There have already been policy documents from the Administration on IT acquisition, a key part of an overall management agenda. Expect 2018 to see identified leaders, like GSA’s Emily Murphy to identify more priorities and work closely with the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to expand programs like Strategic Sourcing and perhaps create new ones aimed at reducing duplication. This may sound wonky, but how many companies were prepared ahead of time for the e-commerce project we’re now wading into. Failure to pay attention to the policy that shapes your market means that you might not have much of a market to participate in some day.
As always, Allen Federal is here to help make sense of it all – and help shape new programs. Don’t hesitate to reach us at info@allenfederal.com if you have questions on these or other government acquisition issues.
GSA is moving ahead with plans for a January 9th public meeting to receive input on the implementation of one or more commercial e-commerce platforms through which federal agencies would have easier access to commercial items. The agency actively sought speakers and attendees before the holiday break and wants to move quickly to meet Congressional mandates. If you sell commercial items to the feds, especially if you sell them via GSA contracts and/or to DOD customers, tracking developments here is an absolute must for your business.
Federal agencies are currently funded by yet another government-wide (i.e., no special treatment for DOD) CR, this time through January 19th. This was an unexpectedly short extension and sets the stage for a show-down over defense spending and funding policy priorities like an immigration wall. For most contractors and their customers, however, kicking the can down the road provides no relief for those with new projects waiting in the wings. Prior to Christmas, some appropriations watchers were more openly discussing the possibility of a year-long CR for FY’18 – a move that would be a disaster on multiple fronts. We may know more by the end of the month, whether that makes industry happy, though, is another matter.
DOD contracting officers are now allowed to omit price or cost information from award decisions on Multiple Award Contracts in cases where they intend to award a contract to all responsible offerors per a class deviation issued December 13th. The new policy expands DOD’s ability to issue such contracts, a practice that had been more common for DOD Blanket Purchase Order agreements (note: DOD BPO’s are not the same thing as Schedules-based BPA’s). GSA has contemplated the award of non-priced Schedule contracts since at least the mid-1990’s. A belief that pricing is essential to attract customers, however, has been at least one stumbling block to implementation. DOD, however, is the largest user of Schedule contracts and has now indicated that, under certain circumstances, they believe that price competition can be conducted the task order level. It is unknown at this time whether DOD’s move will spur GSA to action, but it is a development that GSA Administrator Emily Murphy and FAS Commissioner Alan Thomas should certainly consider. Acquisition is evolving, especially in the IDIQ arena. GSA’s largest program should help set the pace.
Contractors and other interested parties have the ability to speak to GSA and OMB leaders in person regarding their views on how a Congressionally-mandated e-commerce platform for commercial item acquisition should be implemented. GSA is hosting a “town hall” style gathering at its headquarters January 9th. GSA will divide speakers into three theme-based areas: General Program Design, Buying Practices, and Implementation. The agency is also seeking written input on these and other project areas. Written comments are due to the agency January 18th. Significant interest is expected in this project from e-commerce platform providers, companies that believe they could meet the standard of what would constitute an e-commerce platform under the law, and contractors who might find their government business disrupted by creation of commercially based e-commerce platforms. That said, GSA is clearly contemplating a deliberative process, in partnership with OMB. As such, roll-out and implementation will not happen overnight. Interested parties can e-mail GSA at section846@gsa.gov to learn more.