GSA Focus Blog
Categories: GSA Contract || SBA Certifications || Federal Marketing || Awards || ComplianceSelfish Business Misses the Mark
May 15, 20135 Tips on How to Do What Others Want, Not Get Them to Do What You Want. A trend I am noticing in LinkedIn and other social networks theses days are articles titled “How to get what you want” … Continue reading
GSA Advantage Sales Numbers for 2012
May 8, 2013GSA Advantage sales reached a total of $506 million in 2012. Below you will see some of the important statistics of how GSA Advantage sales were broken down by # orders, # items, and sales. We also provide a breakdown … Continue reading
Spilling the Beans on GSA Consultants
May 6, 2013There are several predatory GSA Consultants out there. This post will help you expose the bad GSA Schedule Consultants, and select an effective GSA Contract Service. There is often a debate of whether a GSA Schedule Consultant should be used, … Continue reading
Award: DAV Energy Solutions
May 2, 2013On May 2, 2013, Dav Energy Solutions was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-21F-126AA for GSA Schedule 03FAC Facilities Maintenance and Management, and SIN(s): 871 206, 871 207, 871 211. DAV Energy Solutions is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, … Continue reading
GSA Schedule Sales for 2012
April 29, 2013Yes. Here is another statistical blog post. Sorry, but this is good information and helpful for many federal contractors to see where their GSA Schedule stands up against the others when it comes to federal spending. Below is a standard … Continue reading
What is Seaport-e?
April 26, 2013With the new 2013 Rolling Admissions for SeaPort-e, this contracting mechanism is showing up on peoples radars. This inevitably leads to the question: What is Seaport-e? In response to declining budgets, the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), who is responsible for … Continue reading
GSA Sales Numbers for 2012
April 22, 2013The 2012 GSA sales statistics are not very surprising overall – a tight budget lead to a drop in GSA Sales, and the Demand Based Model cancelled many GSA Contracts. However, there are some interesting facts that surface when you … Continue reading
New Changes to GSA Schedule 541
April 11, 2013In a letter issued today by the GSA to “All GSA Advertising and Integrated Marketing Solutions (AIMS) Industry Partners,” some major changes were announced. These changes to GSA Schedule 541 contracts will be effective in July 1st. Special Item Numbers (SIN’s) 541-3, … Continue reading
Hire us as Your GSA Contract Consultant
April 3, 2013What’s it like working with GSA Focus? This video will run you through our process to get a GSA Contract. Our overall philosophy is that we complete everything we can for our clients, while educating them on the important clauses … Continue reading
Federal Marketing Plan Template (Free)
March 27, 2013We have created a free resource for everyone: Federal Marketing Plan Template. This is a must have for any company under-performing in the federal market, designed to reveal some of the reasons your government sales are not where they should be. The … Continue reading
Award: Miller Consulting Engineers (871)
March 7, 2013On February 20, 2013, Miller Consulting Engineers Inc was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-10F-105AA for GSA Schedule 871 Professional Engineering Services, and SIN(s): 871 7. Miller Consulting Engineers is a well-established, full-service structural engineering firm located in Portland, Oregon. Through … Continue reading
The GSA’s New Email Notifications
February 27, 2013In years past, this was a loose obligation, where GSA Contracts were rarely cancelled as a result of a lack of GSA Sales. In recent years, this has been a much more important requirement. Many GSA Contractors have now lost … Continue reading
GSA eBuy is Mobile Ready for Vendors
February 25, 2013The General Services Administration (GSA) is preparing to launch eBuy Mobile service capabilities. GSA Contractors will now have the ability to access and utilize capabilities specific to their mobile devices. These services provide mobile friendly access to active Request for … Continue reading
Is the GSA Improving Offer Review Times?
February 19, 2013The other day I had a good conversation with a GSA Contracting Officer interested in hearing how other Acquisition Centers are improving the wait time for a GSA Contract review. She seemed overwhelmed by the increase in workload over the … Continue reading
GSA Jumpstart – Avoid GSA Contract Cancellation
February 5, 2013GSA Focus has responded to an important need in the GSA Market – we have developed an affordable package to Jumpstart GSA Sales in order to prevent GSA Contract Cancellation. The GSA is growing teeth in enforcing the $25K annual sales … Continue reading
5 Ways to Boost Your Federal Marketing in 2013
January 30, 20131) Federal Marketing Services 2) GSA Contract Updates 3) Website Improvements 4) Market Analysis of your Competitors 5) Analyze your Bidding Procedures 1) Federal Marketing Services There is an endless source of federal marketers it seems. But they all … Continue reading
Can You Lose a GSA Contract?
