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Tag: federal contracting

Effectiveness of TDR is TBD

GSA Responds to Criticisms of TDR

The new pilot program for Transactional Data Reporting has met widespread criticism, leading many to question its supposed benefits.

GSA wrote the Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) requirement as an alternative to the Price Reduction Clause (PRC) and Commercial Services Practices (CSP) provision, in response to contractor complaints. The CSP provision requires government contractors to inform GSA of any discounts they offer to commercial partners. Meanwhile, the PRC requires contractors to offer government clients discounts equal to those given to commercial customers, as determined by the contract itself.

Because vendors tend to loathe these clauses, the TDR requirement generated widespread enthusiasm before its June launch. However, since then, it has met with criticism from the contractor side and has included anecdotal evidence of contracting officers still requesting CSP, or CSP-esque information from contractors enrolled in the TDR pilot.

Kevin Youell Page, the deputy commissioner of the Federal Acquisitions Service has publicly stated that “We haven’t really heard from anyone that this has specifically happened.” Most of the criticism appears based more on worries that COs could still require these, as well as general apprehension. Nonetheless, Youell Page is trying to answer feedback and reform the program. FAS has set up an email address exclusively for questions, comments, and concerns about the program; worked closely with the inspector general’s office to alleviate confusion; and continues a cross-country campaign to train and educate contractors and stakeholders.

This is a dramatic shift, made more  so by the risks associated with the new administration. GSA has only committed to a three-year pilot, and as yet the Trump administration has not moved to support TDR. This creates concerns about the liability of participating contractors for PRC and CSP data after the pilot ends.

Satellite of Love-ing IT Schedule 70’s new SIN

GSA launches new Special Item Number for Satellites

The next IT Schedule 70 refresh will include a new Special Item Number (SIN), 132-41, devoted exclusively to Earth Observation Solutions (EOS)!

The SIN will provide services related to “global coverage, imagery, archive storage and distribution, monitoring, base maps (mosaics) and earth observation solutions for accurate, mission-critical information.” This can serve a wide array of uses, like obtaining climate, defense, and weather data.

GSA published the Request for Information in February, launching work on the SIN. They expect to launch it for vendors in early June.  At that time, partners with satellite tech can add their services to the contract.

With the rapid acceleration of technology and expanding possibilities offered by satellites, this addition will bring inventive solutions to the GSA schedule. On the vendor side, the SIN will make it easier for innovative partners to pursue the addition of satellites.

GSA will host a webinar on May 18th, 10:00 am EST to discuss the development and resulting changes. To participate, register at https://meet.gsa.gov/eos05182017/event/event_info.html.

Alert!

All GSA Schedule holders with Contracting Officers stationed in Texas should be aware that their COs will be in training next week, 24-28 April. They will most likely be unavailable to you for questions and modifications.

Get Ready for More GSA Refreshes and Mass Mods

Next month, GSA will refresh and release mass mods for all GSA Schedules regarding provision and clause updates.

Updates will incorporate changes in small business subcontracting, non-federal entities purchasing off the Schedules, and disaster purchasing.

A webinar concerning the changes will be held on Wednesday, 22 March at 2:00pm eastern time. You can register for the webinar here: https://meet.gsa.gov/e4et0bzib7a/event/event_info.html.

For more information, contact us at 301-913-5000.

Scared of the CAV or IOA?

Is your GSA Schedule in good health? The government ensures that your GSA Schedule stays sound by performing occasional audits, checking that your business is following the rules under which the contract was awarded. While you may have the best intentions of remaining in compliance, new hires, misunderstandings about regulatory requirements, and price changes can trip you up, causing problems in the audit itself.

EZGSA offers a Schedule Check-Up that helps to prevent negative audit findings. Many of our clients utilize this service once a year, just as you get a physical once a year — as an objective view of your GSA Schedule’s soundness.

In the GSA Schedule Check-Up, we review:

  • invoices;
  • sales to your Most Favored Customer;
  • sales to all government agencies;
  • internal Commercial Sales Practices procedures;
  • 72A reporting and payments; and
  • open market sales.

If discrepancies are found, we assist you in correcting the problems as well as developing new procedures that will prevent replication of the problems.

Contact us at 301-913-5000 or sales@ezgsa.com to see if your business can benefit from a Schedule Check-Up, either as a yearly preventative or before the Auditor visits.