 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small Business Dashboard]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
There is a small business dashboard which shows all government agencies and their contracting dollars with small businesses and socio economic companies. The dashboard is broken down further into eligible dollars, actual dollars, goal % and actual %. This is a great tool to see which agencies are not fulfilling their goals and if your company can help them.&nbsp; 
To view the dashboard click here.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:00:50 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[SBA to Launch Small Business Program for Women]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
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 &ldquo;underrepresented&rdquo; and 38 industries were deemed &ldquo;substantially underrepresented&rdquo; 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.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:57:03 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Perils Small Business Encounter with Government Prime Contracts]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
It is first important to know the difference between prime contractor and subcontractor. A prime contractor sells to the government; whereas, a subcontractor sells to who sells to the government.
Prime Contractor
Some small businesses are not aware of what they are committing to when becoming a prime contractor for the government. The government views a prime contractor as the single point of contact, and is accountable for cost and schedule and performance.
One problematic area for a small company working as a prime contractor for the government is payment. A typical company invoices the government 30 days after starting a contract and the government has up to 90 days to respond to that invoice.&nbsp; The government pays a prime contractor when it sees fit so it could take at least four to five months. Most small companies do not have a cash reserve to put front so much money &nbsp;and wait months for payment.
Another problematic area is the language and clauses to a contract. Many small companies are unsure of all the terms, acronyms, clauses, references and requirements in a contract. These results in a poorly negotiate contract and the uncertainty of the contract itself.
Subcontractor
In most instances it makes sense for a small business to be a subcontractor. The advantage is the business relationship with the prime contractor and the face to face time. &nbsp;The prime contractor can also pay invoices within days of receipt and as a subcontractor it will be easier to have access to the information you need to complete the job.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:53:01 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DoD Considers Distributing Task Delivery Orders Electronically]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
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.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:49:03 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Department of Transportation Fiscal Year 2011 Procurement Forecast Released]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Today, the Department of Transporation (DOT) released it's FY 2011 procurement forecast. To view and print the forecast please click here.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:08:14 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Game Changer: DoD rewrites its book on Acquisition Strategy]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Defense Secretary Robert Gates today released a&nbsp;23-point memorandum for reforming defense acquisition processes, aiming for increased&nbsp;efficiency and productivity and proclaiming a new era in defense spending and acquisition strategy.
To read the whole article click here.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:55:03 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Top 100 Government Contractors]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[WashingtonTechnology ranked the Top 100 Government Contractors who won nearly $130 billion in prime contracts last year.
1. Lockheed Martin Corp
2. Northrop Grumman Corp
3. Boeing Co
4. Raytheon Co
5. Science Applications International Corp
To see the entire Top 100 List please click here.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:07:15 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DoD Issues Interim Rule on Sole-Sourced Awards]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Department of Defense has issued an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement section 814 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. The effective date was July 13, 2010.
Section 814 prohibits the award of sole-sourced tasks or delivery orders that are estimated to exceed $100M. The DoD does not expect this rule to have a significant economic impact on small firms because it does not impose any additional requirements on small businesses. The interim rule does, however, require the agency head to notify congressional defense committees within thirty days after making any determination regarding the sole-sourced award.
&nbsp;
For more information, see: &nbsp;http://bit.ly/cTegkR]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:40:32 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DOT Receives 'A' Rating from Small Business Administration]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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 &quot;A&quot; 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, &quot;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.&quot;

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. 
&nbsp;
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&rsquo;s ongoing commitment to providing the small business community the greatest access to federal contracting opportunities and to ensure that DOT&rsquo;s procurement officers have the information and tools needed to connect with these innovative small businesses.
&nbsp;


DOT's prime contracting achievement for 2009
&nbsp;
SBA Administrator Karen Mills said, &quot;Federal contracts awarded to small businesses are a &lsquo;win-win,&rsquo; 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.&rdquo; ]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:33:11 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[To Protest or Not Protest]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[There is a rising trend in the number of protested federal contracts. Is this trend due to confusing statistics or just causes? Let&rsquo;s take a closer look. 
Protest
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The protest will not ruin your relationship with the customer
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You have consulted with a protest lawyer and there is a protest able flaw in the procurement
o&nbsp;&nbsp; There is good chance the award will be overturned and you will be given the award
o&nbsp;&nbsp; There is a good chance you will win the re-procurement
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You are the incumbent
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You are protesting a multiple award IDIQ contract where the task order customer is removed from the IDIQ decision makers
&nbsp;
Do Not Protest
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The protest may ruin your relationship with the customer
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You have no money for the legal fees and it may cause you to spend too much money
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You will only achieve a re-procurement
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You can show your concerns in a positive way and then back away from a formal protest
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You do not want to take the focus away from your company winning new business in the future
&nbsp;
Make sure you have your facts straight before making any decisions about protesting. The best advice is to speak with a protest lawyer before talking with the customer or speaking publicly.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:26:02 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[August GovPartners Newsletter (Released on August 5, 2010)]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Federal Govt.'s FY is Coming to an End
The Federal Government's fiscal year ends on September 30, which          gives agencies a &quot;use it or lose it&quot; mentality regarding their          budgets. If an agency has unspent dollars at the end of the fiscal year          it loses the money and runs the risk of a reduced          budget the following year.
To learn more about how you can take advantage of the &quot;use it          or lose it&quot; opportunities, click here.

The Four Myths to Government Contracting
Myth #1: More specific specifications          are always better.
Fact: All suppliers get the same          exact requirements in the RFP. The government is not looking for irrelevant          information or minutia, so just stick to the facts.
To find out what the rest of the myths are, click here.

GovPartners News:
We would like to welcome our new team members:
Kate Hoyle 
Marketing Coordinator  
Kate joins us with an undergraduate and an MBA in Marketing. She is familiar          with social media marketing, web design, promotional design, and disseminating          business updates through multiple media outlets.
Trisha Pinckney 
Proposal Writer  
Trisha is a professional with 8+ years of experience in proposal development,          technical writing, editing engineering, marketing, and business development          within federal and state governments and commercial markets.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .&nbsp;
MemberSpotlight:
A member of our STP community recently won an award                for NASA. They will be responsible for the Communications and Avionics                Installation on the NASA GRC T-34 Aircraft.
Click                here to learn more.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .&nbsp;
New STP Opportunities
Posted today, three new opportunities that may require subcontracting support:
Aircraft                Occupant Ballistic Protection System
Strategic                Navigation Systems 
Ops                and Maintenance of Government Fueling Facilities 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .&nbsp;
Follow Us On:
                                
Participate                in our weekly GovTrivia and win Washington Nationals baseball                tickets, complements of Miami Air.
Contact                us if you have any questions regarding our GSA, Proposal                Services, or Teaming services. Sign                up today and make the connection.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:51:41 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Federal Govt.'s FY is Coming to an End]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Federal Government's fiscal year ends on September 30, which gives agencies a &quot;use it or lose it&quot; mentality regarding their budgets. If an agency has unspent dollars at the end of the fiscal year it loses the money and runs the risk of a reduced budget the following year.
Many buyers and credit card holders will spend impulsively to use up the rest of the funds. Procurement Officers have authorization to buy up to $25,000 without needing to put out a competitive bid, those needing to spend over $25,000 will issue a competitive bid.
How do you find these opportunities? Contact us. We will help you find these agencies and point you in the right directions to take advantage of these impulse buys.These opportunities can help you get your foot in the door to do more business with the government in the future.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:48:29 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Four Myths to Govt. Contracting]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Myth #1: More specific specifications are always better.
Fact: All suppliers get the same exact requirements in the RFP. The government is not looking for irrelevant information or minutia, so just stick to the facts.
Myth #2: Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis is always the best method on which to base a supplier selection.
Fact: TCO is useful but Value Management (VM) may be more appropriate. VM has emerged as the leading financial analysis for the US Government. VM is especially popular witht he DoD and at one point was mandated.
Myth #3: Privately-held suppliers will never share their financial statements.
Fact: Privately-held suppliers are not required to disclose financial statements and are less visible than publicly-held suppliers. If disclosure of financial statements is a requirement or condition then accommodations must be made between the agency and supplier; this can include a confidentiality agreement or limited access to the statements.
Myth #4: Long-term contracts should always begin immediately after a sourcing process.
Fact: It is normal for a long-term contract to be awarded and for business to start quickly but this may not be the best way to do business. Just like most warranties and guarantees a 30-90 day trial period should be negotiated to make sure the agency and supplier is a good match.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:40:59 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Navy adds 556 contractors to SeaPort-e program   ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[DOD expects to spend $5.3B annually through program
The Navy has qualified 556 additional contractors to compete for task orders under the SeaPort Enhanced acquisition program.
The new indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract awards are in addition to the existing 1,675 contracts previously awarded under the SeaPort-e acquisition program that covers a wide array of technical and engineering services, the Defense Department said July 15. Each of the awards has a four-year base period.
About $5.3 billion in services will be procured per year via orders issued under the program, DOD said.
Under the SeaPort-e program, contractors provide services in 22 functional areas, including research and development, system engineering, modeling and simulation, information system development and information assurance.
Other areas involve support for analysis, prototyping, technical data, networks, software engineering, test and evaluation, training and logistics.
The services will support the Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Military Sealift Command, Naval Facilities Command, Strategic Systems Programs, Office of Naval Research, and the Marine Corps.
The contracting activity is the Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Va.&nbsp; Reference Article.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:05:30 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Intell chief denies charges of too many contractors]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Agencies do not outsource critical work, ODNI says
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has issued a rebuttal to a Washington Post report about the intelligence community&rsquo;s seeming dependence on contractors to carry out its work.
In a story published 20 July, 2010 and headlined &quot;National Security Inc.,&quot; Post reporters write that a two-year investigation concluded that contractors perform inherently government functions all the time and in every counterterrorism agency.
&ldquo;What started as a temporary fix in response to the [2001] terrorist attacks has turned into a dependency that calls into question whether the federal workforce includes too many people obligated to shareholders rather than the public interest &mdash; and whether the government is still in control of its most sensitive activities,&rdquo; according to the Post.
ODNI disputed that allegation in a fact sheet posted on its Web site.&nbsp; Read full article.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:02:21 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DOE announces $30m in Small Biz Funding for Clean Energy Tech]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[&quot;DOE Announces $30 Million in New Small Business Funding to Help  Commercialize Clean Energy Technologies
Washington,  DC- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that $30 million in  funding from the Recovery Act and FY 2010 budget appropriations will be  made available to qualified small businesses to support the  commercialization of promising new technologies.&nbsp;&nbsp; Today's funding  announcement builds on the Department's existing efforts under the Small  Business Innovation Research program (SBIR) and the Small Business  Technology Transfer program (STTR) to develop near-term clean energy  technologies and support American small businesses that will play an  important role in building the clean energy economy of the future.&nbsp; This  is the first time DOE has offered Phase III awards under these small  business programs. 
&nbsp;
&quot;Small businesses are engines of job creation and innovation, and we  need their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit to drive a clean energy  economy,&quot; said Secretary Chu. &quot;By helping America's small businesses  bring these innovative technologies to market, we will spur economic  growth and help reduce the country's energy use.&quot; 
&nbsp;
Small companies previously awarded Phase II grants through DOE's Small  Business Innovation Research program (SBIR) or the Small Business  Technology Transfer program (STTR) are eligible.&nbsp; Projects that include  developed technologies with a strong potential for commercialization and  impact on U.S. manufacturing and job creation are encouraged to apply.&nbsp;  Successful applicants may receive up to $3 million over 3 years to  research, develop and deploy new technologies.&quot;&nbsp;
To read the entire article, click here.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:10:50 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[FAA Awards GE Aviation Program to Demonstrate Reduced Fuel, Emissions, Noise ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[GE Aviation received an award from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as part of the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) program. CLEEN is a joint FAA-industry program to accelerate the development and maturation of aircraft and engine technologies that reduce noise and emissions and improve fuel burn. The program is focused on developing technologies to meet NextGen environmental goals and to enable greater mobility. The goal is to enable the technologies to enter the fleet beginning in 2015. GE and the FAA will share the investment of up to $66 million for a five-year period.
&nbsp;
The CLEEN award will help fund three GE technologies including TAPS II Combustor, Open Rotor and Flight Management System - Air Traffic Management (FMS-ATM) technologies. The advanced FMS-ATM part of this award will enable commercial aircraft to routinely fly more optimum trajectories resulting in less fuel, emissions and noise.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
To learn more, click here.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:50:51 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Boeing to Acquire C4ISR provider Argon ST ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Acquisition will cost defense giant $775 million in cash. The Boeing Co. will acquire Argon ST in an all-cash tender offer and merger for $34.50 per share, or approximately $775 million.
The agreement to acquire the developer of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and combat systems advances Boeing's growth strategy and expands the company&rsquo;s capabilities to address the C4ISR, cyber and intelligence markets, according to a statement issued today by Boeing.
Founded in 1997 and based in Fairfax, Va., Argon ST develops sensors and networks designed to exploit, analyze and deliver information for real-time situational awareness. Read full article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jul 2010 09:08:10 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Social Media + Gov = FedSpace ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The GSA is preparing to launch  FedSpace, its social media platform for federal agencies and contractors in late summer.
The secure intranet collaboration platform will be made available to federal employees and contractors, according to GSA's statement on USA.gov.
FedSpace will provide a usable and accessible platform for accessing resources that Federal employees and contractors need to do their work better, faster, and more efficiently. FedSpace will be &quot;social&quot; in terms of people interacting with other people through the use of social technologies and tools to enhance professional communication and relationships, not &quot;social&quot; in terms of personal social networking. FedSpace will provide netiquette guidelines to help people understand the kinds of behavior that contribute to a collaborative virtual workplace, as opposed to behavior more suited to personal activities.  Find out more.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jul 2010 09:01:28 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Arcadia to Acquire Wayfarer]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[New York, NY, June 17, 2010 - Arcadia Aviation has  signed a binding letter of intent to acquire certain of the assets and  operations of Wayfarer Aviation subject to the execution of a definitive  asset purchase agreement by both parties.
Ending speculation about the future of Wayfarer, on Friday, June 11,  Arcadia Aviation provided bridge financing to Wayfarer to ensure the  continuation of uninterrupted service in advance of the signing of the  purchase agreement. Existing clients have been contacted and informed  that Wayfarer&rsquo;s industry leading operations team remains in place and  that the new company seeks to preserve and enhance that operation  through the combination of the two ARG/US Platinum and IS-BAO registered  companies.
&ldquo;We have closely followed the Wayfarer operation for years harkening  back to its TAG Aviation roots,&rdquo; said Robert Garrett, Jr., President of  Arcadia Aviation. &ldquo;Many of our employees have worked side by side with  the Wayfarer team in previous jobs. We view the acquisition as an  extraordinary opportunity both for our company to grow but more  importantly to preserve one of the industry&rsquo;s great companies that over  the years has come to define the standard of operational excellence and a  commitment to safety beyond all else.&rdquo;
The combined company will be headquartered in New York City, with an  operations center in Weymouth, MA, FBO operations outside of New York  and Washington DC, and a sales force in New York, Washington DC,  Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles. Its fleet of light to ultra  long-range aircraft and 24/7 operating platform provide its managed  aircraft owners and charter clients with worldwide operational  capabilities.
]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:19:08 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[White House Task Force: Fed Contracting Opportunities]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[White House Interagency Task Force on Federal Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses
June 10, 2010- The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (DOT/OSDBU) is pleased to announce that DOT has joined the Executive Committee of the White House Interagency Task Force on Federal Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses.&nbsp; OSDBU has been tapped to represent DOT.&nbsp; The Task Force was created as a result of the President&rsquo;s Memorandum dated April 26, 2010, and whose mission is to coordinate the efforts of Federal agencies to improve capital, business development opportunities, and pre-established Federal contracting goals for small business concerns.
This announcement is part of an ongoing effort to improve coordination between Federal agencies that provide contracting opportunities and technical assistance to small businesses.&nbsp; President Obama and Secretary LaHood have made small businesses the cornerstone of the nation&rsquo;s economic recovery, and DOT continues to take the lead in promoting the opportunities and necessary resources to get the job done.&nbsp;
The initial meeting was held in the Roosevelt Room of the White House and was&nbsp; Chaired by the Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke; Administrator Karen Mills of the Small Business Administration; and Peter Orszak, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
OSDBU Director Brandon Neal will co-chair, along with Ginger Lew of the White House National Economic Council, a working group entitled &ldquo;Enabling Small Business Contracting through Training, Outreach, Bonding, Access to Capital.&rdquo;&nbsp; The working group will move forward to ensure that small businesses, including firms owned by women, minorities, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and service-disabled veterans, have fair access to Federal contracting.&nbsp; The group will also take on challenges that include building small businesses capacity though better outreach and training.&nbsp;
&ldquo;This Task Force will allow small business issues to command the attention they deserve and reach the key decision makers in each agency.&nbsp; We are very excited to be part of the Executive Committee as well as the working group responsible for making sure social and economically disadvantaged individuals receive their fair share of contracting dollars,&rdquo; remarked Director Neal.
For the full content of the presidential memorandum, please visit: http://osdbu.dot.gov/documents/2010-10174.pdf]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:45:47 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA Opening Doors 2010]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[THE Business-to-Government Event of the year, &quot;GSA&nbsp;Opening Doors 2010&quot;, will be held in Los Angeles,&nbsp;California on&nbsp;August 9th through&nbsp;August 11th 2010. &nbsp;
The sixth annual conference will connect small businesses in all categories with multiple agencies at all levels of government for big opportunities in a recovering economy. 

