GAO Disagrees with SBA: Consolidation Analysis Not Required for BPAs

Posted on August 5, 2019 by SmallGovConContributor

No, the government isn’t trying to figure out how it can bundle home and auto coverage to save on its insurance premiums. Instead, “consolidation” in the federal government contract context refers to the action of collecting requirements being performed under discrete small business set-aside contracts into a single procurement.

Before an agency may consolidate contracts, it must consider the impacts the proposed consolidation will have on small business participation. Recently, however, GAO was asked to determine whether consolidation analyses are required for Blanket Purchase Order (“BPA”) procurements, and its decision did not adopt the SBA’s position.

SmallGovCon Week In Review July 29, 2019 – August 2, 2019

Posted on August 2, 2019 by SmallGovConContributor

Can you believe it’s already August? Pretty soon, kids will be heading back to school . . . and agencies will begin their fiscal year-end buying spree. In the meantime, we hope you’re enjoying some summer serenity.
Let’s ease into the weekend with the SmallGovCon Week In Review.

In this week’s edition, we’ll explore the government’s growing contracting spend, the government’s planned move away from SAM.gov, an IT procurement fraud ring, and more.

GAO Examines Requirements for Sole-Source Contracts

Posted on August 1, 2019 by Gregory Weber

Sole-source awards can make many contractors feel left out of the loop of the procurement process. GAO in the past has upheld that sole-source contracts are allowable so long as the agency has a reasonable justification for the sole-source contract. 

Recently GAO re-examined what constitutes a reasonable “justification and award” for a sole-source contract. 

GAO: Conversion of Sealed Bid to Negotiated Procurement Doesn’t Cure Untimely Protest

Posted on July 30, 2019 by SmallGovConContributor

As seasoned government contractors know, an impropriety in a solicitation’s terms must be protested before the deadline to submit an offer. If the protest is submitted after the solicitation’s response deadline, the protest will be dismissed as untimely.

GAO recently held that this rule holds true when an agency converts a sealed bid (under FAR part 14) to a negotiated procurement (under FAR part 15).

The Role of Small Business Innovation in America’s Space Program

Posted on July 29, 2019 by SmallGovConContributor

The Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship recently held a hearing focusing on the role small businesses will play in NASA’s renewed focus on going back to the Moon and then on to Mars.

We have recently touched on the growing impact space exploration is having on small businesses, and vice versa, but this dedicated hearing prompts a closer look at the opportunities small businesses will have for working on space exploration.

SmallGovCon Week in Review: July 22 – 26, 2019

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Shane McCall

We’ve been enjoying summer out here in Lawrence. And many of our Koprince professionals are taking a little time to themselves for summer vacation. We hope our readers are able to do the same thing! Whether you’re getting back from a vacation or working regular hours, here’s our weekly roundup of interesting news from the federal government contracting to keep you updated on what’s been happening lately.

This week in the federal government contracting world, there is some interesting news, including updates on streamlined approaches to IT acquisition for GSA and DOD, the shutdown of the contracting department at Health and Human Services that did work for other agencies, and challenges facing small business contractors in the federal marketplace.

GAO: Agencies Must Explain Cost Realism Evaluation Determinations

Posted on July 25, 2019 by SmallGovConContributor

GAO recently held in ATA Aerospace, LLC, B-417427 (July 2, 2019) that agencies are required to explain how offerors’ proposed labor hours and prices are, or are not, in line with historical data from predecessor contracts when conducting cost realism evaluations.