Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia (DSCP)

Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DCSP) is the supply chain owner for troop support items including food, clothing, textiles, medicines, medical equipment, construction and equipment, supplies and services to America's warfighters, their eligible dependents, and other non-Defense Department customers worldwide.

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia
700 Robbins Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092
1-215-737-2000 - Automated Directory
1-215-737-2341 - Duty Officer
http://www.dscp.dla.mil

Defense Logistics Agency: Supply Centers

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) buys and manages a vast number and variety of items used by all military services and federal civilian agencies. Commodities include energy, food, clothing, and medical supplies. The agency also buys and distributes hardware and electronic items used in maintenance and repair of equipment and weapons systems.

Customers of the DLA determine their requirements for materiel and supplies. DLA's supply centers consolidate requirements and procure the supplies in sufficient quantities to meet customer's projected needs. Many of DLA's procured items are delivered directly from a commercial vendor; the remainder of the items are stored and distributed through a complex of worldwide depots. Some supply centers also offer specialized services to support customers.

DLA's Four (4) Supply Centers

Defense Supply Center, Columbus, Ohio (DSCC)

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (DSCP)

Defense Supply Center, Richmond, Virginia (DSCR)

Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (DESC)

What is the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)?

Defense Logistics Agency
http://www.supply.dla.mil/

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is a U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) defense agency that provides supply support and technical and logistics services to the Military Services, DOD agencies, Federal civilian agencies, and to selected foreign governments. It procures supplies and spare parts for customers and supports their logistics needs. This support begins with joint planning with the Services for parts and support for new weapons systems, extends through production, and concludes with the disposal of materiel that is obsolete, worn out, or no longer needed.

DLA is the one logistics support source for a wide rand of customer needs whether for combat readiness, emergency readiness, or day-to-day operations.

2007 Top 100 Federal Contractors

Compare yourself against, and then model yourself on the best.

2007 Top 100 Federal Contractors
http://www.washingtontechnology.com/top-100/2007/

Main Pages of the Top Five (5) Large Businesses
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/
http://www.boeing.com/
http://www.northropgrumman.com/
http://www.kbr.com/
http://www.saic.com/

Main Pages of the Top Five (5) Small Businesses
http://www.gtsi.com/home.aspx?ShopperID=
http://www.nana.com/
http://www.datapath.com/
http://www.rsis.com/rsis-corporate/rsis/index.cfm
http://www.chenega.com/

2008 GSA Expo - Anaheim, CA., April 22-24

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will be hosting the fourteenth annual International Products and Services Expo April 22-24, 2008 in Anaheim, California.

This free training conference and vendor exposition is specially designed to benefit federal, state and local government employees and military members who make or influence procurement decisions.

Expo is an invaluable experience for acquisition and program managers that provides opportunities to:

-Network with hundreds of GSA and other agency experts.
-Continue building your acquisition knowledge with our extensive list of over 250 CLP certified classes.
-Meet with over 600 GSA vendors providing specific technical expertise.
-Federal agencies can bring their regional or national staffs together and host a meeting (free of charge!) at the convention center.
-FREE for all federal, state and local government employees to attend.

There will be approximately 1,000 exhibit booths available for GSA Schedule vendors. Exhibit floor space is available only to those companies who hold a current contract with GSA.

Visit the 2008 GSA Expo web site for more details.

http://www.expo.gsa.gov

The Poet Ovid on Federal Government Contracting

"I attempt an arduous task; but there is no worth in that which is not a difficult achievement."
- Ovid

"Chance is always powerful. Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish."
- Ovid

- Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso (March 20, 43 BC – 17 AD) known to the English-speaking world as Ovid.

Three (3) Tips for Success in the Federal Market Place

Every company that seeks to be successful in the federal government market place must do three (3) things. Companies must:

1. DISTINGUISH itself from the pack;

2. Locate and qualify opportunities that it can REALLY win; and

3. UNDERSTAND, first, the INFRASTRUCTURE (the rules and regulations) governing and, second, the PLAYERS (agencies, buyers, and competitors) involved in the procurement of products and services it sells.

