GovCon News

🚀 GovCon Alert: Federal Acquisition Regulation Update

Heads up, GovCon captains! It's time to mark your calendars for a critical input opportunity. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is proposing an update that requires a second glance at your size and status in the big game. If you've got thoughts on the "Rerepresentation of Size and Socioeconomic Status," get them in by November 28, 2023. Make your voice heard through the Federal eRulemaking portal right here: FAR-2020-0016-0001.

What's on the radar?

📏 Size Check-In: Post-award, if your business has ballooned from a small to a larger size during your Period of Performance (PoP), you're stepping out of the ring for small business set-asides. No more bidding on those if you've outgrown your boots.

💼 Who's Affected?: This shake-up zeroes in on IDIQs. So, if you're juggling a few, pay attention!

🛒 Supply Schedules Get a Pass: Those operating under GSA Schedules (MAS) can breathe easy; you're off the hook for automatic rerepresentation. But stay sharp—contracting officers can still tap you for a status update on specific orders.

🔍 A Closer Look: Picture this—your firm, 'Small Biz Inc.', landed a spot on a lucrative IT services contract. Initially, you fit snugly in the small business category. With this update, before you can snag a set-aside order, you've got to prove you haven't outgrown that label. If 'Small Biz Inc.' is now 'Big Biz Inc.', you'll be bowing out of that set-aside stage.

In essence, these changes are setting the stage for fair play, ensuring that the set-aside spotlight really goes to businesses playing in the small business league, not just those who were there at the opening act. Keep it current, keep it honest, and let's keep the competition keen!

Pitch a GovTech Idea

This is interesting; GSA is interested in hearing from Feds to pitch govtech ideas to solve problems. In a bid to harness the innovative potential of federal employees, the 10x investment program, known for its role in spearheading government-wide solutions like Login.gov and the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS), has opened its doors to solicit transformative technology ideas aimed at solving pressing government issues. The process is straightforward: federal employees can submit their ideas by describing a significant government problem and outlining how technology can address it, all within a few sentences. If you know a Fed, CLICK HERE to see the form for submission by a Fed.

NASA SEWP VI

NASA is gearing up for the release of its SEWP VI contract with a whopping 140 companies and a potential $80 billion ceiling over a decade. Unlike its predecessor, SEWP VI is set to diversify with multiple contract types and two new service categories, including innovation services. The evaluation process involves four phases, with price not being a deciding factor. NASA is targeting a final RFP release by the end of winter of 2024 and expects awards to follow by May 1, 2025, so it's time to mark your calendars for this exciting space-age contracting adventure! 🚀💫 #NASA #SEWPVI #ContractingAdventure

CLICK HERE to see their presentation.

NSA Unveils "Artificial Intelligence Security Center"

Breaking news from the National Security Agency (NSA): They're gearing up to launch a groundbreaking initiative – the "Artificial Intelligence Security Center." General Paul Nakasone, the brains behind this operation, spilled the beans during an event at the National Press Club, and it's a game-changer!
What's the Hype: The NSA is doubling down on AI, and they mean business. The new "AI Security Center" will be the nerve center for leveraging foreign intelligence insights, setting best practices, creating guidelines, and developing risk frameworks for AI security.
Why the Rush: With AI, machine learning, and automation becoming the hottest commodities in town, national security honchos are racing to harness their potential. And the Biden administration is prepping an executive order on AI, emphasizing its importance on the global stage.
Watch Out, Adversaries: General Nakasone isn't mincing words. He's aware of the relentless efforts of adversaries to exploit our AI advancements and steal our intellectual property. The U.S. leads the AI race, but we can't rest on our laurels.
Collaboration is Key: The NSA plans to collaborate with industry experts, national laboratories, and academia to make this AI dream a reality. It's all happening at the Cybersecurity Collaboration Center, which is no stranger to sharing cybersecurity intel with the private sector.

Find out more by clicking here.

Tip of the Week

 Pro-tip: Contract Specialists - The Unsung Heroes of Acquisition

While the spotlight often shines on Contracting Officers (COs) and Contracting Officer's Representatives (CORs), it's the Contract Specialist who is often the powerhouse behind the scenes. These are the dedicated individuals piecing together the acquisition puzzle, from drafting the package to steering the solicitation process, evaluating bids, and recommending awards. A CO's override on their sage advice? It's a rare sight indeed.

So, as the holiday season approaches, why not show some appreciation where it's due? A Christmas card to your Contract Specialist could be the perfect touch of cheer!

GAO Story Time

📜 The Briefing:

New Generation Solution, LLC (NGS) out of McLean, VA, threw their hat in the ring for a DISA IT contract. Their quest hit a snag over a pesky detail — the submission of a DD Form 254 format type.

🚫 The Stumble:

NGS submitted its proposal. DISA axed NGS from the running. The reason? NGS’s DD Form 254 was not in a fillable format as described verbatim in the solicitation, a clear no-no.

💼 The Aftermath:

They protested. NGS claimed DISA’s instructions were as clear as mud. The GAO, however, begged to differ. In their legal prose, they essentially said, “Rules are rules, folks,” and NGS’s interpretation didn’t fly. It was a straightforward case of a contractor not dotting their i’s and crossing their t’s.

📚 Lesson Learned:

This isn’t just legalese and bureaucratic rigmarole. It’s a vivid reminder to all of us at the helm of GovCon enterprises that the minutiae matter. So, when the government says ‘fillable PDF,’ they mean it — as in, it must still blink with the cursor after you hit 'save.'

☕ Morning Reflection:

Sometimes, it’s the smallest checkbox that stands between us and our next big win. Stay vigilant, GovCon leaders. May our proposals be compliant, our coffee strong, and our attention to detail unfailing.

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Thanks for reading!

That's all for now, folks! Stay tuned for more procurement tales. Cheers! ☕📦🌟