Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

With 2018 budget, Christmas comes early for federal contractors

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The federal government is flush with money, thanks to a $1.3 trillion fiscal 2018 funding package. Contractors that take proactive steps now can benefit from this bonanza.

After five continuous resolutions and a government shutdown, it’s Christmas in April and the gifts are flowing. The biggest winners in the omnibus spending bill include the departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and Transportation, all of which saw increases of more than 10 percent over last year.

Even the EPA, the beleaguered agency that the White House wants to slash – remained flat. The State Department was the only major agency that had a cut, only 5.9 percent, less than the 8 percent requested in the President’s budget.

With a total increase in the fiscal 2018 budget of $143 Billion, $80 billion for defense and $63 billion for civilian, the challenge now for most agencies will be spending the massive influx of funds by the end of the current fiscal year, Sept. 30.

Keep reading this article at: https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2018/04/18/insights-abel-fiscal-2018-buying.aspx

The next gov’t shutdown: How contractors can prepare

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Congress’ short-term spending bill signed on Jan. 22, 2018 ended the nearly three-day government shutdown. As this spending bill only appropriated funding for government operations for three weeks, however, and does not resolve the underlying political disputes, it is unlikely to put an end to shutdown politics for good, or even for long.

Participants in the federal market would be wise to review the issues and challenges presented by shutdowns in order to remain prepared for what may come.

What Activities Can Continue During a Shutdown?

During a shutdown, federal contractors must determine whether they may continue performing. A government shutdown is not a self-executing stop-work order; a shutdown itself does not suspend a company’s obligations to perform or the government’s obligation to pay for performance. What matters is whether a contractor’s work requires any new appropriation or authorization of spending, and whether critical government personnel, facilities, and resources are available.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=666774

Also see DoD’s Jan. 18, 2018 Shutdown Guidance (Jan. 18 2018) at: https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/GUIDANCE-FOR-CONTINUATION-OF-OPERATIONS-DURING-A-LAPSE-OF-APPROPRIATIONS.pdf,

What federal contractors should do during the government shutdown

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Government employees aren’t the only ones who are wondering what they’ll be doing on Monday if Congress can’t reach a budget agreement; federal contractors are also facing a lot of uncertainty.

Depending on when their contract was funded, what agency they’re with, what they’re doing, and where they work out of, some contractors may continue working as if nothing has changed.

If the federal personnel the contractor works alongside is locked out, the contractor may be too.

There are a lot of variables at play and most of them look to be less than ideal for contractors, who in most cases will lose money during this ordeal. But while everyone hopes this will remain a short-term dispute, there are a couple of ways contractors can use the time away from federal job sites more productively.

Keep reading this article at: https://wtop.com/government/2018/01/federal-contractors-government-shutdown/

 

 

Impact of a shutdown on contractors means lost wages, project delays

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Government contractors are often overlooked when it comes to the threat of a government shutdown. And as the most current threat becomes more and more real, many are waiting for guidance from their agency customers.

“We are hearing there is a lack of communication,” said David Berteau, the CEO of the Professional Services Council, an industry association. “We saw cases in 2013 where the contracting officer and contracting officer representative for a program gave direction to the contractor and put them on the list of cleared individuals, but when they showed up at the base or installation, there was no guard or the guard didn’t let them in. There were a lot of those disconnects in 2013. If a shutdown happens this time, the same thing may happen.”

PSC, the IT Alliance for Public Sector and the Coalition for Government Procurement are offering resources centers for contractors as they plan for a possible partial shutdown.

Keep reading this article at: https://federalnewsradio.com/government-shutdown/2018/01/impact-of-a-shutdown-on-contractors-means-lost-wages-project-delays/

Government contractor shutdown advisory

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With yet another government shutdown looming, contractors face a number of uncertainties and challenges that warrant close attention — regardless of whether a shutdown takes place or how long it lasts.

Among other challenges, contractors may face:

  • a lack of incremental funding;
  • the inability to enter into new contracts or contract modifications;
  • closed government facilities;
  • furloughed government employees;
  • delayed payments;
  • increased indirect costs; and
  • unexercised and deferred contract options.

Below we offer six suggestions to help address key areas impacted by a shutdown, including contract funding, internal and external communications, recordkeeping, and deadlines.

Keep reading this article at: https://governmentcontractsnavigator.com/2018/01/19/government-contractor-shutdown-advisory/

What tech trends to expect in FY18

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Earlier this year, Washington Technology shared four technology trends that it predicted would take shape in 2017: IT modernization, the digital connect, data security and intelligence-driven enterprise. Now as we enter the next federal fiscal year, the publication is checking in to see how those predictions have fared – and share some thoughts about what will happen next.

