Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

VA direct access program events in 2022

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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) provides support and resources for Veteran small businesses, looking to do business with the federal government.

Recently, they formed a Direct Access Program (DAP) that offers unique opportunities for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) to build partnerships, maximize networking, and gain access to Procurement Decision Makers (PDMs) through structured, screened, and periodic events.

Examples of activities that may occur at a DAP event include Business Opportunity Sessions (BOS), Networking Roundtables (NRT), and education sessions.  The VA OSDBU Direct Action Program is planning several important events in 2022.

You can learn more about the Direct Access Program and view the schedule of upcoming DAP events on the VA’s website.

Click Here to view the schedule of upcoming DAP events.

The VA’s OSDBU Direct Access Program is hosting a large number of small business events

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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, under its Direct Access Program, is hosting a series of virtual events and virtual business opportunity sessions for small businesses on a variety of topics and opportunities.  These events provide small businesses with information regarding upcoming opportunities and subcontracting opportunities at a variety of federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  While the events are organized by the VA, many of the events detail opportunities for numerous socioeconomic classifications, including VOSB, SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone, 8(a), SDB, and Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Native Alaskan organizations.  You can find more information on upcoming Direct Access Program events on the VA’s website here:

https://www.vetbiz.va.gov/events/

Make sure to bookmark the VA’s event page and check it regularly!

VA and U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce hosting 1st Annual Women Veterans Small Business Summit on March 31st

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In celebration of Women’s History Month, VA and U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce virtually presents the 1st Annual Women Veterans Small Business Summit:

“Women Veterans Mean Business”

This action-packed virtual event includes:

  • Veterans Affairs (VA) agency and large prime briefs
  • Regulatory Updates
  • Technical Training
  • Networking with VA Large Prime Contractors
  • Roundtable Virtual Matchmaking with VA and their large prime contractors (scroll to the bottom of the page to see the list of prime contractors who have confirmed).

MISSION, VISION AND VALUES

The Mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs is one of service to more than 27 million Veterans who have so unselfishly served their country.

To accomplish this mission, VA acquires products and industry services through a nationwide system of hospitals, clinics, Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN), data processing centers, and National Cemeteries which require a broad spectrum of goods and services.

DATE:  Wednesday, March 31, 2021

TIME: From 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time

REGISTRATION AND FEES:

Registration Link

**Registrants that register after March 24, 2021, will not be able to participate in Matchmaking (1:30 – 4 p.m. EST).

** As the event approaches, registrants will receive a survey via your email (email used to register) from notify@uswcc.org.  The survey will request information including a request for capabilities statements, NAICS, Agency / Prime meeting priorities, and more.  If you do not complete this survey, you will be unable to participate in Matchmaking (1:30 – 4 p.m. EST).

NOTE: Registration fees are $125.00 per person.

Matchmaking Process

At the start of the session, Agencies/Primes will introduce themselves.  You then join any of the agency/prime roundtable sessions you have been matched with.  The sessions will be 25-minute segments and conducted in a virtual round table style.

FOR MORE DETAILS, INCLUDING WHAT AGENCIES AND PRIME CONTRACTORS ARE PARTICIPATING VISIT:

https://www.uswcc.org/events/va-3-31-21/

LMI hosting virtual business opportunity session April 15th

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Subject: VA Direct Access Program – LMI Virtual Business Opportunity Session

Purpose: LMI, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Direct Access Program, is conducting a virtual business opportunity session on Thursday, April 15, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET.

Discussion: LMI Consulting is seeking small businesses associated with the details outlined below, to prime and subcontract to clients. For more details and to register, visit the website included below.

