Minority-owned vendors

Hispanic-owned companies won $8.2 billion in small business federal contracts in fiscal 2012, an increase of 1.5% from the previous year, according to a new report by Bloomberg News.

African-American-owned small businesses got $7.1 billion in contracts, which was a 1% drop from the previous year.

Both minority groups are less well represented as awardees in small business federal contracting than in the U.S. population overall, the report indicated.

The Hispanic-owned firms received about 8.4% of small business federal contract awardees, while Hispanics make up about 17% of the U.S. population.

For African-Americans, the percentage of awardees was 7.2%, compared with 13% percent representation in the U.S. population.

The gap may occur in part because there is no mechanism for federal agencies to specifically target black-owned or Hispanic-owned firms.

New GSA IT portal

Federal agency buyers are being urged to use a new Web portal launched by the General Services Administration to help them purchase information technology solutions.

The GSA’s Office of Integrated Technology Services debuted the IT Solutions Navigator Tool (https://gsafas.secure.force.com/itsn.) on Aug. 9.

“The Navigator helps our customers easily decide which GSA contract vehicle will be the best one for their requirements,” GSA Assistant Commissioner Mary Davie said in a news release.

The navigator also has a Live Chat feature to access acquisition experts immediately.

eBuy goes mobile

The General Services Administration debuted a mobile version of the eBuy website.

Registered users now have access to the Request for Quote and Request for Information system in mobile formats.

Vendors also may sign up for text alert notifications of opportunities.

About $8.3 billion in sales were processed through eBuy in fiscal 2012.

More information: GSA blog post: http://goo.gl/eFce7Y

DOT not compliant

The Transportation Department does not fully comply with revised federal regulations on cost-reimbursement awards, according to a new report from the DOT Office of Inspector General.

In 16 of 31 cost-reimbursement awards reviewed from July 2011 to May 2012, the inspector general found that the DOT agency involved did not properly document justifications for selecting the cost-reimbursement awards.

The justifications were required under Section 864 provisions of the 2009 defense authorization legislation.

More information: DOT Inspector General report http://goo.gl/x5Pukw