Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

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Recent GAO decisions underscore the need for precision in identifying corporate entities during the procurement process

November 19, 2018 By Andrew Smith

Many government contractors are part of corporate families consisting of multiple corporate entities.  One entity may be named as the official contracting party, but use the resources of affiliates, parents, or subsidiaries during performance.

The distinction between those members of the corporate family may not seem important in terms of day-to-day operations — in fact, the synergy and seamlessness between the corporate entities may be a selling point.

Two recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) decisions make clear, however, that when it comes to bidding on government work, it is important to precisely identify which corporate entity is going to do what and which corporate entity has which resources.

In BDO USA, LLP and Intermarkets Global USA, LLC, GAO’s decisions turned on a perceived misidentification of corporate entities at some point in the procurement process.  In BDO, the problem occurred during bid submission.  In Intermarkets, the problem occurred when the protest was filed.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.insidegovernmentcontracts.com/2018/11/still-just-rat-cage-recent-gao-decisions-underscore-need-precision-identifying-corporate-entities-procurement-process/

Filed Under: Contracting Tips Tagged With: award protest, CAGE, entity identification, GAO, protest, SAM

SAM profile mistake leads to possible lost contract

September 9, 2016 By Andrew Smith

SAM logoSmall business owners have lots of items on their to-do lists. In addition to actually running the business, there are many administrative tasks required to make sure that you meet the applicable small business size standards and maintain those standards year-after-year (in order to avoid, or at least minimize, vulnerability to an SBA size protest).

Among the (sometimes admittedly) tedious tasks associated with remaining eligible for small business contract awards is registering in the required government databases. Over the past five years, this process has been considerably streamlined by the rollout of the System for Award Management (www.SAM.gov). SAM is a no-cost, government website where contractors must register and provide certain identifying information about their business.

One of the areas covered by a SAM profile is a business’s size – and specifically whether it qualifies as “small” under the applicable size standards.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=522310

Remember: SAM.gov registration is free, and help with SAM is free, too.  

Filed Under: Contracting Tips Tagged With: CAGE, contract payments, free instruction, free SAM assistance, free SAM help, free SAM registration, OHA, protest, PTAC, SAM, SAM registration, sam.gov, SBA, size standards, System for Award Management, vendor database, vendor registration

Want to get paid? Don’t let your CAGE code expire!

August 19, 2016 By Andrew Smith

Keep SAM happy, and your CAGE will be alright.

Let’s explain that first sentence.

  • SAM stands for System for Award Management.  In essence, it’s the federal government’s vendor database.  If your company wants to do business with the federal government, it’s imperative that you register in SAM.  (For tips on how to register, click here.)
  • CAGE stands for Commercial and Governmental Entity, another code.  The government automatically creates and issues your business a CAGE code once you properly register in SAM.  Having a CAGE code is very important because without one, your business is not eligible to receive U.S. Government funds — and that could mean you won’t be paid for contract work you are performing.

So, to restate the first sentence: If you keep your SAM registration up-to-date, your CAGE code will stay active.  

SAM requires all registrants to update their records at least once a year.  Now, with a change that takes effect on Aug. 25, 2016, if you don’t keep SAM up-to-date, you risk allowing your CAGE code to expire.  There is a saving grace: If you allow your SAM registration to lapse, you can renew it.  In turn, the CAGE system will pick up your SAM renewal and reset the expiration date on your CAGE code.

Remember, there is no fee charged to register in SAM and no cost to obtain a CAGE code.

If you need help with SAM registration or verifying your CAGE code, the best place to get help is your nearest procurement technical assistance center (PTAC).  In Georgia, that means the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC).  To see a list of GTPAC offices and staff, visit: http://gtpac.org/team-directory.

 

 

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: CAGE, contract payments, free instruction, free SAM assistance, free SAM help, free SAM registration, PTAC, SAM, SAM registration, sam.gov, System for Award Management, vendor database, vendor registration

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  • SAM.gov registration is free, and help with SAM is free, too
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