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Tag: professional services

Senate Moves to Tear Down the Degree Barrier in Federal Contracting

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced legislation last week that would eliminate minimum education requirements in federal contracting jobs, moving the bill closer to a vote by the full Senate.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act (H.R. 5235) by a unanimous 10-0 vote. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced the legislation, which previously passed the House in February. No senators commented on the bill during the business meeting. (FEDSCOOP August 6, 2026)

Bill Would Prioritize Skills and Experience

The legislation would prohibit federal solicitations from requiring specific educational credentials unless a contracting officer provides a written justification explaining why the agency needs an exemption. (ibid)

Mace has championed the bill for several years. She argues that federal contracting should focus on a candidate’s ability to perform the work rather than automatically requiring a four-year degree. (ibid)

“Washington created the paper ceiling. This bill tears it down,” Mace said in a statement. She added that demonstrated ability should give qualified Americans an opportunity to compete for federal contract work. (ibid)

Mace previously cited testimony from an IBM executive who said federal contractors often cannot place workers without four-year degrees on technology services contracts, even when those workers possess the necessary qualifications. (ibid)

Impact Extends Beyond Technology

Although the federal contracting industry increasingly focuses on information technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and modernization, Mace has emphasized that the issue reaches well beyond technology and professional services contracts. (ibid)

The bill seeks to encourage agencies to consider skills, experience, and demonstrated ability when evaluating candidates and contractors. (ibid)

“Federal contracting should reward the best person for the job,” Mace said. “Taxpayers are footing the bill; they deserve results. Skills matter. Experience matters. Merit matters. A piece of paper shouldn’t stand in the way.” (ibid)

OMB Would Provide Implementation Guidance

If enacted, the bill would require the Office of Management and Budget to issue implementation guidance to federal agencies within 180 days. The guidance would direct contracting officers to consider alternatives to traditional education requirements. (ibid)

The legislation also has bipartisan support. Democratic Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington co-sponsored the House bill.

Following the committee’s unanimous vote, Mace called on the full Senate to approve the legislation and send it to the President. (ibid)

“A unanimous vote out of committee speaks for itself,” Mace said. “This is not a Republican issue. This is not a Democrat issue. This is an American issue.” (ibid)

Do you have questions about whether your employees need specific college credentials or whether their experience and skills qualify them for the job? Give us a call.

Acquisition of Professional Services is about to get a whole lot better

Sheri Meadema, acting assistant commissioner of GSA’s Office of Professional Services and Human Capital Categories recently explained the current focus of the Services Marketplace. The Information Technology Category and Professional Services and Human Capital Categories are teaming to align how they introduce contracts and tools to aid buyers as well as suppliers of services.(FAS office of Information Technology February 17, 2022)

Their three main goals:

  • Expand GSA’s contract offerings.
  • Refine FAS’s market research and buying tools.
  • Better the data and reporting systems used in support of the current acquisition programs. (ibid)

Meadema envisions a future with standardized engagement and solicitation processes regardless of the type of services provided. The priority is on using a consistent set of best practices and tools for IT and professional services for solicitations, evaluation, negotiations, awards, and contract management. (ibid)

Meadema wants an easier final outcome compared to open market procurements. Under the Services Marketplace, the next generation of contracts is being built. These contracts include the Services MAC, Polaris, and the follow-on to Alliant 2. Currently in progress are:

  • 8(a) STARS III Government wide Acquisition Contract – a small business set-aside, Beset-in-Class GWAC. The the 8(a) STARS III, federal agencies can access award-winning 8(a) firms for emerging technologies via an established contract vehicle. This saves not only time but also taxpayer monvery over open markets methods.
  • IT GWAC Polaris is in development. The RFP for the new Polaris small business IT contract is expected in February 2022. Once awarded, Polaris will enable federal agencies to set-aside IT task orders to small business, women-owned small business, service disable veteran-owned small businesses, and businesses located in HUBZones.
  • PSHC is working on a new Services Multi-Agency Contract to support procurement requirements for services. This comes as OASIS winds down in 2024.
  • Improvement of Multiple Award Schedule service offerings. Contractors with multiple contracts will consolidate down to one. This means fewer overall contracts for the acquisition workfovce and industry parnters to manage. Ultimately this will make is easier for agencies to find the vendors to meet their requirements.(ibid)

Meadeama says they have also started standardizing the scope review process. A digital tool/portal allows customers to submit their scope review requests. This streamlines tracking, management, and coordination across portfolios as well as creating a single customer experience. The discovery phase has started for an order management tool for all services task orders. This allows for better solicitation development, tracking, and task order management on GSA contracts. (ibid)

Questions about how this might affect a current GSA schedule contract or upcoming bid? Give us a call.

It’s Heeeeere…

The new, single GSA Multiple Award Schedule solicitation was released today, 1 October, and it’s mostly what we expected.

Solicitation number 47QSMD20R0001, refresh 00 (!!) points you to the correct NAICS number for your product or service. The first page of the solicitation references the MAS Roadmap, which includes a guide to preparing your offer and required forms such as the:

  • Agent authorization letter
  • Letter of supply
  • Categories and appropriate NAICS (formerly SIN) numbers
  • Labor category matrix

as well as information about the:

  • Price proposal template, pricing narrative, and pricing support
  • Financial statements
  • Subcontracting plan
  • Technical proposal
  • Professional compensation plan
  • Commercial supplier agreements
  • Previous cancellation and rejection letters
  • Commercial sales practices
  • Commercial or market pricing

You must download separate documents, depending on your proposed product/service. Option categories include: office management, facilities, furniture and furnishings, human capital, industrial products and services, information technology, miscellaneous, professional services, scientific management and solutions, security and protection, transportation and logistics, and travel.

The old standards survive. You must submit via eOffer, the pilot TDR still applies, and you must sell $25,000 per year from the Schedule to keep it. Pathways to Success and the Readiness Assessment remain, as does AbilityOne and SCA.

All service AND product offers must now provide corporate experience and quality control narratives. Furthermore, you now have the option to submit CPARS reports instead of Open Ratings or even a narrative if your company hasn’t six references required by Open Ratings. One positive: GSA now requires only one past project description per service.

The following ominous clause has been included: “The offeror must provide a full and broad array of proposed products/services. An offer will not be accepted with limited product/service offerings unless it represents a total solution for the offeror or proposed product/service offering.” Will small, niche businesses have a more difficult time obtaining an award? Hope not.

Also, until SAM has added representations for the new FAR clause regarding covered telecommunication equipment and services (see our Blog post from 10 September) from particular Chinese companies, proposal submissions must include a statement noting compliance with n 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

Once awarded, yearly increases for contractors will be capped at four percent for the Human Capital Category, five percent for Professional Services and Travel, and ten percent for all others.

Yes, it’s complicated, and yes we have a handle on it. We are primed and ready to answer all your questions either about a new proposal or your current Schedule. Just give us a call.