Through networking and buyer/seller matchmaking, workshops and exhibits, engaged participants will make lasting connections leading to more business and stronger partnerships in the pursuit of the billions of dollars of government contracts awarded.
For more information, click here: http://www.gsaopeningdoors.com/default.shtm]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:16:08 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DoE: Share Your Ideas to Stop the Oil Spill]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Department of Energy (DOE) is working tirelessly to address the oil spill in the Gulf. At the request of President Obama, Secretary Chu traveled down to Houston to work closely with a team of top scientists from academia and the U.S. government, with support from more than 200 personnel from DOE's national laboratories, to analyze the response efforts and recommend additional options for stopping the leaking oil.
DOE would like you to share your ideas on how to stop or contain the oil spill and mitigate its impact on the environment. The Deepwater Horizon Response has an online form available to collect your suggestions here: http://www.horizonedocs.com/artform.php
As small business owners, you know that innovation comes from many sources. We need to tap into the spirit of American entrepreneurship to learn as much as possible. So far over 20,000 ideas have been sent to BP since the Gulf of Mexico incident from oil industry experts, small businesses, and everyday Americans.
The online form, entitled &quot;Alternative Technology Response,&quot; collects detailed information about your idea, including the materials, equipment and resources required to put your idea into action. Your idea, once you fill out the form, will go to a team of 30 technical and operational BP personnel for evaluation
Submit your ideas here.
We encourage you to be part of the solution and submit any ideas you have to the Deepwater Horizon Response, and to share this message with others who might be able to help. For more information on the Deepwater Horizon Response suggestion form, visit this link.
Thank you,
Bill Valdez, Acting Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:06:03 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[2010 American Security Challenge: Estimated $25M in Contract Awards]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Department of Defense Mentor-Prot&eacute;g&eacute; Program assists qualifying small businesses (Prot&eacute;g&eacute;s) to successfully compete for prime contract and subcontract awards by partnering with large companies (Mentors) under individual, project-based Agreements.&nbsp;http://www.americansecuritychallenge.com/
The American Security Challenge (ASC) is working with the Office of the Secretary of Defense to help identify potential Prot&eacute;g&eacute; Awardees for the Robotics Initiative which has technology interests in:

    Power- batteries, fuel cells, energy scavenging, renewable, etc
    Communications- signals, wireless security, obfuscation, unattritable systems, encryption, etc
    Sensors- CBRNE, camera, biometrics, etc
    Software- data analysis, pattern recognition, network security, etc

The Prot&eacute;g&eacute; Award is up to $1,000,000 per year for up to three years which may be applied to legal, manufacturing, engineering, and other hard costs as well as valuable counseling by the Mentor.&nbsp; ASC is pleased to announce the Mentor for this ASC DOD Prot&eacute;g&eacute; Award will be Raytheon.
To qualify for this small business award, A Prot&eacute;g&eacute; firm must SBA a certified small disadvantaged business (SDB), a qualifying organization employing the severely disabled, a women-owned small business (WOSB), a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), or a historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone).
&nbsp;
Companies that register for the Prot&eacute;g&eacute; Award are also eligible for other awards through ASC.&nbsp; After generating over $10M last year in teaming, sub-contract and investor term sheets, the 2010 Challenge is targeting $25M in contract revenue and investment capital for Challenger applicants.&nbsp; This year over 40 Pilot Awards are added providing Challengers opportunities to have their technologies test driven by qualified potential customers; with ready contract vehicles and funding for technologies passing the pilots. &nbsp;These customers may include but are not limited to various groups within the Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Raytheon, ArcSight, Intuit, members of the Intelligence Community and others (additional customers pending ).&nbsp; By quickly identifying solutions to mission critical and highly visible issues in cyber, C4ISR, physical and energy categories, the American Security Challenge public/private partnerships are working to secure our nation's citizens, our assets and our economy.
&nbsp;
CALL TO ACTION:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
SBA Certified Small Businesses with power, communications, sensors or software technologies should REGISTER BY MAY 28 to be considered for this and other ASC Awards.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Scoring criteria, eligibility, customer requirements, deadlines, investment and pilot contract award dates and other information is available on the website.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 20 May 2010 16:24:02 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[2010 DOT Biz Journal Now Available ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The US DOT/OSDBU ihas issued the Spring 2010 edition of the DOT Biz Journal and it is available for download. In this issue the DOT/OSDBU highlights the recent OSDBU Small Business Summit attended by over 700 individuals from across the nation who came together to learn strategies from industry and government leaders to meet the demands of the competitive small business environment in the transportation industry. Also included in this Spring edition is a summary of DOT's proposed funding under President Obama's 2011 budget.
You will also find information on the Small Business Administration's proposed rule to expand access to federal contracting opportunities for women -owned small businesses and will learn about a Short Term Lending Program success story on HydroTech, Inc, a Nevada based woman-owned 8(a), HUBZone certified company. In addition, the DOT includes their regular features including Follow the Recovery Money and the upcoming Calendar of Events.
Click the following link to download the DOT Biz Journal (PDF)]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 13 May 2010 10:39:09 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Hurry! Submit comments on the Proposed Rule for Women-Owned Small Businesses Program]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Comments are to be submitted no later than May 3, 2010.
After more than a decade of waiting, the SBA has finally published a set of Proposed Rules to implement the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program that, with some refinement, will serve to implement a strong program enabling restricted competition for certain women-owned small business on contracts within selected NAICS codes.  This program should help the federal government to meet their mandate for providing a fair portion of Federal contracts to women-owned small businesses. LEARN MORE]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:50:56 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Obama increases focus on small-business contracting]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[President Barack Obama has formed two interagency working groups that will look for ways to award more federal contracts to small businesses.The president has created task forces to focus on small-business contracting problems and opportunities for companies owned by service-disabled veterans.
Obama signed an executive order April 26 that established an interagency task force that will seek to develop opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses. He also signed a memo establishing an interagency task force to help small businesses overall win more federal contracts.
In addition, the memo directs Federal Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra and Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra to build a Web-based dashboard by July that will illustrate how many contracts agencies award to small, disadvantaged businesses. FULL&nbsp;ARTICLE]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:16:05 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Air Force adjusts big-ticket acquisition programs]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Air Force is looking to improve its acquisition activities, starting immediately with the impending contract awards for the KC-X tanker, the F-35 joint strike fighter and the Network-Centric Solutions-2 Enterprise Integration and Service Management program (NETCENTS-2), according to a top Defense Department official.
&ldquo;Recapturing acquisition excellence in the Air Force is a top priority,&rdquo; David Van Buren, Air Force assistant secretary for acquisition, said today at an AFCEA Nova luncheon. In particular, &ldquo;our acquisition cycle times are horrible,&quot; he said. FULL&nbsp;ARTICLE]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:12:56 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[How to succeed in gov biz by trying hard]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[TeleCommunication Systems Inc., founded in 1987 as a small wireless systems provider, could be a role model for how to succeed in government business by really trying.
The company&rsquo;s 23-year history includes a stint in the 8(a) certified small-business program, an initial public offering, conducting triage on a moribund government business, making several acquisitions and, last year, reaching $300 million in annual revenue.
TCS has more than 1,000 employees, and company executives say they expect TCS' combined commercial and government revenues to be between $430 million and $450 million this year, which would mean a 50 percent growth rate.
&ldquo;We are a growth company. We&rsquo;re not stopping,&rdquo; said Drew Morin, TCS&rsquo; senior vice president and chief technology officer. As the third employee hired by company founder Maurice Tose, he knows TCS&rsquo; history first hand.
The Annapolis, Md., company&rsquo;s first major contract came in 1989, the same year that TCS entered the 8(a) program. The $1.75 million award called for designing and building a local-area network for the Special Operations Command's headquarters at McDill Air Force Base, Fla.
That award led to further work from military special operations clients.&nbsp; Read Full&nbsp;Article. ]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:34:00 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[WT's 2010 Top 10 contracts ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[No. 10. General Atomics wins Air Force UAS support contract. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. won a $266 million contract for program and technical support for the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial systems.
9. SAIC captures $351M Navy contract for technical and engineering support. Under a five-year, $351 million Navy contract, Science Applications International Corp. will support the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division and the Joint Special Operations Response Department.
8. General Dynamics wins $387M Army contract.&nbsp;General Dynamics Corp. will provide a variety of technical support and training advisory services to the Army under a five-year contract that could be worth as much as $387 million.
7. CGI Federal wins $395M follow-on State Department contract. Under a $395 million, 10-year blanket purchasing agreement, CGI Federal Inc. will provide systems integration and consulting services and support for more than 5,000 State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development users of the Joint Financial Management System at more than 300 posts and missions around the world.
6. SRA wins $500M contract to modernize farm programs. SRA International will work with the Agriculture Department under a $500 million contract to help the agency modernize the technology and business processes it uses to serve farmers across the country.
5. SAIC secures $625M Navy award. Science Applications International Corp. won a $625 million contract from the Navy&rsquo;s Program Executive Office of Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence. The contract calls for the company to develop software as well as modify and enhance existing C2 systems.
4. Raytheon wins $886M award to boost GPS accuracy.&nbsp; Raytheon Co. has won a contract from the Air Force worth $886 million to develop a new element of the Global Positioning System that will improve the accuracy of information from GPS satellites.
3. Lockheed scores $940M anti-IED award.&nbsp; Lockheed Martin Corp. will produce Improvised Explosive Device jammers for the Navy under a indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract that has a ceiling value of $940 million.
2. Lockheed, Northrop win CANES contracts worth nearly $1B.&nbsp; Defense contracting giants Northrop Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp. will assist the Navy with its Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services program known as CANES. Each won separate contracts. Lockheed Martin&rsquo;s has a ceiling of $937 million and Northrop&rsquo;s is worth $775 million.
1. CSC, Stanley share $2.8B State Department contract.&nbsp; Computer Sciences Corp. and Stanley Inc. each won a prime contract to run non-immigrant visa application processing for the State Department. The Global Services Strategy contract is worth $2.8 billion over 10 years and the two companies will compete for task orders for work around the world.
Read full article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:55:34 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA CHAMP Meeting 23 APRIL]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Last year, the GSA Centralized Household Goods Traffic Management Program (CHAMP) created a committee consisting of Federal agencies to conduct an annual review of the GSA01 Domestic Tariff and the International provisions of the Household Goods Tender of Service (HTOS). The purpose of this review
is to identify any domestic and/or international provisions that may need modification and/or clarification.
The next committee meeting will take place the first week of May, 2010.  At this time, GSA CHAMP is requesting comments from both Federal agencies and household good transportation service providers in regards to any Tariff and/or HTOS provisions that may need clarification or  updating. When commenting, please provide a detailed description as to the issue and please include the proper tariff item or HTOS reference number.
Please sumbit your comments to Brian Kellhofer at  brian.kellhofer@gsa.gov no later than April 23, 2010.   Comments will be reconciled and a response will be provided prior to the release of the 2010-2011 Household Goods  Request for Offers, scheduled for release the latter part of August, 2010.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:56:34 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Is GSA gunning for other GWACs?]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Joanne Woytek, the head of the NASA Scientific and Engineering Workstation Products governmentwide acquisition contract, wrote on my Facebook wall &ndash; wow, what a way to communicate this message! -- that an official from the General Services Administration (not Administrator Martha Johnson) plans to meet next week with Dan Gordon, administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, to request that Gordon deauthorize the governmentwide Chief Information Officer-Solutions and Partners contract run by the National Institutes of Health.
Woytek believes that if CIOSP is put out of business, GSA&rsquo;s next step will be to put SEWP out of business as well.
I am a big fan of GSA and its own governmentwide vehicles, including the schedules, but I strongly believe GSA&rsquo;s effort to put competing governmentwide contracts out of business is seriously mistaken.
The basic reason is simple: Competition among contract vehicles (including the default alternative of using one&rsquo;s own contract shop) promotes customer service and innovation, just like competition in other markets. When GSA last monopolized governmentwide vehicles, up through the early 1990s, it provided poor customer service, poor pricing and little innovation. GSA&rsquo;s loss of its monopoly during the Clinton administration was actually the best thing that ever happened to the agency &ndash; they came up with new contract vehicles, much faster service, and other innovations and in the process ended up doing much more business than before.&nbsp; Read Full Article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:33:45 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[National Small Business Week May 23-25 DC ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:28:39 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA tries wiki approach to develop RFPs]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[GSA Administrator Martha Johnson announced yesterday that her agency will experiment with using wikis to help develop the requests for proposals (RFPs) on two new acquisitions.
The idea for this actually emerged from the dialogue on procurement innovations GSA has conducted (in cooperation with the National Academy of Public Administration) on the Web at a site called BetterBuy.  At the BetterBuy website, there is now a link presenting information on two acquisitions that are in the development stage -- one for hosting the Data.gov website and the other (unexplained and as yet not up at the site) for an acquisition called Clearpath. GSA is asking members of the public to provide advice for features and performance requirements for these applications, as well as other elements of the RFPs.  Specifically, GSA is asking for members of the public to point out mistakes and engage in &quot;meaningful technical debate.&quot;
Given the endemic problems government has developing good requirements for IT acquisitions, the idea of drawing on the public for suggestions is in principle a great one. Reference Article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:11:06 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[SubTeamPartners Promotional Event!]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Try SubTeamPartners For One Year
GovPartners is throwing a MARCH MADNESS event for its SubTeamPartners Database.&nbsp;All companies who register for our database before April 17 will be able to access and use our database for one whole year.&nbsp;
What is SubTeamPartners?
&ldquo;SubTeamPartners is a GovPartners service&nbsp;that helps&nbsp;contractors&nbsp;find business opportunities with prime contractors and government vendors.&nbsp; Your company will have the ability to post, request business, search for and locate subcontractors and teaming partners. Having access to this invaluable online tool will reduce your research time and efforts while exposing your business to government opportunities that require prime contractors and subcontractors.&nbsp;&nbsp;Contractor Teaming Agreements are on the&nbsp;rise.&nbsp;&nbsp;Allow us to connect your business today!&rdquo;
Sign up now to post your own partnership opportunities and respond to subcontracting openings. Access will allow you to advertise, search and increase your business offerings to prime and subcontractors.
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:44:27 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[AAR Corp to Acquire Presidential Airways]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Acquisition provides AAR with robust capabilities to provide
worldwide aviation services to government agencies.

    &nbsp;Supports the U.S. Government&rsquo;s requirement for critical airlift services
    &nbsp;Enhances AAR&rsquo;s engineering and modifications capabilities
    &nbsp;Leverages AAR&rsquo;s existing aircraft maintenance and supply chain/logistics businesses

WOOD DALE, ILLINOIS (March 25, 2010) &mdash; AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR) announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire Aviation Worldwide Services (AWS), a leading provider of expeditionary airlift services and aircraft modifications to the U.S. and other government customers, from Xe Services LLC. AAR is acquiring the business as part of its long-term strategy to expand its products, services and capabilities in support of government customers in the United States and abroad.
AWS, through its operating subsidiaries, Presidential Airways and STI Aviation, provides fixed- and rotary-wing flight operations, transporting personnel and cargo in support of worldwide U.S. Department of Defense and Department of State deployments, and performs engineering and design modifications on rotary-wing aircraft for government customers. AWS operates a fleet of 58 customized aircraft, of which 17 fixed-wing and 21 rotary-wing aircraft are currently deployed and 20 rotary-wing aircraft are available for future deployment.
The purchase price of the acquisition is $200 million, funded through a combination of available cash, a new 270-day syndicated credit facility and a five-year term loan secured against certain aircraft. Based on the current operating fleet, the business is expected to generate approximately $175 million of revenue on an annual basis and be accretive to earnings and margins within its first year of ownership. The Company expects the acquisition to be completed during the month of April, subject to customary closing conditions. Read Full Press Release.
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:22:00 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[IDGA  Air Expo & Conf March 30]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Institute for Defense and Government Advancement (IDGA) welcomes the Association of Naval Aviation as an official association partner for its upcoming Military Air Assets Exhibition and Conference. The event will take place this March 30&ndash;31, 2010 in at the Prime F. Osborn, III Convention Center in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Association of Naval Aviation is an advocate group for all aviation forces in the US Navy, US Marine Corps, and US Coast Guard. Most of its members are affiliated with the over 50 squadrons (chapters) of varying size in the U.S., UK, France, Italy and Australia. ANA&rsquo;s influence reaches beyond its base in Alexandria, Virginia. These squadrons interface, insofar as possible, with active duty personnel, tour military facilities and ships, and hear presentations from key members of the military establishment, civic authorities and related government officials.
For more information, please visit http://www.idga.org.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:23:20 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DoE Small Biz  Conf  May 10-12 ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[DoE Small Business Conf &amp; 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 &amp; 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
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:30:12 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[SBA helps women-owned businesses get contracts]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Proposed rule is designed to help agencies award 5 percent of federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses.
The Small Business Administration proposed a procurement set-aside rule that would give women business-owners more opportunities in federal contracting.
The intent of the rule is provide more opportunities for women-owned small businesses to compete for federal contracts, while helping agencies reach the existing statutory goal of awarding 5 percent of federal contracting dollars to WOSBs, SBA said. According to figures, the government exceeded its 5 percent goal in 2002, but otherwise hasn't reached it. The level has usually hovered around 3 percent since 1999, when SBA first started tracking the numbers.
A set-aside rule would reserve some contracts for the businesses, ensuring that those contracts will count toward the goal no matter which competitor wins. SBA&rsquo;s proposal finds that women are underrepresented in 83 industries in the federal marketplace, according to the agency. Officials used the analysis in a 2007 study commissioned by SBA from the Kauffman-Rand Foundation to determine where women are underrepresented.
&ldquo;Women-owned small businesses are one of the fastest growing segments of our economy, yet they continue to be underrepresented when it comes to federal contracting,&rdquo; said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. Reference article. ]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:32:02 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Southern Maryland Releases Regional Small Minority & Women-Owned Business Growth Report]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Tri-County area is facing unprecedented demographic changes resulting in increased community diversity and entrepreneurial opportunities. The growth in the region is increasing the demand for a new array of goods and services addressing the needs and interests of a more diverse community.
Additionally, the Governor&rsquo;s commitment to support small businesses, combined with changes in local contracting demands due to BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) and the consolidation of larger companies is forcing small businesses to become more competitive in their service offerings, marketing plans and capabilities. In short, time is of the essence for minority/women owned businesses to position themselves to benefit from the opportunities present within the Southern Maryland and surrounding areas. Thus, these businesses require support developing their capacity and accessing opportunities.
&quot;Leveraging partnerships are keys to bringing business resources into the Southern Maryland region. The Tri-County Council's (TCC) Regional Director of Economic Development, the TCC's Minority Business Opportunities Task Force, and stakeholders in the Southern MD region will take the results of the report to maximize and provide tools to assist small, minority, and women owned businesses build capacity to take advantage of the business and economic development projects coming to Southern Maryland. Planning and information are what small business owners need to be successful. Success means winning contracts, growing their customer base, and ultimately providing jobs in the local community.&quot; Dawn Tucker, President Calvert County Minority Business Alliance.
Milligan &amp; Company, LLC in partnership with BITHGroup Technologies was engaged by the Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland to collect and analyze minority/women owned firm data, build a web based tool to support the County&rsquo;s outreach efforts and provide recommendations for a sustainability and capacity building initiative.
The outcome findings identified through the survey responses, stakeholder engagement, secondary research, and general business development knowledge are:

