Talks of shutdown again; CR likely; NDAA stalled

Senate GOP members lost their fight to defund Planned Parenthood, so the next strategy being discussed is to block any omnibus spending bill unless federal funds for the women’s health services provider are cut off. As in October 2013 in the attempts to defund Obamacare, that would result in a government shutdown.

Congress is heading off to its annual August recess having approved six appropriations bills to date. When Congress returns there will be only 10 legislative days until the beginning of the fiscal 2016 year on Oct. 1, which many believe is not enough time to pass the remaining bills.

As a result, a Continuing Resolution to fund the government is becoming increasingly likely.

In addition, the National Defense Authorization Act final version has been stalled over disagreements about military benefits.

Acquisition thresholds are being adjusted for inflation

Under a recent final rule published by the FAR councils, a number of monetary-based thresholds for federal acquisitions will be raised on Oct. 1.

• The micro-purchase base threshold of $3,000 (FAR 2.101) rises to $3,500.
• The ceiling for use of simplified acquisition procedures for commercial items (FAR 13.500) rises from $6.5 million to $7 million.
• The cost or pricing data threshold (FAR 15.403–4) and the Cost Accounting Standard threshold are raised from $700,000 to $750,000.
• The prime contractor subcontracting plan (FAR 19.702) floor is raised from $650,000 to $700,000. The construction threshold of $1.5 million stays the same.
• The threshold for reporting first-tier subcontract information will increase from $25,000 to $30,000 (FAR subpart 4.14 and section 52.204–10).

There are no changes to the $150,000 simplified acquisition threshold or to the FedBizOpps pre- and post-award notices threshold.

More information: Final rule: http://goo.gl/YZTYPP

DOD awards $4B EHR

The Defense Department announced it has awarded a $4.3 billion contract to a team led by Leidos Inc. to modernize the military’s electronic health records.

The Leidos-Accenture-Cerner-HenrySchein team includes 24 small business partners.

$12K alleged HUD fraud

A U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department worker improperly charged $12,000 on a government agency purchase card in 2013, according to a HUD inspector general report.

The employee used the card to pay for more than $7,000 in groceries, $2,000 for hotels and lodging, $1,200 for pharmaceutical items, $488 for cable TV and other personal expenses during the October 2013 government shutdown, the IG said.

HUD was faulted for not reporting the apparent violations. The IG obtained an indictment of the employee in 2014.

More information: IG report https://goo.gl/3ngI5V

Where are the notifications for the OPM hack?

DHS commits to OASIS contract

Sanders wants $15 minimum wage for all workers

GSA’s Roth questioned over IT project

Column: Effective Marketing

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