Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Training
    • Class Registration
    • On-demand Training
  • Useful Links
  • Team Directory
    • Albany Counselor
    • Atlanta Counselors
    • Augusta Counselor
    • Carrollton Counselor
    • Columbus Counselor
    • Gainesville Counselor
    • Savannah Counselor
    • Warner Robins Counselor
  • Directions
    • Atlanta – Training Facility
    • Atlanta – Office
    • Albany
    • Augusta
    • Carrollton
    • Columbus
    • Gainesville
    • Savannah
    • Warner Robins
  • New Client Application
  • Contact Us

OPM chief to propose legislation for merger with GSA

May 16, 2019 By Nancy Cleveland

Nearly a year after the Trump administration announced its proposal to send the bulk of the Office of Personnel Management’s functions to the General Services Administration, acting OPM Director Margaret Weichert said Tuesday that she will be submitting proposed legislation to Congress authorizing the merger “hopefully by Friday.”

Speaking with reporters, Weichert said that the legislation would transfer the legal authorities currently provided to OPM to an as-yet unnamed office within GSA, akin to its existing Federal Acquisition and Public Buildings services.  Additionally, the bill would create a small policy-focused personnel office within the Executive Office of the President, modeled after the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

Continue reading at:  Government Executive

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: GSA, mergers, OPM

White House issues new guidance on category management

April 8, 2019 By Nancy Cleveland

Eight years after the Obama administration began importing the private-sector procurement tool known as “category management,” the Trump administration on Thursday rescinded old directives and delivered new agency guidance.

In a March 21 memo to all agency heads, Office of Management and Budget Deputy Director Margaret Weichert—who is doing double duty running the Office of Personnel Management — tasked agencies with a new reporting regime for shared services that “supersedes and rescinds” OMB directives from 2011 and 2012.

Category management involves agency teams coordinating bulk purchasing in areas such as information technology, security and protection, and transportation. Weichert’s memo reported that as much as 56 percent of the government’s $325 billion in purchases of software, mobile services, technology services and travel remained “unaligned” or decentralized, as of December 2018.

“This statistic confirms that substantial cost-avoidances and performance benefits are going unrealized and underscores the need for greater management attention on collaborative buying at both the federal and agency levels by increasing the portion of an agency’s spend” using category management, the memo said.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.nextgov.com/cio-briefing/2019/03/white-house-issues-new-guidance-category-management/155759/

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: AbilityOne, category management, efficiency, Federal Prison Industries, GSA, OMB, OPM, small business

GSA releases new IT modernization RFI in post-shutdown procurement deluge

February 6, 2019 By Nancy Cleveland

The General Services Administration released two pre-cursors to major acquisitions last week with the release of the draft solicitation for the $8 billion back-office cloud procurement and a request for information to expand the Centers of Excellence initiative.

The Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and GSA launched a major cloud and IT modernization effort by announcing an industry day on Feb. 26 in Washington, D.C.

And the Office of Personnel Management is exploring how to create a central portal for the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program.

These are just a few of the more than 4,700 requests for proposals, RFIs and awards released on FedBizOpps.gov in the week after the partial government shutdown ended, opening up the acquisition floodgates.

Keep reading this article at: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/reporters-notebook/2019/02/gsa-releases-new-it-modernization-rfi-in-post-shutdown-procurement-deluge/

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: backlog, cloud, contract awards, FBO, FedBizOpps, government shutdown, GSA, OPM, RFI, RFP, shutdown

OMB asks agencies to prepare for ‘orderly reopening’

January 25, 2019 By Nancy Cleveland

The Trump administration’s management chief on Friday directed the federal agencies that have been closed during the 35-day partial shutdown to prepare for “an orderly reopening.” 

Though Congress had not yet officially passed legislation to end the shutdown as of mid-Friday afternoon, Office of Management and Budget Deputy Director for Management Margaret Weichert in a memo to agency heads directed them to take steps in anticipation of reopening. Priorities include recalling furloughed employees, “restoring pay and benefits for employees” and ensuring access to equipment and information technology systems, she said.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.govexec.com/management/2019/01/omb-asks-agencies-prepare-orderly-reopening/154439/?oref=govexec_breaking_alert

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: federal agencies, government shutdown, OMB, OPM, shutdown

OPM holding vendor event April 24-26 at Clark Atlanta

March 21, 2018 By Nancy Cleveland

Because the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) wants to make businesses in Georgia and the southeast more aware of federal, state and local government opportunities, they are holding an event entitled Stay Ready: 4th Quarter Readiness at Clark Atlanta University on April 24 – 26, 2018.