    Minority/women owned firms lack certification and/or business registration. Of the businesses that responded to the survey, 41 percent do not maintain minority certification status.
    Under representation of minority/women owned firms due to businesses operating &ldquo;under the radar.&rdquo;
    Firms unable to compete because of an inability to adequately market and position their service offerings. Survey results identified that 37 percent of the businesses require market/new business development assistance and 66 percent reported a need to focus on revenue growth.
    Many firms reported limited financial expertise and access to capital.
    There is a need for business capacity building. Of the businesses that responded to the survey, 22 percent plan to focus on talent and operational issues.

&quot;The report confirms what we in Charles County have experienced with our rapidly growing minority business community. Our challenge is identifying resources that will assist these businesses and help them grow. The formula for success is having the data we need to target these resources. The TCC has done a great job in gathering the data,&quot; said Jeff Nixon, Minority Business Enterprise Chief, Charles County.
Copies of the report may be downloaded from the Council&rsquo;s website at www.tccsmd.org under the Economic Development/Economic Diversity section. Reference Article]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:50:46 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Top Ten Reasons For Doing Biz W/ The Fed Govt.]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[10. The U.S. Government is the largest company in the world. Approximately $1 billion in new opportunities in the services sector of Government contracting are available to bid on by private business each day.&nbsp;&nbsp;
9. 95% of federal contracts are awarded to small and medium sized businesses.
8. There are 2,000 to 5,000 new government contracting opportunities in all industry categories.
7. A Small Business Set-Aside Program (SBSA) was developed to assure that small businesses are awarded a fair proportion of government contracts by reserving certain government purchases exclusively for participation by small business concerns.
6. Contracts that have an anticipated value between $2,500 and $100,000 are reserved for small, small disadvantaged, women-owned, and small veteran-owned businesses.
5. The Small Business Association (SBA) administers a business assistance program for small disadvantaged businesses called 8(a) which helps small businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement market.
4. Less than 5% of the businesses in the United States do business with the U.S. Government? WOW!
3. America's 9.1 million women-owned businesses employ 27.5 million people and contribute $3.6 trillion to the economy.
2. Minority-owned businesses have nearly doubled in the past two decades. A report from the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration shows that minorities own nearly 15 percent of American businesses.
And...the number one and &quot;OMG why haven't you been working for this customer&quot; reason IS...
1. The government procures services ranging from smaller scale Food Services and Janitorial projects to complex space flight systems development.
What are you waiting for? Find out how you can start selling your products and services to the government today!]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:29:58 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GovFocus: Department of Energy]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[WHO? The United States Department of Energy (DoE) is concerned with the U.S. policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material. Its responsibilities include the nation's nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy, energy conservation, energy research, radioactive waste disposal, and domestic energy production. DOE also sponsors more basic and applied scientific research than any other US federal agency; most of this is funded through its system of United States Department of Energy National Laboratories.
WHAT do they buy? The DoE spends most of its resources on Government Owned-Contractor Operated facilities, Research and Development, and Construction.
WHERE? The U.S. Department of Energy is located at 1000 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20585. Their phone number is 1-202-586-5000.
WHEN? Due to the size and scope of the DoE, you will find that the Department issues solicitations on a daily basis. Most of these can be found on FBO.gov, as well as Government Acquisition Contracts like GSA.
WHY? Just last Friday, the DoE signed 26 renewable-energy service contracts that are expected to result in an initial investment of about $277 million and generate 466 megawatts of power. The push for green powered initiatives has been one of the DoE's recent major focuses.
An annual Small Business Conference will be held in Atlanta, GA on May 10-12, 2010. For more details, click here.
An NASBC meeting will be held on March 29, 2010, spotlighting the U.S. Department of Energy. For details and registration information, click here.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:13:54 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Obama Admin Launches $130M  Energy Efficiency Effort ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Obama Administration announced on 12 Feb 2010 a multi-agency initiative to spur regional economic growth while making buildings more energy efficient.  The effort will create jobs and llower utility bills through innovative technologySeven federal agencies today issued a combined Funding Opportunity Announcement of up to $129.7 million over five years to create a regional research center that will develop new building efficiency technologies and work with local partners to implement the technologies in area buildings.
Buildings account for nearly 40 percent of U.S. energy consumption and carbon emissions.  Improvements in building efficiency will provide significant benefits &ndash; reducing energy use, lowering utility bills and decreasing carbon emissions.
The agencies are working together to leverage funding and resources to promote regional growth through an Energy Regional Innovation Cluster (E-RIC) that is centered around an Energy Innovation Hub focused on developing new technologies to improve the design of energy-efficient building systems.  This Energy Innovation Hub, one of three proposed by the Administration and funded by Congress in the FY10 budget, will bring together a multidisciplinary team of researchers, ideally working under one roof, to conduct research and work to solve priority technology challenges that span work from basic research to engineering development to commercialization readiness.
The E-RIC will work to disseminate new technologies into the local marketplace and share best practices with the public and private sectors.  It will be supported through agency investments in technology and business development, and will include support for workforce education and training.  By linking researchers at the Hub with local businesses and supporting specialized workforce education and training in the area, the initiative will create an economically dynamic region focused on building efficiency technologies.  Read full article]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:05:32 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GovFocus - A Monthly Focus on Gov Agencies]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[AGENCY SPOTLIGHT: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
WHO is USAID and what do they do?
USAID is the US agency for international development and they provide economic, development and humanitarian assistance in support of the US Foreign Policy goals. The USAID Congressional Budget Justification contains information on the foreign assistance programs and activities implemented by the USAID. They receive their overall guidance from the Secretary of State.
WHAT do they buy?
USAID has partnerships in Africa, Asia, Europe and Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East. They procure technical assistance, commodities, equipment, transportation and construction. There are detailed financial reports available on the USAID website and a forecast of opportunities available at http://www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/forecast/forecast.html.
Fiscal Year: 2009
Total dollars: $5,170,748,552
The amount is 1.0% of all awarded dollars for the fiscal year.
Total number of contractors: 1,365
Total number of transactions: 5,698
WHERE is USAID located?
USAID's headquarters&nbsp;is located in Washington, DC at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The main telephone number is (202) 712-2000.
WHEN does the USAID office purchase most of their products and services from small businesses?
Since the USAID agency is responsible for worldwide services and operations, they are always purchasing. The main website for USAID opportunities is located at www.fbo.gov. The USAID offices also purchase from GSA schedules and Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC). There is also information on the USAID website for small businesses at http://www.usaid.gov/business/small_business/.
HOW do I become a vendor for USAID?
USAID requires all of the initial registrations as other government entities. You must be registered in the CCRs and ORCA and must acquire a DUNS number if you do not already have one. The OSDBU/MRC (Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Minority Resource Center) is the initial point of contact for small businesses wanting to do business with the USAID agency.
WHY? USAID is heading up the recent Haiti earthquake response teams. Be a part of the solution and find out how you can help. 
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:14:53 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Got the Itch to Get into the Government Niche? ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Businesses electing to get into the government market are abundant, but most stop at the initial briefing when the business owner or manager finds out that the cash register does not automatically fill up after the initial registration processes.
The government market rewards are plentiful if you have the desire AND the patience to navigate through the various entry points and are diligent with your marketing efforts. Whether you are a product provider or service provider, there are key elements necessary in order to be successful in the government market.
First you need to plan your strategy. Decide whether you are going to go through the process with your internal resources or hire an experienced team to help you get introduced to key players, buying agencies and prime contracting partners. Most companies experience serious growing pains if there is not a clear understanding of the landscape before getting started.
Ask yourself some key questions. Does the government buy what I sell? How often? Who are my competitors? What value-added services do I bring to the table? What does my company do differently to set me apart? Once you can clearly answer these initial questions, you are ready for next steps. Here are some examples of what government contracting officers are looking for.
1) Quick delivery
2) Quality &ndash;strong technical capabilities
3) Customer Service &ndash; good past performance 
4) Company reputation
Next, define your position for your product or service. Remember the US Government market is 25% OF THE GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AND HAS OVER 20 MILLION EMPLOYEES. You need to know WHO in government are your significant buyers and influencers, and specifically target these people. Incremental growth is recommended and it is sane and doable. Spending money on prospecting new agencies before your foundation is laid is risky at best.
Develop relationships. Like in any business, people do business with people and companies they know and trust. Government business is no exception. Establish and maximize the value of relationships. Remember the &ldquo;R&rdquo; word. Understanding that federal employees take pride in their work is key when formulating new RELATIONSHIPS. Knowing and understanding simple things like &ldquo;on-time, on-budget&rdquo; makes your client &ndash; your government customer- a star. If you can deliver, they will remember.
Proactive marketing &ndash; Intelligent and proactive marketing makes the difference. Identifying the prospects, creating the opportunities, developing the relationships and developing the right niche for your company based on customer feedback will allow you to win major government market share.
There is no one pathway for doing business with the government. It requires dedication, patience, due diligence and thoroughness of work performed.
Ready to get started? Here is a summary of helpful hints for small businesses looking for government contract opportunities.
1. Do your homework and&nbsp;check out the competition competition. 
2. Get ready. Make sure you have all the registrations complete such as a federal tax ID # and DUNS number.
3. Get the necessary classifications. Are you a veteran-owned, women-owned, small, and/or disadvantaged company? If so, it pays to get classified as such in order to take advantage of set-aside contracts.
4. Build a Central Contracting Registration (CCR) profile
5. Consider subcontracting and teaming. Identify large firms that hold contracts and determine how your product or service would be a value addition to their offerings to the government. Subcontracting is an excellent way to gain exposure to the government market. New help? Click here to get started
6. Attend small-business conferences
7. Visit a local Small Business Administration (SBA) office.
Still got that itch to enter the government niche? GovPartners, LLC is a minority, woman-owned firm that works with small businesses to help streamline the government process. Our cradle-to-grave approach includes government registrations, opening doors to prime contractors, researching government opportunities, proposal writing and submission and business development efforts. If the above efforts are overwhelming for your existing resources to handle, GovPartners will expand your current team to develop and execute a comprehensive government business development plan specifically tailored for your company. Contact us today for a successful tomorrow.
Arthur: Sabrina&nbsp;Ford, GovPartners
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:50:33 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DynCorp buys international development firm]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Purchase expands company's worldwide offerings. DynCorp International LLC has acquired Casals &amp; Associates Inc., an international development company, through the purchase of 100 percent of the company&rsquo;s stock. Precise financial terms were not disclosed.
Casals, a private company in Alexandria, Va., helps to achieve U.S. foreign policy and international development priorities by assisting in the development of stable and democratic governments, implementing anti-corruption initiatives and aiding the growth of democratic public and civil institutions, according to a DynCorp statement today.
With more than two decades of experience supporting the initiatives and programs of the U.S. Agency for International Development and international organization, Casals has developed significant expertise in the areas of democracy and governance, conflict management and recovery, rule of law and access to justice, strengthening civil society and public outreach.
The acquisition brings together the complementary skills, experience and capacity of Casals and DynCorp International to strengthen the strategic expansion of DynCorp International into the international development field, the statement said.
Casals will be integrated within DynCorp International&rsquo;s Global Stabilization and Development Solutions division.
&ldquo;This acquisition addresses our goal of creating value through continued growth and business diversification, and furthers our alignment with the Obama administration&rsquo;s emphasis on the application of &lsquo;smart power&rsquo; to global challenges,&rdquo; DynCorp International President and CEO William Ballhaus said in the company statement.
In October (20) DynCorp International , a wholly owned subsidiary of DynCorp International Inc., acquired Phoenix Consulting Group Inc., expanding the company&rsquo;s services to the intelligence community and national security clients.  Full Article ]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:52:45 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[CGI wins $395M finanicial service pact with State and USAID]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[10-year blanket purchase agreement calls for systems integration and other IT work.
CGI Federal Inc. will provide systems integration and other information technology services to the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development under a 10-year blanket purchase agreement that could be worth as much as $395 million.
Under its General Services Administration&rsquo;s IT Schedule contract, CGI also will provide consulting services and operational support for more than 5,000 of the agencies&rsquo; users of the Joint Financial Management System (JFMS) at more than 300 posts and missions around the world.
JFMS is a global platform based on CGI&rsquo;s Momentum software, which is used by State and USAID to conduct domestic and overseas financial management activities.
CGI Federal is a wholly owned U.S. operating subsidiary of CGI Group Inc.&nbsp; Reference Article: washingtontechnology.com/articles/2010/01/19/cgi-state-usaid.aspx
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			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:28:05 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Procurement reform fever to die down in 2010]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The contracting memo influenced much of the procurement policy guidance in 2009, but experts say its effects will be subtle this year. What a difference a year makes, even if in a wholly unexpected way.
On March 4, 2009, President Barack Obama delivered what had the makings to be a game-changing speech for the federal information technology community. The president outlined his agenda for overhauling federal procurement, promising to end wasteful contracting practices and wean agencies off their reliance on government contractors.
The federal market was soon buzzing about fixed-priced contracts, reinvigorated competition, and a pronounced shift from the outsourcing of government work to the insourcing of contractor work.
&ldquo;The way government agencies acquire the goods and services needed to carry out their responsibilities will take an abrupt 180-degree turn if President Barack Obama gets his way,&rdquo; Federal Computer Week reported at the time.
However, the buzz generated by that speech and its accompanying memo has grown quiet, and the market is back to business as usual, or nearly so. What seemed like the start a major reform initiative 10 months ago now appears to have been a new president putting his stamp on issues that previous administrations have also tackled.
Contracting policies &ldquo;have been fairly consistent throughout the years. It&rsquo;s just good public policy,&rdquo; said Robert Burton, former deputy administrator at the Office of Federal Procurement Policy and now a partner at Venable law firm.
That&rsquo;s not to say the speech was empty rhetoric. The administration followed the March 4 memo with additional guidance and initiatives in the areas of cost-reimbursement and sole-source contracting, the acquisition workforce, and workforce management.
Administration officials also have prodded agencies to identify opportunities for saving money through improved procurement practices. Obama predicted that the memo and the governmentwide guidance could save the government as much as $40 billion. On Dec. 21, Jeffrey Zients, deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget, said the administration was nearly halfway there, having identified $19 billion in potential savings. Read Full Article
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:24:20 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[2010 Government Marketing Techniques]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[As we enter a new year, we find ourselves cleaning out our file drawers getting ready for a brand new year.  It is also an excellent time to start preparing marketing strategies for those markets will allow your company added growth and prosperity for the coming year.
GovPartners, LLC is excited about the company&rsquo;s growth in 2009, and expects to be even busier in the coming year as the government market continues to explode with new opportunities. Government business is an excellent vehicle to expand your market share, even in tough economic times.
For those of you who are uncomfortable flying solo, GovPartners  may be your answer. Our team is experienced with the government procurement processes (FARS and DFARS), and can be your champion in either beginning business with the government, or expanding your company&rsquo;s role as a government sub-contractor. We are experienced in completing required registrations, adding companies to GSA supply schedules, FOIA requests, gathering custom market intelligence and locating business opportunities through state and federal procurement portals. Once an opportunity is located that makes sense for your company to bid, our proposal writing team can prepare your bid proposal for you, and will assist you through the entire process from start to finish. 