January 21, 2013Here is the Regulation terminology from the Solicitation for Scheduled 899 (it is boilerplate for all solicitations): I-FSS-639 CONTRACT SALES CRITERIA (MAR 2002) (a) A contract will not be awarded unless anticipated sales are expected to exceed $25,000 within the first … Continue reading
Award: Monarch Media (541)
January 1, 2013On January 1, 2013, Monarch Media was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-07F-100AA and GS-07F-099AA for GSA Schedule 541 Advertising & Integrated Marketing Solutions, and SIN(s): 541 1000, 541 4B, 541 2000, 541 3, 541 4F. Monarch Media is a leader … Continue reading
The Risks of GSA Contract Cancellation
December 23, 2012Long before the GSA introduced the Demand Based Model in 2012, they were figuring out ways to address the massive backlog in offers. This backlog led to a tripling of offer review times, and the GSA was no longer able to … Continue reading
Before You Get a GSA Contract …
December 12, 2012There are two things to ask yourself before pursuing a GSA Contract: (1) Does my company qualify for a GSA Contract?, and (2) Are my expectations of the federal market reasonable? We cover these topics in depth in the Qualify … Continue reading
Award: Dr. Diesel (56)
November 29, 2012On November 29, 2012, Guerrero Professional Services, Inc. was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-07F-074AA for GSA Schedule 56 Buildings and Building Materials/Industrial Services and Supplies, and SIN(s): 253 19. Diesel Technologies is proud to present the products serving the U.S. … Continue reading
3 Topics: Government Contracting in 2013
1) Federal Buyers are Focusing on Sustainability and Green Options This has been big for a while in the world of Government Contracting, so it is not news. However, it is news that this is not a dying phenomenon. Sustainability … Continue reading
Award: Central Roofing (56)
November 18, 2012On November 29, 2012, Central Roofing Company was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-07F-072AA for GSA Schedule 56 Building and building materials/industrial services and supplies, and SIN(s): 563 4. We have a proud history as one of the Twin Cities’ oldest … Continue reading
Award: VersaPro Group (70)
November 14, 2012On November 14, 2012, Versapro Group was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-35F-068AA for GSA Schedule 70, General purpose commercial information technology equipment software and service, and SIN(s): 132 50, 132 51. VersaPro Group (VPG) partners have provided knowledgeable, transformative and … Continue reading
About the SBA 8(a) Certification Program
November 13, 2012With the popularity of Government Contractors with 8(a) Certification, I have seen a growing interest in this topic. Every year, the list of top federal contractors includes more and more SBA 8(a) certified companies. I don’t think this is a coincidence, I believe that … Continue reading
Two “Hidden” GSA Requirements
The GSA has two soft requirements that you won’t find in the Solicitation, but after getting to know the clauses in depth, and talking to GSA officials regularly, I have come across some implicit requirements. Equal or Better GSA Pricing … Continue reading
Federal and GSA Definitions – Updates
November 9, 2012Occasionally, we will update our Federal Contracting and GSA Dictionary to include new or missing definitions and Acronyms. Today, the following terms were added: Firm fixed price (FFP), Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), Task Order, Industrial Funding Fee (IFF), Price … Continue reading
GSA Contract Pricing After Award
November 2, 2012After your GSA Contract is awarded, it could get a little confusing how you should offer your GSA Contract pricing to federal customers. However, things can get very confusing when you apply the new GSA price clause (Price Reductions Clause) … Continue reading
How to Expedite your GSA Contract
November 1, 2012The GSA review process is currently running from 6-12 months, the only way to expedite your GSA contract is to secure a Purchase Order commitment from a potential Federal customer. Your GSA Contracting Officer will verify the PO, and if … Continue reading
What is a Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual?
October 27, 2012Socially disadvantaged men and women are those who are actually subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias mainly because of their identities as subscribers of groups without regard to their specific qualities. The social disadvantage must stem from … Continue reading
Changing Your GSA Contract Pricing
October 24, 2012As your products and services evolve, so must your GSA Contract pricing. There are inflation and market indicators (like gas, steel, copper, etc.) that are always in fluctuation, and it is often necessary to adjust your commercial prices to keep your profit … Continue reading
Award: GBL Systems – 00CORP
October 19, 2012On October 19, 2012, GBL Systems Corporation was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-00F-009AA for GSA Schedule 00CORP, The Consolidated Schedule, and SIN(s): C132 51, C871 3, C871 4, C871 6. Since 1990, GBL Systems Corporation (GBL) has been a leading … Continue reading
Everything You Need to Know About GSA Contracts
October 16, 2012A free E-Book has just been released on the GSA Focus website. CLICK HERE to get it. Here is the Table of Contents 1. Definitions & Acronyms 2. What is a GSA Contract? 3. How to Get a GSA Contract … Continue reading
Award: Heliodyne – 56
October 15, 2012On October 15, 2012 Heliodyne Corp. was awarded GSA Contract Number GS-07F-013AA for GSA Schedule 56, Buildings And Building Materials/Industrial Services And Supplies, under SIN 206 3, Alternative and Renewable Energy Solutions. Heliodyne™ has been a pioneer in solar hot water … Continue reading
Connecting NAICS Codes to GSA SIN’s
October 12, 2012One of the most challenging parts of my job as a GSA Contract Specialist is explaining to customers why their NAICS Codes do not line up with GSA Special Item Numbers. Definitions: NAICS Code: NAICS Codes are numbers that indicate your … Continue reading
Wage Determination Penalties
