Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

GSA launches ‘reverse auction’ platform, encourages small business competition

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The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced on July 9, 2013 the launch of a government-managed reverse auction platform— reverseauctions.gsa.gov— available through the National Information Technology Commodity Program (NITCP) of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS).  GSA expects the platform to deliver increased savings for federal agencies on the most commonly purchased office products, equipment and services, while also making it easier for small businesses to compete for the government’s business.

In a reverse auction, sellers compete to win business from agencies; prices will typically decrease as the competitive auction progresses.  GSA’s new reverse auction platform reduces federal agencies’ acquisition processing time and costs, drives prices and costs down, improves transparency and collection of data, and allows for small business set-asides.   “Using a government-run reverse auctions tool is a fantastic innovation for GSA’s customers, and we expect that it will drive even more savings and speed into the acquisition process,” said FAS Commissioner Thomas A. Sharpe, Jr.  “This approach to government procurement can be used with a good portion of GSA’s Multiple Award Schedules as an efficient and cost-effective process for purchasing commonly used products and simple services.  Reverse auctions can drive down prices paid, reduce the total cost of acquisitions, and save time and precious acquisition resources for both government and industry.”

Federal agencies now may use the GSA platform to conduct reverse auctions through select GSA’s Multiple Award Schedules and established select blanket purchase agreements (BPAs) for commodities like office supplies, laptops, tablets and monitors, as well as for simple services like warranty, training and installation.  Additionally, the platform will allow federal customers to set aside auctions for small business, increasing opportunities for small and disadvantaged companies to bid easily for government business.

“GSA is doing a lot of exciting and positive things to improve acquisition efficiencies and drive competition, but the new reverse auction platform hits the ball out of the park,” said U.S. Department of the Navy strategic program manager Jamey Halke.  Navy is the first agency to use the platform and is already engaged in a partnership with GSA to add the Navy’s BPAs to the platform.

Historically, GSA’s customers have saved as much as 17 percent through use of reverse auctions.  With GSA offering front-loaded discounted pricing as a starting point through its BPAs, the reverse auction approach will provide additional savings to the government.

Reverse auctions also provide greater transparency into prices paid which improves the government’s ability to negotiate with vendors to receive best pricing possible.  The reverse auction platform also captures line-item data by agency bureau, which will aid agencies in performing prices paid analysis and provide insights into purchasing behavior for strategic sourcing opportunities.

Learn more about the Reverse Auction platform and benefits at http:\www.reverseauctions.gsa.gov

 

GSA will pay $3M to more than 1,000 contractors kicked out of schedules program

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The General Services Administration collectively owes more than one thousand  contractors more than $3 million because the agency failed to pay off vendors  after kicking them out of the schedules program. The finding came as the result  of an investigation by the House Small Business Committee.

The agency failed to pay some terminated contractors a $2,500 guarantee it  makes to all vendors that join the schedules program.

“The General Services Administration has owned up to their mistake and will  distribute payment this year,” said Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.).

If schedule holders don’t make at least $25,000 worth of schedule sales in the  first two years and $25,000 annually thereafter, GSA may cancel the contracts.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.fiercegovernment.com/story/gsa-will-pay-3m-more-1000-contractors-kicked-out-schedules-program/2013-05-16?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

GSA releases draft solicitation for massive professional services contract vehicle

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The General Services Administration moved one step closer to launching an overarching contract vehicle for professional services Thursday by releasing two draft requests for proposals.

The agency is inviting comments on the draft RFPs and through its GSA Interact system.

The contract vehicle, known as One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services, or OASIS, would include contracts for accounting, communication, security and transportation, among other services.

OASIS would be an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract that would last 10 years in its first incarnation, according to the draft RFPs. GSA’s two draft solicitions were a general RFP and another focused on small businesses.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.govexec.com/contracting/2013/03/gsa-releases-draft-solicitation-massive-professional-services-contract-vehicle/62153/?oref=govexec_today_nl 

Changes to GSA Schedules program likely in 2013

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Anyone monitoring government contracting in the last few years has noticed a surge in U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule contracts. As of fiscal year 2012, GSA had over 19,000 Schedule contracts. According to GSA, approximately 10% of federal procurement dollars went through GSA Schedule contracts last year representing nearly $50 billion in spending.  Considering 80% of GSA Schedule contracts are with small businesses, proposed changes to the GSA Schedule program in 2013 will surely impact small businesses.

The first of these changes, spearheaded by SBA, intends to ensure more small businesses reap the benefits of the GSA Schedule program. While small businesses represent 80% of GSA Schedule contract holders, only 36% of contract sales go to small businesses.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.pilieromazza.com/includes/content/downloads/download.php?id=750.

 

Court rules VA can ignore set-asides for veteran-owned businesses on GSA Schedule buys

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The Department of Veterans Affairs takes the position that it is not obligated to consider veteran-owned businesses on goods and services it buys through GSA’s Federal Supply Schedule, and now the VA has a court decision that backs its stance.

On November 27, 2012, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled that the VA has discretion to procure goods and services from GSA’s Federal Supply Schedule without first considering a set-aside acquisition for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) or veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) (Kingdomware Technologies, Inc. v. United States).