For more information on all federal government agencies, opportunities and 2010 forecasts, visit 
https://www.acquisition.gov/comp/procurement_forecasts/index.html .
So, as you are cleaning out those old, obsolete files, start your new year off by getting acquainted with GovPartners, LLC. If you would like more information on any of our programs or have questions about our services, email us at info@govpartners.com.  We promise to respond within 24 hours.  
Have a safe and healthy new year from all of us at GovPartners, LLC.
Arthur: Sabrina Ford, VP Government Affairs
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:34:24 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[2010 Refresher: Twelve Step Program for Success]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[&ldquo;How to effectively sell to the federal government&rdquo;.
Dealing with the Federal Government can seem like a formidable task at times.  However, with a little patience, persistence and perseverance on your part -- your efforts will be rewarded in the long run.  To assist you, we developed a series of procedural steps essential for success.  Good Luck!
1.   Become familiar with the SBA/GC Internet Homepage.

The SBA offers a wide array of programs and &ldquo;hands-on&rdquo; assistance to small businesses considering the federal marketplace.  Go to our website at http://www.sba.gov/bussinessop/index.html and familiarize yourself with the programs and services we offer.  From this site you can identify local SBA contracting experts who can be an invaluable resource to you, whether you are new to government contracting or are currently doing business with the Government and are seeking advice on how to deal with a particular issue.  From the &ldquo;Resources and Opportunities&rdquo; section on our website, you will find links to additional procurement-related programs and assistance. In addition, this site provides information about other SBA resources including Small Business Development Centers, Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), and Women&rsquo;s Business Development Centers. Log onto the SBA/GC website today and find out why we believe that it is truly the entrance ramp to the Government&rsquo;s procurement Super-Highway.
2.  Determine if your firm qualifies for one of SBA&rsquo;s Certification Programs.
Formal certification by small business concerns is not required to bid on Federal contracts.  Firms self-certify that they are small at the time of bid/proposal submission. The SBA currently has 3 contracts-related certification programs. Our 8(a) Business Development program assists eligible small businesses to compete through business development assistance.  Although primarily a business development program, there are certain contracts restricted to certified 8(a) concerns. Certification in our Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) and Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) programs entitles qualified firms to special bidding benefits in the Federal-contracting arena.
The SBA offers an on-line application process that makes it easier, faster and less expensive for small firms to apply for 8(a) Business Development, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) and HUBZone certification directly from SBA&rsquo;s website, eliminating the need to download and complete a &ldquo;paper&rdquo; application.  The applications are 100% Web-based, which incorporates context sensitive help, real-time validation, printer-ready versions and integrates with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database.
To learn more about these programs and to determine if your firm qualifies for 8(a), SDB, or HUBZone certification go to the appropriate SBA website (http://www.sba.gov/8abd;                                       
(http://www.sba.gov/sdb) and, 
(http://www.sba.gov/hubzone)
Although not a formal certification program, in May 2004, the SBA announced a new procurement program that will boost federal contract opportunities for service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) concerns.  Under the new rule contracting officers may restrict contract awards to SDVOSBs where there is a reasonable expectation that two or more SDVOSB concerns will submit bids at a fair market price.  If the anticipated contract price will not exceed $3 million (or $5 million for manufacturing contracts) the new rules allow for a sole-source award, if there is not a reasonable expectation of competitive bids/offers from 2 or more SDVOSB concerns.  The rule allows SDVOSB concerns to self-certify.  Any challenge to a concern&rsquo;s status as a small business or as a SVOSB must be referred to the SBA for resolution.  To view the new rule, go to http://www.regulations.gov/fredpdfs/04-09727.pdf
3. Obtain a DUNS Number, and register in the Centralized Contractor Registration (CCR) System.
If you do not already have a &ldquo;DUNS Number,&rdquo; contact Dun &amp; Bradstreet (D&amp;B) at http://www.dnb.com/ to obtain one. Your DUNS Number is an important &ldquo;identifier&rdquo;, used for a multitude of purposes by the Government in the contracting arena.
The Government&rsquo;s Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database holds information relevant to procurement and financial transactions. CCR affords you the opportunity for fast electronic payment of your invoices. You must be registered in CCR to be awarded a Federal contract.  To learn more about CCR log onto the website at http://www.ccr.gov  On January 1, 2004, the SBA&rsquo;s Procurement and Marketing Access Network (PRO-Net) was  integrated into CCR to provide a single portal to assist small businesses with marketing their goods and services to the Federal government.  The CCR-PRO-Net linkage is part of a comprehensive strategy to transfer PRO-Net&rsquo;s functions to the E-Gov Business Partner Network (BPN) in order to simplify government-wide vendor registration.  The BPN is part of the Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE), one of the e-government initiatives to create integrated business processes for buyers and sellers in the federal marketplace.  For more information about IAE, visit the website at http://egov.gsa.gov
Effective April 17, 2005, CCR will make changes to firm&rsquo;s Trading Partner Profile (TPP) to display a firm&rsquo;s small business size status according to each NAICs code listed (CCR will use 2002 NAICs codes), based on the firm&rsquo;s inputted revenue and/or employee size information.  The SBA&rsquo;s small business size logic will populate fields indicating if a firm is certified as an 8(a) Business Development, small disadvantaged business (SDB) or historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone) program participant  Questions concerning your CCR registration should be directed to the CCR Assistance Center, at 888-227-2423.
The Government has implemented the Online Certifications and Representations Application (ORCA) initiative to replace the paper based representations and certifications (more commonly referred to as &ldquo;reps and certs&rdquo;) process required with the submission of each sealed bid (IFB) or request for proposal (RFP).  Now using ORCA, a prospective contractor can enter their reps and certs information over the web once and will then be able to submit them electronically from the web.  This is a mandatory requirement and firms must review/update their data at least once annually or as circumstances change. The ORCA website can be found by going to http://www.bpn.gov and clicking on &ldquo;Online Reps and Certs&rdquo; on the left side of the screen.
4. Identify your product or service.
It is helpful to know the Federal Supply Classification Code (FSC) and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for your product or service. Many government product/service listings and future procurements are identified by FSC.  To identify FSCs applicable to your company log onto http://www.scrantonrtg.com/secrc/fsc-codes/fsc.html. Detailed information regarding NAICS can be found on the SBA website by clicking onto:  https://eweb1.sba.gov/naics/dsp_naicssearch2.cfm.  NOTE: Small Business Size Standards for all Federal Government programs formerly associated with Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes were replaced by those that SBA has established for industries as described in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). SBA has established a new table of small business size standards based on NAICS www.sba.gov/size/)
5. Identify current Federal procurement opportunities.
Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps) http://www.fedbizopps.gov/ &ndash; the designated government-wide point of entry- is the exclusive official source for public access to notices of Federal contracting actions over $25,000.  (Agencies are encouraged to use FedBizOps to provide notices for actions of $25,000 or less).  Notices of proposed procurements were formerly publicized in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD).  However, with FedBizOps designation as the one-stop Internet gateway to procurement opportunities, the CBD has ceased publication.  Once you identify those Agencies and buying offices that purchase your products and services, it&rsquo;s a good idea to contact them directly to learn more about upcoming procurements (i.e., procurement forecasts) posted on websites or electronic bulletin boards.
6. Familiarize yourself with the Government&rsquo;s contracting procedures
Be familiar with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) (http://www.arnet.gov/far) and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)  http://www.acq.osd.mil/dp/dars/.   You can also get access to other Federal agency FAR supplements from their respective webpages.
7. Investigate Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts.
The General Services Administration (GSA) manages Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) contracts, also known as Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts.  Under MAS/FSS, contracts are awarded to multiple companies supplying comparable products and services at pre-negotiated prices, terms and conditions.  Once GSA awards the contracts, Federal contracting officers and other authorized users order directly from the Schedule contractor.  Many Federal purchases are, in fact, orders on MAS/FSS contracts. Contact the General Services Administration (GSA) for information on how to obtain a MAS/FSS contract: http://www.fss.gsa.gov/  (Be sure that your marketing information and CCR profile contains information on any MAS/FSS contracts held by your firm).
8. Seek additional assistance as needed in the Federal marketplace.
There are a number of important resources that are available to provide you with &ldquo;hands-on&rdquo; assistance in the Federal marketplace:
-SBA Procurement Center Representatives (PCRs) and Commercial Marketing Representatives (CMRs) SBA has a nationwide cadre of procurement professionals who are charged with assisting small businesses and acting as their advocates at both the prime and subcontracting levels.  PCRs assist small firms interested in doing business, as prime contractors, directly with Federal agency buying offices.  Our CMRs work with those small firms interested in identifying subcontracting opportunities with large businesses that have been awarded a Federal contract. To identify the PCR or CMR located nearest to you go to http://www.sba.gov/gc/indexcontacts.html.
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (www.dla.mil/db/procurem.htm) are located in most States.  Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, while funded by the Department of Defense, provide technical contracting and marketing assistance to small businesses wishing to do business with any federal agencies.                                                                                                                                            
They provide training and counseling on marketing, financial, and contracting issues at minimal or no cost.
-Small Business Specialists are located at each Federal buying office and can provide assistance on how to market to that Agency.  An addendum to this document contains a listing of Small Business Specialists (sometimes referred to as SADBUS) in your state.  A complete listing of Small Business Specialists can be obtained from each Agency&rsquo;s website.  For example, links to the homepages of every DOD activity can be found on the DefenseLink website: http://www.defenselink.mil/. This information can be invaluable in researching the Federal marketplace and identifying your target market.  Links to Agency Procurement Forecasts (http://www.sba.gov/GC/forecast.html) and other program information are available on their individual websites.
9. Explore subcontracting opportunities
Regardless of your product or service it is important that you do not neglect our very large secondary market, Subcontracting Opportunities with Federal Prime Contractors.  Be sure to check out our website at http://www.sba.gov/GC/indexcontacts-sbsd.html. The SBA/GC Subcontracting Opportunities Directory lists, by State, large business Federal prime contractors along with the name and telephone number of each firm&rsquo;s Small Business Liaison Officer (SBLO). We encourage you to investigate potential opportunities with these firms. Many of these firms also have websites that may be useful and we encourage you to contact their respective SBLO for subcontracting and teaming opportunities.  The SBA&rsquo;s SUB-Net (http://web.sba.gov/subnet) is a valuable source for obtaining information on subcontracting opportunities.
[List your company in SubTeamPartners teaming database.&nbsp; This valuble tool allows you to search, post and capture qualified teaming opportunities.]
10. Investigate other Federal programs.
There are several other programs that may be of interest to you, such as individual Agency Mentor-Prot&eacute;g&eacute; Programs, the SBA&rsquo;s Small Business Innovation Research Program http://www.sba.gov/sbir/indexsbir-sttr.html,  etc.  Information on these and other programs is available on Agency websites http://www.sba.gov/gc/indexresources.html, and &ldquo;click on&rdquo; miscellaneous links to other Federal Government Acquisition sites.
11. Accept credit cards
More than 250,000 Federal employees are using the GSA Smartpay cards.  As a vendor you can maximize your ability to capture government sales by accepting credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and Voyager).  If you already accept these cards, you have no additional work to do.  If you do not accept these cards contact a bank to establish a merchant account.  For more information, visit GSA&rsquo;s website at estrategy.gov/smartgov/smart_card.cfm.
12. Market, Market, Market!
The 3 most important words to remember in order to be successful in the Federal Procurement Arena is market, market, market.  Hopefully, this guide will have given you some good ideas on how to market your firm.  After you have identified your customers, researched their requirements, and familiarized yourself with the Government&rsquo;s procurement regulations and strategies, it is time to market your product or service. Present your capabilities directly to those buying offices that purchase your products or services. Realize that, like you, their time is valuable and if the match is a good one and you can provide them with a cost-effective, quality solution to their requirements the contract could be yours. Good luck and remember &ndash; you&rsquo;re not alone.
For additional assistance, contact the following SBA Procurement Center Representatives
Jose Martinez, Colorado &ndash; jose.martinez@sba.gov
John Bagaason, Montana  - john.bagaason@sba.gov 
Tracie Brown, Wyoming and Utah - tracey.brown@sba.gov
David Turner, North Dakota, South Dakota - david.turner@sba.gov
Full Article: www.sba.gov/localresources/regionaloffices/region8/REGION8_CONTRACTING_LIST.html]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:57:36 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Northrop Grumman to Move Corporate Office to  D.C.]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Move Will Bring Company Leaders Closer to Federal Government, Key Customers. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced a decision to move its corporate office from Los Angeles to the Washington D.C. region by 2011. The company is engaged in a search to identify a specific location within the Washington, D.C. region, including the District, Maryland and Virginia. It plans to complete the search by spring 2010 and open the new corporate office by summer 2011.
&quot;As a global security company with a large customer base in the Washington, D.C. region, this move will enable us to better serve our nation and customers,&quot; said Wes Bush, chief executive officer and president.
The new corporate office will include approximately 300 people. Although the company is moving some corporate staff from Los Angeles, the state of California remains a significant location for Northrop Grumman research, development and manufacturing. Approximately 30,000 employees, a quarter of Northrop Grumman's worldwide employment, work in California. Its Aerospace Systems sector is headquartered in Redondo Beach, and each of the company's other four sectors have major facilities in the state.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Full Article]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:02:43 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[OMB claims $19B in contractor savings]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Obama administration has identified $19 billion in contracting savings for fiscal 2010, which is on track to meet President Obama&rsquo;s goal of saving $40 billion, White House officials said today.
The savings are coming from 24 agencies&mdash;including the Defense, Energy and Homeland Security departments&mdash;that represent 98 percent of the federal government&rsquo;s contracting dollars, according to a new report published by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) today.
Federal Chief Performance Officer Jeff Zients, who also is OMB's deputy director for management, said today in a conference call with reporters that OMB will publish an online dashboard in the spring to track and describe the savings in detail.
For example, the money saved includes $87 million from the Homeland Security Department through consolidating purchases of desktop software and $10 million from Defense for using staff engineers to develop a protective coating for shoulder-fired missiles that protects against expensive repairs, he said.
Also, the Energy Department&rsquo;s National Nuclear Security Administration is saving up to 18 percent on its contracting by holding reverse auctions online, Zients said. Calling it a &ldquo;reverse Ebay,&rdquo; he said the bidders are encouraged to lower their bids for performing the contract by watching the other bids, anonymously, in the online reverse auction.
Federal spending on contracts more than doubled to $540 billion between 2002 and 2008. Noncompetitive contracts rose by 129 percent over that period, to $188 billion, according to OMB.
To reverse that trend, Zients said OMB is encouraging the agencies to reduce their use of high-risk contracts such as noncompetitive contracts, identify the right mix of contract and federal employees, and build the acquisition workforce.
&ldquo;In the last six years, contracting doubled and the workforce was flat,&rdquo; Zients said. &ldquo;In that process, there was a rush to outsource, with a marked increase in reliance on cost-reimbursement contracts and sole-source contracts,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;We have a lot of work to do. We will save money by bringing in best practices.&rdquo;
In addition to their savings plans, agencies have identified initiatives to reduce by 10 percent the money spent on new high-risk contracts, which include non-competitive, cost-reimbursement or time-and-materials/labor-hour contracts.
Each agency also has identified at least one pilot project to find where they might be over-reliant on contractors, and will evaluate the best mix of in-house and contractor skills. Results are due May 1.
Fedeal agencies now are required to submit an electronic contractor performance review to a centralized federal database, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integration Information System. It allows agencies to assess a firm&rsquo;s track record before signing a new agreement. Compliance and quality assessments will begin in February, the OMB said.
The new database is drawing some criticism. A watchdog group says it should be more transparent, while a contractor organization wants it to be more secure. Both groups said the data may not be reliable enough to guide important contracting decisions. Reference Full Aricle.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:30:01 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GP and SRC Group Team to Offer Staffing Services ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[GovPartners, LLC recently partnered with SRC Group, a Professional Consulting Company which offers Staffing, Resume Sourcing, and Business Development.  &quot;GovPartners  continues to add services that provide our clients with resources needed to capture and maintain government business.  We are excited about our partnership with SRC Group and the benefits they bring to our clients&quot; said Cynthia Karnik, GovPartners CEO. SRC Group is committed to their clients and candidates who trust that they will do a good job for them by delivering truly qualified candidates in a timely manner.  They are dedicated to building client and candidate relationships on trust, integrity and dependability.  SRC Group represents the best the industry has to offer: outstanding, experienced, high-quality candidates; and innovative staffing solutions and resume sourcing.  &ldquo;SRC Group is excited to enter into a partnership with a quality service provider, GovPartners,&quot; said  Stacey McKinney, SRC Group, CEO.&quot; We believe adding our staffing and recruiting support to their service offerings with provide clients with a proactive and complete solution for government business development. &quot; GovPartners members and clients will receive benefits such as labor pricing for RFP submissions and qualified candidate sourcing. To find out more contact us.