October 10, 2012What happens if you get caught not using Service Contract Act (SCA) or Davis Bacon wages when you are contractually obligated to? This is a good question, and it took some digging to find the answer. These findings apply to … Continue reading
Award: Southwest Specialties – 56
October 1, 2012On October 1, 2012 Southwest Specialties was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-07F-006AA for GSA Schedule 56 Building and Building Materials/Industrial Services and Supplies; SIN: 563-25: Plumbing Products and Bathroom Fixtures. SWCS Inc. (Southwest Specialties) GS-07F-006AA: 563-25 Related posts: Award: Heliodyne – … Continue reading
Free Pre-Assessment for a GSA Contract
September 26, 2012GSA Focus is now offering a free online pre-assessment service. You simply go to our Pre-Assessment webform page, and complete the form. The details you provide will be reviewed by an experienced GSA Contract specialist, and your results will be quickly … Continue reading
GSA Schedule 75 to Remain Closed until October 2013
September 18, 2012The GSA issued the following statement on their Interact website on September 12th: “After review and careful consideration, it has been determined Schedule 75 will remain closed to new offers for an additional 12 months. The Schedule will re-open effective … Continue reading
Award: ADS Corp. – 00CORP
September 16, 2012On September 16, 2012 Accelerated Development & Support Corporation was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-00F-0039Y for GSA Schedule 00CORP The Consolidated Schedule and SIN(s): C520 13, C871 3, C874 1. ADS is a diversified, small, minority owned 8(a) business specializing … Continue reading
Federal Dictionary and Acronym De-Scrambler
August 21, 2012Washington DC is the Acronym capital of the world. Our government has a long name for everything. I keep a compiled list of all the best Definitions and Acronyms lists I come across, which can be found here: Government Dictionary A great … Continue reading
Award: Trivision – 541
August 14, 2012On August 14, 2012 Trivision was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-07F-0512Y for GSA Schedule 541 Advertising & Integrated marketing Solutions and SIN(s): 541 4B. Trivision Studios is an award-winning, full service agency that develops innovative strategies to achieve powerful and … Continue reading
The GSA’s New Plan: The Demand Based Model (DBM)
August 10, 2012History: Started with the downturn in the economy, where many companies folded, and those with stored resources jumped into the federal market because the government was one of the last big & stable spenders. This created a rapid increase in … Continue reading
Top 5 Reasons to Get a GSA Contract
August 8, 2012I wrote a blogpost a few months ago about reasons not to get a GSA Contract, mostly revolving around dis-qualifiers. I thought this was great advise, and I noticed a good response from the post. So, I thought I would write … Continue reading
Award: Syntactical – 00CORP
On August 8, 2012 Syntactical was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-00F-0035Y for GSA Schedule 00CORP The Consolidated Schedule and SIN(s): C132 51, C874 1. Data is at the heart of any modern organization, and web enabled applications are what bind enterprises together. … Continue reading
GSA FAQ Page Re-vamped
August 7, 2012I just re-vamped our GSA Contract FAQ Page. I beleive it is now one of the most helpful and thorough areas of the GSA Focus website. I definitely recommend reading down the questions if you are considering getting a GSA Contract. Even … Continue reading
Sales itemized by GSA Schedule (2009-2011)
August 1, 2012In case you are curious just how many dollars flow through GSA Contracts, here is some data for you: GSA Schedule 2009 2010 2011 CORP $856,394,205 $858,448,498 $820,350,983 23 V $191,665,807 $221,441,329 $235,940,649 36 $848,348,490 $742,717,368 $682,762,547 03FAC $255,687,511 $333,119,290 … Continue reading
Everything You Need to Know About GSA Contracts
July 30, 2012CLICK HERE to read my recent article covering a broad look into what a GSA Contract is. This covers a brief history of the Agency, the benefits of having a GSA Contract, the Acquisition Process, and Maintaining a GSA Schedule. … Continue reading
Award: Certified Air – 03FAC
July 10, 2012On July 10, 2012, Certified Air Conditioning was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-21F-0131Y for GSA Schedule 03FAC, Facilities Maintenance and Management, and SIN(s): 003 100, 003 97, 811 005. Looking for total package HVAC systems, indoor air quality compliance, energy … Continue reading
GSA is Cutting 8,000 Contracts
The GSA announced on June 7, 2012 that they are cutting 8,000 contracts from the GSA Schedule. The GSA is cutting contracts where outdated items are rarely purchased by the federal government (typewriters, photographic equipment, etc). Keeping these schedules open was … Continue reading
Award: Merlin Ramco – 871
July 2, 2012On July 2, 2012, Merlin Ramco was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-10F-0374Y for GSA Schedule 871, Professional Engineering Services and SIN(s): 871 5, 871 6. Merlin RAMCo, Inc. (MRI) employs the most talented and qualified team available to ensure our … Continue reading
GSA Sales vs. Total Government Contracts
June 26, 2012Over the past 4 years, GSA sales have mostly risen, even with fiscal tightening of the federal budget. After 2+ years of steady sales growth and percentage-of-sales growth, there was a modest dip in 2011. Below are the figures, and even … Continue reading
Award: Advanced Brain Monitoring – 65IIA
June 14, 2012On June 14, 2012, Advanced Brain Monitoring was awarded GSA Contract No. V79P-2178D for VA FSS Schedule 65 II A, and SIN(s): A-61. ABM is the first company to address sleep apnea, memory dysfunction, and alertness monitoring with instrument systems … Continue reading
Federal Spending 2009-2011
June 13, 2012Below is a list of all Federal agencies spending for the past 3 reported years (2009-2011). The list is ordered from highest to lowest spending amount in 2011, and any agency with federal spending below $1 million in 2011 was … Continue reading
What is the “Contractor Teaming Arrangements Tool?”