This event will build upon the success of a one-day event held in 2017 where more than 220 attendees and 10 exhibitors participated.

Attendees will experience the following:

  • Two receptions, including a Top Golf outing.
  • Opportunity to participate in a Pitch Contest.
  • Over 17 different workshops with impactful contracting and procurement knowledge experts.
  • Access to contracting and procurement personnel bringing actual procurement opportunities.
  • Networking opportunities with other attendees that can offer joint venture, partnering and subcontracting opportunities.
  • Resources to help you finance your business and/or contract opportunities.

To register, attendees should go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-stay-ready-4th-quarter-readiness-small-business-conference-registration-43125763319?aff=eac2.

 

Filed Under: GTPAC News Tagged With: contracting opportunities, networking, OPM, outreach, vendor

Why OPM is warning against DoD reclaiming the security clearance process

November 21, 2017 By Nancy Cleveland

When a backlog of pending security clearances piles up too high, Congress has one answer: Hand it to someone else.

That’s what lawmakers did in 2004, when the Defense Department had its own immense inventory of background investigations, and lawmakers, frustrated with DoD’s delays in processing them, called on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to serve as the governmentwide security clearance provider.

Now, as the backlog, once again, reaches new extremes, Congress is taking a page out of its own history book and is sending the security clearance process back to the Pentagon.

Lawmakers included a provision in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act that would give DoD complete ownership over the security clearance process for its own personnel.

Keep reading this article at: https://federalnewsradio.com/opm/2017/11/why-opm-is-warning-against-dod-reclaiming-the-security-clearance-process/

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: DoD, NDAA, OPM, security clearance

Defense contractor billed government for Porsches, million-dollar salaries and secret guns

August 16, 2017 By Nancy Cleveland

A contractor providing intelligence and training services to the Defense Department billed luxury cars to the government, sought reimbursements for the salaries of well-connected secretaries who did little in the way of actual work and exceeded statutory caps for executives’ pay, according to a new audit.

All told, the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) questioned $50 million the British company New Century Consulting billed to the Pentagon, according to a report summarized in a letter from Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. The vehicles, including Porsches, a Bentley and an Aston Martin, were used exclusively by the CEO and other top executives at the company, DCAA found.

New Century operated as a subcontractor for Imperatis Corp., which has an extended history of problematic dealings with the federal government. Last year, Imperatis abruptly quit a cybersecurity contract it had with the Office of Personnel Management and the Homeland Security Department, citing “financial distress.” Defense contracted with Imperatis on its Legacy East project to provide “counterinsurgency intelligence experts” to train Afghani security forces.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2017/08/defense-contractor-billed-government-porches-executives-million-dollar-salaries-and-secret-guns/140131/

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: abuse, Army, DCAA, DHS, DoD, fraud, OPM, waste

OPM holds 4th quarter readiness forum on July 20th

July 13, 2017 By Nancy Cleveland

The federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Clark Atlanta University have joined forces to present a “4th Quarter Readiness Forum” at Clark Atlanta University on July 20, 2017.

The session is designed to offer the small business community marketing and contracting tips to consider when marketing to federal agencies during the federal government’s 4th quarter (July, August and September).

Representatives from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), General Services Administration (GSA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Education Dept., the Small Business Administration (SBA) and other agencies will be available to discuss how they utilize various contracting tools and vehicles to award contracts in this often challenging 4th quarter time frame in the government’s calendar.

Attendees also will be provided research tips on how to use the Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation (FPDS-NG) data base to help you research procurement opportunities.

The session will be held at Clark Atlanta University, Cole Science Research Center at 223 James P. Brawley Dr., SW, Atlanta, GA  30314 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Box lunches will be available for purchase at this event.

Here’s a link to what OPM buys: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/us-office-of-personnel-management-14499326759

Attendees are required to register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-quarter-readiness-forum-tickets-35946174977.

For more information, feel free to contact Ms. Cherina Hughes at cherina.hughes@opm.gov or Art Brown at 770-732-9392 or art@lescot.com.