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			<pubDate>Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:09:33 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[TEAMING OPPORTUNITY FOR AERIAL REGIONAL-SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYOR]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) is performing a technical assessment to form the basis of a possible proposal for the NASA Science Mission Directorate DiscoveryProgram opportunity. This assessment is focused on conducting scientific exploration ofthe planet Mars using ARES, a robotic aerial platform (ARES: Aerial Regional-scaleEnvironmental Surveyor).The purpose of this announcement is to enable LaRC to obtain potential providers toparticipate in the development of the technical concept, proposal, and mission elementimplementation of several mission areas in response to the upcoming NASA DiscoveryProgram Announcement of Opportunity (AO). Specific mission areas where LaRC is seekingassistance include:(1) The ARES Science Team.(2) ARES Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) Team(3) Design and development of the aerial platform structures and mechanisms subsystemincluding the composite airframe, associated hinging and latching mechanisms, and controlsurfaces. (4) Design and development of the liquid rocket propulsion subsystem for the aerialplatform. (5) Design and development of the command and data handling, flight software, and thenavigation sensors (only for entry and flight over Mars). (6) Design and development of the telecommunications subsystem for the aerialplatform and entry system.(7) Design and development of two complete cameras.Discovery Program investigations address NASAs planetary science goals as described inSolar System Exploration, NASAs 2006 roadmap for planetary science. The roadmap may befound at nasascience.nasa.gov/about-us/science-strategy/ . While Discovery investigations may focus on any body in the Solar System, excluding the Earth and the Sun, and including Mars and the Moon, the ARES synopsis focuses on the exploration of Mars. Discovery investigations will be led by a Principal Investigator and will be comprised of scientists in partnerships, potentially involving NASA Centers, academia, and industry.These teams will pursue missions of high scientific value utilizing observation platforms of their choice and design.Release of a draft Discovery AO is expected by the end of CY 2009. It is anticipatedthat approximately two to three Discovery investigations will be selected for 9-month Phase A concept studies.&nbsp; Read Full Article:www.fbo.gov/index]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:04:41 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Veterans, you know the drill]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[But it is good to review the basics. So attention is required to understand how Veteran Owned Businesses can grow by leveraging your commanding position in the government procurement process.
All Veteran Owned Small Businesses are included in large corporations&rsquo; small business plans under FAR 52.219.9.  Why is that important? Ninety-five (95%) percent of all large businesses sell to the U.S. Government.  As part of the government procurement process, the large prime contractors are required to submit and negotiate a subcontracting plan that separately addresses subcontracting with small businesses specifically Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB).  The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) expressly states that this plan shall be included in and made a part of the resultant prime contract that the large business enters into with the U.S. Government. Failure to submit and negotiate the subcontracting plan shall make the large business offeror ineligible for award of a contract. This plan shall include goals expressed in terms of percentages of total planned subcontracting dollars. This subcontracting plan must be flowed down (incorporated in the subcontract to their subcontractors) to second tier contractors that are also large businesses if the contract from the prime contractor is in excess of $550,000 ($1 million for construction).   Remember the FAR governs all federal agencies, hence the large corporations must make a good faith effort to comply.
Another regulation, FAR 52.219-27 &ndash; Notice of Total Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside reads more like orders, than direction.
The government &ldquo;may&rdquo; set aside certain contracts for SDVOSBs.  Only SDVOSBs are allowed to compete for these &ldquo;set aside&rdquo; contracts.  Even though the decision to make a SDVOSB set aside is discretionary (not required), the Comptroller General has given the statute a broader meaning by applying SBA regulations that direct the contracting officer (&ldquo;should&rdquo;) to consider the propriety of a SDVOSB set aside before proceeding with a small business set aside (13 CFR 125.19). One can safely assume that the &ldquo;may&rdquo; is not entirely permissive, and the Contracting Officer must consider setting an acquisition aside for SDVOSB before setting it aside for small business in general (MCS Portable Restroom Service Group, Comp. Gen. Dec.B-299291).  FAR 19.1405 further instructs the contracting officer that in order to set aside these contracts for SDVOSB companies, he must have a reasonable expectation that offers will be received from two or more SDVOSBs and the award will be made at a fair market price.  However, if the contracting officer receives only one acceptable offer from SDVOSB in response to this set-aside, the contracting officer should make an award to that firm.  The Comptroller General reaffirms the sole source award even when the contracting officer does not have a reasonable expectation that two or more SDVOSBs would submit a bid, by stating  &ldquo;FAR should be read consistent with the SBA regulations&rdquo; and to find otherwise would frustrate the intent of the Veteran&rsquo;s Benefits Act of 2003.
FAR 19.1406 codifies sole source awards to SDVOSB with certain caveats: (1) the requirement can be satisfied only by one SDVOSB, (2) the award will be less than $3 Million ($5.5 Million for manufacturing), (3) SDVOSB is a responsible contractor (the SDVOSB can perform the contract), and (4) the price is reasonable.
The element requiring the contracting officer to determine that only one SDVOSB can fulfill the contract can be successfully established by the contracting officer by documenting the unique characteristics of the firm itself. True, this write-up is an added requirement for the Contracting Officer beyond that outlined in the 8a sole source program, but not a deal breaker!
The government buys unique parts and services all the time.  I am certain an SDVOSB business can assist the government in understanding what makes his/her company&rsquo;s goods or services unique from other competitors by writing a short narrative for the file. Whenever there are set-aside contracts, there are rules. The Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business concern agrees that in the performance of the contract, in the case of a contract for:
(1) Services &ndash; at least 50% of the personnel cost will be spent by SDVOSB awardee or employees of another SDVOSB company.
(2) Manufactured Supplies &ndash; 50% of the cost of manufacture (excluding materials) will be performed by SDVOSB firm (awardee) or other SDVOSB firms.
(3) General Construction &ndash; 15% of SDVOSB (awardee) personnel cost or other SDVOSB firms.
(4) Special Trades &ndash; 25% of SDVOSB personal cost.
(5) Dealers, distributors, or wholesalers can offer a product manufactured 100% by a small business in the US.
(6) Joint venture rules apply equally to SDVOSB contracts and they are discussed in this newsletter.
The Veterans Administration is an agency that marches to a different drummer. The needs of their clients, the soldiers, demand that they lead in this effort. Their regulations are more inclusive of all Veteran Owned Businesses. The VA requires Veteran-Owned Business to be registered in VetBiz.  The VA&rsquo;s unique regulations allow the VA buyers to sole source to SDVOSB if price is less than $5 Million, with the same requirements of responsibility and the award at a fair reasonable price as in the FAR regulations. However, if no responsible SDV is identified, the VA Buyer may sole source to a Veteran Small Business.  That is an incredible opportunity for all who served!
Teamwork, off the battlefield has a different meaning when selling to the US government. When an VOSB bids on a contract, he likes to have his friends covering his back. The soldier&rsquo;s training, trust and experience ultimately effects the way he does business. The government takes this commonsense approach to surviving and turns it around, so listen-up!
When an VOSB proposes to enlist the assistance of other businesses to perform a set-aside contract, the Contracting Officer must apply the law so that one company is not in a more advantageous position.  Let&rsquo;s say one VOSB would like to team with The IBM Corporation. The other VOSB who is bidding the contract is using a small business with experience, but not on the level of an IBM. That would be unfair! Remember, part of the definition of a VOSB or SDVOSB is SMALL!
The government has rules as to team members, even when the existence of a team is not obvious to all the bidders.  The Small Business Administration applies these &ldquo;affiliation&rdquo; rules when reviewing joint ventures, teaming agreements, or subcontracts. If the VOSB&rsquo;s partner or subcontractor performs primary and vital requirements, they can be determined to be acting jointly and thus affiliated. The SBA adds both companies&rsquo; employees or revenue together to determine if they are small.  Consequently, if the above criteria is met, the Veteran Owned Small Business who teams with the large business is deemed to be affiliated and not small.
This affiliation also could  occur when there are two or more small businesses that team for a job. The government would add their revenue (service companies) or employees (manufacturing companies) together to determine if the VOSB bidder is SMALL.
But there are exceptions when two or more small businesses decide to team and the government allows them to compete as small without combining the companies&rsquo; revenue or employees.
So long as each concern is small under the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the contract, they will remain unaffiliated and small in the following cases:
1. When SVOSB/SDVOSB bids with any other Small Business for a bundled contract, at any dollar value as described in 13 CFR 121.125.2(d)(1)(i).
2. When the dollar value of a revenue-based (services) procurement (including options) is more than half the size standard associated with the NAICS code governing the procurement.  Example:  A solicition with an estimated value of $4 M. with a NAICS code size standard of $6.5M.
3. For manufacturers (size based on employees), if the procurement exceeds 10 M. 
Reference Full article: www.njit.edu/dptac/veterans/index.php]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:46:34 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[NIH preparing small business GWAC ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Contract will cover 10 task areas, including biomedical and health care IT support. The National Institutes of Health is preparing a solicitation for a small business contract  to buy a broad variety of information technology services for health care and biomedical research.
The NIH Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center posted a draft request for proposals on Nov. 16 on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site for a small business set-aside governmentwide acquisition contract.
The contract would be among the successors to two current GWACs expiring in December 2010: the Chief Information Officer-Solutions and Partners 2 Innovations (CIO-SP2i) and to the Image World 2 New Dimensions. Vendors are invited to provide comment on the draft RFP by Nov. 30.
The government is not soliciting proposals from vendors at this time. However, the agency will consider comments for developing the final RFP for the CIO-SP3 Small Business set-aside GWAC.
The procurement vehicle will cover 10 task areas, including support for bioinformatics, electronic health records and the Federal Health Architecture. Details on each of the task areas are published in the 137-page statement of work.
The 10 areas are IT services for biomedical research and health care; chief information officer support; imaging; outsourcing support; IT operations and maintenance; integration services; critical infrastructure protection and information assurance; digital government services; enterprise management systems and software development.
NIH has several other IT projects in the works. The National Cancer Institute recently advertised for an informatics expert to harmonize cancer data, and the National Library of Medicine is distributing a mapping tool to standardize electronic health data. Full Article washingtontechnology.com/articles/2009/11/18/nih-preparing-small-business-gwac-for-it-services.aspx]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:17:32 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Harris to support Southern Command in Honduras]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Five-year task order is worth $38 million to Melbourne, Fla., contractor. Harris Corp. will continue working with the Army to improve command security and operations in Central America under a five-year task order worth $38 million.
The Information Technology Enterprise Solutions-2 Services (ITES-2S) award calls for Harris to assist the U.S. Southern Command&rsquo;s Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems (C4S) operations and maintenance program for Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras.
JTF-Bravo is the commander of all U.S. military operations in Central America.
Under the contract, Harris and its team will continue to service JTF-Bravo&rsquo;s C4 systems and networks, including supporting network and telecommunications help desk customer services, a Nov. 17 company announcement said.
The contracting team also will provide C4S installation and upgrade services, information assurance and computer network defense, telecommunications and circuit management, as well as manage microwave communications systems, including power production at remote microwave sites.
This critical infrastructure program supports the commander of JTF-Bravo in the execution of USSOUTHCOM&rsquo;s strategy to build partner-nation capacity. It is intended to bolster security, stability and prosperity in the Americas, the announcement explained.
The contracting team consists of Harris&rsquo; IT Services unit, Harris Communications Honduras, Charter Trading Company, STG Inc., and Smartronix.
Harris, of Melbourne, Fla., ranks No. 13 on Washington Technology&rsquo;s 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.  Full Article: washingtontechnology.com/articles/2009/11/17/harris-wins-new-southern-command-support-tasks-in-honduras.aspx]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:09:39 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[5 government contracting myths ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[In a survey of government contractors, Deltek Inc. has found some faults in the conventional wisdom about today&rsquo;s market. 

The survey covered questions about growth, business strategies, policy issues and operational issues facing contractors in the government market. 

Nearly 250 people completed the 60-question survey, which will be presented at Deltek&rsquo;s Clarity &rsquo;09 conference in Tysons Corner, Va., to be held Nov. 17. 

5 Myths Busted 

Myth 1: The government contractor growth rates are decreasing. 
Reality: The sector is still growing, with larger firms in the survey are experiencing better growth rates than expected, on the order of 10 percent. 

Myth 2 : The merger and acquisition market is active and vibrant. 
Realtiy: More than&nbsp;85 percent of large firms surveyed did not indicate any definite M&amp;A plans for 2010. 

Myth 3 : Project management is a mature discipline among large firms. 
Realtiy : The discipline is less mature than one would think. Only 11 percent of large companies thought that their project management was very mature, and the larger the company, the more likely they were to report a lower level of confidence in their project status confidence. 

Myth 4 : Big firms do things faster and more efficiently. 
Reality: The industry average invoicing cycle of a large firm is 12.6 days, while the cycle of a smaller firm is four times shorter. 

Myth 5 : In this new age, the Defense Contract Audit Agency has adopted a more confrontational stance with contractors. 
Reality: Surprisingly, the survey found that not to be the case, with more than 83 percent of contractors that were recently audited saying that the relationship was &ldquo;good&rdquo; or &ldquo;excellent&rdquo;. The vast majority said it was actually improving.&nbsp; Read full article washingtontechnology.com/articles/2009/11/16/5-myths-busted.aspx

&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:17:08 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[U.S.'s Newest Command -AFRICOM]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, one of six of the Defense Department's regional military headquarters, was declared a fully unified command on October 1, 2008. As such, Africa Command has administrative responsibility for U.S. military support to U.S. government policy in Africa, to include military-to-military relationships with 53 African nations. The other five regional commands and their locations are: U.S. Central Command, Tampa, Florida; U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany; U.S. Northern Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado; U.S. Pacific Command, Honolulu, Hawaii; and U.S. Southern Command, Miami, Florida.
Commander: General William E. &quot;Kip&quot; Ward, United States Army
Deputy to the Commander for Military Operations:
Vice Admiral Robert T. Moeller, United States Navy
Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Activities:
Ambassador Tony Holmes, United States Department of State
Chain of Command: The commander of Africa Command reports to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, who reports to the President of the United States. In individual countries, U.S. Ambassadors continue to be the President's personal representatives in diplomatic relations with host nations.
AFRICOM Mission: United States Africa Command, in concert with other U.S. government agencies and international partners, conducts sustained security engagement through military-to-military programs, military-sponsored activities, and other military operations as directed to promote a stable and secure African environment in support of U.S. foreign policy.
Partnering with African Nations: Through strong and lasting strategic partnerships with African partners and by delivering sustained, effective, and coherent security cooperation programs, U.S. Africa Command helps foster a more stable and secure Africa:
* where military organizations perform professionally and with integrity;
* that promotes legitimate and professional security institutions;
* that has the will and means to direct, dissuade, deter and defeat transnational threats;
* and whose militaries and governments are increasingly capable of supporting continental and international peace efforts.
U.S. Africa Command's theater strategic objectives:
* Defeat the Al-Qaeda terrorist organizations and its associated networks;
* Ensure peace operations capacity exists to respond to emerging crises, and continental peace support operations are effectively fulfilling mission requirements;
* Cooperate with identified African states in the creation of an environment inhospitable to the unsanctioned possession and proliferation on WMD;
* Improve security sector governance and increased stability through military support to comprehensive, holistic and enduring USG efforts in designated states;
* Protect populations from deadly contagions.
Personnel: U.S. Africa Command projects a staff of 1,300 personnel for its headquarters and joint subordinate activities, half of whom are civilian employees, including representatives from non-military agencies of the U.S. government. As of September 1, 2009, more than 1,200 personnel were assigned.
Location: Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart-Moehringen, Germany. In the near term, AFRICOM will focus on working with Embassies, Country Teams, and Offices of Defense Cooperation to strengthen existing military-to-military relationships. If our African partners and the U.S. government agree that further cooperation would benefit from a more robust Africa Command presence, we will consult accordingly and determine the best way to proceed.
Funding: The U.S. Africa Command transition team was budgeted for approximately $50 million in Fiscal Year 2007, and the command received $75.5 million for Fiscal Year 2008 and $310 million for Fiscal Year 2009. The Obama administration has requested $278 million for U.S. Africa Command for Fiscal Year 2010.
Supporting the U.S. Department of State: U.S. Africa Command supports the U.S. Department of State in the achievement of US foreign policy objectives in Africa. In addition and where appropriate, U.S. Africa Command provides personnel and logistical support to State Department-funded activities. Command personnel work closely with U.S. embassies in Africa to coordinate training programs to improve African nations&rsquo; security capacity. Read full article.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:39:43 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[20 must-follow contracts]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[According to Washington Technology and research by Input, this list ranks the 20 largest and most important contracts that will hit the market in 2010. The services range from information technology to satellite communications  to research and development to logistics support. Many contracts are valued in the billions.  These contracts will be highly sought after by a variety of government contractors.  Look for more coverage and teaming opportunities as the year unfolds.  Contact the incumbents (when applicable) and submit your interest and capabilities brief.
1. Criminal Justice Program Support
2. Enterprise Acquisition Gateway for Leading Edge Solutions II
3. Connections
4. Strategic Services Sourcing
5. Communications and Transmission Systems Program
6. Chief Information Officer Solutions and Partners 3
7. NetCents II
8. Compass DOD Enterprise Software Initiative
9. Future Commercial SatCom Acquisitions
10. Common Hardware Systems 4
11. System Engineering and Technical Assistance Research and Development
12. Defense Information Systems Network Global Services Management
13. Special Operations Forces Information Enterprise
14. Design and Engineering Support Program 3
15. Information Technology Support Services IV
16. Support Services
17. Continental U.S. Support Base Services II
18. Field Training Systems Support III
19. Global Combat Support System
20. Information Assurance Support Services
For a brief of the top 20 contracts and full article tr.im/DUwU

