Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

Clayton County Water Authority holds monthly small business workshops

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The Clayton County (GA) Water Authority is holding monthly workshops to acquaint the business community with its new Small Local Business Certification Program.  Attendees also will be briefed on upcoming contracting opportunities and hear from guest speakers on local business resources.

The workshops are held at 1600 Battle Creek Road, Morrow, GA 30260.

Clayton County Water AuthorityUpcoming workshop dates for 2015 are:

  • June 16th – 2 pm
  • July 16th – 5 pm
  • Aug. 12th – 9 am
  • Sept. 16th – 5 pm

The September workshop is the last one of the year.  Register to attend at:  http://ccwa-slbe.eventbrite.com

The Water Authority is planning a Social Media Workshop in October (date TBD) and a Business Social Mixer in November (date TBD).

Businesses that are currently certified as a small business with GDOT, City of Atlanta, DeKalb County or Clayton County may be provisionally certified as a small local business with the Water Authority. You can learn how you can get certified at these workshops.

For further information, contact: Tami McKenzie, Procurement Compliance Coordinator, Clayton County Water Authority, phone: 770-960-5880, or email: ccwa_slbe_program@ccwa.us

 

Securing federal data on nonfederal systems

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The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued new guidance aimed at protecting federal data that’s stored on information systems outside the federal government.

NISTSpecial Publication 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Information Systems and Organizations, applies to information systems and organizations outside of the federal government that process, store or transmit federal controlled unclassified information, or CUI.

CUI is any information that the federal government requires to be safeguarded by security and/or privacy controls, excluding information that is deemed classified, which is protected under a different set of regulations.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.govinfosecurity.com/securing-federal-data-on-nonfederal-systems-a-8328/op-1

Proposed contracting rule would penalize more than just the bad apples

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Last summer, President Obama signed an executive order requiring prospective federal contractors to disclose to the contracting agency “any administrative merits decision, arbitral award or decision, or civil judgment” related to wage and hour, safety and health, collective bargaining, family and medical leave, or civil rights laws. The order, titled “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces,” directed the secretary of Labor to develop guidance to assist agencies in determining whether labor law violations were issued for “serious, repeated, willful, or pervasive” offenses.

Federal RegisterUnder the proposed guidance, published in the Federal Register on May 28, virtually any determination from any labor and employment enforcement agency will trigger a federal contractor’s reporting requirement.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.govexec.com/contracting/2015/06/proposed-contracting-rule-would-penalize-more-just-bad-apples/115783

The procurement method that actually puts the incumbent at a disadvantage

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Over the last year, particularly on federal contracts, I’ve been seeing the rise of a very disturbing procurement process. It’s “Brooks Act” compatible. It is a safe method for procurement professionals to use. And it actually puts the incumbent at a disadvantage. What is it?

The Air Force describes appropriate use of the LPTA acquisition method in this training slide.
The Air Force describes appropriate use of the LPTA acquisition method in this training slide.

It is called Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA for short).

Wait a minute, hasn’t this been around forever? Yes, it has. But, based on what I’m seeing, reading and hearing, the use of this procurement method has dramatically increased since 2013. And it’s now being used to procure everything from construction management, design, consulting, and even training services.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.helpeverybodyeveryday.com/proposal-development/2724-lowest-price-technically-acceptable

Read the Dept. of Defense memorandum on appropriate use of LPTA at: http://bbp.dau.mil/docs/Appropriate_Use_of_Lowest_Priced_Technically_Acceptable_Source_Selec_Process_Assoc_Con_Type.pdf

Company and its owners charged with DBE fraud on 224 contracts dating back to 1995

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Two owners of Carl M. Weber Steel Service, Inc. (Weber Steel), of Kutztown, PA, were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the Philadelphia U.S. Attorney’s Office announced June 16, 2015.

DBE Fraud HotlineThe conspiracy charge states that Dennis Weber, president of Weber Steel, and Dale Weber, vice president, engaged in a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Transportation through DOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program (DBE). Weber Steel, a bridge and highway construction contractor, was not a certified DBE, but set-up and utilized a sham DBE called Karen Construction Co., Inc. (Karen Construction) to obtain DBE subcontracts for bridge and highway construction.

From approximately April 1995 through November 2011, Karen Construction, posing as a DBE, obtained an estimated $18.7 million from approximately 224 federally-funded projects, when, in reality, it was controlled by Weber Steel, a non-DBE.

If convicted, defendants Dennis and Dale Weber each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison, two years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 special assessment.  Defendant Weber Steel faces a maximum sentence of five years of probation, a fine of up to $500,000, and a $100 special assessment.

The case was investigated by USDOT’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General/Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations.

Source: https://www.fbi.gov/philadelphia/press-releases/2015/kutztown-steel-company-and-owners-charged-with-conspiracy

Small business ‘industry day’ now set for July 14-15 in Macon

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A Small Business Industry Day (SBID) outreach event is being sponsored by the Air Force Sustainment Center on July 14 and 15, 2015 at the Middle Georgia State College Conference Center in Macon, GA.

The event is designed to increase small business participation and awareness in the Air Force supply chain.

AF SB Industry Day 7.14-15.2015The AF Sustainment SBID provides benefit to the Air Force by creating partnerships and increasing small business participation. The event focuses on small business capabilities, Air Force business opportunities, and matching Air Force subject matter experts with the large and small business communities.