Under the new administration, the most significant trend we’ve seen take shape is not just about leveraging technology to better streamline service delivery, but enabling efficiencies and cost savings across the federal government while doing so.

Since the president’s proposed 2018 budget has not yet been approved, and agencies will likely be working with extensions for a few months at least – not to mention the looming possibility of sequestration, we envision that the focus will remain on investing in, and deploying, and applying technologies that drive outcomes while reducing costs.

Keep reading this article at: https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2017/10/26/insights-parameswaran-2018-tech-trends.aspx

An infrastructure deal should be easy, but isn’t

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The stars should be aligned for a big infrastructure deal.

The lingering devastation from the hurricanes that crippled Houston and Florida underscored the national problems of crumbling roads and bridges, inadequate transportation systems and aging electrical grids. President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats both want Washington to spend billions on repairs and construction.

The need is critical. The American Society of Civil Engineers recently gave the country’s infrastructure a D-plus grade and estimated that its deficiencies will cost the economy $4 trillion over the next decade. As Floridians go days, stretching into weeks, without power, and with old people dying in nursing homes, the urgency is clear.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-09-17/an-infrastructure-deal-should-be-easy-but-isn-t

Companies scramble for $98 billion in federal contract spending

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As the clock ticks down on fiscal 2017, an estimated $98 billion in federal agency contract obligations remains unspent.

Federal agencies have until the end of September to spend an estimated $488 billion approved by Congress for their operations in fiscal 2017, or about $2.5 billion a day, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Government.

An estimated $390 billion had been spent as of Aug. 22. Any available funds not under contract by the end of next month will be returned to the Treasury.

The Department of Defense leads all federal agencies with $60 billion available to spend through the end of September, which represents about one out of five of its estimated, year- end spending total. The Department of State leads all agency shares of estimated, unspent obligations, at 41 percent.

Keep reading this article at: https://about.bgov.com/blog/companies-scramble-98-billion-federal-contract-spending/

4 things for contractors to remember in planning for a possible government shutdown

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With six weeks left in fiscal 2017, budget experts are warning federal contractors that it’s only prudent to begin preparations for the possibility of a government shutdown on Oct. 1.

Lawmakers will have just a few weeks left to develop a budget compromise when they return from August recess before the current spending resolution expires Sept. 30.

House lawmakers passed the Make America Secure Appropriations Act, a “minibus” of spending bills that sets appropriations for the departments of Defense, Energy, Interior, Veterans Affairs and other agencies, as well as the legislative branch. The Senate has passed no appropriations bills yet.

But as budget experts encourage federal contractors to begin preparing for the worst, there is some good news.

Agency contracting officers and senior leadership are more practiced in handling these situations now than they did at the start of the last shutdown in October 2013.

Keep reading this article at: https://federalnewsradio.com/government-shutdown/2017/08/4-things-for-contractors-to-remember-in-planning-for-a-possible-government-shutdown/

An easy way to explore how changes in federal spending affect a contractor

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The U.S. federal government agreed to spend $262 billion with its top 100 contractors in 2016.

A billion here, a billion there — pretty soon you’re talking about real money, right?  So changes in how the government allocates funds can have a significant impact on supplier companies.

Consider President Trump’s proposed defense budget. For the fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1, it would provide $574 billion to the Pentagon (not including an additional $65 billion for overseas contingency operations). That’s a 10 percent increase from the last full-year budget, and some of that could flow to defense contractors. Which ones, though?

Here’s how to dig into that question and find the companies most exposed to changes in government spending, the details of government contracts, and the supply chain of each contractor.

To get insight into government policy from Bloomberg Government, first go to https://about.bgov.com/government-contracting.  BGOV follows and interprets legislation, regulation, government spending, lobbying, and campaign finance through the lens of industries and companies, enabling you to generate investment ideas and mitigate risk.

To analyze 2018 budget proposals and potentially identify winners and losers, select FY18 Skinny Budget for information on the White House’s preliminary budget outline and how it differs from the fiscal year 2017 budget.  Proposed increases in defense spending would be subsidized by potential cuts in funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development and the departments of State, Education, and Health & Human Services.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-19/an-easy-way-to-explore-how-changes-in-u-s-federal-spending-affect-a-contractor

See the Top 10 federal contract opportunities, updated weekly, here: https://about.bgov.com/?s=+Top+20+Opportunities

 

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