]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:19:52 -0500</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[USTRANSCOM Onward and Upward]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is  the  Department of Defense&rsquo;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
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:10:47 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[FY11 CRAF International Airlift Services]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Other Defense Agencies/United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) has posted the&nbsp; International airlift notice&nbsp;for the FY11 Civil&nbsp;Reserve Airlift Program (CRAF). This solicitation is for international long-range and short-range passenger and cargo airlift services, as well as aeromedical airlift services. Period of performance is for one year with no option periods - from 1 Oct 2010 through 30 Sep 2011. Offeror must be certified under Part 121 of the Federal Aviation Regulation (14 CFR 121) and willing to commit aircraft to the CRAF. Awards will be based upon offeror's aircraft commitment to the CRAF and past performance.
Request For Proposal will be released on or about 1 April 2010.NAICS codes 481211 and 481212 apply. Ombudsman for this solicitation: Mr. Dale Huegen, USTRANSCOM Command Acquisition, 508 Scott Drive, Scott AFB IL 62225-5357, (618) 256-4300, fax (618) 256-4702, email: dale.huegen@ustranscom.mil
Contracting Office Address: 
508 Scott Drive
Bldg 1900
Scott AFB, Illinois 62225 
United States 

Primary Point of Contact.: 
Neal Newberry,
Contract Specialist
samuel.newberry@ustranscom.mil
Phone: 6182292503
Fax: 6182562804
Secondary Point of Contact: 
Lucy Hitsman,
Contracting Officer
lucy.hitsman@ustranscom.mil
Phone: 618-229-2511
Fax: 618-256-2804
Follow this opportunity www.fbo.gov/]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:14:41 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[NCMA and GovPartners Collaborate]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) is proud to announce its newly established







collaboration with GovPartners, LLC. This union will provide members of GovPartners with an exclusive opportunity to receive a complimentary one-year subscription to Contract Management magazine. This highly regarded monthly publication ranks as the number-one benefit among NCMA&rsquo;s membership of 19,000 contracting professionals.
&ldquo;GovPartners, LLC is excited to enter into a partnership with the leader in contract management, NCMA,&rdquo; said Cynthia Karnik, GovPartners, CEO. &ldquo;As a service provider, we share NCMA's vision that enterprises will succeed through improved buyer&ndash;seller relationships based on common values, practices, and professional standards. We believe our partnership will provide a full service solution to our members.&rdquo;
NCMA Executive Director Neal Couture noted, &ldquo;NCMA is pleased to extend Contract Management magazine to GovPartners members. This is a great opportunity to provide their members with inside access to the issues and concerns of the people who manage their relationships with the federal government, provide long-term value to their members, and enhance the professional development of these industry professionals.&rdquo;
GovPartners connects businesses with prime contractors and subcontractors that are approved to work for the U.S. federal government. They support the needs of small and large businesses that need assistance with proposal writing, GSA supply schedule contracts, and formulating contractor teaming agreements with approved government contractors. Read more about GovPartners at www.govpartners.com