The event will feature a combination of senior-level speakers from the Air Force, informational briefings, networking opportunities, as well as one-on-one meeting opportunities between small businesses and government points-of-contact (POCs). This opportunity is a forum that emphasizes small business capabilities and new concepts, highlights existing small business products, and promotes collaboration.

Advance registration required and may be accomplished at: https://afconference.brtrc.com/AFSBID/2015Sustainment/Default.aspx.

The registration fee for small business attendees is $200.00. For all Major Defense Contractors attendees, the fee is $250.00.

New proposal would alter FAR subcontracting plan requirements

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The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires most large business contractors to have a plan approved by the government to subcontract a certain amount of their work to the various types of small business contractors (i.e., SDB, WOSB, SDVOSB, etc.). In the last few years, we have seen a noticeable increase in activity related to these subcontracting plans.

The FARSBA changed its subcontracting rules in July 2013 and since then has stepped up its audits to determine how well contractors are complying with their subcontracting plans. The FAR, which has lagged behind the updated SBA regulations, is now poised to catch up in several respects based on proposed changes released on June 10, 2015.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.pilieromazza.com/blog/change-of-plans-new-proposal-would-alter-far-subcontracting-plan-requirements

Interested parties may submit written comments on this proposed rule.  Comments must be received on or before August 10, 2015 by mail to the General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat Division (MVCB), ATTN: Ms. Flowers, 1800 F. Street NW., 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20405.  Cite FAR case 2014-003.  

Comments also may be sent via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching “FAR Case 2014-003.”  Select the link “Comment Now” that corresponds with “FAR Case 2014-003.” Follow the instructions provided on the screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and “FAR Case 2014-003” on your attached document.

3 business people arrested in Puerto Rico in ‘rent-a-vet’ scheme

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A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico has returned a five count indictment charging Jose A. Rosa-Colon, his brother and business partner, Ivan Rosa-Colon and Louis Enrique Torres with a multi-million dollar Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.  The charges include major fraud against the United States and wire fraud.  This investigation was conducted by Special Agents from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division.

Justice Dept. sealThe indictment unsealed in federal court on June 3, 2015 alleges that from on or about 2007 to 2014, Ivan Rosa-Colon, Jose Rosa-Colon and Torres conspired to use Jose Rosa-Colon’s service-disabled veteran status to create BELKRO General Contractors, which was a pass- through or front company for Ivan Rosa-Colon’s other business, IRC Air Contractors.

vets firstThe indictment alleges that Ivan Rosa-Colon and Louis Torres used Jose Rosa-Colon’s service-disabled veteran status to certify and register BELKRO General Contractors in various government databases as a SDVOSB after Ivan Rosa- Colon learned that President George W. Bush would be signing a government stimulus package encouraging the use of SDVOSB.  The stimulus package would allow for government agencies to award non-competitive, set-aside or sole-source government contracts to SDVOSB like BELKRO General Contractors.

The indictment further alleges that Jose Rosa-Colon, owner of BELKRO General Contractors, was employed as a full-time U.S. Postal Service Carrier; he was not in charge of the day to day operations of BELKRO General Contractors.  Jose Rosa-Colon was simply a figurehead or “rent-a-vet”, who was being used for his service-disabled veteran status to obtain contracts for his brother Ivan Rosa-Colon’s company.  As a result of the scheme, BELKRO General Contractors unlawfully received set-aside and/or sole-source SDVOSB contracts from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including contracts involving American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds.

If convicted, they face a term of 20 years in prison as to each wire fraud charge and up to ten years in prison for the charges of major fraud against the United States.  Additionally, they face fines of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release as to each count.

This indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez for the District of Puerto Rico, Special Agent in Charge Monty Stokes for the Southeast Field Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division and Acting Special Agent in Charge Sharon Johnson for the Eastern Regional Office, Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Diaz-Rex.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/three-people-arrested-puerto-rico-contractor-major-scheme-defraud-us-department-veterans

Schedule 70 adding sections for health IT, cybersecurity

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After the release of a special item number (SIN) for cloud products and services on IT Schedule 70, the General Services Administration is now looking to create two more SINs for targeted technologies, namely health IT and cybersecurity.

GSA logoThe Office of Integrated Technology Services (ITS) plans to issue a request for information in the next two weeks asking agencies and industry to comment on what needs to be included in a health IT SIN, according to Soundjata Carty, contracting officer at the ITS Office of IT Schedule Programs.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.federaltimes.com/story/government/acquisition/gsa-gwac/2015/06/03/schedule-70-health-it-cyber/28411893/

Briefings to be held in June and July on ISO standard updates

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Georgia businesses are invited to attend GaMEP’s next Manufacturing Growth meeting in Lawrenceville or Acworth.

ISO 9001At this event you will learn how to interpret the 2015 updates to ISO standards for ISO 9001 (quality management systems) and ISO 14001 (environmental management systems) and how to incorporate changes into your existing management system to retain your company’s ISO certification.

Register here for Changes to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 in Lawrenceville.
Date – June 16
Time – 11:30 am -1:30 pm
Price – $15 (includes lunch)

Or

Register here for Changes to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 in Acworth.
Date – July 22
Time – 11:30 am -1:30 pm
Price – $15 (includes lunch)

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