Filed Under: GTPAC News Tagged With: CDC, Clark Atlanta University, Education Dept., FPDS, GSA, marketing, NASA, networking, OPM, SBA

Contracting dispute delays OPM’s background investigations processing

June 20, 2017 By Nancy Cleveland

The federal government’s ongoing efforts to hasten the processing of security clearances hit a speed bump this week, as an auditor ruled the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) unfairly awarded a contract to a company seeking to provide support services in background investigations processing.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision comes shortly after OPM stood up the nascent National Background Investigations Bureau. Two companies filed a protest with GAO after OPM awarded the $117 million contract to Primus Solutions, a division of ARSC Federal. The contract was for at least two years with options of up to five, and was intended to provide OPM employees support in processing background investigations.

In its solicitation, OPM had said it would consider price to a much lesser degree that non-price factors such as technical approach, quality control plan, staffing plan and past performance. Primus came in more than $9 million below one of the companies filing the protest and more than $44 million below the other. GAO confirmed allegations that OPM’s selection authorities ignored initial concerns from its price evaluators that Primus’ cost estimates were “unrealistic.”

Keep reading this article at: http://www.govexec.com/contracting/2017/06/contracting-dispute-delays-opms-background-investigations-processing/138688/

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: award protest, background check, evaluation criteria, GAO, National Background Investigations Bureau, OPM, protest

Counterintelligence chief: Contractors ‘kicking butt’ in combating insider threats

April 14, 2017 By Nancy Cleveland

Though some of the most damaging exposures of classified material have come from companies working for the federal government in recent years, the intelligence community’s 100,000 contractors overall “are kicking butt” in helping agencies head off insider threats, the nation’s top counterintelligence chief said on Monday.

Anticipating threats “is a team sport,” Bill Evanina, the government’s national counterintelligence executive, told a gathering of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, a nonprofit group made up of contractors and former intelligence officials. “The only way to win is a partnership, a whole-of-government, whole-of-country approach” that includes contractors and the news media as well.

“We have to get back to patriotism,” he said.

Despite incidents involving National Security Agency contractors such as Edward Snowden and Howard Martin, “we need to eliminate with urgency the idea that most insider threats are contractors,” Evanina said. “There’s no evidence” either for that, he said, or for the common notion that “millennials want to be leakers.”

Keep reading this article at: http://www.govexec.com/defense/2017/04/counterterrorism-chief-contractors-kicking-butt-combating-insider-threats/136904

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: CIA, classified information, Commerce Dept., counterintelligence, DHS, FCC, insider threats, NSA, OPM, Treasury Dept.

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Recent Posts

  • Contractors must update EEO poster
  • SBA scorecard shows federal government continues to prioritize small business contracting
  • The risk of organizational conflicts of interest
  • The gap widens between COFC and GAO on late is late rule
  • OMB releases guidance related to small business goals

Popular Topics

8(a) abuse Army bid protest budget budget cuts certification construction contract awards contracting opportunities cybersecurity DoD DOJ False Claims Act FAR federal contracting federal contracts fraud GAO Georgia Tech government contracting government contract training government trends GSA GSA Schedule GTPAC HUBZone innovation IT Justice Dept. marketing NDAA OMB SBA SDVOSB set-aside small business small business goals spending subcontracting technology VA veteran owned business VOSB wosb

Contracting News

SBA scorecard shows federal government continues to prioritize small business contracting

OMB releases guidance related to small business goals

OMB issues guidance on impact of injunction on government contractor vaccine mandate

Changes coming to DOD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification under CMMC 2.0

Judge issues nationwide injunction halting enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandate

Read More

Contracting Tips

Contractors must update EEO poster

The risk of organizational conflicts of interest

The gap widens between COFC and GAO on late is late rule

Are verbal agreements good enough for government contractors?

CMMC 2.0 simplifies requirements but raises risks for government contractors

Read More

GTPAC News

VA direct access program events in 2022

Sandia National Laboratories seeks small business suppliers

Navy OSBP hosting DCAA overview (part 2) event Jan. 12, 2022

Navy OSBP hosting cybersecurity “ask me anything” event Dec. 16th

State of Georgia hosting supplier systems training on January 26, 2022

Read More

Georgia Tech News

Undergraduate enrollment growth reflects inclusive excellence

Georgia Tech delivers $4 billion in economic impact to the State of Georgia

Georgia Tech awards first round of seed grants to support team-based research

Georgia Tech announces inaugural Associate Vice President of Corporate Engagement

DoD funds Georgia Tech to enhance U.S. hypersonics capabilities

Read More

  • SAM.gov registration is free, and help with SAM is free, too
APTAC RSS Twitter GTPAC - 30th Year of Service

Copyright © 2023 · Georgia Tech - Enterprise Innovation Institute