About NCMA
Founded in 1959, NCMA is the leading association in the field of contract management. The organization is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession and to offer opportunities for the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. For more information, visit www.ncmahq.org.
Referenced press release can be found at www.ncmahq.org/News/PRDetail.cfm
# # #
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:22:48 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Teaming - On the Rise]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Have you noticed that the scopes of work in recent government solicitations are increasing in size? Many services and products are all part of one request for proposal. This can be considered good or bad. Requirements once performed by separate contract vehicles may be consolidated under only one. As a result, teaming is becoming more popular and necessary, especially among qualified government contractors. For many companies who are regularly too small to win or perform these large contracts alone, teaming has become a fundamental part of their strategic planning. A successful prime/subcontractor partnership can be as rewarding as a successful contractor/government relationship, and it can be a great way to enter into the market successfully.
It seems with the shift of multiple contract vehicles to consolidated ones, the government is promoting teaming arrangements. Not only does it help them reduce costs, it streamlines the communication and project management. The prime contractor is customarily the liaison for the team which reduces the workload for the government contracting team.
Teaming - Defined
FAR Subpart 9.6- Contractor Team Arrangements defines the term &quot;Team Arrangement&quot; (i.e., teaming) to mean:
(1) Two or more companies form a partnership or joint venture to act as a potential prime contractor; or 
(2) A potential prime contractor agrees with one or more other companies to have them act as its subcontractors under a specified Government contract or acquisition program. 
9.602 - Contractor team arrangements may be desirable from both a Government and industry standpoint in order to enable the companies involved to-- 
Complement each other's unique capabilities; and Offer the Government the best combination of performance, cost, and delivery for the system or product being acquired. 
Companies normally form team arrangements before submitting an offer. They may enter into an arrangement later in the acquisition process, however, only after a contract has been awarded. 
9.603 - The government will recognize the integrity and validity of contractor team arrangements, provided the arrangements are identified and company relationships are fully disclosed in an offer, or, for arrangements entered into after submission of an offer, before the arrangement becomes effective.
The above FAR provisions can be interpreted to mean teaming is encouraged when it is in the best interest of all parties.
The most familiar type of a teaming arrangement is a prime contractor/ subcontractor partnership. The prime/sub approach works well for both parties as long as the roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. In all cases, the prime contractor is in control and the subcontractor must follow this structure.
Usually prime contractors select subcontractors and make them a part of their proposals. A subcontractor can often be a key selling point in a prime contractor's proposal, and this should be used in negotiating the teaming agreement.&nbsp;
What's in a Teaming Agreement
When entering into a teaming agreement, your company should consider the following:
1. &nbsp;Is the subcontractor exclusively with the prime?
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -&nbsp;If so, is this in your best interest? Or, can the subcontractor be a part of other competitor's proposals? This is a very important clause depending on the type of contract vehicle and the volume of business associated with the clause. Some teaming agreements may prohibit you to execute teaming agreements with other prime contractors prior to award. This could hurt your competitive chances of winning.
2. Does this prime offer the best teaming solution for the requirement?&nbsp;
3. Is the subcontractor part of a minimum guarantee of revenue?&nbsp;
4. What are the performance clauses?&nbsp;
5.&nbsp;Will the subcontractor be required to participate in negotiations with the government?&nbsp;
6. What is the pricing structure for the contract? Is it cost plus, firm fixed price or time and materials? How and&nbsp;&nbsp; when will the subcontractor be paid? 
7. Are you the only subcontractor providing the service/product? If not, how will the work be awarded? Will your company have first right of refusal?
8. What FAR&rsquo;s are passed on to the subcontractor?
9 &nbsp;What is the scope of work and has your company been provided with terms and conditions related to your service/product offerings?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
If you are new to the government market, try to become a team member. Subcontracting is a great introduction to the government market. It is also a great way to build the experience needed to become a competitive government contractor. and can reduce time and investment required to enter the market as a prime contractor.
Sign Up for SubTeamPartners today to form&nbsp;your&nbsp;FY10 contractor team.&nbsp; GovPartners News Brief: 01 Oct 2009: By Cynthia Karnik]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:31:45 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA's Telework Program Results]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) submitted its annual &quot;Report 
to the Congress&quot; on the &quot;Status of Telework in the Federal Government&quot; on 
September 16. In February 2009, seventy-eight Executive Branch agencies submitted data on their
telework programs to the Office of Personnel Management. These data represent
telework participation and related activities between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
Agencies have been submitting these reports to OPM since 2001, tracking the progress
of telework implementation as the agencies have created and refined their programs
and policies. Trends have remained relatively stable over time, with incremental
increases and occasional decreases showing overall slow but steady growth.
For 2008, agencies reported that:
&bull; 102,900 employees were teleworking
&bull; 64% of these employees were teleworking relatively frequently (either 1-2
days a week, or 3 or more days per week)
&bull; Almost half of the agencies had not fully integrated telework into their
Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning
&bull; Office coverage and management resistance were considered the largest
barriers to implementation
Data are reported for each of the agencies, and the large Cabinet-level agencies also
report data at the sub-agency level. A closer look at the agency and sub-agency data
allows us to break down the overall numbers to identify organizations that have
experienced relatively large increases or decreases, either in actual participation or
possibly in their capabilities to effectively track participation.
OPM continues to use these results and other information to support agency staff with
their telework programs by convening regular meetings of telework coordinators,
meeting one-on-one to provide consultation and support, maintaining the
comprehensive www.telework.gov website, and connecting agency staff so they can
learn from each other&rsquo;s challenges and successes.
The Big Picture: Telework in 2008
&bull; 78 agencies reported a total of 102,900 out of 1,962,975 employees teleworking
- 5.24% of the total population reported as teleworkers
- 8.64% of the eligible population reported as teleworkers
&bull; 48 agencies (61%) reported an increase in their overall telework numbers
&bull; 78% of agencies provide formal notice of eligibility to their employees
&bull; 35% track the number of telework requests that are denied; 33 cases were due
to performance or conduct issues, 160 were due to type of work
&bull; 38% track the number of agreements that are terminated; 108 of these
terminations were based on the employee&rsquo;s decision, 31 were based on the
supervisor&rsquo;s decision due to a performance/conduct issue, and 78 were based on
a supervisor&rsquo;s decision due to a change in work assignments
&bull; 23% of agencies use electronic tracking to count teleworkers, 83% use telework
agreements, 53% use time and attendance (NOTE: agencies may select more
than one category due to difference in tracking mechanisms at the sub-agency
level, so the total exceeds 100%)
&bull; 44 agencies have fully integrated telework into COOP (56.41%)
&bull; 27 agencies reported cost savings/benefits as a result of telework; of these, the
greatest benefit was to morale (24 agencies), then productivity/performance and
transportation (22 each), then human capital (21) (note: agencies could select all
that apply). See tr.im/zwQ7
Register for the Telework Exchange Town Hall Meeting in Washington, DC, on 
September 24, at &nbsp; http://www.teleworkexchange.com/townhallmeeting/                                          to hear 
John Berry, OPM Director, deliver keynote remarks along with Aneesh 
Chopra, Assistant to the President and Chief Technology Officer. 
Government employees may attend this program at no cost.  But, private 
sector employees are also welcome to attend.  The U.S. General Services 
Administration is a sponsor of this telework education program.
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:28:45 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[International Airlift Contract Awards Announced]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Over $3.5B total awards were made. UNITED STATES TRANSPORTATION COMMAND (USTRANSCOM) awarded the FY10 contractor teams to provide airlift support for the Civil Reserve Airlift Program (CRAF).&nbsp; The teams are awarded business based on the Mobilization Value Points (MVP) of the aircraft committed to Stages I, II, and III of the CRAF program.&nbsp; In order to participate in the CRAF program, carriers must hold an FAA Part 121 certificate and undergo an audit conducted by the DoD Air Carrier Survey and Analysis Office and approved by the&nbsp;Commercial&nbsp;Airlift&nbsp;Review Board. Participants can either team with the current primes as a &quot;point seller&quot;&nbsp; meaning they will get credit for&nbsp;their MVP points and CRAF committments, or they can be be a designated &quot;operator&quot; for their category of business. The following teams and independant operators received awards:
Alliance Contractor Team of Leesburg, Va., is being awarded an estimated $1,580,619,789 firm fixed-price contract for international airlift services with a minimum guarantee of $327,824,214. Team members include: American Airlines, Inc. of Ft. Worth, Texas, Arrow Air, Inc., of Miami, Fla., ASTAR Air Cargo, Inc., of Florence, Ky., Delta Air Lines, Inc. of Atlanta, Ga., Evergreen International Airlines, Inc., of McMinnville, Ore., North American Airlines, Inc., of Jamaica, N.Y., Northwest Airlines, Inc., of St. Paul, Minn., United Airlines, Inc. of Elk Grove Village, Ill., US Airways, Inc., of Phoenix, Ariz., and World Airways, Inc., of Peachtree City, Ga. Work will be performed at worldwide locations, and is expected to be completed September 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Electronic proposals were solicited and 30 proposals received. The contracting activity is USTRANSCOM, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-09-D-5004).
Federal Express Charter Programs Team Arrangement of Memphis, Tenn., is being awarded an estimated $1,510,516,838 firm fixed-price contract for international airlift services with a minimum guarantee of $222,565,273. Team members include: Air Transport International LLC of Little Rock, Ark., Atlas Air, Inc. of Purchase, N.Y., Continental Airlines, Inc., of Houston, Texas, Federal Express Corporation of Memphis, Tenn., Omni Air International, Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., and Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc., of Purchase, N.Y. Work will be performed at worldwide locations, and is expected to be completed September 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Electronic proposals were solicited and 30 proposals received. The contracting activity is USTRANSCOM, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-09-D-5005).
Lynden Air Cargo LLC of Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded an estimated $51,739,903 firm fixed-price contract for international airlift services with a minimum guarantee of $3,700. Work will be performed at worldwide locations, and is expected to be completed September 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Electronic proposals were solicited and 30 proposals received. The contracting activity is USTRANSCOM, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-09-D-5009).
Miami Air International, Inc. of Miami, Fla., is being awarded an estimated $38,232,127 firm fixed-price contract for International Airlift Services with a minimum guarantee of $1,003,700. Work will be performed at worldwide locations, and is expected to be completed September 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Electronic proposals were solicited and 30 proposals received. The contracting activity is USTRANSCOM, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., (HTC711-09-D-5010).
The UPS Contractor Team of Louisville, Ky., is being awarded an estimated $331,662,972.56 firm fixed-price contract for International Airlift Services with a minimum guarantee of $74,394,266.69. Team members include: ABX Air, Inc., of Wilmington, Ohio, Alaska Airlines, Inc., of Seattle, Wash., Kalitta Air LLC of Ypsilanti Mich., National Air Cargo Group, Inc, dba National Airlines, of Ypsilanti, Mich., Northern Air Cargo of Anchorage, Alaska, Ryan International Airlines, Inc., of Rockford Ill., Southern Air, Inc. of Norwalk, Conn., and United Parcel Service Company of Louisville, Ky. Work will be performed at worldwide locations, and is expected to be completed September 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Electronic proposals were solicited and 30 proposals received. The contracting activity is USTRANSCOM, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-09-D-5006).
What is CRAF and how do you become a CRAF carrier?&nbsp; GovPartners personnel has over 9 years of experience leading, managing&nbsp;and/or sourcing teaming partners for&nbsp;the largest CRAF team. Please contact us today to find out how we can help you become a CRAF carrier.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:33:46 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[10 Contractors that are on the move in the federal market]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Like it or not, contractors are an integral part of government operations. The pendulum might be swinging against their use, but they will always play an important role in how the government gets things done.
The following 10 companies are at the leading edge of technology and business trends, and their impact will resonate throughout the government market and beyond.
1. Vangent and Booz Allen Hamilton 
An initial public offering might seem like a remote possibility in today&rsquo;s market, but that&rsquo;s the direction Vangent is headed.
Owned by Veritas Capital, Vangent already acts like a public company &mdash; it&rsquo;s been issuing quarterly revenue and earnings reports. What better way to pique the interests of potential investors and analysts ahead of your IPO than to dangle financial insights?
Another company to watch in this category is Booz Allen Hamilton, which is owned by the Carlyle Group. An IPO is likely the only way the company can satisfy Carlyle&rsquo;s expectations and hang onto its unique corporate culture.
2. General Dynamics 
Any company that&rsquo;s about to lose its chairman and chief executive officer to retirement must prepare for big changes.
Nicholas Chabraja has led General Dynamics on an amazing journey of growth, which has included building an information technology business from scratch through a series of blockbuster acquisitions. Chabraja turned over the CEO title to Jay Johnson July 1, and by May 2010, Chabraja will step down as chairman, too.
3. Science Applications International Corp.
A similar process is under way at Science Applications International Corp., where Walter Havenstein will become CEO on Sept. 21 as Ken Dahlberg begins his move out of the executive suite. By SAIC&rsquo;s annual meeting in June 2010, Dahlberg will resign as chairman.
Both companies bear watching to see where the new leaders will take them.
4. Lockheed Martin 
Its position at the top of the government IT contracting world puts all eyes on this company. Despite its size &mdash; nearly $15 billion in government IT contracts in 2008 &mdash; Lockheed Martin continues to find itself near the front of innovative government trends. A recent example is how leaders have positioned the company for the smart-power initiative that the Obama administration is advocating. The idea is to stabilize countries to avoid situations in which military operations seem unavoidable.
When Lockheed Martin acquired PAE in 2007, it expanded its expertise beyond that of a Defense Department supplier by adding mission readiness, global infrastructure support, peacekeeping and disaster response to its repertoire.
5. Cobham 
Cobham is the latest British entrant into the U.S. market, and it has made a series of acquisitions to build a business with more than $1.5 billion in U.S. revenue. 
With the acquisition of Sparta, Cobham grabbed significant prime-contracting work in the intelligence and missile defense market. The acquisition was part of the company&rsquo;s strategy to move up the government contracting food chain.
6. Deloitte and Touche 
The accounting and consulting firm made two bold moves this year. First, it hired former Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) as a director in its federal business unit. Then it acquired BearingPoint in that firm&rsquo;s fire sale. The $350 million acquisition more than doubled Deloitte&rsquo;s federal business. 
The two major investments sent a clear signal that the company wants to be a major player in the government market.
7. Acquisition Solutions 
As pressure grows to address organizational conflicts of interest in the government market, large companies will be forced to get out of the acquisition support business. Thanks to a 2008 investment by private equity group Excellere Partners, Acquisition Solutions is well positioned to acquire business units that larger prime contractors might need to jettison.
Look for increased merger and acquisition activity in this area by Acquisition Solutions and other like-minded companies.
8. Pragmatics 
This former 8(a) small business proves that it is possible to be a long-term success after graduating from the set-aside program. Part of the credit goes to founder Long Nguyen&rsquo;s ability to recruit a management team that has experience building billion-dollar businesses. Of Pragmatics&rsquo; 12 senior executives, four are alumni of SRA International, and three come from Titan.
9.TASC&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The big question raised by Northrop Grumman&rsquo;s plan to sell off its TASC unit is who the buyer will be: another large private equity group or an existing company. But with the deal having the potential to reach $2 billion, it&rsquo;s also worth asking what Northrop Grumman will do with all that cash and whether the TASC sale will prompt other large defense contractors to divest themselves of valuable businesses.
10. EDS and HP 
The combined companies are entering the second year of their merger, so the evidence of an integrated operation should move from the marketing materials to the field. And with the follow-on contract to the Navy Marine Corps Intranet looming, the stakes are high for incumbent EDS and its parent company. Read Full Article p://tr.im/yEzp
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			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:13:50 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small Business Subs Needed! ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[A construction company has an immediate opportunity and is looking for teaming partners with healthcare design/construction experience to respond to the bid!
A veteran design/builder that&nbsp;provides healthcare preconstruction/construction services throughout the western U.S. Their experience includes ground up construction of hospital facilities, major multi-story additions, MOB's, Surgical Suites, Diagnostic Imaging, ER's, OR's, ICU's, Patient Wings, Parking Structures, and complex T/I's; and is looking for small businesses to team with.&nbsp; They are currently working on an RFP&nbsp;and need subcontractor support.&nbsp;
Professional services include:
Single Source Responsibility 
Integrated Project Delivery 
LEED AP professionals 
BIM Modeling 
LEAN Construction 
Architectural/Engineering Design Services 
Preconstruction/Planning Services 
Conceptual Estimating.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Find out more about this opportunity and how to contact them.]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:39:48 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Are You A Small Business? The DoD Wants You..]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[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:&nbsp;www.defenselink.mil&nbsp;)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&rsquo;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 &amp; 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.&nbsp;
GovPartners News Brief: 31 Aug 2009: By Cynthia Karnik
&nbsp;]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:45:27 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Tee 'em High and Watch them Fly]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[22 Aug 2009, Avon, OH - GovPartners was proud to sponsor a hole and a four man team at the First Annual Greg Shannon Memorial Golf Outing. A loving Father and dedicated husband, Greg passed away suddenly on January 31, 2009 after suffering a &ldquo;silent&rdquo; heart-attack attributed to Sugar Diabetes.
Amongst some rain drops and unseasonably cool August weather in Northeast Ohio, spirits of the near 200 golfers were high. Proceeds from the event will be placed in scholarships to be awarded to outstanding athletes in the Avon/Avon Lake area as well as one to an outstanding athlete from Greg&rsquo;s hometown of Defiance, OH.
The four man team of: Team Captain Vin Karnik, Vince Karnik, Kevin Karnik and Troy Bunner were proud to be a part of this event and look forward to next years outing already, with hopes of improving on their score. Although slightly soaked at the end of the event, Kevin Karnik (COO) was thrilled with the dedication of the event organizers, saying &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been involved in several golf scrambles, and this was by far the best!&rdquo; 
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:58:23 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA plans more small businesses contracts  ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The agency wants to broaden the base of small businesses awarded contracts, subcontracts. The General Services Administration has started its mentor-prot&eacute;g&eacute; program to include more small businesses in GSA contracts, the agency announced today.
Officials want to urge companies to help small businesses in establishing themselves in the federal marketplace and then foster long-term relationships between small and large companies, which often are prime contract-holders, according to a Federal Register notice.
The program includes contracts awarded under GSA&rsquo;s Multiple Award Schedules program, the notice states.
The program will allow small businesses to become prot&eacute;g&eacute;s and receive help in their development as federal contractors from large-business mentors. Mentor companies can offer business guidance and share with their prot&eacute;g&eacute;s lessons they&rsquo;ve learned along the way. GSA also will allow small businesses that want to mentor other small businesses, the notice states.
A mentor is an established company offering to help small-business subcontractors in being more successful.
GSA expects the program to increase the overall number of small businesses receiving GSA contracts and subcontracts. However, GSA won&rsquo;t measure the program's success on the basis of awards and dollars alone. Officials plan to consider success as an increase in the number and value of subcontracts awarded to prot&eacute;g&eacute; companies by mentors. They also want to see expanded expertise by the prot&eacute;g&eacute; firms by seeing them enter industries that have they&rsquo;ve not traditionally worked in, the notice states.
To encourage companies to be mentors, the program allows contracting officers to look more favorably at bids from mentor/prot&eacute;g&eacute;s, and they can consider prime contractors' compliance with its subcontracting plans as a factor in evaluating the company&rsquo;s past performance, the notice states. Read More http://tr.im/wBF7
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			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:16:30 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA issues cloud storefront RFQ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The General Services Administration is looking for Internet-based IT services to offer federal agencies through a proposed cloud-computing storefront service. Last month, the agency issued a Request for Quotation  for providing cloud services to government agencies.
The document describes a GSA-run storefront portal in which government agencies can purchase commercially offered infrastructure IT services using a credit card or other approved payment option. Specifically, the GSA is looking for three broad categories of services to offer through this portal: Storage services, virtual machines and Web hosting.
To serve the government, service providers will need to have the following in place:
* The ability for customers to procure and provide service without vendor review.
* Two separate facilities within the continental United States that offer the service. Internet bandwidth for each location should be no less than 1 Gigabit per second.
* Virtually unlimited storage.
* The ability for the customer to scale up or down service on an as-needed basis.
* A dashboard for each customer to convey usage, as measured on a weekly basis.
Each service will be accessible remotely by dual-factor authentication. Trouble tickets should be able to be submitted by application programming interface (API), and all services should be maintained at 99.95 percent uptime. For outages lasting longer than one hour a month, the provider must provide a written description of the cause of the outage.
Federal chief information officer Vivek Kundra has stated that GSA is planning to set up a cloud-computing &quot;storefront,&quot; that federal agencies can use to procure IT services.
For the RFQ, GSA adopted the definitions of cloud computing that were authored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Read full article...Washington Technology&nbsp; tr.im/vJFA]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:13:34 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DOD to launch Web 2.0-intensive site]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Defense Department will launch a new homepage Aug.15 that incorporates Web 2.0 technologies as part of a militarywide and governmentwide effort to use new media capabilities, a DOD official said today.
The Web site, at www.defense.gov, will be a complete overhaul of the site that now exists, said Les Benito, public Web director at DOD&rsquo;s Defense Media Activity office. The site will include new modes of user participation, and interactivity will be a driving factor in the site&rsquo;s shaping, he said. Benito outlined the plans for the new site at the Open Government and Innovation Conference in Washington.
Users will be able to post questions for high-ranking military officers or the defense secretary, give their own feedback about DOD services and take advantage of other similar interactive features, he said.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll be basing a lot on things like user feedback and search results,&rdquo; Benito said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s like a portal to the Defense Department &ndash; how to do business with us, how to get involved. Some of it will be similar to Google monitoring,&rdquo; a feature that tracks Internet traffic.
Benito hopes the new features will tap into the social media&rsquo;s explosive popularity and help capture the coveted demographic of persons ages 18 to 24 years that has eluded DefenseLink, DOD&rsquo;s current departmentwide homepage. Users in that age group account for only about 4 percent of DefenseLink&rsquo;s visitors, while most fall into the age range of 48 to 5.&nbsp; Full article published at tr.im/ueye]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:32:22 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[AF picks vendors for $600M Competition]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Three contractors will compete for $600 million in software support and information analysis tasks to support the National Air and Space Intelligence Center over five years, the Air Force has announced.
Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp., General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems Inc., and Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp. were selected by the Air Force to compete against each other for tasks to support the center&rsquo;s Advanced Technical Exploitation Program under the indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract, Air Force officials said July 8.
The contractors will compete for tasks such as intelligence analysis, software systems development and support, and research and development of space-based and airborne sensor data, according to a General Dynamics statement on June 9. The tasks will support contingency operations in the war on terror, missile defense and similar initiatives.
The National Air and Space Intelligence Center processes, analyzes and disseminates measurement and signature intelligence data collected from radar, electro-optical sensors and infrared sensors. The information collected is provided to the Defense Department and intelligence agencies.
Tasks include intelligence analysis, software systems development, and sensor data analysis.&nbsp; Original Article posted at tr.im/sDkl
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			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:29:25 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[ DHS Awards Contracts 389M]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Four contractors will compete for $389 million in task orders over five years to support the Homeland Security Department&rsquo;s Office of Cybersecurity and Communication.
Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., General Dynamics Corp., Science Applications International Corp. and SRA International were picked to compete against one another for tasks to enhance and maintain the National Communications System, according to a July 10 award notice on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site.
Under the contracts, the companies will provide scientific, engineering and technical assistance. The scope of work also includes project planning and program management support.
NCS is the cornerstone of the country&rsquo;s ability to provide key communications services to support government functions during emergencies. The system comprises the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service and Wireless Priority Service, which give authorized users top priority on congested networks during national emergencies. Reference Article tr.im/sBVl]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:02:45 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[5 Companies Win GSA Awards]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The General Services Administration&rsquo;s SmartBuy program has awarded five contracts for agencies to use to purchase cybersecurity software.
Four of the awards are to resell BigFix&rsquo;s Platform 7 software. The companies winning those awards were Autonomic Resources, Intelligent Decisions Inc., Merlin International and Patriot Technologies.
The fifth award went to Winvale Group to resell Gideon&rsquo;s Secure Fusion software.
GSA said a sixth award may be made. The contracts are worth more than $20 million and can be used by federal and state and local government agencies, GSA said in a statement. The Homeland Security Department worked with GSA to make the awards.
The awards are blanket purchase agreements and are for cybersecurity services such as baseline configuration management, network mapping/path discovery and vulnerability management.
&ldquo;GSA&rsquo;s new suite of security solutions is aimed at protecting our IT infrastructure from cyber security incidents and other vulnerabilities, while providing maximum value for taxpayer dollars&rdquo; Jim Williams, GSA&rsquo;s Federal Acquisition Service commissioner, said in a statement. Read entire article&nbsp; tr.im/sBRy]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:54:01 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[States Awash in Stimulus Money ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Ready or not, states are getting a tenfold boost in federal money to weatherize drafty homes, an increase so huge it has raised fears of waste and fraud and set off a scramble to find workers and houses for them to repair.
An obscure program that installs insulation in homes and makes them more energy-efficient is distributing $4.7 billion in stimulus funds &mdash; dwarfing the $447 million originally planned by Congress this year and the $227 million spent in 2008.
That is enough to weatherize 1 million homes, instead of the 140,000 normally done each year.
President Barack Obama said pouring money into the program would lower utility bills for cash-strapped families, provide jobs for construction workers idled by the housing slump, and make the nation more energy-efficient.
&quot;You're getting a three-fer,&quot; Obama said. &quot;That's exactly the kind of program we should be funding.&quot;
But some worry states won't be able to keep track of the money.
Leslie Paige, spokeswoman for the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, said the program is open to fraud because of the way oversight is divided. The federal government passes the money to states, then states pass it to community action agencies, and the agencies pass it to contractors who work with customers.
&quot;It's such a Rube Goldberg operation it should be setting off alarm bells,&quot; she said.
Energy Department spokeswoman Christina Kielich defended the program, saying the federal government monitors state operations and does a thorough review at least every two years of the local organizations. In addition, states are getting their money in increments and must demonstrate quality control to get more.
The program helps low-income families take steps to reduce their home energy expenses, from caulking leaky windows to replacing heating and cooling systems. The Energy Department says 6.2 million households have benefited since it began in 1976, saving the average household about $350 a year on energy bills.
In addition to receiving an infusion of stimulus money, the program was expanded to cover families making up to twice the federal poverty level, or $44,100 for a family of four. Also, the average amount that can be spent per house was more than doubled to $6,500.
The funding for New York is going up from $20.1 million last year to $395 million. California's share is soaring from $6.3 million to $185.8 million. Virginia's is going up 23 1/2 times, from $4 million annually to $94.1 million.
&quot;I was stunned,&quot; said Shea Hollifield, Virginia's deputy director of housing. &quot;Spending that much money will be a challenge.&quot;
In Texas, the state's share is increasing nearly 60 times, from $5.6 million to $327 million. To spend the money efficiently and on time, state officials decided to go beyond the community organizations that normally distribute it and route $100 million to large cities.
&quot;They have experience in administering large, complicated programs,&quot; said Gordon Anderson, spokesman for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
States are hurrying to find qualified weatherization workers and caulk-ready homes.
Wisconsin set up weatherization &quot;boot camps&quot; to train workers. West Virginia used to give new workers on-the-job training but is now looking to move to classrooms and online.
Alabama plans to train home builders in how to bid for weatherization contracts. Russell Davis, vice president of the Alabama Home Builders Association, said builders who once had no interest in weatherization contracts now see them as a way to keep their crews busy.
In many states, qualified homeowners are already on waiting lists. But some states don't have enough recipients signed up.
&quot;We are out of clients. We need clients bad,&quot; said Cade Gunnells, weatherization coordinator for three counties in central Alabama.
To help find them, states are updating Web sites about the expanded program and working with nonprofit groups, churches and the news media to get the word out. Charles Uptain, a 73-year-old retiree, had his Montgomery home repaired in the weatherized program last year. His utility bills went down by about $60 a month after workers fixed leaky windows, replaced cracked panes, re-taped air-conditioning ducts and blew in new insulation. Uptain's house required 2 1/2 days of work and slightly more than $3,000.
&quot;This wasn't wasteful spending. This was well-spent money,&quot; Uptain said.&nbsp; Read the full article http://tr.im/sxto
&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:13:16 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Gates Praises McKiernans  ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates commended Army Gen. David D. McKiernan&rsquo;s leadership at every military level during a retirement ceremony for the former top U.S. commander in Afghanistan here today.
McKiernan returned the favor, calling Gates &ldquo;the finest secretary of defense in my lifetime.
Gates replaced McKiernan as the commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan after the general spent less than a year in Kabul. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal now holds the position.
McKiernan addressed this early in his remarks. &ldquo;If you had asked me 30 days ago if I would be here at my retirement ceremony, I probably would have said no,&rdquo; the general said. &ldquo;Make no mistake I was dismayed, disappointed, more than a little embarrassed. But, as so often in life &hellip; I received some candid coaching that said, &lsquo;McKiernan, this is not about you. It&rsquo;s about paying respect to your profession and those around who know you.&rsquo;&rdquo;
Gates said it was an honor to be asked to participate in the ceremony marking the end of McKiernan&rsquo;s 37-year Army career.
&ldquo;He has handled everything the Army and his commander in chief have thrown at him with supreme professionalism, intelligence and dedication to our nation and the men and women under his command,&rdquo; the secretary said.
The general commanded the coalition land forces and launched the attack into Iraq in March 2003. Gates praised McKiernan for having the &ldquo;skill and the will to keep the march to Baghdad on track through &lsquo;Fedayeen&rsquo; attacks and furious sandstorms. [It was] a march that in less than three weeks brought Saddam Hussein&rsquo;s brutal regime to an end.&rdquo;
The general&rsquo;s experience in Iraq served him well in Afghanistan, where he led an international military effort to secure and rebuild the country, the secretary said. McKiernan dedicated himself to recalibrating the International Security Assistance Force&rsquo;s mission to better protect the Afghan people, the secretary said. He also oversaw a major expansion in Afghan security forces and brought about better coordination between military and civilian efforts in the country.
McKiernan made the NATO force better at counterinsurgency by ensuring its members were better trained. He worked diligently to improve cooperation among Afghanistan, Pakistan and NATO, Gates said.
McKiernan believed &ldquo;the Afghan people deserve better than the last 30 years of conflict,&rdquo; Gates said. &ldquo;While the Taliban and other terrorist groups offer only lies and fears, our continued effort promotes freedom and hope.&rdquo;
Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. hosted the retirement review on Summerall Field here and spoke highly of McKiernan&rsquo;s command and operational experience.
Casey praised the general for his service in the Cold War, during Desert Storm, in the Balkans, as the ground commander of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and finally, as the commander of the NATO in Afghanistan.
&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t think of another officer who has contributed so much and given so much to the men and women of this Army,&rdquo; Casey said.
The general received the Distinguished Service Medal from Casey and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal from Gates. In addition, his wife, Carmen McKiernan, was presented the Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.
McKiernan has said that he and his wife plan on living in the Boston area and on staying involved in the support of soldiers. Read more&nbsp;tr.im/sx7H
&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:21:44 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GovPartners Sponsors LV Conference]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[GovPartners is proud to sponsor The 5th Annual National Veteran Small Business Conference and Expo July 20-23, 2009, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This conference will bring together business owners, both small and large, and Federal Government representatives to share best practices of how to do business together. The conference will also include sessions on Federal Contracting for small businesses that are just breaking into the public sector.
The comprehensive conference agenda will include sessions that take attendees through the life cycle of small business Federal contracting. General sessions and breakouts will be led by small business owners as well as representatives from various Federal Agencies. Topics will include:

    Contracting 101 and 201
    Marketing and selling to the Federal Government
    Legislation affecting small businesses
    Legal issues with Government contracting
    Managing small business finances
    Successful business strategies
    Subcontracting
    And more!

