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June 29, 2010 - Vol. 3, Issue 27
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The Coalition for Government Procurement (CGP) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in response to his call for reduced spending inside the Department of Defense (DoD). The Coalition detailed specific recommendations of possible ways for DoD to reduce acquisition overhead and overall acquisition costs. Noting the ongoing concern about duplicative contracts, the Coalition recommended that DoD increase its use of procurement programs managed by the General Services Administration (GSA), including both GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) and Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts vehicles (GWACs).
The letter mentioned that duplication increases the department's overhead costs and taxes an acquisition work force that is already stretched thin.
The letter also criticized a Defense program that offers incentives to acquisition workers who produce new contracts, when instead they should be rewarded for using existing contract vehicles that offer good value.
Source: The Coalition for Government Procurement,
Federal Times
>> Link to Original Source
The White House revealed June 25 a draft strategy for creating a voluntarily authenticated online identity for Internet users and organizations.
The "National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace" proposes a system under which identity-certified individuals wishing to conduct online transactions with identity-certified organizations, submit an interoperable, standards-based credential before proceeding with the transaction. Members of the public would utilize it while conducting online banking or even just sending an email, states White House cyber czar Howard Schmidt in a blog post announcing the strategy.
The credential could come in the form of a smart card, a cell phone, a downloaded software certificate, USB device or security chip embedded into computers.
Through the credential, online organizations (called a "relying party" in the plan) could verify two categories of information: An individual's identity, from a public- or private- sector identity provider, and information about that individual (called "attributes" in the plan) from an organization that can verify individual characteristics, such as age. The plan gives a loose idea in a diagram.
Relying parties would verify the end user's identity and attributes directly with the identity and attribute providers once they've read the end user's credential. "The user can also provide all validations directly to the relying party through the mediation of privacy enhancing technology," the draft strategy adds.
The draft plan says the system will enhance online privacy since relying parties could request to verify only relevant attributes. Transactions could still be anonymous to the extent that relying parties accept a strong credential that nevertheless does not uniquely identify individuals to them, the draft plan states.
The system would contain policies and standards would minimize the linkage of individuals' credential use among and between service providers, the plan states. Unclear from the plan is what kind of logs identity and authentication providers would retain of verification requests made through individuals' online activity. The plan states that providers should limit their retention of data "to the period necessary for the provision of services...except as otherwise required by law."
Also unclear from the plan is how the identity and authentication providers would verify that individuals are indeed who they say they are and that their attributes are correct.
An authenticated online identity is necessary to reduce online fraud and identity theft and also increase the ease of online transactions, the plan states.
"The role of government is to address the safety and economic needs of its people," the plan states. The federal government will become an early adopter of the identity technology and possibly encourage its spread through tax credits or breaks, grant programs, loans to first adopters and "cybersecurity insurance."
The draft plans call for selection of a lead agency responsible for driving the plan forward; Schmidt, in his blog post, says that the Homeland Security Department has already been "a key partner in the development of the strategy" and the draft plan is hosed on a DHS website.
The White House is accepting public comment on the draft strategy through July 19. The plan is slated for final form this fall.
Source: FierceGovernmentIT
>> Link to Original Source
There are often misconceptions about certain aspects of the GSA Multiple Award Schedules program, both on the contractor and customer side. One of those aspects is the Maximum Order Threshold (MOT) – sometimes referred to as the Maximum Order Limit. GSA customers sometimes push back when contractors ask them to place an order whose dollar value is above the MOT, claiming the order cannot be placed under the GSA Schedule. The misconception is that the MOT represents a cap on orders placed through the GSA Schedule, when in fact it represents a threshold for customers to seek further discount. FAR 8.405-1 (d) reads, “Each schedule contract has a maximum order threshold established on a SIN-by-SIN basis. Although a price reduction may be sought at any time, this threshold represents the point where, given the dollar value of the potential order, the ordering activity shall seek a price reduction.”
If you have questions about the Maximum Order Threshold please contact your WMG Consultant.
GSA announced the appointment of David Ehrenwerth to serve as the Regional Administrator of GSA’s Mid-Atlantic Region.
As the Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator, Ehrenwerth will oversee GSA operations in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, including management of federal real estate and information technology. He will be responsible for an inventory of more than 750 government-owned or leased buildings and 1,000 employees.
"David Ehrenwerth will be a tremendous addition to the GSA leadership team as we work to create a greener, more efficient, more cost-effective, more open, and more responsible government for the American people," said Martha N. Johnson, Administrator of General Services. "His commitment to public service and his experience in real estate and urban development will be invaluable to GSA as we pursue this effort in the Mid-Atlantic Region."
Ehrenwerth has practiced law in Pittsburgh for more than 35 years, with a focus on real estate and urban redevelopment projects. He is also active in tri-state area nonprofit and civic organizations. He has served as chairman of the board of Montefiore Hospital; member of the executive committee of the Riverview Center for the Aged; and member of the board of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Presbyterian University Hospital, and the Pennsylvania Board of Vocational Rehabilitation.
He has also been a leader in Pennsylvania government and politics, as Assistant Attorney General of Pennsylvania from 1972 to 1974, adviser to numerous candidates and elected officials, and as co-chair of the Thornburgh Forum for Law and Public Policy at the University of Pittsburgh.
Ehrenwerth comes to GSA from K&L Gates LLP, where he was managing partner of the Pittsburgh office. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School.
Source: GSA Newsroom
The CGP announced that it is seeking nominations for the 2010 Excellence in Partnership (EIP) Awards. Nominations will be accepted via online entry form here through September 6. The winners will be honored during a ceremony at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner on November 1.