FedBizOpps.gov - A Powerful Research Tool - 2

Continuing from yesterday's entry, for example:

The procurement forecast of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) dated January 23, 2008, indicated that Clare Zebrowski is the point of contract (POC) for Operational Dress Uniforms.

When you type "Clare Zebrowski" into the Full Text Search Box, the Search Results return two (2) pages of opportunities in various stages all of which involve Clare Zebrowski.

A quick scan reveals that Clare Zebrowski has been involved in the purchase of Operation Dress Uniforms since May 2007 and prior to that she was involved in the purchase of Survival Training Courses and Propeller Line Maintenance Training.

FedBizOpps.gov - A Powerful Research Tool

Do you have the name of a contracting officer who appears to be buying what you sell? Fanstastic. Let's do some research.

Go to Federal Business Opportunities' (a.k.a. FedBizOpps or FBO) advanced search page: http://vsearch1.fbo.gov/servlet/SearchServlet.

Type within quotation marks, the first and last name of the contracting officer. Then hit the "Start Search" button.

The Search Results will return in various stages all the opportunities, both past and present, that include the name of the contracting officer for which you searched.

Small Businesses and the Federal Government

Why should a small company consider doing business with the largest purchaser of products and services on earth, the United States federal government?

Well, for many reasons. But let's just address one (1) reason today; set-asides.

Plain English translation for "set asides" or "set asides" - Federal government contracts earmarked ahead of time for small businesses.

I often ask business owners and stakeholders who are considering dipping their big toe into the pool of government business, "How many of your commercial clients are setting aside business for you just because you are a small business?" I have yet to have anyone say they have one (1) such client.

Please allow me to introduce to you the U.S. Federal Government.

FAR 6.203 -- Set-Asides for Small Business Concerns.

(a) To fulfill the statutory requirements relating to small business concerns, contracting officers may set aside solicitations to allow only such business concerns to compete.

FAR 19.501 -- General.

(a) The purpose of small business set-asides is to award certain acquisitions exclusively to small business concerns. A “set-aside for small business” is the reserving of an acquisition exclusively for participation by small business concerns. A small business set-aside may be open to all small businesses. A small business set-aside of a single acquisition or a class of acquisitions may be total or partial.

Small Business Program Goals

Each year, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) negotiates socioeconomic procurement preference program, or ‘contracting,’ goals with Federal agencies. These goals are based on statute, and require that, in the aggregate, agencies award contracts as follows:

Total Small Business Goal - 39%

Small Business (SB) - 23%
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) - 5%
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) - 5%
Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) - 5%
Service-Disable Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) - 3%
Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) - 3%

Two (2) Key Points

1. Agencies have to meet these goals through procurement strategies.

2. Prime contractors are required to meet these goals through subcontracting on large contracts.

SBA Programs - Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

Competitively selected proposals funding early stage research and development projects at small technology companies; projects serve a DoD need & have commercial applications.

For more information visit http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/sbir/index.htm.

SBA Mentor-Protégé Program

Mentor-Protégé Program

Seeks to encourage major DoD prime contractors (mentors) to develop technical and business capabilities of small business protégés who qualify as SBA-certified small disadvantaged businesses, SBA-certified Historically Under-Utilized Business Zone small businesses, woman-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, or organizations employing the severely disabled complying with Section 8046A, PL 102-172.

For more information visit http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/mentor_protege.

SBA Small Business Requirements - Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SD-VOSB)

Small Business, veteran-owned, ≥ 51% owned by ≥ 1 service-disabled veterans, AND management & daily business operations controlled by ≥ 1 service disabled veterans OR in the case of veteran with permanent & severe disability, the spouse or permanent caregiver of such veteran, AND with 0% - 100% service-connected disability as defined in 38 USC 101(16) & documented on DD 214. Self-certify. Set-aside & limited sole source authority.

SBA Small Business Requirements - Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)

Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)

Small Business, veteran-owned as defined in 38 USC 101(2), ≥ 51% owned by ≥ 1 veterans, AND management & daily operations controlled by ≥ 1 veterans.

SBA Small Business Requirements - HUBZone

Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)

Small Business, owned & controlled 51% or more by ≥ 1 United States citizens, AND SBA-certified as a HUBZone concern (principal office located in an economically-distressed HUBZone area AND ≥ 35% of employees live in any designated HUBZone). Set-aside & limited sole source authority.

