We all know online marketplaces are very popular among consumers, so it’s no wonder that federal agencies would want to get in on the action too. But a federal agency is different from an ordinary consumer because the federal government is required to purchase goods and services according to a vast array of federal statutes and regulations. When an agency tried to set up an online marketplace in violation of acquisition rules, GAO didn’t let it fly.
Continue readingAuthor Archives: Shane McCall
SmallGovCon Week in Review: Sept. 21-25, 2020
Next week, I’ll be speaking on small business federal contracting issues at for the AFCEA South Florida chapter. But if you can’t catch that talk, there’s a lot of federal contracting news to catch up on this week. Read on below.
Stories from the past week include the White House release of an executive order that may have some effect on federal contractors. The executive order requires a clause in federal contracts prohibiting federal contractors from using “workplace training that inculcates in its employees any form of race or sex stereotyping or any form of race or sex scapegoating.”
‘[R]ace or sex stereotyping’ means ascribing character traits, values, moral and ethical codes, privileges, status, or beliefs to a race or sex, or to an individual because of his or her race or sex, and the term ‘race or sex scapegoating’ means assigning fault, blame, or bias to a race or sex, or to members of a race or sex because of their race or sex.” Contractors should be aware of this new requirement, but we’ll have to see how it plays out in practice.
Read on for other interesting stories.
Continue readingAFCEA Small Business Talk September 29
Mark your calendars for next week. I’ll be speaking at the AFCEA South Florida’s SB Lunch and Learn on September 29 from 11:30am – 12:30pm eastern time. The topic is “10 things every Small Business should know about Federal Contracting Law.”
AFCEA is an organization dedicated to “exploration of issues relevant to its members in information technology, communications, and electronics for the defense, homeland security and intelligence communities.” The event is open to all and registration information can be found here.
GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service Over-Reported Small Business Contracts by $89 Million
Every year, when the SBA releases its annual Small Business Procurement Scorecard, I hear from a few folks who mistrust the data. “I think small business awards are being over-reported,” is a pretty common theme for Scorecard skeptics.
A new GSA Office of Inspector General report is a reminder that it’s not paranoia if people are really out to get you. According to the GSA OIG, the GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service over-reported small business contracts by a whopping $89 million in just two fiscal years.
Continue readingSmallGovCon Week in Review: Sept. 14-18, 2020
On Monday, the calendar officially moves to fall. Hopefully you have plans to enjoy the last weekend of Summer 2020, whether it’s at the beach, the lake, or just firing up the backyard grill.
Before the weekend begins, it’s time as always for our Friday rundown of the latest and greatest (or not-so-greatest) in federal government contracting. In this week’s edition, an Oregon man gets jail time for his role in a DoD fraud scheme, two members of the CMMC Advisory Board are unexpectedly out, the Air Force makes a long-term commitment to telework, and much more.
Continue readingHappy National PTAC Day!
I wanted to wish our readers a fine National PTAC Day! The local PTACs are an invaluable resource for many federal contractors, especially those just starting out in the federal contracting space.
There are PTACs in all 50 states. And those local branches serve over 48,000 clients. Be sure to give your local PTAC some love this week!
SmallGovCon Week in Review: Sept. 7-11, 2020
Before 2001, September 11 was just another day on the calendar. Now, nineteen years later, that date is burned into the minds of everyone old enough to remember. Today, let’s all take a moment to honor those who died, their loved ones, and the first responders who risked their lives to help others.
Before we head into the weekend, it’s time for our weekly look at what’s happening in the world of federal government contracts. In this week’s SmallGovCon Week in Review, a contractor agrees to pay back wages and fringe benefits after a government investigation, supply chain problems are hampering the typical end-of-fiscal-year spending boom, and much more.
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