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Contractors worry e-commerce portals could create ‘parallel compliance’ models

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The General Services Administration is continuing with plans to create e-commerce portals for federal procurement, hosting its second town hall meeting with industry stakeholders two weeks ago.

And while those stakeholders expressed overall support for the initiative, some were concerned that the policy GSA is designing could create a diverging compliance structure from its multiple award contracts, which could cause some tough choices for businesses.

The agency is in the middle of a three-phase plan to craft a system of portals that will allow officials to capitalize on the potential cost savings of buying from competitive e-commerce retailers like Amazon and others.

The first phase included several recommendations to Congress, among them, raising the threshold for micropurchases in the portals from the current levels of $10,000 for civilian agencies and $5,000 for the Department of Defense to $25,000 overall.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.fedscoop.com/e-commerce-portal-plan-create-parallel-compliance-models-contractors/

GSA to host another e-commerce portal industry day

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The General Services Administration (GSA) is once again asking for industry input on a massive e-commerce portal that would make buying commercial products easier and faster for federal agencies.

GSA will host an industry day for the platform at its headquarters on June 21, Mark Lee, the agency’s assistant commissioner for policy and compliance, said Wednesday at a Coalition for Government Procurement conference. The event is open to any group looking to weigh in on the online platform that will handle billions of dollars in federal spending on commercial products.

Lee said the agency will also publish two related requests for information by the end of May: one for sellers interested in joining the portal and another for providers looking to host it.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.nextgov.com/policy/2018/05/gsa-host-another-e-commerce-portal-industry-day/148265/

What should contractors know about GSA’s new e-commerce portal implementation plan?

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One of the most closely monitored provisions of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 846, directed the General Services Administration (GSA) to create a new e-commerce portal for the sale of commercial goods.  Section 846 established delayed implementation of the new e-commerce portal, which is set to occur in phases that each require distinct action items and submissions.

  • Phase 1 requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the GSA, to create an implementation plan and schedule for carrying out the e-commerce portal program.
  • Phase 2 requires OMB and GSA to prepare recommendations for any changes to – or exemptions from – laws necessary for effective implementation of the program within one year of submitting the implementation plan and schedule contemplated under Phase 1.
  • Phase 3 requires OMB and GSA to create guidance for the e-commerce portal program within two years of submitting the implementation plan and schedule contemplated under Phase 1.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=687578

Holland & Knight’s analysis of Section 846 is available here, and the original Thornberry acquisition reform bill that started this is available here.

GSA hears comments from industry about e-commerce portals

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As part of ongoing efforts to create an online marketplace for government purchasers, GSA officials held a public meeting January 9th to discuss potential market structures and legal requirements.

A wide range of stakeholders attended the hearing, responding to questions from GSA on issues such as how many online portals should be implemented, who should have privity of contract with the government, and whether certain federal procurement requirements should be waived for program participants.  GSA had previously published its discussion topics in a Federal Register notice on December 15, 2017.

GSA’s town hall took place as part of the implementation of Section 846 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2018.  As discussed in a previous blog post, the 2018 NDAA requires GSA and OMB to develop and implement e-commerce portals for commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item procurements, rolling out the program under a three-phase plan.  [2018 NDAA § 846(c)(1)]  Phase I requires the development of a plan for implementing the commercial e-commerce portals program, including recommendations regarding “changes to, or exemptions from, [existing procurement] laws.”  Id.  That Phase I plan is due to Congress on March 12, 2018. Id.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.insidegovernmentcontracts.com/2018/01/gsa-hears-comments-industry-e-commerce-portals/#more-7422 

GSA invites industry comment by Jan. 9th on upcoming e-commerce portals

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In an effort to create a new online market for government contracts, the General Services Administration (“GSA”) has invited industry to comment on the development and design of e-commerce portals for commercial procurements.

GSA’s request for comments was published on December 15, 2017.  This comment period provides a valuable opportunity for contractors to advise GSA on what regulations and business practices should apply to e-commerce portals, which will likely serve as a platform for billions of dollars’ worth of government business.

GSA’s announcement comes only days after the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2018 (“2018 NDAA” or the “Act”), which included an overhaul of the commercial item procurement system and directed GSA to develop e-commerce systems.  Pursuant to Section 846(a) of the Act, GSA must establish e-commerce portals “for the purposes of enhancing competition, expediting procurement, enabling market research, and ensuring reasonable pricing of commercial products.”  2018 NDAA § 846(a).  GSA has 90 days to implement “phase I” of Section 846, under which GSA must develop a plan and schedule for creating e-commerce portals.  2018 NDAA § 846(c)(1).

Keep reading this article at: https://www.insidegovernmentcontracts.com/2017/12/7399/

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