Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

Amazon a top contender for GSA’s e-commerce pilot

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The General Services Administration released a draft request for proposal July 2 for its Commercial Platform Initiative, or CPI, a governmentwide e-commerce program that could offer companies like Amazon.com Inc. the chance to run online marketplaces through which agencies spend as much as $6 billion a year.

Under the CPI, vendors will compete to establish e-commerce platforms that federal contracting officers can use to buy everyday items with their government purchase cards.  GSA will select multiple vendors to participate in a 12-month pilot program that would inform the larger governmentwide effort, according to the solicitation.  After the initial 12 months, the government has the choice to extend the contract for four option years.

“An exciting opportunity lies ahead to create not only a modernized buying experience but also reduce the burden for agency partners and suppliers alike,” said GSA deputy assistant commissioner Laura Stanton.  “We are looking to leverage business-to-business terms whenever practicable, to allow for streamlined buying while obtaining a more transparent and centralized view of this type of government-wide spend.”

Continue reading at:  Bloomberg Government

GSA issues draft solicitation ahead of awards on new e-commerce portals

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The General Services Administration issued a draft solicitation Tuesday seeking feedback on proposed requirements for its forthcoming e-commerce portals program.

A multiple-award proof of concept — for sites similar to Amazon, Overstock or Jet.com and required by the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act — is expected later this year and will modernize how agencies buy commercial products outside of existing contracts.

GSA estimates $6 billion in open-market purchases are made on government-issued credit cards, but the pilot will begin with a subset of agencies and a $10,000 spending limit on any one order.  Agency officials have asked Congress to raise that micro-purchase threshold to $25,000 for the five-year pilot to better evaluate streamlined buying.

Continue reading at:  Fedscoop

New NDAA purchasing rules should benefit government shoppers, small business

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The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) rules governing the acquisition of commercial items should give those making relatively small purchases more choices, and small businesses more hope for getting a piece of the federal spending pie.

Since President Donald Trump signed the 2018 NDAA into law on Dec. 12, the focus has been on rules providing a three-fold increase in the micro-purchase threshold for civilian agencies from $3,000 to $10,000.

A micro-purchase, because of its relatively low value, doesn’t require competition. With few limitations, it allows contracting officers to  buy any product from any company, so long as it doesn’t exceed the $10,000 threshold.

Keep reading this article at: https://federalnewsradio.com/acquisition-policy/2018/01/new-ndaa-purchasing-rules-should-benefit-government-shoppers-small-business/

Federal government’s procurement process could go digital

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In order to keep up with online marketplaces available at the “one touch” of a smartphone, the federal government is doing its part to bring its procurement process into the digital age.

Legislation passed earlier this year by the House of Representatives would allow the U.S. military and civilian government agencies to buy products directly from new online marketplaces instead of following the current procurement process for purchases above the “micro-purchase” threshold (i.e., a few thousand dollars).

The newly proposed process would present many opportunities for online retailers and marketplaces and is seen by supporters as a way to drive down prices for the government. However, such a transition would create many compliance and regulatory issues likely introducing new costs; and opponents, such as Steve Ellis, the vice president of advocacy group Taxpayers for Common Sense, argue that it will foster a less competitive environment and create waste.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/the-federal-government-procurement-47876/

DoD micro-purchase increase is now in effect

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The increase to DoD’s micro-purchase threshold mandated by the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act is now in effect.

A Class Deviation issued earlier this month provides, effective immediately, that the DoD micro-purchase threshold is $5,000 for many acquisitions.

The new micro-purchase threshold is $1,500 higher than the standard $3,500 micro-purchase threshold.  But there are a few exceptions.

Keep reading this article at: http://smallgovcon.com/statutes-and-regulations/dod-micro-purchase-increase-is-now-in-effect/

2017 NDAA increases DoD’s micro-purchase threshold to $5,000

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2017-ndaaThe 2017 National Defense Authorization Act will increase the DoD’s micro-purchase threshold to $5,000.

Under the conference bill recently approved by both House and Senate, the DoD’s micro-purchase threshold will be $1,500 greater than the standard micro-purchase threshold applicable to civilian agencies.

A micro-purchase is an acquisition by the government of supplies or services that, because the aggregate is below a certain price, allows the government to use simplified acquisition procedures without having to hold a competition, conduct market research, or set aside the procurement for small businesses. In other words, if the price is low enough, the agency can buy it at Wal-Mart using a government credit card, without running afoul of the law.

Keep reading this article at: http://smallgovcon.com/statutes-and-regulations/2017-ndaa-increases-dods-micro-purchase-threshold-to-5000/

White House urges agencies to remember small businesses for micro purchases

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Continuing its push to support small businesses, the White House is reminding agency financial and acquisition officers not to forget small firms when they make credit card micro purchases of $3,000 or less, which are not affected by larger scale required set-asides.

A Dec. 19 letter from Dan Gordon, the departing administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, and Danny Werfel, controller, said the Office of Management and Budget and the Small Business Administration are “working with agencies to improve access by small businesses to the federal marketplace and to increase communications to small businesses about federal business opportunities.” Agency purchase cardholders “should consider small businesses, to the maximum extent practicable, when making micro purchases.”

According to a private study required by Congress, agencies used the General Services Administration’s SmartPay® purchase cards in fiscal 2010 for $6 billion in transactions with small businesses at or below the micro purchase threshold. This amounts to about 30 percent of the total annual government purchase card spending, the letter stated.

The White House asked agencies within six months to “adjust cardholder training as needed to help ensure cardholders continue to place a reasonable proportion of micro purchases with small businesses, consistent with agency mission support needs.”

— by Charles S. Clark – Government Executive – December 22, 2011 – http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=49632&dcn=e_gvet.

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