June 6, 2012Now there’s a better way to build a winning team, introducing the GSA’s new Contractor Teaming Arrangements Tool, (CTAT), through the new GSA Interact webpage. Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) vendors can now facilitate their contractor teaming arrangements and seek out … Continue reading
Six Reasons NOT to Pursue a GSA Contract
June 4, 2012I am in the business of getting companies a GSA Contract, and Maintaining those contracts. But I will be the first to admit that it isn’t for everyone, and I assess every company that call me before beginning the massive … Continue reading
Renewing Your GSA Contract
May 24, 2012Every 5 years your GSA Contract comes up for renewal. As long as you have met the annual sales requirement of $25,000 and there are no glaring compliance issues, then you should be alright. The process has been improved recently, … Continue reading
GSA Contracts and Market Indicators
May 23, 2012There is a specific course of action that must be taken in order to navigate the GSA’s Terms and Conditions, and properly hedge your prices according to any fluctuation in a Market Indicator (such as your national currency, oil, metals, … Continue reading
GSA is All About Energy Savings
May 17, 2012In a recent group of blogposts, the GSA showed their cards in several energy fronts. There were posts on how the GSA’s Energy Initiatives are helping federal buildings meet energy standards, create jobs and boost the economy, and unveiled a … Continue reading
Federal Contracting Answers: Straight Talk
May 9, 2012A Company can greatly increase government sales opportunities by tapping into the General Services Administration (GSA). By getting onto a GSA schedule, a company can minimize competition and save time. For example, GSA Schedules 84 & 70 let state and … Continue reading
Contractor Rotation and Evaluation Rules
May 8, 2012A study showed in 2011, 29,800 companies took the plunge and decided to do work with the federal government for the first time. These companies were awarded $10.9 Billion in contracts that year or $365,772 in revenue per firm. A … Continue reading
GSA Spending Spree: Editorial
April 16, 2012Josh Ladick – President of GSA Focus, Inc.: For decades the GSA has served the federal government and tax payers alike. The value that the General Services Administration brings to federal acquisition practices is unparalleled, and as a whole this agency is among the … Continue reading
Scandal Prompts Statement from New GSA Chief
General Services Administration chief Dan Tangherlini reprimanded organizers of a Las Vegas training conference in a video on Tuesday, calling their 2010 spending spree “completely unacceptable.” He said “there were violations of travel rules, acquisition rules and good conduct. Those … Continue reading
The GSA is Still Going Green
April 12, 2012In 2011, the GSA eliminated most green-labels, the 12 remaining include Energy-Star (Products) and Bio-Preferred (Chemicals). GSA is conscientiously researching the best Eco-labeling options for specific product offerings. These green certifications will be applied to specific SIN’s, and the GSA … Continue reading
Award: Merlin Ramco – 66
April 11, 2012On April 11, 2012 Merlin Ramco was awarded GSA Contract No.GS-07F-0350Y for GSA Schedule 66, Scientific Equipment and Services and SIN(s): 627 50. At Merlin RAMCo, Inc. (MRI), we employ the most talented and qualified team available to ensure our … Continue reading
UPC Code Requirements for GSA Contract Products
February 9, 2012Please sign this petition to the White House: http://wh.gov/04H The Reality of the Situation In the past, the General Services Administration (GSA) has received many complaints from contract holders that they do not show in the list of competitors when similar … Continue reading
Free GSA Webinar – “Marketing to the Federal Government”
February 6, 2012There are some great resources that the GSA put out regarding to successfully marketing to the government, with your GSA Contract as a bridge to federal customers. Albeit, many of these are basic, and more-or-less an introduction to federal contracting, however … Continue reading
Award: The Systems Group – 871
On February 6, 2012, The Systems Group was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-10F-0189Y for GSA Schedule 871, Professional Engineering Services and SIN(s): 871 5, 871 6 From its conception in 2000, The Systems Group (TSG) specializes in supporting the development … Continue reading
Resources when completing your CCR
January 25, 2012According to the FAR 4.11, prospective vendors must be registered in CCR prior to the award of a contract; basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchase agreement. According to FAR 52.204-7, to register in CCR, a firm must have a Data … Continue reading
2011 in Review
More federal buyers turn to GSA Contract holders every year because they prefer their pre-approved and pre-negotiated status. 2011 was the busiest year I have seen yet, where the offer review period just about doubled due to the high number … Continue reading
Are you an Effective Time Manager?
January 12, 2012We are constantly striving to improve the effectiveness and the speed of our GSA Contract services. In order to be great at preparing GSA Schedules for my clients, I must be an effective time manager. Recently, I came across a … Continue reading
List of GSA Offer Documents
January 10, 2012Below you will see the DNA of a generic GSA Contract submission. Some of these documents are not required depending on if your company is products-based or services-based, however this list will illustrate the complexity of an offer. You might … Continue reading
Tips for Federal Contracting Success
December 20, 2011Contracting Mechanism: GSA Contract is Usually the Easiest Establishing a contracting mechanism breaks down so many barriers for federal buyers. Their job becomes much easier when working with a GSA Contractor because there is much less paperwork. It is all … Continue reading
Business Tools for Government Contractors: Evernote
December 12, 2011I know this is a website about GSA Contracts and Federal Marketing, but I figure if you are reading this you are a Government Contractor and always looking for productivity tools. I have been using Evernote for a few years now, but … Continue reading
Using a GSA Contract Consultant
September 23, 2011Most of my customers have researched a GSA Consultant or two as well as acquiring a GSA Contract themselves, and some have even tried unsuccessfully several times. Any GSA Contract specialist worth their salt will go out of their way to … Continue reading
Obama Assures Quicker Payments to Small Federal Contractors
September 20, 2011“If you’re a small-business owner who has a contract with the federal government, we’re going to make sure you get paid a lot faster than you do right now,” Obama said in his address to a joint session of Congress … Continue reading
Contractors Assistance Visit
What to expect when going through a Contractor Assistance Visit (CAV)? What happens if the GSA Report card has bad marks? These questions are answered in detail on the following page of our website: http://www.gsascheduleservices.com/customer-center/contractor-assistance-visit Related posts: GSA FAQ Page … Continue reading
Price Escalation and your GSA Contract
September 1, 2011There are two options when you need to raise prices on your GSA Contract, and this decision must be made when you are acquiring your GSA Contract. Here is the GSA’s text on the subject, directly from the 03FAC Solicitation … Continue reading
Keeping up with the GSA
August 11, 2011Things change so quickly nowadays in federal acquisition, and the General Services Administration (GSA) is no exception. But, is it important for contractors to keep informed on federal topics? And how do contractors keep up on the GSA’s most up-to-date news? … Continue reading
Webinar: Government Contracting Business Development Best Practices
My friends over at FedBidSpeed are offering a Free Webinar titled “Government Contracting Business Development Best Practices.” Register Now DETAILS: Bidspeed is the only complete opportunity, capture, acquisition, and business development system specifically designed to help you find, manage, and win government … Continue reading
GSA Sustainable Solutions
July 25, 2011On June 28, 2011, The GSA National Capital Region Federal Acquisition Service held the annual Customer Summit for Sustainable Solutions in Washington DC, open to all federal buyers. GSA Contract holders were not invited to the event, of course. However, there … Continue reading
How Much Does a GSA Contract Cost?
