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ACQUISITION ALERT


Upcoming Events

I want to highlight two upcoming events in this issue - great opportunities to learn and network.

Marketplace 2016 scheduled for, December 13 - 14, 2016, in Milwaukee is a significant opportunity for small businesses to meet with buyers and representatives from Local, State and Federal government agencies as well as large corporations - to date 30 are confirmed.  WPI will be working with attendees to prepare their capabilities statements and presentations as well as to facilitate meetings at the event.  Contact us if we can be of assistance in preparing for this event.  Learn more about the meetings at https://premarketplacewi.org/marketplace-2016-buyer-meetings/ and more about the event at https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/118386. 
 
The second, is the End of Year Federal Contractor Update.  This annual event is co-hosted by the Wisconsin Chapter of NCMA and scheduled for January 17, 2017.   The event will focus on topics of interest to current contractors including, 2016 Case Law Review, New Cyber Regulations, changes to Small Business Programs and much more.  Updated information is available at https://www.wispro.org/events/end-of-year-federal-contractor-update/
 
I would also like to announce that the 5th Annual US Department of Veterans Affairs Business Conference is scheduled for May 10, 2017 and will again be hosted by TAPCO, Brown Deer, WI   We thank TAPCO for their continuing support of this event.
 
The staff at WPI wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving Holiday.  Our offices will be closed on November 24 and 25 and reopen on November 28.
UPCOMING EVENTS
11/29/16
The New Small Business Mentor Protégé Program - An Attorney's Perspective
Webinar

12/6/16
Acquisition Hour: Preparing for a CPSR Audit
Webinar
Learn More 
11/30/16
 Acquisition Hour: The HUBZone Program - Certification Benefits and New Regulations
Webinar
  Learn More 

12/7/16
Acquisition Hour: 10 Issues in Federal Government Construction Projects
Webinar
Learn More
Defense Department Seeks Ideas for Preserving U.S. Competitive Advantage

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2016 - After 15 years of continuous combat operations focused on counterterrorism, irregular warfare, and nation building, the joint force is now preparing for a future that demands skill across the full range of military operations, including high-end, multidomain warfare against large state competitors.

The U.S. military remains the best trained and equipped military in the world. But with the rise of sophisticated rivals, the proliferation of military and dual-use commercial technologies, and the accelerating speed of action on the battlefield, there is a growing need to identify innovative means of preserving the United States' competitive military advantage.   
 
Continue reading at www.defense.gov.  
 

Department of Veterans Affairs Conference Summary

The National Veterans Small Business Engagement hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota from November 1 - 3, 2016.  The conference included learning sessions, business opportunity sessions, a large exhibit hall, direct access to hundreds of procurement decision makers, and networking with both VA staff members, large businesses, other government agencies, and other small businesses.

Some take-a-ways included:
  • Are you a small business distributor?  What does your SAM profile look like?  Government contracting officers are instructed to use the manufacturing NAICS codes for their procurements.  However, your SAM profile should also include the appropriate retail and wholesale NAICS codes.
  • The non-manufacturing rule dollar threshold was raised from $25,000 to $150,000 on June 30, 2016.  Small businesses can request SBA to issue a class waiver from the non-manufacturers rule, when there are no small business manufacturers in the marketplace.
  • A joint venture is a business entity created by two or more parties.  The joint venture may be set up to access a new market, gain efficiencies by combining assets and operations, share risk for major projects, or to access skills and capabilities.
  • The Joint Venture 3 in 2 rule is not a hard limit on joint venture awards.  The rule indicates a joint venture can have 3 awards over a 2 year period.  This analysis is done as of time of bid, not time of award.  A joint venture could bid on a number of requirements all at the same time and then end up with more than 3 awards in 2 years. However, if the joint venture has more than 3 awards over 2 years, the SBA may find the joint venture members affiliated.
  • An Ostensible Subcontractor is a small business which is unusually reliant on a subcontractor.  A determination that the subcontractor is affiliated may occur if the subcontractor performs the primary and vital requirements of the prime contract.
  • Businesses interested in the SBA's All Small Mentor-Protégé Program should use the Mentor/Protégé Agreement Template on the SBA's website.  Also, both the Mentor and Protégé are required to complete an online training module located on the SBA's website.  Due to the volume of applications received the SBA may close enrollment periods for short time frames.
In Fiscal Year 2016, the Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $4.3 billion dollars to veteran-owned small businesses.  Currently there are more than 9,000 veteran-owned small businesses in the VA's Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database.  Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) has VA trained verification counselors to assist veteran-owned small businesses with the registration process.
 

New NIST Guide Helps Small Businesses Improve Cybersecurity 

Small-business owners may think that they are too small to be victims of cyber hackers, but Pat Toth knows otherwise. Toth leads outreach efforts to small businesses on cybersecurity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and understands the challenges these businesses face in protecting their data and systems.

LEARN MORE
 

Transactional Data is Here: GSA Publishes Rule to Capture Data, Drive Taxpayer Savings & Reduce Burdens on Industry 

I've written before that FAS, along with our industry stakeholders, has taken on the monumental task of transforming GSA's very successful Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) program to ensure that it continues to offer the efficiency and value it was created to provide. We've made great strides to date, including giving our contracting professionals access to better tools and more data.
In keeping with our commitment to making the acquisition landscape easier to navigate, this summer we announced the biggest change to the MAS program in more than two decades: the introduction of the   Transactional Data Reporting rule (TDR). 

TDR offers great value to the American taxpayer.  Through this process, we are able to collect transactional-level
data on purchases made through a GSA contract vehicle - invaluable information that not only helps us craft smarter buying strategies, but allows agencies to make smarter purchasing decisions, enhances competition and gives the federal government intelligence around buying patterns.

Continue reading at gsablogs.gsa.gov/.