By attending this event participants will gain:

– Insight into LMI’s proprietary offerings which provide a unique capability to our customers in a variety of areas
– Insight into LMI’s existing customer base and market presence
– Insight into LMI’s capabilities and opportunities to provide complimentary services to our clients
– Access to LMI’s resources, capabilities, and infrastructure which supports our small business teammates
– Learn discriminators LMI uses to select small business teammates
– Information on specific opportunities for which LMI is seeking small business partners  

Event website where you can register:

https://vetbiz.va.gov/events/event-detail/?id=7dcd5f0d-8678-eb11-a812-001dd8011447

Event-related details

Business Sectors:
– Military & Veteran’s Healthcare Operations and Analysis
– Medical Research & Development
– Medical Logistics & Supply Chain Resilience                                                                                                      

Applicable NAICS:
236220 Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
541219 Other Accounting Services
541330 Engineering Services
541511 Custom Computer Programming Services
541512 Computer Systems Design Services
541513 Computer Facilities Management Services
541519 Other Computer Related Services
541611 Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
541612 Human Resources Consulting Services
541614 Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services
541618 Other Management Consulting Services
541620 Environmental Consulting Services
541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
541720 Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
541990 All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
561210 Facilities Support Services
561410 Document Preparation Services
611430 Professional and Management Development Training

Capabilities:
– Robotic Process Automation
– Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
– Medical Device Cyber Security
– Human Capital as a Service Digital Technology Services
– Cloud Management and Computing
– IT Agile and DevSecOps
– Healthcare Policy Analysis
– Supply chain (specifically healthcare)
– Medical Research & Development

Agencies:
– Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
– Defense Health Agency (DHA)
– Army/MRDC
– Airforce/AFMOA
– Navy/BUMED)

Contract Vehicles:
– OASIS (Pools 1,3,6)
– GSA IT 70/Health IT SIN
– GSA MAS
– GSA HCATS

Desired Federal Socio-Economic Classifications: 

  • Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)
    • Size and ability to scale quickly for surge – companies with 50 or more full-time employees are preferred, and partners should be able to demonstrate their recruiting and staffing resources and prior success
    • We are primarily interested in meeting with SDVOSBs who have current Prime contracts with the VA, or past performance within the past three years.
    • Competencies and past performance in any of the following: Healthcare Operations, Pandemic Security and Preparedness Support, Information and Technology Support services, Strategic Communications, and Curriculum Development; Training and Education services
    • A good reputation with clients as evidenced by CPARS or Customer Satisfaction data
    • Business presence near VA offices in the National Capital Region and other VA locations
    • A DCAA approved cost-accounting system is preferred, recognizing some small businesses may not have
    • Prime VA Contracts (Desired, but not required)
  • Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)
  • 8 (a)
  • Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
  • Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
  • Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones)
  • Alaska-Native Corporation (ANC)
  • Minority-owned (Native American, Native Alaskan, Native Hawaiian, etc.)

About LMI

LMI is a consultancy dedicated to improving the business of government, drawing from deep expertise in advanced analytics, digital services, logistics, and management advisory services.

Headquartered in Tysons, VA, LMI has ~ 1,800 employees nationwide.  Of those, 27% are veterans or veteran spouses.  We are ranked as one of the Military Times’ best employers for veterans eleven years running.  LMI has an educated workforce with 55% holding advanced degrees, and employees average experience is 22 years.  Our staff includes the former CIO of the White House, former Chief Human Resources Officers at the Pentagon, and the VA.  Our FY18 customer survey responses indicated that 100% of our clients were extremely likely to recommend LMI to others.  LMI vehicles are here https://www.lmi.org/government-wide.

If you have questions about the virtual event, please contact the Direct Access Program by e-mail at directaccess@va.gov or by phone at 202-461-4694.

GDIT hosting virtual business opportunity session March 18th

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Purpose: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. (GDIT), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Direct Access Program, is conducting a virtual business opportunity session on Thursday, March 18, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET.

Discussion: GDIT seeks specific skills as the company grows its capacities to serve VA.  Upcoming procurements and ongoing needs include professionals with experience in Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365), fraud waste and abuse, software architecture and development (including agile methodologies), cybersecurity, robotic process automation, machine learning, data analytics, and cloud.  In addition, existing work and strong qualifications from VA are also of interest.