July 19, 2011Today we released a new group of articles addressing the question: How much does a GSA Contract cost? GSA Contract Cost: In-House There are so many options when it comes to getting a GSA Contract, but they all can be categorized … Continue reading
GSA Focus, Inc. Newsletter – Q2/2011
July 13, 2011Follow GSA Focus on FacebookFriend us and keep up to date on GSA Contract topics such as GSA news, Federal Marketing, and more. Click here to connect with GSA Focus on Facebook.>> Follow Us (Follow link, then click the “Like” … Continue reading
What is my NAICS Code?
July 11, 2011Many federal contractors struggle with the endless and confusing acronyms used in the day-to-day of government business. One of the most important acronyms used in federal contracting is the North American Industry Classification System, or NAICS Codes. These codes are used to … Continue reading
A Guide to Winning Federal Contracts
Why create a guide for my customers on how to win federal business when the SBA created one in 2008 that is still mostly relevant today? Before or after getting a GSA Contract, it is important to learn the way … Continue reading
GSA Schedules: A Comprehensive List
July 7, 2011If you are researching which GSA Schedule your company fits into. We have developed an information center on our website which will be very helpful; the List of all GSA Schedules, complete with detailed descriptions. Not suprisingly, there are some … Continue reading
New White Paper: GSA Acquisition Process
July 6, 2011I just posted a new White Paper to the GSA Focus website: In this White Paper, I created a flow chart that outlines the process of acquiring a GSA Contract. From Research & Planning to Submission to Award to Post-award, … Continue reading
GSA Sales Statistics
July 5, 2011The second quarter of 2011 has just come to a close, and I was curious where the GSA sales are at in comparison to past years. Of course, the Q2 sales are still being collected (and I plan on updating … Continue reading
Drowning in Acronyms and Government Codes
June 22, 2011This chart may help you sort out some of the major codes used within CCR. Please also see below for specific questions often asked about some of the codes. For obscure Acronyms, here are some great resources: GovSpeak – A … Continue reading
What is a GSA Contract?
June 21, 2011Here we are answering the question “What is a GSA Contract?“ Many are still new to the federal market, and may be asking why is there no good place to learn the basics about a GSA Contract. Well, if you don’t … Continue reading
How to research GSA Contract Holders
June 16, 2011Have you ever seen a company prospering in the federal market, and wondered how they do it? Below you can learn how to use the public information posted about GSA Contract holders on the GSA websites. I use these methods daily to … Continue reading
Government Contracts: An Introduction
May 13, 2011Acquisition: The federal approach to acquisition begins with an agency’s development of a need. An agency will develop a strategy for the acquisition based on program management activities and determination of the contract type that will best suit the need. … Continue reading
The public sector wants to help the private sector’s next great companies
May 10, 2011The White House Startup America Roundtable recently made a stop in Boulder, Colorado. Over 150 members of the Boulder area business community met with White House officials yesterday to discuss entrepreneurialism and related federal regulations as part of the Obama administration’s Startup America … Continue reading
How Will a Government Shutdown Effect Contractors?
April 7, 2011Many federal employees are definitely effected by a government shutdown, in the form of furloughs. But, how will a government shutdown effect Contractors? The last government shutdown is frequently pointed to as an example, but federal contracting has become much more utilized … Continue reading
Which Countries are Trade Agreement Act Compliant End Products?
April 6, 2011We are frequently asked which countries end-products are Trade Agreement Act (TAA) compliant. This is a very complicated regulation, and careful consideration should always be given to this. If you are unsure of compliance issues with your products with … Continue reading
Woman Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program
April 5, 2011On October 7, 2010, the U.S. Small Business Administration published a final rule effective February 4, 2011, aimed at expanding federal contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses (WOSBs). The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program authorizes contracting officers to … Continue reading
Recovery Act Participation
April 1, 2011Regarding Recovery Act Purchases, most companies agree to participate without considering if Recovery Act dollars are spent by their primary areas of the federal market. Most companies probably participate for no other reason than “Why Not?” There are resources out … Continue reading
Writing Technical Proposals
March 31, 2011Many service-based GSA Schedules require three outlined sections be written for the submission. These sections [1. Administrative, 2. Technical Proposal, and 3. Pricing Proposal], are among the most time consuming part of the process, because there are many questions to … Continue reading
Who can purchase from a GSA Contract
March 18, 2011One of the important questions to ask when you are looking to get your GSA Contract, or market an existing one, is: Who can buy my products or services through a GSA Contract? The answer to this question will reveal … Continue reading
Federal Marketing – Business Development
March 3, 2011Many customers have asked us in the past if we can help with federal marketing. And we can now say that we offer some very helpful associate services to our customers, and for a very affordable price. LEARN MORE >> … Continue reading
GSA News – Much is changing
The GSA world is changing so fast. Here are just a few of the major changes taking place: Green Products – In November of 2010, a Green-Only clause was applied to a pair of SIN’s in GSA Schedule 73. In talking to … Continue reading
Pricing and your GSA Contract
February 15, 2011When you are acquiring a GSA Contract, it is arguable that the pricing section is the most important because it has the most impact on your bottom line. A question I am commonly asked is “Do I have to give the government … Continue reading
GSA is Going Green, and Quickly
February 11, 2011There are several new areas in the GSA website sprouting up talking about how the government is going green. This was even a predominant topic in Obamas recent state of the union address. But how will all of these changes … Continue reading
Message from the President
December 30, 2010Greetings. In 2010, we have seen monumental growth in government spending. Let’s jump in to GSA Focus’ 2010 Spending Recap: According to Special Report #78, released in June by The Heritage Foundation, spending in Washington has been accelerating across the … Continue reading
What is GSA Advantage?