The EIP Awards were developed eleven years ago to honor those who have made significant strides in promoting and utilizing the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) and its programs.
“Partnership and cooperation are two of the most important factors in successful government contracting,” said Larry Allen, President of The Coalition for Government Procurement. “These ‘Excellence in Partnership’ awards are designed to celebrate the best-of-the-best in today’s acquisition community, and to serve as a guide for those just getting their feet in the door.” Winners will be chosen in 16 award categories
For further information and to nominate someone, please visit http://www.eipawards.org/.
>> Link to Original Source
Next month GSA will hold its 7th Outreach Europe, a conference for US Government buyers, contracting officials and contractors, dating from 1996. For this year’s Expo there is a special emphasis on the US European and African commands (EUCOM & AFRICOM), the US Air Force HQ Europe (USAFE), and the Department of State’s Regional Procurement Support Office (RPSO) with US Government buyers invited from throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
GSA is sending top contracting officials, including several Commissioners and Center Directors for the Integrated Workplace Acquisition Center, the Greater Southwest Acquisition Center, and the GWAC Programs.
The dates for the Expo are July 12 – 15 and the location is the Millennium Hotel in Stuttgart, Germany.
While exhibit space is no longer available, attendees are welcome and can register at www.gsa.gov/outreacheurope. There is an admission fee.
The Washington Management Group will be represented by Christopher Arndt. If you have any questions, he can be reached at carndt@washmg.com.
And now for our clients in Germany:
Nächsten Monat wird GSA, die seit 1996 siebte Outreach Europe abhalten, eine Konferenz für US Government Einkäufer, Vertreter der Vertragsbehörden und Unternehmer. Der Schwerpunkt der diesjährigen Expo liegt auf der US Europa und Afrika Heeresleitung (EUCOM & AFRICOM), dem europäischen US Luftwaffenhauptquartier (USAFE) und dem Regionalen Büro für Beschaffung des Auswärtigen Amtes (RSPO) zu der US Regierungseinkäufer aus Europa, Afrika und dem Mittleren Osten eingeladen wurden.
GSA schickt Spitzenvertreter der Einkaufsbüros, inklusive einige Referendare und Direktoren des Integrierten Arbeitsplatz Beschaffungscenters, dem Südwestlichen Beschaffungscenters und den GWAC Programmen.
Die Termine für die Expo sind Juli 12-15 2010 im Millenium Hotel in Stuttgart.
Es ist keine Ausstellungsfläche mehr erhältlich aber Teilnehmer sind herzlich willkommen und können sich unter www.gsa.gov/outreacheurope registrieren. Eine Eintrittsgebühr wird verlangt.
The Washington Management Group wird von Christopher Arndt repräsentiert. Falls Sie Fragen haben können Sie ihn unter carndt@washmag.com erreichen.
Director of Contracts and Compliance
Job Description
This position has overall responsibility for acquisition and management of all GovConnection contracts, including State, Local, Education and Federal Government contracts, subcontracts and contract-specific vendor agreements. Specific duties and objectives include but not limited to:
- Manage the GovConnection contracts department; supervising, training and developing employees in multiple locations.
- Manage the compliance of all contract requirements, including the delivery of products, services and Contracts Data Requirements List (CDRL) items.
- Manage the development, preparation and pricing of proposal responses and contract based task orders, quotes and proposals.
- Negotiate the terms and conditions of all GovConnection customer contracts.
- Manage the relationship with contracting officers and officials. Negotiate favorable pricing of contract modifications and changes. Initiate and respond to requests for contract changes, product substitutions and technical refreshments.
- Minimize contract risk by monitoring the preparation, quality, achievement and timeliness of all contract deliverables. Maintain complete, accurate, up-to-date contract files.
- Enhance contract marketability by coordinating the development and enhancement of contract and/or customer specific websites, catalogs and other tools. Serve as the primary point of contact for contract information for sales, marketing, and vendors.
- Manage the timeliness, quality and accuracy of contract data. Responsible for the maintenance of contract data in the internal sales and support infrastructure.
Required Skills - Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a related field is required.
- 7 to 10 years of related and progressive experience in Government contract acquisition and management required.
- Familiarity with the Government procurement process from solicitation through contract closeout.
- Familiar with the Federal Acquisition Regulations
Job Location: Rockville, MD, US. Position Type: Full-Time/Regular Contact: Kara Wheeler, 603-683-2042, kwheeler@govconnection.com Reference: Tracking Code 304438-533
Shay Assad Breakfast Event
Wednesday June 30, 2010
Shay Assad, Director of Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy, will speak to the Coalition for Government Procurement (CGP) about current DOD policies and use of non-DoD contracts on June 30th, 2010 at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington. This is a great opportunity to hear directly from DoD and obtain insight into the agencies procurement strategies. Click here https://netforum.avectra.com/eWeb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=CGP&WebCode=EventDetail&evt_key=b24e6639-d992-4068-a6da-33f85249f4bc&msm=d37e4e2a-2052-4d60-a6de-33e0ebf54fad&cst=68083e68-2a19-4548-bce1-3829f66961f5&ent=a1bfceac-5c09-433b-b976-457dadb305ac for more information and to register.
FedSources: The Heat is On: Identifying & Capturing Fiscal Year-End Dollars
Thursday July 24, 2010
The Westin Tysons Corner
For more information or to register please visit:
http://www.fedsources.com/Services/Events/The_Heat_Is_On.aspx
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