SBA Small Business Requirements - 8(a) Certified

Small Disadvantaged Business 8(a) Certified [8(a)]

Small Business, SBA-certified as a SDB, AND SBA-certified into the 8(a) Business Development Program for a period of 9 years. Set-aside & limited sole source authority.

SBA Small Business Requirements - Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)

Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)

Small Business, unconditionally owned & controlled by ≥ 1 socially & economically disadvantaged individuals who are of good character & citizens of the U.S., AND SBA-certified.

SBA Small Business Requirements - Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB)

Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB)

Small Business, at least 51% owned by ≥ 1 women, AND management & daily business operations controlled by ≥ 1 women. Watch for future change to FAR authorizing limited set-aside authority.

SBA Small Business Requirements - Small Business (SB)

Small Business (SB)
Located in U.S, organized for profit, including affiliates is independently owned & operated, not dominant in field of operations in which it is bidding on Government contracts, AND meets Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards included in the solicitation. The size standard is based upon the North American Industrial Classification Standard (NAICS) assigned to the specific procurement dependent upon product/service purchased. Self-certify. Set-aside authority.

SBA Small Business Programs

Here is a list the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Small Business Programs:

1. Small Business (SB)
2. Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
3. Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
4. Small Disadvantaged Business 8(a) Certified [8(a)]
5. Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)
6. Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)
7. Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SD-VOSB)
8. Historically Black Colleges & Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI)
9. Mentor-Protégé Program
10. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

Small Business Acronyms

Small Business Acronyms:

Small Business (SB)
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SD-VOSB)
Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)
Historically Black Colleges & Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI)
Small Business Specialist (SBS)
Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP)
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (SADBU)
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

Does Your Competitor Have a GSA Contract?

Does your competitor or competitors have a GSA contract? You need to know the answer to this question.

Go here:

http://www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov/ElibMain/ElibHome

Enter the name of your competitor (or competitors) into the "Search" BOX and click on "Search" BUTTON.

Here is a good example to use: "Lockheed."

NAICS Codes Bookmark

Bookmark the U.S. Census Bureau's 2002 NAICS Codes and Titles.

http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naicod02.htm

These are the official codes and titles, folks.

FAR Bookmark

Have you book marked the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)?

http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html

Learn How the Federal Procurement Machine Operates

Would-be and want-more government contracts must learn how the federal procurement machine operates in order to be successful in the federal market place. This means taking the time necessary to learn about government contracting including such things as terms, clauses, conditions, methodology, and proper terminology.

Look at Your Company Like the Government Does

The government looks at companies as vendors. Plain and simple, government contractors are nothing more than providers of the products and services the government needs to do what they are required to do.

Companies and their executives would do well to start looking at themselves the same way. Examine your company in terms of what it takes to win business: price, service, delivery, output, reliability, and performance.

FedBizOpps Bookmark

Save time when using Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps/FBO) by bookmarking the web site's advance search page:

http://www1.fbo.gov/spg/index.html

Most often, vendors go to FBO's main page [http://fbo.gov/] and then click the "FedBizOpps Vendors" icon link that takes them to the "Browse Agencies by Acronym in Alphabetic Order" page [http://www1.fbo.gov/spg/index.html], which in most cases proves a dead end.

Collaborate with Your Government Customer

Seek to develop a relationship with your potential government customers that will allow you to collaborate with them on the final value proposition that YOUR COMPANY brings to the table – the challenge or problem at hand.

This is true business development.

Statement of Qualifications

When was the last time that you updated your company's statement of qualifications?

Well, if it wasn't the last time that you completed a job, it is totally out of date and in desperate need of updating.

1. Complete a job.
2. Update your company's statement of qualifications.

If you make this simple two- (2) step process a habit, you will be way ahead of the game when an opportunity is created or presents itself.

How Does the Government See Your Product or Service?

It does not matter what your product does or service is. What matters is how the government sees, procures, uses, and re-orders your product or service.

Here is an idea that will pay massive dividends: Conduct an intensive and extensive study on how the government sees, procures, uses, and re-orders your product or service before you do anything else. In the end, it will be this study that will tell you everything you need to know about marketing and selling your product and service to the federal government.