VA improves verifications of vet-owned firms, but needs strategic plan: GAO

The Veterans Affairs Department reports it has cut its processing time for verifying veteran-owned small firms by more than half in the last three years, the Government Accountability Office said.

VA said it has reduced average application processing times by more than 50%—from 85 days in 2012 to 41 in 2015.

Those changes were in response to a 2013 GAO report. GAO also had advised that VA's OSDBU develop a strategic plan for the verification program and update the case management system, but progress has been delayed.

“VA recently hired a new director for the (verification) program, which has had four directors since 2011, including two acting directors in 2015,” GAO said. VA has faced delays in replacing the outdated case-management system “due to contractor performance and funding issues,” the GAO added. The replacement system will be in place in early 2017.

More information: GAO report http://goo.gl/aNBkUZ

Pushing for innovation in acquisitions: Kay Ely

Kay Ely, the former director of Schedule 70 and now GSA’s deputy assistant commissioner of the Office of Integrated Technology Services, said the government is pushing for more innovative acquisitions to attract small firms on the leading edge of technology.

"When I have a vendor come to me and say, 'I would love to be a part of Schedule 70, but I have to pay $25,000 just to have somebody help me through all that,' that doesn't make me happy," Ely said at a recent conference, FedScoop reported.

Ely is working with GSA’s 18F innovation agency to streamline procedures to make it easier and faster to get on the schedules. GSA also issued an RFI last fall that asked for input into how to transform Schedule 70.

More information: FedScoop article http://goo.gl/od2ItA
GSA RFI http://goo.gl/I9liHo

Boots-to-Biz gets audit

SBA’s IG found lapses in guidance and records in an audit of a $3 million grant to Syracuse U. under the SBA’s Boots-to-Business program for veterans.

Reviewers “did not consistently follow evaluation guidance,” the IG said. Also, “SBA has no documentation delineating or rationalizing its final selection of Syracuse U.” The IG made four recommendations but did not advise withdrawing the grant.

<More information: IG Audit Report https://goo.gl/cjEABv

SEWP IV largest for SBs

SEWP IV was the highest-value multiple-award contract (MAC) for small businesses in fiscal 2015, according to a Govini study.

The top MACs for small businesses in fiscal 2015 were: SEWP IV, $6.8 billion; Alliant, $3.9 billion; 8ASTARS2, $3.2 billion; NIH CIO-SP3, $1.3 billion; OASIS, $331 million; AF NetCentsII $326 million; Eagle II, $305 million; Eagle, $143 million; TIPPS-4, $107 million; CS2SB, $55 million.

More information: Govini study http://goo.gl/H3iGN2

New PCA subbing rule

The Private Collection Agency industry is responding to a new Education Department requirement to subcontract at least 31% of the contract value to small businesses in a recent solicitation.

That is “more than double what the original bid required and a new high for PCAs,” according to InsideARM. ”ED suddenly shifted hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracting fees to many to-be-determined small businesses.”

More information: InsideARM http://goo.gl/DG74Qa

More ITVAR concerns

The new SBA rules affecting IT value-added resellers continue to raise questions. Here is PilieroMazza PLLC’s latest analysis: http://goo.gl/z3xp6g

SBA names digital chief

The SBA named Tracy Terrill as the agency’s first Chief Digital Officer. Terrill recently was Chief Technology Officer at LegalZoom.

NIH declares “open season” for CIO-SP3

GSA: small biz opportunities site

Alliant 2 Small Biz RFP coming

SBA, GAO clash on reports

Top 100 HUBZone Opportunities in 2016 and 2017

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