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Government Contractor’s Blog

GSA Chief’s Wrath for Whistleblower

Denise Turner Roth Retaliated Against Whistleblower

The Inspector General found that Ms. Roth she retaliated against a whistleblower, threatening him with transfer to another position and limiting his job responsibilities.

Sources reveal that this whistleblower is outgoing FAS commissioner Tom Sharpe.

Sharpe apparently alerted several executives about the Technology Transformation Service’s use of the Acquisition Services Fund, which the IG calls “violations of the law, gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, and abuse of authority.”

Sharpe’s complaint detailed TTS’s use of the ASF money. The fund consists of fees agencies pay, governmentwide acquisition contract revenue, and sale of surplus properties. The TTS’s use of the money has met controversy, as many believe the service competes with work already provided to other agencies, and distracts from the mission of FAS. As such, some executives harbor concerns that these actions are counterproductive to FAS’s mission.

Roth denies any wrongdoing and calls the Inspector General’s findings “wrong and disappointing.” She maintains that “all actions I took were necessary and driven to modernize the federal government.”

The Inspector General has referred the case to the Office of Special Counsel.

For more information, visit Federal News Radio.

GSA Surveys the Crowd

Today is the 2017 GSA Supplier survey!

The annual GSA partner survey helps shape the Federal Acquisition Service’s efforts to improve processes and policies. Data from 2016 suggested the launch of the Startup Springboard and FAStlane initiatives, making it easier to bring innovative companies to the Multiple Award Schedules pool.

GSA also used survey data to expand employee training opportunities. In addition, GSA scheduled more industry days and check-ins to increase collaboration.

For more information, contact surveys@gsa.gov

The IG’s Eye’s on you

The Inspector General’s biannual report to Congress was especially telling this year. The report covered October 2016 to March 2017.

In that period, the office audited 31 contractors. They found that 21 partners did not submit honest information, 13 overcharged GSA customers, eight did not adequately report schedule sales, and five did not comply with price reduction provisions.

All of that adds up to $224 million in savings through smarter or less spending. The IG also noted that GSA’s digital services wing, intended to cover its own costs, had guzzled $32 million government dollars.

The IG recommended no fewer than 168 cases for legal action, of which 49 faced prosecution and 41 indictment. More than 100 companies were suspended and debarred.

The moral of the story is to keep a tight ship; you don’t want to answer to the inspector general.

Uncle Sam Wants You … To Comment on Acquisition Regulations

Per the Trump administration’s mandate, GSA continues to streamline federal regulations. They have subsequently requested industry comment on policies that may be due for repeal, modification, or replacement. GSA especially needs input on less recent items, such as evergreen contracting. The office also encourages information on newsworthy topics such as the Transactional Data Reporting rule.

Of particular interest are regulations that inhibit job creation, seem outdated, have more drawbacks than benefits, create serious inconsistencies, derive  from non-transparent data, or rely on executive orders that have since been rescinded.

Send in your comments to take advantage of this opportunity to comment  on GSA’s policies and practices. Read more at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-05-30/pdf/2017-11052.pdf

 

Summer Slow Down

As we pass Memorial Day, the unofficial start to summer, it’s helpful to remember that your GSA Contracting Officer (CO) will most likely have a vacation coming up, just like you.

If you know that an important RFP release is imminent, which will require modifications to your Schedule, we strongly suggest you begin working on the mod requirements now. Time-sensitive changes can bring showers of stress to your lazy summer days, especially if you find out that your CO has just left for a three-week vacation/training on the day you submit. To ensure smooth sailing, give your CO a heads-up about the upcoming mods in advance; ask the CO when s/he expects to be out and how you can avoid lengthy delays of a modification.

Being pro-active now can save you the pain of a lightning strike in mid-July! If you need help with a modification or have further questions, contact your EZGSA proposal specialist at 301-913-5000 or email us today.