Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

White House unveils latest plan to fix government technology

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The White House has announced its first IT modernization center of excellence that will combine top federal talent with industry partners to bring the government’s old, outdated systems to the modern day.

The Agriculture Department will serve as the test-bed with the goal of creating “the most effective, efficient, customer-focused department in all the federal government,” said Stephen Censky, the department’s deputy secretary.

“Our ultimate goal is to enable the department to transition into a customer-focused organization,” said Censky, speaking at an industry day event held on White House grounds. “The opportunity for IT to add value across the USDA is significant.”

Keep reading this article at: http://www.nextgov.com/it-modernization/2017/12/white-house-unveils-it-modernization-center-excellence/144572/

USDA hosts rural small business event in Macon on Sept. 24th

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture is hosting Rural Small Business Connections Training in Macon, GA on Sept. 24, 2013.

This training event will provide small businesses with a series of educational networking sessions and opportunities on how to build capacity and successfully do business with USDA and other Federal agencies.

Conference attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a full day of learning discussions led by program and small business procurement officials from USDA, and other Federal agencies.

The event will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2013, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on the campus of Middle Georgia State College (Macon Campus), 100 College Station Drive, Macon, GA 31206.

There is no fee to participate, however, pre-registration is preferred, with onsite registration available. To pre-register, please send your request to osdbu.smallbizconf@dm.usda.gov no later than September 19, 2013.

For more information, click here to download a flyer.

 

 

 

Federal programs to aid entrepreneurs overlap

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Agency efforts to support private entrepreneurs are ineffectual and fragmented, according to Government Accountability Office research on 52 programs in such departments as Agriculture, Commerce and Housing and Urban Development.

In a paper dated Aug. 23, auditors identified overlap among initiatives to offer grants, loans and technical training to businesses and found that too few agencies track the assistance they provide, resulting in a failure of 19 programs to meet performance goals.

The report said Agriculture and the Small Business Administration, for instance, “entered into a formal agreement in 2010 to coordinate their efforts to support businesses in rural areas; however, the agencies’ programs that can support startup businesses — such as USDA’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant program and SBA’s Small Business Development Centers — have yet to determine roles and responsibilities, find ways to leverage each other’s resources, or establish compatible policies and procedures.”

Keep reading this article at: http://www.govexec.com/contracting/2012/08/federal-programs-aid-entrepreneurs-overlap/57677/

USDA warns of fraudulent letters

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The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) officials has issued a warning that fraudulent letters are being sent by FAX to individuals and businesses in at least four states.

The letters purportedly come from a USDA procurement officer and seek personal information. USDA says these letters are false and in no case should a recipient respond with personal and financial information. The fraudulent letters bear USDA’s logo and seal and are signed by an individual identified as “Frank Rutenberg” using a title of “Senior Procurement Officer.”

Letters have been received by FAX in Alabama, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, but may have also been sent to other states.

It’s possible that the mailing list for the fraudulent letter is being derived from public information in Central Contractor Registration (CCR).

Recipients should not respond and should not supply the requested information. USDA is investigating this matter through the Office of the Inspector General.

If you suspect you have received such a letter or have questions please contact USDA at: procurement.policy@dm.usda.gov or call 202-720-9448.

Visit the FTC’s Identity Theft site to learn what to do if your identity is stolen: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft.

USDA backs off controversial labor rule targeting contractors

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In a win for federal contractors and contracting officers alike, Agriculture Department officials decided on Jan. 30 to withdraw a new final rule requiring companies to keep their subcontractors and suppliers in line with federal labor laws, a department spokesman told Washington Technology on Jan. 31.

Under USDA’s rule, companies contracting with the department would have to certify that they comply with labor laws and that their subcontractors of any tier and their suppliers also comply. It would have included reporting requirements for violations and the threat of tough action by the department if there were violations.

Officials took a unique approach to rule-making and added it as a direct final rule to the Agriculture Acquisition Regulation on Dec. 1. It was set to take effect Feb. 29. However, they said if the rule garnered any adverse comments, they would withdraw the rule in part or in whole.

The Council of Defense and Space Industry Associations, a group of six industry groups, objected to the rule in a letter to the USDA last week. The council said the rule overlapped more than 180 federal labor laws and regulations to implement the laws. The rule would also add additional work to both the prime contractors, which would have to monitor their subcontractors and suppliers, and the contracting officers who would review reports on compliance. Further, USDA could possibly bump heads with the Labor Department in the case of a labor law violation.

The council’s letter pushed USDA to withdraw the whole rule.

“Yesterday, USDA withdrew the Dec. 1, 2011, direct final rule adding a new clause to the Agriculture Acquisition Regulation,” the USDA spokesman said.

Alan Chvotkin, executive vice president and counsel for the Professional Services Council, a member of the overarching-industry group objecting the rule, said the USDA did well to withdraw its rule after receiving the letter from the council about the rule’s ambiguities and overlap with other standing laws.

“I’m pleased USDA acted promptly in light of well-reasoned comments from the council,” he said.

About the Author: Matthew Weigelt is a senior writer covering acquisition and procurement for Federal Computer Week. This article appeared on Jan. 31, 2012 at http://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2012/01/31/usda-withdraws-labor-law-rule.aspx?s=wtdaily_010212.

Learn about architectural, engineering services needed by the Forest Service

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If you’re an architectural or engineering (A&E) firm that’s interested in doing business with the U.S. Forest Service, you’ll be interested in a conference being held on this subject on February 9, 2011.

The Southern Region office of USDA’s Forest Service contracts for architectural and engineering services throughout the year. In January, the agency is expected to make an announcement about their A&E contracting plans, and this will be the focus of the conference.

If your firm provides services under any of these NAICS codes — 541310, 541320, 541330, 541340, 541350, 541360, or 541370 — then you should make plans to attend.

The conference — co-hosted by the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) — is being held at the GTRI Conference Center in Atlanta on Wednesday, February 9, 2011, from 8:30 am until 12:30 pm.

Advance registration is required.  Click here to register for this free conference; directions and a map are on the registration website.

Representatives of the Forest Service’s Contracting, Engineering, and Small Business staffs will be in attendance to explain upcoming contract opportunities and answer questions.

A flyer announcing the conference can be seen here, and a draft agenda for the conference can be seen here.

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