October 25, 2010Many GSA Schedule holders have overcome the first part of the battle in beginning to do business with the federal government by successfully obtaining a schedule and achieving contract award. The second stage of the battle is figuring out how … Continue reading
GSA Admin
October 14, 2010Many companies that deal with our competitors are uninformed and believe that once their contract is awarded, they are finished and have fully completed the process necessary to contract with the government. Unfortunately, companies can suffer a loss in order … Continue reading
Websites: A Federal Marketing Must
September 13, 2010It is a huge surprise to find out that many companies hoping to break into the federal market do not tailor their website to federal buyers. In fact, many federal contractors don’t even have a website yet. Here are some reasons to … Continue reading
Services
August 21, 2010GSA Contract Acquisition Services We are a full-service solution for a business looking to acquire their GSA Contract. This means we handle all aspects of obtaining your GSA Contract, which includes gathering information, drafting documents to GSA required format, proposed … Continue reading
What are Procurement Classification Codes?
July 15, 2010It is a daunting task to comb through the different federal codes to classify your business properly in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database, but it is also very important. The US government is not purposefully trying to confuse and … Continue reading
Appealing to Federal Buyers on GSA Advantage!
July 9, 2010Many of the GSA Contract holders on GSAAdvantage! are not reaching their full potential, and their sales suffer as a result. Think about what you go through when you make an online purchase, this is very similar to the process … Continue reading
Eliminating Government Waste – is this a Sham?
July 2, 2010Recently on the Office of Managemet and Budget (OMB) Blog, Director Peter R. Orszag wrote: one of the steps we are taking to cut waste in government and boost performance is establishing a Do Not Pay List, a single source … Continue reading
Keeping Your Energy High in the Office Setting
June 28, 2010I know this is not a post about GSA Contracts or getting on schedule but in order to succeed in business you need drive, and your daily drive to succeed is fueled by energy. So, I have a tip on … Continue reading
Is a GSA Contract Consultant Worth the Price?
June 25, 2010Most of my clients use my GSA Consulting services because they don’t have the time to dedicate an employee for 6+ months to learn the process. Many call me after receiving a Letter of Rejection or some other hurdle. But, … Continue reading
GSA Schedule Contracts for Dummies
June 24, 2010Let me start by explaining a little bit about GSA Contracts. There are 31 different GSA Schedules, and they each have their own number. Under each GSA Schedule is a list of sub-categories to describe the different possible products and … Continue reading
Does Getting a GSA Schedule Contract Compromise a Companies Privacy?
June 16, 2010Along the process you will have to provide customer information, financial documents, an org. chart, and much more information that is very personal to a business. I am often asked how secure the documents submitted in a GSA package are kept. … Continue reading
Collecting from the Federal Government
June 15, 2010Many people I talk to are discouraged from getting into the federal market because they say it takes forever for the fed to pay. This is a half-misconception, it can take a long time to collect on a federal invoice … Continue reading
GSA Pricelist Negotiations
May 14, 2010The GSA Contract submission process is extensive, that cannot be denied. But what is the most difficult part? As a professional GSA Contract Acquisition company, we face many challenges, and the largest is finding the sweet spot in price list … Continue reading
How the GSA Purchases
May 11, 2010GSA uses a variety of contracting vehicles to effectively manage procurement for both its own operations and its government customers. 1) GSA Schedules GSA Schedules are also known as Multiple Award Schedules (MAS). In a GSA Contract there is a … Continue reading
I Have My GSA Contract, Now What?
April 14, 2010I have acquired GSA Contracts for many companies, and I have found that there are two very different categories; those with established federal connections and those without. This blogpost is meant for the latter. A GSA Contract is a powerful tool to surpass the barrier to entry in government contracting, but there is still a good deal of work to be done to start winning federal projects. There are generally three approaches, and you may use all strategies together or only one. Continue reading
GSA Invests $4 Billion to Go Green With Federal Buildings
April 12, 2010To transform federal buildings into higher performing, greener buildings, the General Services Administration (GSA) announced that it awarded construction projects to more than 500 companies creating jobs in all 50 states, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia by investing … Continue reading
Should You Use a GSA Contract Specialist, Or Do It Yourself?
March 30, 2010The ugly truth is that 90% of “in-house” attempts end up rejected by the GSA after their first submission. If you are considering tackling your GSA Contract project “in-house”, you will want to prepare yourself for the potential expenses and … Continue reading
Comparing the Top 8 Federal Bid Services
March 13, 2010So, you want to break into the federal market, but where do you start? Federal projects are posted on FedBizOpps, but this is a very competitive bidding pool. Also, each agency website also has a Business Opportunities section. It is daunting … Continue reading
Top 5 Reasons To Get a GSA Contract
March 4, 2010The Fed spends in great numbers: US Discretionary spending by the federal government is expected to grow 6.5 percent this year. This is more than double the pace of the US economy (GDP). In 2010, government spending on goods and services is … Continue reading
What is the "Buy American Act" and What Does it Say?
March 2, 2010The most important objective of the Buy American Act is to assure that American goods are prioritized when the US government purchases products. The important question is: What is the definition of an American Good? This is found in the … Continue reading
New GSA Administrator Johnson Sworn In
Martha Johnson ushered in a new era at the U.S. General Services Administration on February 16 during a live town hall at GSA headquarters in Washington, DC, that was also webcast to agency employees nationwide. During the event, Johnson challenged GSA’s … Continue reading
2009 Federal Spending on IT Review
January 4, 2010We may be looking at the largest year in federal IT spending in history. Especially because President Obama has stated publicly that a major objective of his is the improvement and updating of government technology infrastructure. Continue reading
VA Will Boost IT Infrastructure in 2010
“Despite the anticipated belt-tightening under the Obama administration, technology opportunities will emerge in FY2010,” according to Input, a company devoted to federal marketing and government business analysis. Input cited the Department of Veterans Affairs with the most potential for federal spending on IT products and services. Continue reading
Federal Contracts are Keeping Many California Businesses Alive
It is common knowledge that government contracts are for companies located around Washington DC, because that is where the majority of government business takes place. However, this is a large misconception, because California receives over 11% of government contracting dollars. It makes sense when you consider that 41 military bases, and hundreds of federal agency offices are located in California. Continue reading
GSA Technology Procurement Director Retiring
December 11, 2009Mary Powers-King, director of governmentwide acquisition contracts and Schedule 70 for GSA’s Integrated Technology Service will retire shortly after the New Year after 31 years of public service. Powers-King came to GSA from the Department of Transportation where she oversaw a … Continue reading
New Federal Procurement Certification
December 7, 2009MCR provides integrated program management services to the federal government, among other things. In a statement on the MCR website dated Dec. 4th they released: “MCR has partnered with American University in Washington, D.C., to create a Senior Program Manager … Continue reading
GSA's Coleman Named Government CIO of the Year By Tech Council of Maryland
November 21, 200911/12/2009 GSA’s Coleman Named Government CIO of the Year By Tech Council of Maryland Related posts: Salary council makes 2011 locality pay rate recommendations Flood of dollars helping Md. cope Nation's 'pay czar' largely impotent Got Government Questions?
GSA Receives Clean Audit Opinion
A clean audit opinion is an indication that the agency’s financial statements and accompanying notes are presented fairly in all material respects and conform to generally accepted accounting principles. It is also an indication that there are no material errors … Continue reading
White House push to reduce contractors is at odds with expanding role of agencies
November 12, 2009President Obama’s ambitious agenda is running head on into its desire to cut contracting. Something has to give. Related posts: From Nextgov.com: Will the White House give CIOs more power in the fiscal 2011 budget? Flood of dollars helping Md. … Continue reading
Quiz: Are you tailor-made for telework?
Take one of our quizzes to see if working remotely works for you. No related posts.
From Nextgov.com: Will the White House give CIOs more power in the fiscal 2011 budget?
Some see language in fiscal 2010 spending bills as a signal that the Obama administration will grant IT chiefs more spending authority, while others say wait and see. Related posts: Negotiators race the clock to finish spending legislation Miscounting of … Continue reading
Tennessee Valley Authority union joins larger engineers federation
Union will work to raise TVA debt ceiling in exchange for compromises on workers’ right to organize. Related posts: Award: Miller Consulting Engineers (871) Salary council makes 2011 locality pay rate recommendations Price Escalation and your GSA Contract
Bush procurement policy chief will appeal conviction
David Safavian’s argument will revolve partly around the possibility of a vindictive prosecution. Related posts: GSA Opens 2009 IDEAS Conference on Disability Policy Acting GSA chief says agency is gaining clout Scandal Prompts Statement from New GSA Chief Lockheed Martin … Continue reading
Salary council makes 2011 locality pay rate recommendations
Congress still needs to act on 2010 civilian raise. Related posts: GSA's Coleman Named Government CIO of the Year By Tech Council of Maryland From Nextgov.com: Will the White House give CIOs more power in the fiscal 2011 budget? Tennessee … Continue reading
Miscounting of stimulus jobs cuts two ways
Spending reports indicate that contract and grant recipients under- and over-counted jobs created and saved. Related posts: From Nextgov.com: Will the White House give CIOs more power in the fiscal 2011 budget? Stimulus could overwhelm gov't oversight Federal Contracts are … Continue reading
Procurement nominee stresses importance of building acquisition workforce
Daniel Gordon is a “broadly supported, uncontroversial nomination,” says Senate chairman. Related posts: GSA Technology Procurement Director Retiring New alliance hopes to spur new talent in procurement field Bush procurement policy chief will appeal conviction New White Paper: GSA Acquisition … Continue reading
Senator demands answers on firing of AmeriCorps IG
Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, threatens to place holds on nominees if administration does not respond to questions about Gerald Walpin. Related posts: Federal Contracting Answers: Straight Talk
EPA: Video takedown order was about ethics, not content
Employees are not allowed to use their position and work at EPA to lend credibility to their personal opinions, officials say. Related posts: Job simulations could help agencies make better hires, report says New GSA Administrator Johnson Sworn In GSA … Continue reading
GSA Breaks Ground on Mariposa Land Port of Entry
November 7, 2009News Release 10/22/2009 GSA Breaks Ground on Mariposa Land Port of Entry Related posts: GSA Opens 2009 IDEAS Conference on Disability Policy Got Government Questions? B2G Institute's Parent Company Files for Bankruptcy GSA Awards Managed Hosting Services Contract
Legislators clash over health care reform's impact on FEHBP
November 5, 2009Republicans say bill could force feds out of their current insurance plans, while Democrats decry claims as scare tactics. Related posts: VA Will Boost IT Infrastructure in 2010 Gates-Holder letter might provide political cover for senators B2G Institute's Parent Company … Continue reading
Acting GSA chief says agency is gaining clout
Recovery Act implementation and green government efforts have put GSA at the forefront of the White House’s agenda. Related posts: Recovery Act Participation GSA Sustainable Solutions Scandal Prompts Statement from New GSA Chief Bush procurement policy chief will appeal conviction
Mullen: Afghanistan troop decision likely in a 'few weeks'
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs lauds troops’ resilience, cites urgent need to address brain injuries. Related posts: From Nextgov.com: Will the White House give CIOs more power in the fiscal 2011 budget? Procurement nominee stresses importance of building acquisition workforce … Continue reading
New alliance hopes to spur new talent in procurement field
Strategic Partnership on Acquisition Recruitment Coalition to focus outreach on university students. Related posts: New Federal Procurement Certification GSA Technology Procurement Director Retiring Bush procurement policy chief will appeal conviction What are Procurement Classification Codes?
Negotiators race the clock to finish spending legislation
Five of 12 appropriations bills have been sent to President Obama. Related posts: From Nextgov.com: Will the White House give CIOs more power in the fiscal 2011 budget? GSA Spending Spree: Editorial 2009 Federal Spending on IT Review Nation's 'pay … Continue reading
DEA veteran to lead DHS drug enforcement
Selection of Grayling Williams signals commitment to interagency coordination. No related posts.
