We always recommend using the time immediately after the end of the fiscal year to work on networking. Most of the effort, properly, goes toward cultivating better relationships with government officials. How much time do you spend improving relationships with your small business partners and other team members, though? If you’re still using the same team as FY’15, it may be time to make sure these relationships are still serving you well. While there has been a net outflow of smaller businesses in the government market over the past several years, some that have entered in are uniquely adept at both offering new technologies and making use of innovative acquisition methods such as OTA’s (see above) or GSA’s Commercial Solutions Offering (CSO). Teaming up with these businesses can help broaden your reach in the government market by making better use of innovative acquisition methods while providing you with a technological edge. Certainly, existing partners need attention, as well. Good partners are worth their weight in gold. It’s never a bad thing, though, to look around and see what new entries may have to offer. When you’re in the business of providing cutting edge solutions to federal agencies, it’s good to have partners that can keep you sharp
President Trump has signed the FY’19 appropriations bills funding the Department of Veterans Affairs and Legislative Branch activities, as well as measures funding military construction and energy and water programs. As such, at least a portion of the government will not start FY’19 under a Continuing Resolution. Indeed, most of the government may start FY’19 with Read more
As part of its GSA Schedules streamlining effort, GSA leaders are considering aligning more specific offerings by North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code. The reasoning behind this is that NAICS are more widely used and understood than Schedule Read more
Well pass the dutchie on the left hand side. A US District Court has ruled, and awarded damages, in a case where a federal contractor refused to hire an admitted medical marijuana user. How is a federal contractor supposed stay compliant these days? The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut ruled in Noffsinger v. SSC Niantic Operating Co. that federal law does not preempt a state law that expressly prohibits employers from firing or refusing to hire Read more
Among the many ways federal business is different from the commercial market is the ability to buy a current or potential client a nice meal. Relationships can be solidified in a social setting, especially where wine, beer, and good food are present. Unfortunately, federal ethics laws prohibit many gifts, such as business dinners, when your client works for a government agency. Don’t run the risk of hurting both your company and your potential customer over a steak dinner. Allen Federal has been teaching classes on federal gift giving and ethics for over two decades. We’re happy to tell you about dinner at the Palm, before it becomes a palm slap to your forehead. Check out what we can do to train your company by contacting us at info@allenfederal.com. Even if you don’t want training, Allen Federal is happy to have that steak dinner if you really need to exercise your expense account!