This conference is an ideal mix of learning and networking opportunities. Registration is limited so early registration is highly encouraged.
The conference is open to both government and non-government personnel.  Find out more here!]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:32:47 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[BAH's Shrader: Partnerships]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[People, process and attitude are the keys to better partnership
Government and industry need to take partnership to the next level.
Yes, I&rsquo;m a hockey fan. Living and working in the Washington, D.C., area, it was great to see the excitement around the Caps this spring &mdash; and I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s just because they were the only D.C. team that was a playoff contender. There&rsquo;s something about hockey &mdash; about the intensity, complexity and strategy of a winning hockey team, which scores goals most often as a result of great assists. In fact, it&rsquo;s that combination of intensity driven by a strategy of collaboration that makes hockey the perfect metaphor for government/industry teamwork.
Public/private partnerships are by no means a new concept &mdash; think of the Erie Canal, interstate highway system and Apollo program. The most important challenges of the 21st century &mdash; from the economy and cybersecurity to national defense and environmental protection &mdash; will require the thinking and resources that only public/private teamwork can provide.
Although government officials clearly need to set policy, be in command and carry out inherently governmental functions, industry teammates can bring innovation, specialized expertise, and value to help win the peace and prosperity that citizens want and expect from government. Unfortunately, the current debate over what the government should do and what industry should do is putting public and private sectors on opposing teams.
I firmly believe that it's time &mdash; and it's imperative &mdash; that we take teaming to a new level across government and industry. With a new mindset focused more on goals and less on the penalty box and who&rsquo;s to blame, we can gain the power of collaboration, deep expertise and broad understanding.
So how do we take this deep commitment to our collective mission and shared goals across government and industry to a new level?
I see the way forward in three dimensions: people, process and attitude. In keeping with the hockey analogy, it&rsquo;s about having the best athletes who understand multiple positions and roles, it&rsquo;s about improving the rules of the game, and it&rsquo;s about having spirited, passionate and well-behaved fans on the sidelines.&nbsp;&nbsp; Read the full article&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; tr.im/ryUu

&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:21:04 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DynCorp, Flour Afghan Award ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[DynCorp International Inc. and Flour Corp. have been picked over KBR Inc. for five-year contracts worth as much as  $7.5 billion for each company, if all options are exercised, to support the U.S.  troop build-up in Afghanistan, according to an Army official.
&nbsp;
Falls Church, Virginia-based DynCorp International Inc. and Irving,  Texas-based Fluor Corp. each won basic one-year contracts worth as much as $1.5  billion and four one-year options, Jim Loehrl, executive director of the Army Rock Island,  Illinois, Contracting Center, said in a telephone interview.
&nbsp;
Today&rsquo;s awards are the sixth and seventh -- and largest -- since the program  was revamped in April 2008 into a competition that now pits Houston, Texas-based  KBR, the incumbent contractor that won the original logistics contract in 2001,  against DynCorp and Flour for individual tasks. KBR hasn&rsquo;t yet won a task order.
&nbsp;
KBR &ldquo;remains committed to providing the Army quality service,&rdquo; KBR  spokeswoman Heather Browne in an e-mail response to a request for comment.  &ldquo;We remain proud of the work we have performed and we are humbled to serve our  troops.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
DynCorp will take over services KBR provided for tasks such as laundry, food  services and maintenance for existing base camps in southern Afghanistan. It  also will build new bases as needed to accommodate the increase to about 68,000  troops from about 57,000 today. Fluor will take over similar services in  northern Afghanistan.
&nbsp;
Asked why KBR didn&rsquo;t win any of the new orders, Loehrl declined to provide  specifics.
&nbsp;
Past Performance
The selection process took into account the technical aspects of a proposal,  past performance and cost, Loehrl said.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The Army awarded contracts to the companies that provided the best value,&rdquo;  he said.
&nbsp;
Houston-based KBR, then a unit of Halliburton, won the prior competitive  logistics contract in December 2001 and has since become the largest contractor  in Iraq. That contract is worth $31.7 billion this year, according to Army  figures.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;KBR has a proven track record of serving the military in an austere and  unpredictable environment,&rdquo; Browne said in her e-mail. &ldquo;Our commitment in this  regard will continue.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
KBR has drawn continued criticism from Pentagon auditors for its bookkeeping  practices and costs incurred with the contract even as it has been praised by  troops and commanders for the services provided.
A congressionally mandated independent bipartisan panel on wartime  contracting concluded in its first report last month that KBR wasted billions of  dollars through inefficiencies, lax oversight and poor management of its  contract.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The services could have been delivered for billions of dollars less,&rdquo; the  commission said in a report released at a hearing of the House Oversight and  Government Reform&rsquo;s national security panel. &ldquo;Substantial evidence supports the  view&rdquo; that KBR&rsquo;s services &ldquo;cost too much.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Loerhl said KBR was entitled under the law to protest the awards. Read the full article http://tr.im/ryhs]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:14:55 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DHS Awards PACTS Contract]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Department taps 35 small businesses to provide professional services. The Homeland Security Department has named 35 winners of its $1.5 billion small-business set-aside contract for professional services that was announced a year ago. Competition was limited to businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.
The Program Management, Administrative, Clerical and Technical Services (PACTS) contract is designed to provide a broad range of professional support services, except information technology services. The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract has a maximum value of $1.5 billion.
Future task orders under the PACTS contract might be among the first to be subjected to the mandatory reviews announced May 28 by Secretary Janet Napolitano, said Jeremy Potter, a senior analyst at Input Inc., a market research firm in Reston, Va.
Napolitano said officials will review all new professional services contracts worth $1 million or more to determine if the work was inherently governmental or involved core functions that government employees should perform. PACTS is one of the largest professional services contracts expected to generate task orders in the coming months, Potter said.
On June 19, DHS published a list of &ldquo;apparently successful&rdquo; offerers that responded to a solicitation issued in June 2008. The 35 winners include eight companies in Functional Category 1-Program Management, 10 companies in Functional Category 2-Administrative, seven companies in Functional Category 3-Clerical and 10 companies in Functional Category 4-Technical Services.
The winning companies in the four categories are:
Category 1-Program Management

    Best Value Technology
    Klett Consulting Group
    Loch Harbour Group
    Longview-FedConsulting
    Markon Solutions
    Savvee Consulting
    Teracore
    Winbourne and Costas

Category 2-Administrative

    CTI Resource Management Services
    DS3 Computing Solutions
    HCI
    Kingfisher Systems
    Longview-FedConsulting
    Patricio Enterprises
    Strategic Alliance Enterprises
    Veterans Enterprise Technology Solutions
    Vet-Fed Resources
    Winbourne and Costas

Category 3-Clerical

    Addx
    Centuria
    imPACTS
    Kingfisher Systems
    Szanca Solutions
    TAPE
    Winbourne and Costas

Category 4-Technical Services

    Best Value Technology
    EmeSec
    imPACTS
    KMEA
    LRS Federal
    Serrano IT Services
    Solute Consulting
    Strategic Alliance Enterprises
    Ursa Navigation Solutions
    Vetco

Original article via WashingtonTechnology.com: DHS&nbsp;Awards PACTS&nbsp;Contract]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:23:23 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Lockheed Manage Fort Bragg Logistics ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Lockheed Martin Corp. has won an Army contract with a potential value of $203 million over five years to provide an array of services to the Field Logistics Readiness Center at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Under the terms of the contract, the company will furnish maintenance, material and logistics services to Army Forces Command units and the Army Materiel Command, which supports troops stationed in the United States and deployed overseas, company officials said June 25.
The contractor will be responsible for maintaining in a state of readiness wheeled vehicles, weapons and power generation and engineering equipment for the Army Sustainment Command and the 406th Training Support Brigade, the officials said.
Lockheed also operates Field Logistics Readiness Centers at Fort Stewart, Ga., and Fort Benning, Ga., the officials said.
The Army awarded the work through the Field and Installation Readiness Support Team indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract. Click here for original news release.]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:30:38 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Antarctica opportunity beckons contractors]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Wanted: A contracting team that can build roads and remote campsites, maintain information technology systems and complex scientific equipment, support laboratory and field research tasks, efficiently transport cargo, fly fixed-wing aircraft, prevent and fight fires, cook meals, cut hair, and plan fun and morale-building activities while working in a sometimes sunless environment at sub-zero temperatures. 

Does that sound appealing? Maybe not for everyone, but the National Science Foundation&rsquo;s Antarctic Support Contract has drawn the attention of a large number of traditional defense and IT contractors. The contract is in the competition phase and is scheduled for award in early October. 

Although NSF won&rsquo;t divulge the names of the bidders, Computer Sciences Corp. has formed a joint venture with EG&amp;G to pursue the contract, and incumbent contractor Raytheon Co. is bidding, too. Other major contractors that have expressed interest include Lockheed Martin Corp., Science Applications International Corp., ITT Corp. and KBR Inc.&nbsp; Read More&nbsp;&nbsp;click http://tr.im/pSWr

&nbsp;]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:21:26 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Partnering Advice for Prime and Subs]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[One of the perennial issues for contractors in the government market is partnering.
For small businesses it is about connecting with large companies, and for the bigger players it is about finding partners to fill a variety of customer and technology niches as well as comply with small business goals.
I co-hosted a panel on partnering on Tuesday with Shawn McCarthy of Government Insights. The panel at the FOSE trade show in Washington, D.C., (disclosure &ndash; Washington Technology and FOSE are owned by 1105 Government Information Group) brought executives from large, small and midtier companies.
The panel consisted of Tracy Denny, vice president of strategic capture management at Serco, Cari Dorman, director of business development, IT infrastructure solutions at CSC, Heidi Gerding, president and chief executive officer, HeiTech Services Inc., and Michael Mullen, vice president, Indus Corp.
Gerding&rsquo;s company and Serco are in a mentor prot&eacute;g&eacute; relationship that Serco inherited when it acquired SI International last year.
While the turnout could have been larger, the advice was stellar.
Here are some highlights.
If you are a small business looking to partner, focus on particular areas of expertise; don&rsquo;t say you do everything. &ldquo;You need to be able to say why you are better than any other partner we could bring in,&rdquo; Denny said.
Small businesses need to be ready to deliver right away, Mullen said.
In looking at both large and small business partners, Gerding said she uses tools such as Dun &amp; Bradstreet. &ldquo;I check their credit; do they pay bills on time; will they pay me on time,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t afford cash flow problems.&rdquo;
For a small business, approaching a large business is similar to approaching a government agency. &ldquo;You need to understand their needs and their pain points,&rdquo; Mullen said.
If you can identify a specific opportunity where your small business can help win, you need to highlight that when you approach the large business, Dorman said.
That kind of information is critical in mapping a proposal strategy. Dorman said she maps that information to statements of work in a request for proposals to determine who the best teammates should be.
Some specific technologies the companies are looking at include: Cloud computing, which is big at FOSE this year; cybersecurity; and social media, particularly collaboration tools, which are starting to gain traction.' Click here for&nbsp;original news release http://tr.im/pSiS]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:35:13 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[QinetiQ NA receives $56.4 Mil  IDIQ Award]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[QinetiQ North America will supply military first-responder robots to the Navy under a $56.4 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract.
The award from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, Md., calls for the company to deliver an unspecified number of Talon Gen IV robots, repair parts, spare kits and other related equipment and services to the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technical Division, the single-service manager for all EOD equipment.
QinetiQ North America has been manufacturing Talon robots since 2000. More than 2,800 Talon robots are deployed around the world.
&ldquo;Robots help protect our warfighters, a fact that is demonstrated every day when a robot accomplishes a dangerous assignment while the warfighter controls it from a safe distance,&rdquo; said William Ribich, president of QinetiQ North America&rsquo;s Technology Solutions Group, which will oversee the contract.
Work is expected to be completed in early 2010.
QinetiQ North America, of McLean, Va., ranks No. 34 on Washington Technology&rsquo;s 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors. Click here original news release&nbsp; http://tr.im/pSbt]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:21:39 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[GSA May End GWAC Era ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The era of governmentwide acquisition contracts might be coming to a close at the General Services Administration.
Speaking at the Washington Technology Top 100 conference today, Ed O&rsquo;Hare, assistant commissioner of the Office of Integrated Technology Services at GSA&rsquo;s Federal Acquisition Service, said the only GWACs GSA will continue supporting are Alliant and Alliant Small Business or vehicles targeted to companies in specific socioeconomic categories, such as minority-owned businesses.
For the long term, GSA will likely merge the GWAC program with the schedules. &ldquo;But that will take years, not months,&rdquo; he added.
O&rsquo;Hare said the merger of the procurement programs became a possibility after GSA combined the Federal Supply Service, which managed the schedules, and the Federal Technology Service, which managed GSA&rsquo;s stable of GWAC contracts.
The era of governmentwide acquisition contracts might be coming to a close at the General Services Administration.
Speaking at the Washington Technology Top 100 conference today, Ed O&rsquo;Hare, assistant commissioner of the Office of Integrated Technology Services at GSA&rsquo;s Federal Acquisition Service, said the only GWACs GSA will continue supporting are Alliant and Alliant Small Business or vehicles targeted to companies in specific socioeconomic categories, such as minority-owned businesses.
For the long term, GSA will likely merge the GWAC program with the schedules. &ldquo;But that will take years, not months,&rdquo; he added.
O&rsquo;Hare said the merger of the procurement programs became a possibility after GSA combined the Federal Supply Service, which managed the schedules, and the Federal Technology Service, which managed GSA&rsquo;s stable of GWAC contracts.
Phasing out GWACs was partly a response to criticism and a growing sense that there were too many GWACs, he said.
&ldquo;We know that each GWAC is time-consuming and expensive to respond to,&rdquo; he said.
GWACs that are expiring, such as Millennia Lite, will not be renewed. Instead, Alliant and Alliant Small Business will fill the void, O&rsquo;Hare said. Those contracts have a $50 billion ceiling over 10 years, meaning they will still be in use through 2018.
O&rsquo;Hare was part of a panel at the annual Top 100 conference. Moderated by Bill Gormley, president and chief executive officer of the Washington Management Group, the panel focused on whether the Obama administration is creating a new federal market.
Mike Fox, senior vice president of corporate strategic development at SRA International, voiced support for agency-specific multiple-award contracts.
&ldquo;Those have real value because they are designed to meet specific agency needs,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But we don&rsquo;t need GWACs with 50 or 60 winners. Then it looks just like a schedule.&rdquo;' Click here original news release&nbsp; http://tr.im/pSjs]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:40:03 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DOE Awards Lockheed Contract]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Department of Energy (DOE) has selected a team led by Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) to manage and operate the new Mission Support Contract at its Hanford site in south central Washington State. The latest DOE determination was made following a protest lodged by a competing bidder and a review last fall by the Government Accountability Office.
With a total program value of $3.059 billion over a 10-year period, the contract includes a five-year base contract period and options to extend it to an additional five years. Lockheed Martin is joined in the limited liability company, Mission Support Alliance (MSA) by partners Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., and Wackenhut Services, Inc. They will also be supported by several small teammates. MSA LLC had been notified in September, 2008, that it had won the contract.
Under the leadership of Lockheed Martin&rsquo;s Frank Figueroa, MSA LLC President, the team will provide integrated site-wide services to the DOE and other contractors at the Hanford site, such as safety, security and environment, site infrastructure and utilities, site business management, information resources and content management and portfolio management.
The existing Information Resources Management services work at Hanford, now being performed by Lockheed Martin under a subcontract to Fluor Hanford, Inc., will continue under the Mission Support Contract. Frank Armijo, who has successfully led Hanford IRM and other Tri-Cities, Washington-based technology programs, will remain in his role supporting MSA and leading the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Solutions unit in Richland.
&ldquo;We are gratified that the U.S. Government has made its determination, and we are ready to begin,&rdquo; Tom Grumbly, Vice President of Lockheed Martin Energy and Security Services in Rockville, Md. &ldquo;The team has maintained a high state of readiness to effect a smooth transition and an efficient, progressive path forward for the DOE, its contractors, and the community in the Tri-Cities,&rdquo; he said.
In addition to mission support for energy labs, Lockheed Martin is working with its customers to address the nation&rsquo;s energy and climate challenges in the areas of energy efficiency, management and storage, next-generation alternative energies, and climate monitoring.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion. www.lmco.com]]></description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:52:11 -0400</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[DynCorp International, Iraq]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[On June 15, 2009, the U.S. Department of State awarded DynCorp International (NYSE:DCP) a task order to provide aviation and aviation support services in Iraq. This task order is under the Worldwide Personal Protective Services (WPPS) contract with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security to provide protective security for U.S. diplomatic personnel. The task order is awarded for a base year plus four one-year options, and has a total potential value of $915 million if all options are exercised.
Under the task order, DynCorp International will provide personnel, ground and flight operations, basing and maintenance of rotary wing and fixed air assets.  The award is effective June 15, 2009, with a transition period and then full in-country performance beginning September 4, 2009.
&ldquo;This award is a tremendously important opportunity for DynCorp International to support the safety and security of U.S. diplomatic personnel serving in Iraq,&rdquo; said DynCorp International CEO William L. Ballhaus. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an honor to contribute to our government&rsquo;s efforts to promote peace and stability in Iraq, for us as a company and for every person who serves with us.&quot;
About DynCorp International
DynCorp International is a provider of specialized mission-critical services to civilian and military government agencies worldwide, and operates major programs in law enforcement training and support, security services, base operations, aviation services, contingency operations, and logistics support. DynCorp International is headquartered in Falls Church, Va. For more information, visit www.dyn-intl.com .]]></description>
			<link>https://www.govpartners.com</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:19:31 -0400</pubDate>
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