Event Website where you can register:
https://vetbiz.va.gov/events/event-detail/?id=52cd5f0d-8678-eb11-a812-001dd8011447

Event-related details

Business Sectors:
Defense, Security & Justice
Federal Health
Civil Government
State & Local/Higher Education
Commercial

Applicable NAICS:

General IT NAICS Codes

NAICS           DESCRIPTION

541511         Custom Computer Programming Services                                                                              

541512         Computer Systems Design Services

541513         Computer Facilities Management Services

541519         Other Computer Related Services

Precision Medicine NAICS Codes   
NAICS           DESCRIPTION   

339121          Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing

339113          Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing

621511          Medical Laboratories

254111          Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing

Capabilities:
Precision Medicine
Artificial Intelligence
Cyber Security
Software-as-a-Service
Human Capital as a Service
Mobile Applications
Managed Services
Cloud Services

Agencies:
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
United States Army
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Contract Vehicles:
OASIS SB
STARS II 8(a)
Alliant SB

Desired Federal Socio-Economic Classifications:
Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB)
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones)
Minority-owned (Black-owned; Native American, Native Alaskan, Native Hawaiian, etc.)

About GDIT   

GDIT is supporting some of the most challenging and important government, defense, and intelligence missions across the country.  At VA, its 500+ member team provides a variety of services from software architecture and development to technical service desk support to the digitization of Veterans claims records to providing technical training on a variety of VA software applications.  As a recipient of the 2021 Military Friendly Employer and the 2020 U.S Veterans Magazine Top Supplier Diversity and Top Veteran-Friendly Companies, GDIT is always seeking new small business partners who can bring innovative IT solutions to help us grow and serve the VA Mission.

Further details can be found on the event website here:  https://vetbiz.va.gov/events/event-detail/?id=52cd5f0d-8678-eb11-a812-001dd8011447

 

Reminder: If pricing is too high, VA “rule of two” might not apply

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The VA Rule of Two, while a powerful motivator for setting procurements aside for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, does have its limits.

One of those exceptions was discussed in a recent ruling from the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The court confirmed that the VA may convert a service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-aside solicitation to a small business set-aside if the SDVOSB bids it receives are too high in price.

The VA Rule of Two, described in 38 U.S.C. 8127(d), requires the VA to set aside an acquisition for SDVOSBs when two or more verified and capable SDVOSBs are identified, provided the contracting officer has a reasonable expectation that two or more of those SDVSOBs will submit offers and that the award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that provides best value to the United States.

Continue reading at:  SmallGovCon

Veterans: How to get started in government contracting

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Are you a veteran?  Do you own a small business?  Then you have an advantage over [non-Veteran Owned small businesses].  Specifically: Veteran-owned businesses have preference when bidding on government contracting jobs with the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Each year, the VA sends about $3 billion to small businesses.  Are you a plumber?  An engineer?  A landscaper?  [Then the VA may want to do business with your company.]

So what’s the catch?  To actually get [Verified with the VA as a Veteran-owned small business (“VOSB”) or Service-disabled Veteran Owned small business (“SDVOSB”)], you will have to navigate [a difficult paperwork process].

But do not worry: I have been through the process.  I am here to help you.

Continue reading at:  Clearance Jobs

Federal government spent $1.7 billion on temporary help services in 2018

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The value of federal government contracts with temporary help service agencies has more than doubled under the Trump administration, according to a new report.

The study by the National Employment Law Project, a nonprofit that advocates worker rights, found the government spent $1.7 billion on the contracts in 2018, five times the amount it spent in 2008.  The largest increase came in the past two years — from $812 million in 2016 to $1.7 billion in 2018.

“The Trump administration’s desire to privatize government-provided healthcare services is the largest factor driving increased use of temporary help services,” the report stated.  Such contracts cover traveling doctors and nurses, as well as contract dentists, pharmacists, therapists, social workers and medical billing staffers.

Continue reading at:  SIA

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