From Nextgov.com: Cybersecurity regulator for energy has its own vulnerabilities
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission hadn’t identified sensitive information and how it should be protected, an inspector general found. Related posts: GSA is All About Energy Savings Keeping Your Energy High in the Office Setting Energy-savings project leaves Army in … Continue reading
Texans mount campaign to keep Army truck contract
Program contributes $500 million annually to the state economy and losing the deal will cost 3,000 jobs in an area west of Houston, task force says. Related posts: Energy-savings project leaves Army in the cold The Risks of GSA Contract … Continue reading
Nation's 'pay czar' largely impotent
When President Obama named a “pay czar” in June, he raised hopes that the era of out-of-control executive pay may be over. Unfortunately, the pay czar’s recently released rulings did little to alter a compensation system that was a key … Continue reading
Energy-savings project leaves Army in the cold
Under a federal program to transform government facilities into models of energy efficiency, Honeywell International Inc. came calling on Army commanders here with a deal to replace the base’s decades-old steam power plant. The company proposed… Related posts: GSA is … Continue reading
Flood of dollars helping Md. cope
The enormous federal stimulus program is delivering billions of dollars across Maryland in uneven waves, a Baltimore Sun analysis shows, with some struggling areas faring better than others. Parts of the state have benefited from Washington’s desire to… Related posts: … Continue reading
B2G Institute's Parent Company Files for Bankruptcy
An update to a WHNT NEWS 19 Taking Action Investigation. For weeks now, we’ve been warning you about a company that promises to help you land a big government contract. But what you’re left with is a big bill, and … Continue reading
B2G Institute: Hidden Camera Investigation
The workshop may be free, but it could end up costing you in the long run. WHNT NEWS 19 has update on a Taking Action Investigation about a traveling seminar that made a stop right here in the Rocket City. … Continue reading
Taking Action Investigation: Pitchman Peddles Secrets For Getting Government Contracts
Hundreds, if not thousands of people in Huntsville probably received an invitation to a free workshop coming to Huntsville next week. The offer you ask? To help you learn how to win government contracts. It’s free, so what’s the harm? … Continue reading
Stimulus could overwhelm gov't oversight
by Frank James Whenever Congress rushes through complex legislation, there’s likely to be more than a few unintended consequences. And the package of more than $800 billion in spending that lawmakers want to spend to stimulate the economy is no…… … Continue reading
Despite President Barack Obama's campaign pledge, Washington culture of lobbyists and earmarks remains
WASHINGTON — As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama said that in overhauling health care he would make negotiations public—and even invite C-SPAN to air the talks on television. Yet in recent months, lobbyists and health insurance… Related posts: Message from … Continue reading
US indictment charges Puerto Rico's governor and 12 others with campaign finance crimes
Puerto Rico Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila indignantly denied wrongdoing Thursday and gave no sign he would abandon his re-election effort after being charged with campaign finance violations that carry a penalty of 20 years in prison. Acevedo, a superdelegate… Related … Continue reading
U.S. firms face losses in pursuit of Iraq contracts
Puerto Rico Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila indignantly denied wrongdoing Thursday and gave no sign he would abandon his re-election effort after being charged with campaign finance violations that carry a penalty of 20 years in prison. Acevedo, a superdelegate… Related … Continue reading
Transplant monitor lax in oversight
The little-known organization that oversees the nation’s organ transplant system often fails to detect or decisively fix problems at derelict hospitals — even when patients are dying at excessive rates, a Times investigation has found. When it does… Related posts: … Continue reading
How a company cashed in on anthrax
In a two-year span, the nation’s only licensed anthrax vaccine maker went from pleading poverty to announcing $100 million in acquisitions, including other pharmaceutical companies and a new manufacturing plant near Washington, D.C. It’s a pattern that’s… Related posts: Energy-savings … Continue reading
The Earlybird: Headlines and Blog Posts
Headline news, compiled by NationalJournal.com. Related posts: Keeping up with the GSA
Gates-Holder letter might provide political cover for senators
The Cabinet secretaries oppose an appropriations bill amendment that would block funds for trying suspected terrorists in federal courts. Related posts: Negotiators race the clock to finish spending legislation Legislators clash over health care reform's impact on FEHBP B2G Institute's … Continue reading
Lockheed Martin chief sees leaner budgets, new priorities
Bethesda, Md.-based firm is continuing to grow its business in emerging areas such as energy security and cybersecurity to remain competitive. Related posts: Acting GSA chief says agency is gaining clout Scandal Prompts Statement from New GSA Chief Bush procurement … Continue reading
Job simulations could help agencies make better hires, report says
Tryouts also can help applicants decide whether they really want the position. Related posts: White House push to reduce contractors is at odds with expanding role of agencies EPA: Video takedown order was about ethics, not content
GSA Opens 2009 IDEAS Conference on Disability Policy
November 3, 2009News Release 10/5/2009 GSA Opens 2009 IDEAS Conference on Disability Policy Related posts: GSA Breaks Ground on Mariposa Land Port of Entry Got Government Questions? Bush procurement policy chief will appeal conviction 2009 Federal Spending on IT Review
GSA Awards Managed Hosting Services Contract
News Release 10/07/209 Managed Hosting Services Contract Related posts: Got Government Questions? GSA Breaks Ground on Mariposa Land Port of Entry GSA Opens 2009 IDEAS Conference on Disability Policy
Got Government Questions?
News Release 10/08/2009 — National Contact Center Related posts: GSA Opens 2009 IDEAS Conference on Disability Policy GSA Breaks Ground on Mariposa Land Port of Entry GSA Awards Managed Hosting Services Contract Taking Action Investigation: Pitchman Peddles Secrets For Getting … Continue reading
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