Oct. 1 brings new benchmarks for federal acquisition

Happy new (fiscal) year!

The start of new federal fiscal year 2016 brings statutory inflation adjustments to federal acquisition thresholds, including:

• the micro-purchase base threshold of $3,000 increases to $3,500;
• the simplified acquisition threshold of $150,000 remains unchanged;
• the FedBizOpps preaward and post-award notices remains at $25,000;
• the threshold for use of simplified acquisition procedures for commercial items goes from $6.5 million to $7 million;
• the cost or pricing data threshold and the Cost Accounting Standard threshold increase from $700,000 to $750,000;
• the prime contractor subcontracting plan floor goes from $650,000 to $700,000, and the construction threshold of $1.5 million stays the same; and
• the threshold for reporting first-tier subcontract information including executive compensation increases from $25,000 to $30,000.

More information: Final Rule: http://goo.gl/XMSX7b
Wolters Kluwer analysis: http://goo.gl/ntWULH

DOL sets minimum wages for federal contractors

The Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division announced a small increase in the minimum wage for workers on covered federal contracts to $10.15 an hour, up from $10.10 an hour, effective Jan. 1, 2016.

The new minimum hourly cash wage for tipped workers performing on covered contracts will rise to $5.85 an hour, effective Jan. 1.

Covered contracts are those awarded since Jan. 1, 2015, covered under Service Contract Act or Davis-Bacon Act, concessions, and contracts related to federal property or lands.

DOL also explained how it arrived at the new wages, which are adjusted for inflation each year.

More information: DOL notice: http://goo.gl/6BYaHD

$937M award on OASIS

The General Services Administration announced the largest contract to date under the “OASIS” professional services vehicle.

The $937 million award is for threat mitigation services.

More information: GovExec article: http://goo.gl/Dvl6w8
FedNewsRadio article: http://goo.gl/1ITqvn

DOD small biz cyber gap

While the Defense Department’s Office of Small Business Programs is not required to help small businesses with cybersecurity, the office could be doing more to offer resources, the Government Accountability Office said.

“As of July 2015, the office had not identified and disseminated cybersecurity resources in its outreach and education efforts to defense small businesses,” the GAO said. The GAO suggested 15 cyber resources for small businesses. More information:

More information: GAO report: http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/672724.pdf

Shutdown averted...at least until Dec. 11

House passes NDAA

Autumn slump hits federal vendors

Letters in mail to hack victims

House Committees hold hearings on labor law rule, NLRB decision

Column: How to find opportunities before they hit the street

Washington Insider: