The Ovid Group Blog

Past Performance Information - What Is It?

2010-01-17T07:34:00.000-08:00

Relevant Information regarding a contractor’s actions under previously awarded contracts. It includes the contractor’s record of conforming to specifications and to standards of good workmanship; the contractor’s record of containing and forecasting costs on any previously performed cost reimbursable contracts; the contractor’s adherence to contract schedules, including the administrative aspects of performance; the contractor’s history for reasonable and cooperative behavior and commitment to customer satisfaction; and generally, the contractor’s business-like concern for the interest of the customer.

COTR - What is a COTR?

2010-01-17T07:27:00.001-08:00

Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) – A Federal employee who ordering/issuing agency contracting officer in the administration of task orders contract. The COTR is primarily responsible for the day-to-day program ordering activity’s task or delivery orders. Ordering agencies may have different designators for this category (e.g. GTR- Government Technical Representative, Representative, etc.). The COTR’s responsibilities are limited to those delegated in ordering/issuing agency contracting officer.

PSC - Product Service Codes

2009-11-16T05:08:00.000-08:00

Product Service Codes (PSC) are alpha/numeric, from A to Z, with I and O not used. Three numbers are added to the alpha to further define what type of service is needed. For example, in the service code D308, the D3 indicates that the general type of service is automatic data processing and telecommunication services, and the 08 indicates that the specific service is programming services. In another example, R608, the R means that the general type of service is professional, administrative, and management support services, and the 608 means that the specific service is translation and interpreting services (including sign language).

Go here to download the Product and Services Codes Manual:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fpdsng.com%2Fdownloads%2Fservice_product_codes.pdf&ei=Ik4BS5GTNpCTnQfv5uGSCw&usg=AFQjCNF6QsRnvEzzMW5fRgqsL4MGKEszTA&sig2=pjzCI3QKtE9_9mcYzSzsVg

FAR Part 46 - Quality Assurance Requirements

2009-11-15T09:35:00.000-08:00

All government quality assurance requirements are spelled out in Part 46 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Any language that you will see in a bid or contract related to quality control consists of clauses extracted from this Part.

NSN Example

2009-11-13T06:23:00.000-08:00

In a typical NSN, for example, 4720-00-101-9817, the first four numbers are the Federal Supply Code (FSC), which places the item in a specific category. In this example, 4720 is pipe, tubing, hose, and fittings because it starts with 47. The second two numbers, 20, identify the item as hose and flexible tubing, which included air duct, metallic, and textile fiber hoses and their assemblies, etc. The next two numbers, in this example, 00, identify the country that buys the item: 00 or 01 is the code for the United States. The remaining numbers of the NSN, 101-9817, are referred to as the National Stock Number (NIIN) and are used to index NSNs.

NSNs - National Stock Numbers

2009-11-12T05:39:00.000-08:00

The NSN (National Stock Number) is the 13-digit number that the federal government assigns for purposes of identification and inventory control to every piece of supply, equipment, and material it uses and buys. You can think of the NSNs as a federal cataloging system based on the concept of one NSN for any one item and one single item manager for each particular class of product. (Note that, because services are not inventoried, services do not fit this model. for services, only the first four digits are used.)

CCR Registration - Information Needed to Register

2009-11-06T10:39:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of the information that you will need when you register in CCR (Central Contractor Registry):

1. Data Universal Numbering Sysem (DUNS) number;
2. DUNS +4 number;
3. CAGE Code;
4. U.S. Federal TIN;
5. A-T Number;
6. General Information about your company;
7. Classification codes for your company's products and services;
- NAICS codes
- SIC codes
- FSC codes
8. Information about electronic funds transfer;
9. Registration acknowledgment and point of contact information.

When you enter the information on the CCR website, you must fill in all the fields designated as mandatory or your application will be considered incomplete and your registration will not be accepted.

2009-11-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

When entering your nine-digit zip code in the CCR database, enter only the numbers, not the dash.

CCR and TIN & SSN

2009-11-04T06:35:00.000-08:00

When entering your TIN or SSN in the CCR database, enter only the numbers not the dashes.

CCR Registration and Dun & Bradstreet

2009-11-03T11:22:00.000-08:00

Your company's legal business name and address, as entered in your CCR (Central Contractor Registry), must match the legal business name under which you are registered with Dun & Bradstreet. If the information does not match, your registration may be rejected during the process.

Addressing the Federal Market Place

2009-11-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

Before your company can address what the government is looking for, it needs to identify what it really wants to offer. Companies should not solely look at what the government wants and seek ways to provide it. Instead, they should also consider what they do best and look for opportunities from that vantage point as well.

DOD Emall Statistics

2009-10-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

As of Friday, October 30, 2009:

There are 2,549 vendors currently host on DOD Emall.

There are 825 small businesses currently hosted on the DOD Emall.

There are 30,734 users’ accounts currently on DOD Emall.

During FY09, approximately 788 new DOD Emall users were added per week.

Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA)

2009-10-29T18:52:00.000-07:00

ORCA is an e-Government initiative that was designed by the Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE) to replace most of the paper-based Representations and Certifications (Reps and Certs) in Section K of solicitations with an Internet application.

Prior to ORCA, vendors were required to submit Reps and Certs for each individual large purchase contract award. Now, using ORCA, a contractor can enter their Reps and Certs information once for use on all Federal contracts. The ORCA site (https://orca.bpn.gov/) not only benefits contractors by allowing them to maintain an accurate and complete record, but also Contracting Officers as they can view every record, including archives, with the click of a mouse.

You must be registered in ORCA if the solicitation you are responding to requires that you have an active registration in CCR.

ORCA is an on-line system that is located on the Internet. To register, go to http://www.bpn.gov/ and click on “Online Representations and Certifications Application” on the left side of the screen. If you do not have access to the Internet or feel you need extra help please, contact a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) near you at www.dla.mil/db/procurem.htm.

Two items are needed prior to registration; an active record in CCR and an Marketing Partner ID (MPIN) from that active CCR record. An MPIN is a personal code that allows a CCR registrant to access other government applications such as the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), FedTeDS, ORCA, and grants.gov. Visit www.ccr.gov to complete these tasks if you haven’t already.

Turning Weaknesses Into Strengths

2009-10-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

Turn your company's weaknesses into strengths.

OR

Identify your company's weaknesses to government buyers. Explain ways in which you have mitigated these risks.

Business is about trust. State the truth upfront. It will go a long way in relationship building as well as those times will contract performance issues arise, which, face it, they often do.

Assessing Your Company's Weaknesses

2009-10-20T06:12:00.000-07:00

Assess your company's weaknesses from both an internal and external point of view.

What does others consider to be your weaknesses?

Are your competitors out performing you?

What would your customers want to improve about your products/services?

What would your customers want to improve about your customer service?

What would your potential customers like to have you improve upon?

Potential Areas of Weaknesses

2009-10-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

Here are some areas of potential weakness:

Leadership
Communication
Teamwork
Marketing
Discipline
Motivation
External obstacles
Customers complains
Limited products/services offerings

“Weakness” - FAR Part 15

2009-10-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

15.001 Definitions.

“Deficiency” is a material failure of a proposal to meet a Government requirement or a combination of significant weaknesses in a proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance to an unacceptable level.

“Weakness” means a flaw in the proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance. A “significant weakness” in the proposal is a flaw that appreciably increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

https://www.acquisition.gov/FAR/current/html/Subpart%2015_1.html

Specifications and Standards Library

2009-09-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

Government specifications are required on many items. Save time and money by developing a library of the specifications and standards that you most often use when submitting an offer to the government. Start with the specifications and standards required in the solicitations in which you are interested. This will give you a great head start.

BINCS

2009-08-26T06:14:00.000-07:00

The Business Identification Number Cross-Reference System or BINCS identifies foreign and domestic government/commercial contractors, manufacturers and suppliers. The system contains information on half a million businesses worldwide. Information in the system is cross-referenced to permit inquiry by CAGE, DUNS, company name, phone number, country, SIC code and ZIP code.

Put it to use:

https://www.bpn.gov/bincs/begin_search.asp

2009-07-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to add Taiwan (known in the World Trade Organization as "the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei))" as a designated country. On July 15, 2009, Taiwan became a designated country based on its accession to the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement. This interim rule adds Taiwan to the list of World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement countries.

Laws That Affect Federal Contracting

2009-07-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

The Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 set the minimum wage on the construction site at the local prevailing wage.

Buy American Act of 1933 required the government to buy only American products. The Act has been modified four times.

Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act of 1936 required a supplier to certify that it was the manufacturer or a regular dealer. This Act was updated in 1994.

Armed Services Procurement Act of 1947 continued the sealed bid as the preferred method of procurement, placed procurement rules in one location and gave us the Armed Services Procurement Regulation (ASPR), which was the beginnings of today's rulebook, the FAR.

The Small Business Act of 1953 established the Small Business Administration.

Truth in Negotiation Act of 1962 required both prime and subcontractors on contracts over $500,000 to certify the cost data submitted under the solicitation.

Public Law 95-507, Amendment to the Small Business Act (1978) formalized the Small Business Subcontracting Plan requirement in contracts over $500,000 to large businesses and set goals for large primes.

Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (FASA) repealed or substantially modified more than 225 statutes and pushed the contracting process into the 21st century. Among other things, it simplified the federal procurement process, reduced paperwork burdens, and transformed the simplified acquisition process to electronic commerce.

GSA Schedule Contract - Industrial Funding Fee

2009-06-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

User fee paid to GSA on a quarterly basis.

Sales must be reported on GSA Web site by end of month following quarter.

Amount is 0.75% of sales booked during quarter.

GSA Contract vs. Open Market Purchases

2009-06-15T04:46:00.000-07:00

GSA Schedule
-Government only required to request bids/ proposals from three companies on specific Schedule.

Full & Open Competition
-Government must post RFP on FedBizOpps and give any interested vendor a chance to bid.

GSA Schedule Contract - Advantages for Federal Buyers

2009-06-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

Vendor has already been evaluated and approved for financial stability, acceptable past performance, fair and reasonable pricing.

Contractual terms and conditions have already been negotiated.

Much faster purchasing process.

Fewer competition requirements.

Flexible order development.

Orders are to be FAR definition “competitive.”

Agency doesn’t have to pay usage fee required on GWACs; however, contractor must pay Industrial Funding Fee.

Agency can establish Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) using Schedule terms and pricing.

GSA Schedule Contract - Ordering Process

2009-06-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

Orders must be competed among three GSA Schedule contract holders if anticipated purchase is more than $100,000.

No competition required if anticipated purchase is less than $100,000.

Orders are either fixed-price or time and materials.

GSA Schedule Contract - How It Works

2009-06-09T11:36:00.000-07:00

Your company must have sold the offered products/services in the marketplace.

Your company must have verifiable invoices for the products/services you sell.

Your company submits a proposal to GSA.

GSA checks references and establishes that your company is qualified.

GSA then negotiates terms and conditions and evaluates pricing.

GSA awards a five-year contract.

Your company may then receive orders from any federal department or agency.

GSA Schedule Contract - Quick Look

2009-06-08T04:30:00.000-07:00

A GSA Schedule is a Multiple Award Contract (MAC)

GSA Schedules reduce the administrative and processing time for COs

GSA Schedules can reduce your competition

Program administered by GSA Federal Acquisition Service (FAS)

Creates pre-approved vendor list for specific types of products and services

Five-year base period plus three five-year options

Is This Your Government Contracting Process?

2009-05-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

Companies -

Is this your government contracting process?

First, you find an opportunity with a "modified shotgun approach;"

Second, you qualify it in an almost "completely uninformed manner"; and then

Third, you expend valuable time and resources needed to place a bid that loses because "it is often not responsive, let alone, competitive" because of the "modified shotgun approach" used in finding it and the "completely uninformed manner" in which it was qualified.

If so, this process or some haphazard variation is an often-repeated, but always-failing three-step process that needs to be replaced with a strategically systematic six-step process.

Small Business, the U.S. Government, and the American Economy

2009-04-08T05:08:00.001-07:00

Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and the U.S. federal government should be doing everything that it possible can to assist small business owners at this time of grave economic crisis. Everything that it can.

By the same token, small business owners need to do all that they can to help themselves. In the final analysis, small business - and really all businesses - have only two options. The first option is to crawl into a hole and wait for better days to come all along hoping that you will be able to hold out that long. The second, and much better, option is to re-tool and innovate, and, thus, come out stronger, leaner, and more profitable than when this economic mess started.

One very good option for small businesses is federal government contracting. We all know it.

So, what is your company waiting for?

Successful Contracting Behaviors

2009-04-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

1. Be proactive and aggressive rather than reactive and passive.

2. Network with federal buyers and agency contacts.

3. Utilize (properly) the vendor support services offered by the federal government such as OSDBUs.

4. Conduct thorough and ongoing research.

5. Ask questions.

6. Inquire about what business will be coming in the future.

7. Start selling to long before the solicitation is issued to the public.

8. If you are lost, get a guide.

Marketing to the Federal Government - There is No One Way or Is There?

2009-04-06T06:52:00.000-07:00

There is no one way to market your company's products and services to the federal government for the simple reason that each and every department purchases what it needs in different ways.

Therefore, it is imperative that you as a federal contractor understand the various procurement methods used by the federal government and particularly those most often used by the departments with which you seek to do business. In addition, make yourself aware of and then able to use properly all of the support services offered to vendors by the government. But . . . remember the days of school and homework and the fact that the more prepared you arrived, you further you went, and, therefore, achieved.

With all of this said, there is one thing that you can do over and over again when marketing to the federal government that will never, never fail. Ever. Determine who it is that you need to get to know, how you are going to get to know them, and what you are doing to do to attract, and then keep their attention. Sound familiar? Well, it should.

Recovery.Org - State Recovery Sites

2009-04-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

Forty-nine (49) of the fifty (50) states have now added to their web sites their own recovery web pages that help explain how they are spending funds allocated by the Recovery Act.

Here is the map:

http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/state-recovery-page

GSA E-Buy

2009-04-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

E-Buy is a GSA web site where agency personnel post RFPs for GSA schedule orders. Companies need to register for E-Buy after they are awarded a GSA schedule contract. GSA schedule holders submit their bid offers/proposal to the government through the E-Buy web site.

https://www.ebuy.gsa.gov/advgsa/advantage/ebuy/start_page.do

SBA - Office of Advocacy: Regional Advocates

2009-04-03T12:10:00.000-07:00

Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy - The Voice for Small Business in the Federal Government

Regional Advocates

The relationship between the nation's small businesses and the Chief Counsel for Advocacy is strengthened by regional advocates located in the SBA's 10 regions. They are the Chief Counsel's direct link to small business owners, state and local government bodies, and organizations that support the interests of small entities. The regional advocates help identify regulatory concerns of small business by monitoring the impact of federal and state policies at the grassroots level. Their work goes far to develop programs and policies that encourage fair regulatory treatment of small business and help ensure their future growth and prosperity.

http://www.sba.gov/advo/region.html

SBA Office of Advocacy - Mission Statement

2009-04-02T06:07:00.000-07:00

Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy - The Voice for Small Business in the Federal Government

Mission Statement

America's small businesses -- some 25 million strong -- are the strength of our nation's economy. They account for 50 percent of the country's private non-farm gross national product, create between 60 and 80 percent of the net new jobs and are 13 to 14 times more innovative per employee as large firms are.

Despite their importance to the economy, small businesses are heavily burdened by the costs of government regulation and excessive paperwork. Advocacy research shows that firms with fewer than 20 employees annually spend 45 percent more per employee than larger firms do to comply with federal regulations.

In 1976, the U.S. Congress created the Office of Advocacy within the U.S Small Business Administration to protect, strengthen and effectively represent the nation's small businesses within the federal government's legislative and rule-making processes. The Office of Advocacy works to reduce the burdens that federal policies impose on small firms and maximize the benefits small businesses receive from the government. Advocacy's mission, simply stated, is to encourage policies that support the development and growth of American small business.

http://www.sba.gov/advo/mission.html

What is a Small Business?

2009-04-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

The Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Advocacy defines a small business for research purposes as an independent business having fewer than 500 employees. Firms wishing to be designated small businesses for government programs such as contracting must meet size standards specified by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Size Standards. These standards vary by industry.

See:

http://www.sba.gov/contractingopportunities/officials/size/index.html

NCMA Special Membership Promo: Become a Lifetime Member! - 04/01/2009

2009-04-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

During the month of April, in recognition of NCMA's 50th anniversary celebration, NCMA is offering the deal of the half-century: 100 lifetime memberships for the low cost of $1,000 each.* The average NCMA member spends 15+ years in the contract management profession, making this limited-time offer a positive investment in your future. This promotion expires on April 30, 2009, and is limited to the first 100 applicants. Availability not guaranteed!

http://www.ncmahq.org/News/AnnoucementDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=4662

Contract Management Association (NCMA)

2009-03-31T19:48:00.000-07:00

In the federal government market place, knowledge and understand for success. Well, there are few better sources than the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and their monthly publication Contract Management magazine (CM).

National Contract Management Association (NCMA)
www.ncmahq.org
NCMA was formed in 1959 to foster the professional growth and educational advancement of the contract management profession. NCMA’s is that enterprises will succeed through improved buyer-seller relationships based on common values, practices, and professional standards.

Contract Management Magazine
http://www.ncmahq.org/Publications/CMMIssueList.cfm?navItemNumber=626
Contract Management is NCMA’s flagship publication – a monthly, full-color magazine that is NCMA’s number-one member benefit. Not only do members receive this publication each month, they also can access past articles of interest through our Contract Management Learning Center. Written and edited specifically for contract management professionals, and established in 1977, CM provides comprehensive reporting on current issues and trends relevant to both public and private sectors.

GSA Schedule Contractor Team Arrangements vs. Prime Contractor/Subcontractor Arrangements

2009-03-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

GSA Schedule Contractor Team Arrangements (CTAs) differ from Prime Contractor/Subcontractor Arrangements.

In prime/sub arrangements, the relationship is very tightly defined and controlled by the prime contractor; whereas, in CTAs, the roles and responsibilities are defined by the team, as accepted by the government.

Here are the five (5) key differences:

1.
Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA): Each team member must have a GSA Schedule contract.

Prime Contractor/Subcontractor Arrangement: Only the prime contractor must have a GSA Schedule contract.

2.
Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA): Each team member is responsible for duties addressed in the CTA document.

Prime Contractor/Subcontractor Arrangement: The prime contractor cannot delegate responsibility for performance to subcontractors.

3.
Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA): Each team member has privity of contract with the government and can interact directly with the government.

Prime Contractor/Subcontractor Arrangement: Only the prime contractor has privity of contract with the government and can interact with the government. The prime contractor is responsible for its subcontracting activities. (Ordering activities are encouraged to specify in the Request for Quotation (RFQ) that the use of subcontractors requires prior approval by the ordering activities.)

4.
Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA): The ordering activity is invoiced at each team member's unit prices or hourly rates as agreed in the task or delivery order or GSA Schedule BPA.

Prime Contractor/Subcontractor Arrangement: The ordering activity is invoiced in accordance with the prime contractor's GSA Schedule contract, including any applicable price reductions.

5.
Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA): Total solutions, otherwise impossible under individual GSA Schedule contracts, can be put together quickly and easily.

Prime Contractor/Subcontractor Arrangement: The prime contractor is limited to the supplies and/or services awarded on its GSA Schedule contract.

GSA Schedule Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA)

2009-03-26T06:15:00.000-07:00

A GSA Schedule Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA) is an arrangement between two or more GSA Schedule contractors to work together to meet agency requirements. The CTA document is a written agreement between team members detailing the responsibilities of each team member. The CTA allows the contractor to meet the government agency needs by providing a total solution that combines the supplies and/or services from the team members' separate GSA Schedule contracts. It permits contractors to complement each other's capabilities to compete for orders for which they may not independently qualify. A customer benefits from a CTA by buying a solution rather than making separate buys from various contractors.

The CML Reading Strategy

2009-03-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

The CML Reading Strategy

When examining a solicitation to determine whether or not to bid on it (a bid/no-bid decision), employ the CML Reading Strategy.

Read Section C for a broad-based description of the work, which is called the statement of the work.

Read Section M for a list of the value-ranked evaluation factors the government will employ when deciding to award the contract.

Read Section L for the instructions on how to make a responsive offer to the government.

Working Lunch Series 1

2009-03-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

We'll bring the information. You bring your lunch.

SBA Subcontracting Opportunities Directory

This is a most excellent resource!

The SBA Subcontracting Opportunities Directory provides an up-to-date list of companies that are currently looking for subcontractors to assist them in current or upcoming federal projects.

Here's how it is done. Per FAR regulations, the SBA obtains the names and addresses for this listing from subcontracting plans that are submitted to the Government when a large business receives a Federal contract over $500,000 (over $1 million in construction). SBA updates the directory on a regular basis and makes necessary changes when an incorrect listing is brought to its attention.

http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/gc/contacts/gc_subcontracts_opportunities.html

Prosperous. Hunting.

ARRA Spending by State - Dazzling Number$

2009-03-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) Spending by State as reported by the Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-STIMULUS0903.html

These are some dazzling numbers.

WSJ - Recovery Act Spending: Shovel-Ready?

2009-03-17T06:15:00.000-07:00

Shovels Are There, but the Readiness May Not Be
"As the Administration's Stimulus Plan Gets Under Way, Money for Road Repairs Hits the Streets -- and Some Bumps"
The Wall Street Journal | By Michael M. Phillips

North Middleton Township, Pa. -- On a warm afternoon last month, a week before the stimulus bill became law, Vice President Joseph Biden strolled out onto a narrow, 79-year-old bridge over the Conodoguinet Creek. He poked his shoe through a hole in a rotting girder, tore off a piece of rusty metal, and examined a crack in the concrete deck.

"Is this a shovel-ready project?" Mr. Biden asked Scott Christie, the state transportation official charged with deploying economic-stimulus money.

"It's ready to go," Mr. Christie answered. "I literally have the plans in the car right now."

It turns out, though, that shovel-readiness is in the eye of the beholder. Soon after his visit, Mr. Biden found out that his model stimulus project wouldn't see a shovel for almost four more months, possibly longer, knowing how such timetables slip. In North Middleton, a White House eager for action had run up against locals eager to avoid disruption. The locals won.

States are quickly assembling their construction wish lists. But it takes time to advertise for contractors, collect bids, check the numbers, pick a winner and get work underway. A typical paving project -- easy roadwork -- takes close to three months from the time the money is approved to the arrival of work boots on the ground, according to the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials. "It is not an instant process," says a spokesman.

President Barack Obama and Mr. Biden know their unprecedented $787 billion emergency spending package has to put hard hats on America's streets soon -- or their administration risks losing credibility. On March 3, the president announced the release of the first $28 billion for road and bridge projects. A New Dealish logo to identify construction financed with stimulus money is ready.

Last month, even before the bill became law, Mr. Biden turned to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell to find the perfect illustration of just how fast the money could produce results.

Mr. Rendell was happy to oblige. Every two weeks he receives a confidential report from Pennsylvania's Department of Labor listing factory start-ups and jobs created, alongside plant closings and layoffs. One of the latest reports lists 2,941 positions lost, and 1,143 created. "I'm almost scared to open them," Gov. Rendell says.

To help Mr. Biden, the governor asked his Department of Transportation to come up with a list of projects. Mr. Christie had some paving in mind. But the Route 34 bridge, which had been on the state's to-do list for more than a decade, had infrastructural sex appeal. Road resurfacing just isn't "as glamorous as seeing a hole in a bridge," says Mr. Christie.

North Middleton, with a population of less than 12,000, is a bedroom community for Harrisburg and Carlisle. The bridge is a key corridor for commuters and an important access way for the North Middleton Volunteer Fire Co., whose main station is about 1,000 feet from the bridge.

Mr. Biden flew to Pennsylvania on Feb. 11. Security agents closed the bridge to traffic before his motorcade arrived.

"What are you going to show me that we're going to be using the stimulus money for?" Mr. Biden asked Mr. Christie that day.

"I've got a great example of a bad bridge," Mr. Christie responded.

The state lists the bridge as "fracture critical," meaning that if one of the two metal support girders broke, the entire structure would collapse. The green-painted girders are perforated with rust, the deck buckled with cracks. Putting up a new bridge would cost about $1.8 million and generate 50 to 60 jobs, according to state estimates.

On the bridge, Messrs. Christie and Rendell told Mr. Biden that they expected to start demolition in April.

From their yellow ranch home -- the first house on the north side of the bridge -- Creedin Cornman, 84 years old, and his wife, Reba, 77, noticed the commotion. Mr. Cornman remembers a rainy night in the 1960s, when he fish-tailed his International Scout and hit one of the girders. The door flew open and his poodle escaped. "I left my mark on that bridge," Mr. Cornman recalls with a hint of pride. (The poodle was fine).

The stimulus package "sounds good," says Mr. Cornman. "You have to start somewhere."

Mrs. Cornman isn't so sure. "I don't know -- it's a lot of money," she says.

On the day of Mr. Biden's visit, Chester "Chet" Schlusser, 76, watched from the bed of his pickup truck while a Secret Service agent kept watch on his yard. The day before, the state had written Mr. Schlusser a letter offering him $8,200 for a sliver of his property to make room for the new bridge. The government included a blue brochure titled, "When Your Land is Needed for Transportation Purposes." Mr. Schlusser says he's inclined to sell the parcel.

He worked in bridge construction for 10 years, and, stimulus or not, doubts the project will get going quickly. "People aren't geared up to start on a moment's notice," he says.

On Feb. 18, the day after Mr. Obama signed the stimulus bill into law, a Biden aide called the state's Department of Transportation to see when the ground-breaking would take place.

But April wasn't looking likely. Unbeknownst to the officials gathered on the bridge, at a public meeting on the project the previous summer, the head of school transportation had requested that construction not overlap with more than one school year. Two bus routes for the local high school crossed the bridge, and the school district wanted to minimize the disruption that a long detour would cause. The only way to make that work was to begin construction after school let out on June 10.

The state agreed to add language to the construction contract pushing back the start date. It plans to seek bids early next month, open them on April 30, review them for a few weeks and issue a "notice to proceed" by early to mid-June. Work could then commence on the site and be completed by year's end.

"To do it much sooner would be to go against what we've been trying to do all along, which is hold it to a single school season," says Timothy Bolden, of Gibson-Thomas Engineering Co., the new bridge's designer.

News that construction would have to wait for months came as a shock to the White House.

"The vice president was impatient," says a senior White House official. "He wanted it done."

At a White House event on Feb. 23, Mr. Biden brought up the delay with Mr. Rendell. The governor, unaware of the school issue, reassured the vice president that the project was on track.

"America didn't get in this mess overnight, and the cannot turn it all around overnight," says Annie Tomasini, a Biden spokeswoman. "But we are moving forward with unprecedented speed."

On Feb. 27, Messrs. Biden and Rendell met again on the sidelines of an event in Philadelphia. This time, Mr. Rendell confirmed that construction wouldn't begin until late June.

"If we want to be smackers and make sure stimulus rolls over everything, we could have started it in April," says Mr. Rendell. "We acceded to the request of the school district."

Still, he says, "I wish it hadn't been the bridge the vice president walked on."

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123722072120443301.html

CCR - Change In Login Procedures

2009-03-17T05:56:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION EXISTING USERS: CCR login procedures have changed. If you currently have a CCR record, but do not have a user ID and password, you will not be able to access your record until you create a user account. We have extended the deadline to make this change to December 21, 2009. You will need to create your user account prior to your renewal date.

Please take a moment to review the User Account Guide before getting started. An FAQ page is also available to help you through the process.

Obama Announces Plan to Aid Small Businesses

2009-03-16T04:06:00.000-07:00

Obama Announces Plan to Aid Small Businesses
By Helene Cooper
March 16, 2009, 1:43 pm
NYTimes.

Seeking to ease the credit freeze for small businesses, the Obama administration will inject $15 billion into the industry, buying up securities that are linked to small-business loans.

In announcing the latest cylinder of his government’s economic recovery effort, President Obama said the infusion was needed because “small business owners are really struggling” because their credit lines had been pulled.

“This is still just going to be a first step in what is going to be a continuing effort to make sure that people get credit out there,” Mr. Obama said in an appearance in the East Room of the White House.

Administration officials said that by the end of March the Treasury Department would begin making direct purchases of securities backed by loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, and would purchase new securities. Even small businesses with good credit histories have seen lending dry up, the White House said in a news release that announced the new initiatives.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/obama-announces-plan-to-aid-small-businesses/?hp

The Importance of Having An Up-To-Date CCR Registration

2009-03-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

From a conversation with high level Department of Defense procurement official on Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

"Ma'am, just a quick question that I already know the answer to, but just want to, again, confirm. When contracting officers are looking a vendor, it not CCR the first place they go?"

"Oh, yes, Mr. Sekerak, CCR is the first place they go. I go back 34 years and I remember a time when contractors had to register at each and every location that they sought to do business. CCR erased all that can gave us a central database that allows us to search by NAICS code, socio-economic status, location, and on and on. It really saves so much time. So, it is the first place contracting officers look and that is why it is necessary for all contractors to always absolutely keep their registration up-to-date. If they add a product or service. Add it - update CCR immediately."

Track The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Money

2009-02-23T06:41:00.000-08:00

Track The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money:

http://www.recovery.gov/

Obama To Sign Recovery Act Today

2009-02-16T02:06:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama is expected to sign the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 today, Monday, February 16, 2009.

Recovery Bill Gets Senate Approval

2009-02-13T19:53:00.000-08:00

"Congress on Friday approved a $787 billion economic stimulus measure, meeting the crushing mid-February deadline that Democrats had set for adopting the centerpiece of President Obama’s early agenda but without quelling partisan divisions in Washington." - David M. Herszenhorn, NYTimes, February, 13, 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

2009-02-12T16:10:00.000-08:00

The final version of the stimulus bill will be voted on by the House and Senate.

Below we have listed the specific line items that speak directly to federal government contracting.

Also, just a little food for thought:

WASHINGTON (AP), Wednesday, February 11, 2009,

"President Barack Obama says Caterpillar's chief executive has told him the company will rehire some laid-off workers if the stimulus bill passes."

---> That is just if the bill passes . . . .

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Creating Jobs, Supporting the States and Investing in Our Country's Future

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $311 billion in appropriations, including the following critical investments:

* Investments in Infrastructure and Science - $120 billion
* Investments in Health - $14.2 billion
* Investments in Education and Training - $105.9 billion
* Investments in Energy, including over $30 billion in infrastructure - $37.5 billion
* Helping Americans Hit Hardest by the Economic Crisis - $24.3 billion
* Law Enforcement, Oversight, Other Programs - $7.8 billion

Investments in Infrastructure and Science include:

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT

* $7.2 billion for Broadband to increase broadband access and usage in unserved and underserved areas of the Nation, which will better position the U.S. for economic growth, innovation, and job creation.

* $2.75 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to secure the homeland and promote economic activity, including $1 billion for airport baggage and checkpoint security, $430 million for construction of border points of entry, $210 million for construction of fire stations, $300 million for port, transit, and rail security, $280 million for border security technology and communication, and $240 million for the Coast Guard.

* $4.6 billion in funding for the Corps of Engineers.

* $1.2 billion for VA hospital and medical facility construction and improvements, long-term care facilities for veterans, and improvements at VA national cemeteries.

* $3.1 billion for repair, restoration and improvement of public facilities at on public and tribal lands.

* $4.2 billion for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization to be used to invest in energy efficiency projects and to improve the repair and modernization of Department of Defense facilities to include Defense Health facilities.

* $2.33 billion for Department of Defense Facilities including quality of life and family-friendly military improvement projects such as family housing, hospitals, and child care centers.

* $1 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program for community and economic development projects including housing and services for those hit hard by tough economic times.

* $1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation to provide clean, reliable drinking water to rural areas and to ensure adequate water supply to western localities impacted by drought.

TRANSPORTATION

* $27.5 billion is included for highway investments

* $8.4 billion for investments in public transportation.

* $1.5 billion for competitive grants to state and local governments for transportation investments.

* $1.3 billion for investments in our air transportation system.

* $9.3 billion for investments in rail transportation, including Amtrak, High Speed and Intercity Rail.

PUBLIC HOUSING

* $4 billion to the public housing capital fund to enable local public housing agencies to address a $32 billion backlog in capital needs -- especially those improving energy efficiency in aging buildings.

* $2 billion for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes.

* $250 million is included for energy retrofitting and green investments in HUD-assisted housing projects.

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN-UP/CLEAN WATER

* $6 billion is directed towards environmental cleanup of former weapon production and energy research sites.

* $6 billion for local clean and drinking water infrastructure improvements.

* $1.2 billion for EPA's nationwide environmental cleanup programs, including Superfund.

* $1.28 billion to support $3.8 billion in loans and grants for needed water and waste disposal facilities in rural areas.

SCIENCE

* $1 billion total for NASA.

* $3 billion total for National Science Foundation (NSF).

* $2 billion total for Science at the Department of Energy including $400 million for the Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy (ARPA-E).

* $830 million total for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH Include:

* $19 billion, including $2 billion in discretionary funds and $17 billion for investments and incentives through Medicare and Medicaid to ensure widespread adoption and use of interoperable health information technology (IT). This provision will grow jobs in the information technology sector, and will jumpstart efforts to increase the use of health IT in doctors' offices, hospitals and other medical facilities. This will reduce health care costs and improve the quality of health care for all Americans.

* $1 billion for prevention and wellness programs to fight preventable diseases and conditions with evidence-based strategies.

Investments in EDUCATION and TRAINING include:

* $53.6 billion for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, including $39.5 billion to local school districts using existing funding formulas, which can be used for preventing cutbacks, preventing layoffs, school modernization, or other purposes; $5 billion to states as bonus grants for meeting key performance measures in education; and $8.8 billion to states for high priority needs such as public safety and other critical services, which may include education and for modernization, renovation and repairs of public school facilities and institutions of higher education facilities.

Investments in ENERY include:

* $4.5 billion for repair of federal buildings to increase energy efficiency using green technology.

* $3.4 billion for Fossil Energy research and development.

* $11 billion for smart-grid related activities, including work to modernize the electric grid.

* $6.3 billion for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Grants.

* $5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program.

* $2.5 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy research.

* $2 billion in grant funding for the manufacturing of advanced batteries systems and components and vehicle batteries that are produced in the United States.

* $6 billion for new loan guarantees aimed at standard renewable projects such as wind or solar projects and for electricity transmission projects.

* $1 billion for other energy efficiency programs including alternative fuel trucks and buses, transportation charging infrastructure, and smart and energy efficient appliances.

HELP for WORKERS and FAMILIES Hardest Hit by the Economic Crisis includes:

* State and Local Law Enforcement: $4 billion total to support law enforcement efforts.

The 1,174 Federal Government Agencies - A-Z List

2009-01-27T21:47:00.000-08:00

As we have mentioned before in this blog, there are 1,174 federal government agencies and all of them purchase goods and services.

Here is an A-Z Index of U.S. Government Agencies:

www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml

Federal Government Stimulus Package

2009-01-27T06:53:00.000-08:00

An enormous federal government stimulus package will happen. It is not a case of if, but one of when.

GSA Expo 2009

2009-01-20T04:43:00.000-08:00

The 15th annual GSA International Products and Services Expo 2009 will take place June 9-11, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas.

As GSA’s free training conference and vendor exposition, this event is specially designed to benefit federal, state and local government employees and military members who make or influence procurement decisions. An invaluable experience for acquisition or program managers, Expo provides you with opportunities to:

Network with hundreds of GSA and other agency experts;
Continue building your acquisition knowledge with our extensive Continuous Learning Point (CLP) certified training class program;
Meet with GSA vendors providing specific technical expertise;
Bring your national or regional staff together for a meeting in one of our complimentary meeting rooms.

Registration is simple:

http://www.mc2ekits.com/gsareg/

On The Eve Of Change . . .

2009-01-19T17:21:00.000-08:00

On the eve of Barack Obama's inauguration and what is being called change, how many of you have changed your company's approach to business because of the economy?

How many of you have realized that government contracts are where it is at?
How many of you still remain completely clueless to this simple fact?
How many government contracts do you have?
How many agencies are you doing business with?
What agencies to you know need your products or services?

Just some thoughts.

What the Government Looks For In Its Vendors

2008-04-17T00:36:00.000-07:00

Responsive. Check.

Responsible. Check.

But are you are a problem-solving, solution providing partner? Check! Double Check!! Advance to award.

More Volume and Loyalty, Less Headaches

2008-04-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

Amazing, but nonetheless true.

With one single contract the federal government can give your company more volume and loyalty, not to mention less headaches than all your commercial customers combined.

Register Now - Only Two (2) Days Left

2008-04-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

Government Contracting: A Recession-Proof Market Place

The Complimentary TeleClass

Thursday, April 17, 2008, 4:00 PM Eastern Time

Details and simple registration:

http://www.ovidgroup.com/rpmp.htm

Over 10,000 New Business Opportunities a Day

2008-04-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

Everyday, the federal government releases over 10,000 new business opportunities (only 400-500 of which appear on FBO.gov).

Federal Government Spending - Products and Services: $15,000 a Second

2008-04-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

The federal government spends more than $15,000 per second, every minute of every day on products and services.

1,174 Federal Government Agencies

2008-04-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

There are 1,174 federal government agencies and all of them buy.

Over 700,000 Government Purchase or Credit Card Holders

2008-04-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

There are over 700,000 government purchase or credit card holders, most with a minimum limit of $10,000 a month and all with ability to purchase up to $3,000.00 at one time without competition.

Buyers Rotate Vendors to Maintain Competition

2008-04-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

Government buyers must rotate purchases among commercial vendors to maintain competition.

But on the other hand, the government cannot find enough small businesses with which to do business.

Tremendous opportunity . . . .

Complimentary TeleClass - Government Contracting: A Recession-Proof Market Place

2008-04-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

Government Contracting: A Recession-Proof Market Place

A Complimentary TeleClass

Thursday, April 17, 2008, 4:00 PM Eastern Time

For details and simple registration go to:

http://www.ovidgroup.com/rpmp.htm

Rules and Regulations Limit Your Competition

2008-04-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

There are rules and regulations that your company can use to your advantage to minimize or even eliminate your competition.

FBO.GOV - New Look & New Link

2008-04-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

As I am sure you have seen and experienced by now, Federal Business Opportunities, FedBizOpps, FBO.gov or just plain old FBO, has a nice new look and feel.

However, you need to be aware of a few matters. First, you need to update your ADVANCED SEARCH link. The new link is:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?tab=search&s=opportunity&mode=list

Also, be aware that as of right now, the new site is working perfecting in both Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla's Firefox, but not Safari, Apple's web browser.

8(a) Acquisitions Below $3 Million

2008-02-27T05:34:00.000-08:00

There is no requirement for competition in 8(a) acquisitions below $3 million as long as the price is demonstrated to be fair and reasonable.

A Classic Colossal Mistake

2008-02-26T09:57:00.000-08:00

Situation:

1. Your company is already selling its products and services to civilian government agencies.

2. The Department of Defense buys these same products and services through its DLA Defense Supply Centers in Columbus, Ohio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Richmond, Virginia.

3. But your company is not doing business with these centers, because ....

[....very long explanation from company living and dying with ups and currently mostly downs of the commercial market place on why they are not doing business with these BUYING CENTERS....]

---
"Oh. Okay. No, sorry, I do not understand."

DLA - 4 Million Different Items for DOD

2008-02-25T06:11:00.000-08:00

Through its contracting offices, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) buys more than four million different items for Department of Defense (DoD) activities.

Tobyhanna Army Depot

2008-02-22T05:12:00.000-08:00

Tobyhanna Army Depot [www.tobyhanna.army.mil] is the DOD's largest, full-service electronics maintenance facility. The depot’s mission is total sustainment, including design, manufacture, repair and overhaul of hundreds of electronic systems, which include satellite terminals, radio and radar systems, telephones, electro-optics, night vision and anti-intrusion devices, airborne surveillance equipment, navigational instruments, electronic warfare, and guidance and control systems for tactical missiles.

Defense Logistics Agency, Pacific (DLA-P)

2008-02-21T01:23:00.000-08:00

Defense Logistics Agency Pacific (DLA-P) is the Defense Logistics Agency's focal point for issues in the Pacific theater, to include the role of primary liaison to the Pacific Command (PACOM) and US Forces Korea (USFK) Command. DLA-P provides a unified DLA interface for warfighters throughout the Pacific, integrating DLA support within the Pacific theater and reaching back to other DLA activities in the continental United States for logistics solutions.

The DLA Pacific HQ is located in Hawaii. To better support Warfighters in Korea , DLA-P has a subordinate forward command, DLA-P Korea.

The DLA-P Korea command is based in Daegu, Korea, the hub of logistics support for the Korea Theater of Operations, with the DLA-P Korea Commander and planning staff working closely with Service logisticians to integrate DLA into both planning and operations. The DLA-P Korea command constantly stands ready to form a full scale DLA Contingency Support Team (DCST) to support exercises or operations in Korea , with constant training and practice. Additionally, the DLA Liaison Officer (LNO) to USFK in Seoul directly interfaces with USFK and 8th Army to address their strategic level issues and to ensure an in depth understanding of DLA capabilities. Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) are assigned throughout Korea to provide face-to-face support and training to their assigned customers with frequent onsite visits.

In addition to Korea , DLA-P provides direct support in Hawaii , Okinawa, Mainland Japan, and Alaska . At Camp Smith DLA-P has a Theater Logistics Operations Center (TLOC) and together with a PACOM LNO, works closely with the PACOM Staff and the Services component Commands to integrate DLA into their plans and operations. The LNO assigned to US Forces Japan (USFJ) in Tokyo works closely with the USFJ staff and integrates DLA support. CSRs are located in Hawaii , Japan , Okinawa, and Alaska, to provide onsite customer support and training.

DLA-P Hawaii
1025 Quincy Avenue
Suite 2000
Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-4512
1-808-473-4261
http://www.pacific.dla.mil/

Defense Logistics Agency, Europe (DLA-E)

2008-02-20T19:00:00.000-08:00

Defense Logistics Agency, Europe (DLA-E) is the Defense Logistics Agency's focal point for US European Command (EUCOM) issues. DLA-E provides a single DLA interface for EUCOM warfighters, reaching back to other DLA activities in Europe and the continental United States for logistics solutions.

DLA-E provides on-site, tailored customer support through our network of customer service representatives. Additionally, our liaison and planners in Stuttgart, Ramstein Air Base and Heidelberg, Germany, and Naples, Italy, help logisticians at EUCOM and its subordinates plan operations and exercises.

DLA-E train and fields DLA Contingency Support Teams (DCST) when requested by the EUCOM combatant commander. As the Balkans mission has matured and US forces have drawn down the DCSTs in Bosnia and Kosovo have reduced commensurately. Currently, a single DLA area representative at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo supports operations from an office there and supports Bosnia-Herzegovina operations from a satellite office at Eagle Base as needed.

Commander, DLA-Europe also serves as the DLA Regional Commander.

DLA-E geographic responsibility is the same as EUCOM's. DLA-E is responsible for 20 million square miles, covering 91 nations in all of Europe, and parts of Africa, Asia and North America. DLA-E area extends from 500 miles off the Atlantic coast of the United States to the Pacific coast of Russia and includes two-thirds of the Earth's coastlines.

Commander
Defense Logistics Agency Europe
CMR 443, Box 1000
APO AE 09096-1000
Telephone: From US: 011-49-611-380-7601

http://www.dla.mil/europe/

Defense Logistics Agency, Central Command (DLA-C)

2008-02-19T18:06:00.000-08:00

Defense Logistics Agency Central Command (DLA-C) serves as DLA's primary focal point for coordinating DLA support to forces in the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR).

DLA-C provides the single face to the combatant commander, integrating DLA support throughout the CENTCOM AOR for logistical solutions with assistance from the DLA field activities within the CONUS. DLA-C HQ is located at MacDill AFB, Florida. DLA-C has three (3) Defense Contingency Support Teams (DCSTs) working alongside deployed forces in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. DLA-C also has WSRs located in Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.

Other DLA-C activities in the USCENTCOM AOR include: Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service International; Defense Energy Supply Center-Middle East; Defense Distribution Center Depot Kuwait; and Defense Distribution Center Map Support Office Bahrain.

USCENTCOM ATTN:
J4 (DLA-C)
7115 S. Boundary Blvd
MacDill AFB, FL 33621
1-312-651-3063
http://www.dla.mil/dla-c/

U.S. Army Organization Map of Geographic Responsibilities

2008-02-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

Below is a link to a world map from the Unified Command Plan showing the geographic responsibilities of the combatant commanders. Use this map to select an area to find the major Army organizations located within that geographic region.

http://www.army.mil/institution/organization/

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia, Pacific Region (DSCPP)

2008-02-15T20:19:00.000-08:00

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia, Pacific Region (DSCPP)

DSCPP's mission is to implement and support the provisions of DSCP commodities: Subsistence, Medical Materiel, Clothing & Textiles, and Construction & Equipment products to the war-fighters and other Federal customers throughout the Pacific Region.

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia, Pacific Region
440 Fuller Way Bldg. 280
Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-4967
1-808-474-2900
Online: http://www.dla.mil/dscp/pac

Defense Supply Center Philadelphia Europe

2008-02-14T09:10:00.000-08:00

Defense Supply Center Philadelphia Europe (DSCPE)

DSCPE's mission is to ensure combat readiness and sustainment of America's Warfighters by providing integrated logistical support throughout the European, African, and Middle Eastern areas of operation.

Class I - Sustaintence
Class II - Clothing & Textiles
Class III - Building & Barricades
Class IV - Personal Welfare Items
Class VI - Personal Welfare Items
Class VII - Construction and Equipment End Items
Class VIII - Medical
Class X - Agricultural

Online: http://www.dscp.dla.mil/dscpe/index.asp

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia - Construction and Equipment

2008-02-13T08:38:00.000-08:00

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia (DSCP) - Construction and Equipment (C&E)

DSCP's C&E provides supplies and services for: firefighting, Special Operational Equipment (safety and rescue and marine lifesaving and driving products); imaging and information; items for material-handling and pallet management; wood products and a full range of materials required to maintain base facilities and troop support including HVAC and lighting products, metals and metal products. C&E also manages Class IV construction and barrier materials.

DSCP Construction and Equipment (C&E) Directorate

Online: http://www.dscp.dla.mil/gi/

Vendor Information: http://www.dscp.dla.mil/gi/general/vendor.htm

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia - Clothing and Textiles

2008-02-12T07:33:00.000-08:00

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia (DSCP) - Clothing and Textiles (C&T)

Products Offered:

All items related to clothing and textiles, such as uniforms, physical training items, chemical suits, undergarments, shoes and boots, headwear, extreme cold weather gear, tents, medals, flags, ribbons, and ecclesiastical items.

Online: http://www.dscp.dla.mil/clothingandtextiles/

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia - Subsistence

2008-02-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia (DSCP) - Subsistence (SMS)

Products Offered:

Semi-perishable and perishable foods; Prime vendor (commercial delviery by truck, rail, or air); Produce (fresh fruits and vegetable); Operational rations (meals, Ready-to-Eat; Humanitarian rations; Utilized Group Rations; Tray Packs; B-Rations; and more).

Directorate of Subsistence:
Food Services: 1-215-737-7445
Operational Rations: 1-215-737-5648
Produce: 1-215-737-4254
Online: http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/index.asp

Operational Rations Division:
Online: http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/rations/index.asp

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia - Medical Materiel

2008-02-08T05:04:00.000-08:00

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia (DSCP) - Directorate of Medical Materiel (DMM)

Products Offered:

Medical, dental, surgical, biological, and pharmaceutical items, as well as diagnostic imaging, patient monitors, and ambulatory equipment. Also, imagining maintenance, equipment leasing, surgical PREPACs, and medical contingency planning.

Directorate of Medical Materiel (DMM)
Customer Service: 1-877-352-2255
Online: https://dmmonline.dscp.dla.mil/

Revisiting DefenseLink.mil

2008-02-07T06:06:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, December 2, 2007, in an entry entitled "DefenseLink.mil - A Bevy of Subcontracting Opportunities," I blogged about the DOD's web site DefenseLink.mil being a tremendous source of subcontracting opportunities.

I want to take a moment to revisit this subject.

If you are serious about getting more federal government business, revisit this blog entry and sign up to receive via email the daily announcements by the Department of Defense (DOD) of all contracts valued at $5 million or more.

Here is a link to the blog:
http://ovidgroup.blogspot.com/2007/12/defenselinkmil-subcontracting.html

Proposed 2009 DOD Budget Is Highest Level Since WWII

2008-02-06T20:48:00.000-08:00

When adjusted for inflation, the proposed 2009 DOD budget of $515.4 billion will have reached its highest level since World War II. This Defense Department budget proposal, which is to pay for the standard operations of the Pentagon and the military but does not include supplemental spending on the war efforts or on nuclear weapons, is an increase in real terms of about 5 percent over last year.

Source:
New York Times. "Pentagon Seeks Record Level in 2009 Budget." Thom Shanker. February 3, 2008.

Fiscal Year 2009 Department Of Defense Budget Released

2008-02-05T00:33:00.000-08:00

Fiscal Year 2009 Department Of Defense Budget Released
[February 04, 2008]

President George W. Bush today sent to Congress his Defense budget for Fiscal Year 2009. The budget provides $515.4 billion in discretionary authority for the Department of Defense (DoD), a $35.9 billion or 7.5 percent increase over the enacted level for Fiscal Year 2008.

The Fiscal Year 2009 budget reflects the President’s priorities and sustains his commitment to prevail in the Global War on Terror; increase ground combat capabilities; improve force readiness; develop the combat capabilities needed to meet future threats; and improve the quality of life for Service members and their families.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said, “the President’s budget for FY 2009 provides the resources necessary to maintain an agile, highly trained, and lethal fighting force, increase Army and Marine Corps end strength, and sustain the United States’ technological advantage over current and potential enemies.” [more.]

Source: http://www.defenselink.mil/

Defense Distribution Center (DDC)

2008-02-04T17:11:00.000-08:00

Defense Distribution Center (DDC)

3.9 million NSNs stored
346 million cubic feet of storage space
25 million receipts and issues annually

Defense Distribution Center (DDC)
2001 Mission Drive
DDC - [Appropriate Office Symbol]
New Cumberland, PA 17070-5001
1-717-770-1110 - Operator Assistance
http://www.ddc.dla.mil/sites/default.aspx

Defense Energy Support Center (DESC)

2008-02-03T02:59:00.000-08:00

Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) is the supply chain for efficient, economical, and comprehensive energy solutions for DOD and other government agencies. These solutions include contracting support and management of all petroleum-based fuels, additives, and other energy products and services including jet fuels, distillates, missile fuels, chemicals, gases, gasoline, diesel fuels, heating fuels, natural gas, coal, and electricity. DESC also manages bulk petroleum facilities storing DLA-owned fuel, utilities, privatization, and other installation energy conservation efforts.

Defense Energy Support Center
8725 John J. Kingman Road
Ste. 4950
Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060-6222
1-703-767-+EXT
http://www.desc.dla.mil

Defense Supply Center, Columbus

2008-02-02T05:10:00.000-08:00

Defense Supply Center, Columbus (DSCC)
Land/Maritime

As DLA's supply chain manager for land-based and maritime weapon system parts, DCSS buys, manages, and coordinates shipments of some 2.1 millions items. While some of those are end items, the majority are consumable repair parts for a variety of land-based and maritime weapon systems. Working with some 24,000 military and civilian customers, and partnering with more than 6,000 suppliers, DSCC monitors inventory levels and assures quality conformance of those spare parts.

Defense Supply Center, Columbus
P.O. Box 3990
Columbus, OH 43218-3990
1-614-692-3131 - Operator Assistance
http://www.dscc.dla.mil

Defense Supply Center, Richmond (DSCR)

2008-02-01T15:17:00.000-08:00

Defense Supply Center, Richmond
Aviation

Defense Supply Center Richmond (DCSR) is the supply chain owner for air, aviation, and space support. Items include airframe/aerospace products; packaged petroleum, oils and lubricants; chemicals; batteries; bearings; instruments and gauges; metalworking machines; maps and map products...and much more.

Defense Supply Center, Richmond
8000 Jefferson Davis Highway
Richmond, VA 23297-5000
1-804-279-3861 - Operator Assistance
1-804-279-3825 - Duty Officer
http://www.dla.mil.dscr

Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia (DSCP)

2008-01-31T13:14:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-30T00:52:00.000-08:00

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)?

2008-01-29T16:43:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-28T13:21:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

"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

2008-01-25T18:16:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-24T11:08:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-23T22:31:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-22T04:57:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-21T14:58:00.000-08:00

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)

2008-01-20T15:24:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

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.