Federal Supply Schedule | The Contracting Education Academy

May 29, 2018 By cs

GSA announces $2.5 billion modernization of federal payroll and leave systems

The General Services Administration (GSA) has issued a pre-solicitation notice seeking contractors to upgrade the payroll systems serving 2.2 million civilian federal employees.

Companies holding GSA IT Schedule 70 contracts, SINs 132-40 and 132-51, will be eligible to compete for one or more blanket purchase agreements off of which agencies can order services, according to the May 17 notice. The blanket purchase agreements will last for 10-13 years and are expected to have a ceiling of more than $2.5 billion.

In addition to modernizing payroll services, the “NewPay” initiative will encompass work schedule and leave management systems. The goal is “to shift operations and maintenance of payroll functions to innovative commercial solutions using the Software as a Service (SaaS) model,” GSA said in its announcement of the pre-solicitation notice. “This will enable agencies to focus more resources on core mission priorities and deploy modern and secure work schedule, leave management and payroll solutions to support a modern workforce.”

Keep reading this article at: https://www.govexec.com/contracting/2018/05/gsa-announces-25-billion-modernization-federal-payroll-and-leave-systems/148326

February 13, 2018 By cs

New rule allows other direct costs and order level materials on GSA Schedule task orders

The General Services Administration (GSA) has finalized a major change to its Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program, allowing the purchase of incidental materials.

On FSS contracts, the new rule allows vendors to include other direct costs (ODCs) or order level materials (OLMs) on individual task orders. ODCs or OLMs are costs that aren’t specifically identified in the contract, such as a specialized tool or test equipment. GSA says the change will help create parity with commercial sector best practices.

The new rule was originally proposed in the Federal Register at 81 FR 62445 on September 9, 2016, but only recently finalized. It addresses the importance of providing the same flexibility for the FSS program that is currently authorized for other indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) vehicles, which will help reduce contract duplication and the associated administrative costs and inefficiencies.

Details at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/01/24/2018-01232/general-services-administration-acquisition-regulation-gsar-federal-supply-schedule-order-level

September 6, 2017 By cs

Defense bill would privatize the way the federal government buys everyday staples

New legislation working its way through Congress could significantly alter the way commercial companies sell everyday products and services to the U.S. military and federal agencies, opening the door for online retailers to reach a massive new customer.

The defense bill passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year contains language that would allow the Pentagon and other government agencies to buy directly from commercially run online marketplaces, bypassing a highly regulated purchasing process managed by the General Services Administration.

High-tech weaponry such as jets, guns and missiles would still be developed and sold through traditional government contracts. But the effort would allow companies like Amazon.com, OfficeMax and Home Depot to set up marketplaces for agencies to buy basic supplies.

Currently, agencies buy commercial goods through GSA schedules — essentially pre-negotiated agreements to provide products and services to the government at volume discount pricing.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/defense-bill-would-privatize-the-way-the-federal-government-buys-everyday-staples/2017/09/01/cf20aee2-8e84-11e7-84c0-02cc069f2c37_story.html

July 21, 2017 By cs

Number of multiple award contracts drop — Will OMB’s new requirements continue the trend?

Efforts to stop the proliferation of multiple award contracts have found limited success. Data from Bloomberg Government shows that while the number of MACs governmentwide — Defense Department and civilian agencies — have dropped since 2012, there still are more than 2,600.

The total number of MACs have dropped by 239 in the five years since the Office of Management and Budget implemented the requirement to submit a business case for any new multiple award contract that will be worth more than $50 million over the life of the vehicle.

The 8 percent reduction comes as spending on MACs increased by $5 billion in 2016, as compared to 2015. Bloomberg Government reported in April that spending on these contract vehicles increased to $111 billion last fiscal year from $106 billion the year before.

Keep reading this article at: https://federalnewsradio.com/reporters-notebook-jason-miller/2017/06/multipleawardcontractsdrop/

April 3, 2017 By cs

Your agency need a helicopter? GSA can help with that

If you’re in the market for a helicopter capable of tactical law enforcement operations or snuffing forest fires, the General Services Administration can hook you up.

The agency posted on its Interact site that it was expediting the awarding of helicopters configured for law enforcement, firefighting, and search and rescue operations under its Multiple Awards Schedule 84 — Total Solutions for Law Enforcement.

The awards schedule provides several law enforcement products — from vehicles to drug testing equipment and fire safety materials — and offers state and local governments access to those products through the Cooperative Purchasing Program.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.federaltimes.com/articles/need-a-helicopter-gsa-can-help-with-that

The General Services Administration (GSA) has issued a pre-solicitation notice seeking contractors to upgrade the payroll systems serving 2.2 million civilian federal employees.

New legislation working its way through Congress could significantly alter the way commercial companies sell everyday products and services to the U.S. military and federal agencies, opening the door for online retailers to reach a massive new customer.

Efforts to stop the proliferation of multiple award contracts have found limited success. Data from Bloomberg Government shows that while the number of MACs governmentwide — Defense Department and civilian agencies — have dropped since 2012, there still are more than 2,600.

If you’re in the market for a helicopter capable of tactical law enforcement operations or snuffing forest fires, the General Services Administration can hook you up.

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