This ruling is a distinct departure from several recent U.S. Government Accountability Office decisions.  The GAO has consistently ruled that the VA must comply with the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 before conducting a GSA Schedule buy. The 2006 Act created the “Veterans First” contracting program that gives priority to SDVOSBs and VOSBs in VA acquisitions.  The VA has maintained that the GAO’s interpretation of the 2006 Act was wrong and instructed its contracting officers to not apply the “Veterans First” principles to Schedule contracting.

The Kingdomware case represents the first time a court has ruled on the question of whether the GSA Schedule program is influenced by the terms of the “Veterans First” program.

Keep reading this article at: http://contractingacademy.gatech.edu/2012/12/court-rules-va-can-ignore-set-asides-for-veteran-owned-businesses-on-gsa-schedule-buys.

Feb. 7 GSA webinar focuses on benefits to federal agencies using GSA Schedules

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As the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) regularly points out in its counseling of businesses, making a GSA Schedule contract an effective business tool is dependent upon the ability of a business to effectively market its Schedule offerings to federal agencies.

The GSA is offering a webinar on Feb. 7, 2013 that focuses on the advantages Schedule contracts represent to federal agencies.  Schedule contractors looking insights aout how to market their Schedule offerings should plan to attend.

GSA’s Schedule course is offered in a Part 1/Part 2 format, featuring a total of 4 Continous Learning Points (CLPs).
Details are below:
Feb. 7, 2013:
  • Part 1: 10:30am – 12:00pm ET
  • (Break, 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET)
  • Part 2: 1:00pm – 2:30pm ET
Webinar Instructions:
1.  Go to the webinar login page: http://gsafas.adobeconnect.com/schedules
2.  Click the top radio button, ‘Enter as a Guest’ and Type in your full name (*you must register for the training session at interact.gsa.gov/gsa-training to get CLP credit*)
3. Click ‘Enter Room‘. (There is no Password).
No phone is necessary. You will be connected to audio using your computer’s speakers (VoIP). Turn up your computer volume and uncheck ‘mute’. A question-and-answer period will be provided at the end of the session via Chat.

‘How to do business with GSA’ webinar Feb. 27th

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The U.S. General Services Administration’s Office of Small Business Utilization is sponsoring an on-line webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, from 9:30 to 11:30 am EST.

This webinar gives businesses the opportunity to the “learn the federal ropes” from marketing to promoting sustainability.

GSA’s Office of Small Business Utilization advocates for small, minority, veteran, HUBZone, and women business owners.  The webinar will focus on the steps to “Doing Business with GSA” through contracting
options, sustainability, and more, including:

  • GSA’s procurement policies and methods
  • Accessing government solicitations
  • Marketing your products/services
  • GSA Schedules Program Pros and Cons
  • The GSA Mentor Protege Program
  • GSA and Sustainability

Space is limited.  Reserve your webinar seat now at: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/152980351

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements:

  • PC-based attendees requirements: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
  • Mac®-based attendees  requirements: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer
  • Mobile attendees requirements: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

For additional information, please contact Janice Bracey at janice.bracey@gsa.gov

GSA plans Schedules webinar on Jan. 10th

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Now you have a chance to be briefed — directly by GSA officials — on GSA Schedules and small business set asides.

The Office of Acquisition Management of the General Services Administration is conducting a live webinar, at no cost, on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm EST.

No pre-registration is necessary.  Just visit http://gsafas.adobeconnect.com/schedules shortly before 1:00 pm on Jan. 10th.  Then, follow these instructions:

1. Enter as a GUEST and type your Full Name
2. Enter Room. (There is no Password).
3. You will be connected to audio using your computer’s speakers (VoIP).  Turn up your computer volume and uncheck ‘mute’.
4. Question and Answer period will be conducted by ‘Chat’.
By participating, you’ll learn how the Federal Acquisition Regulation was changed to provide agencies with discretionary authority to set-aside orders against multiple award contracts for small business.

Big firms edge out small businesses for billions in awards

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Major U.S. companies including General Dynamics Corp. and Medtronic Inc. have received billions of dollars in federal government contracts that were supposed to go to small businesses

The BGOV Barometer shows that about $4.74 billion, or 45 percent, of more than $10.6 billion targeted for small businesses under government acquisition rules were won by bigger competitors in the year that ended Sept. 30, 2011, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Companies that need the revenue the most are losing opportunities, said Margot Dorfman, chief executive officer of the Washington-based U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

“I think this particular issue should be one of the top concerns of the Small Business Administration and the president,” Dorfman said in an interview. “Fix it now. Let’s not wait.”

Keep reading this article at: http://about.bgov.com/2012/11/13/big-firms-edge-out-small-for-billions-in-awards-bgov-barometer/ 

 

GSA to pare back supply schedules, grow strategic sourcing

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The General Services Administration may consolidate its 31 Federal Supply Schedules into eight, a top agency official recently said.

GSA has floated the idea to industry groups and customer agencies of reorganizing the supply schedules program to make it easier for government buyers to navigate, Jeff Koses, GSA’s director of acquisition operations, said at a conference of the Coalition for Government Procurement.

“In some ways, schedules have become more complex to navigate than they were 10 to 20 years ago,” Koses said.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20121025/DEPARTMENTS07/310250001/GSA-pare-back-supply-schedules-grow-strategic-sourcing?odyssey=nav%7Chead

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