GSA announces its new small business GWAC

      The GSA is naming its next-generation Small Business GWAC "Polaris," announced Laura Stanton, GSA’s assistant commissioner for the IT category.

      "This GWAC represents another step forward for the next generation of IT services based solutions from GSA," she wrote in an Oct. 1 blog entry. The goal is to increase agency access to emerging tech including AI, robotics, blockchain, 5G, cybersecurity and cloud.

      GSA is considering using an approach authorized under Sect. 876 of the NDAA of fiscal 2019. It allows GSA to award contracts without considering prices for services acquired on an hourly rate basis.

Read more at:
GSA Interact community blog: https://bit.ly/3lJrAQw
GSA Announcement: https://bit.ly/3dqwbnF

SBIR awards often late

      The majority of SBIR awards are made after the target date, the GAO has found in a recent review.

      Federal agencies awarded almost $3 billion to small businesses in fiscal 2019 under the SBIR and STTR programs. The goal is to notify applicants within 90 days and to issue awards within 180 days.

      Of the 29 agencies reviewed, half notified most applicants late. Two-thirds issued most awards late.

      The tardiest were the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and ARPA-Energy, for which zero percent of awards were made on time.

Read more:
GAO Report: https://bit.ly/33X75K6

Some thresholds rise

      The FAR Councils published a final rule, effective Oct. 1, that changed some acquisition thresholds.

• The requirements for limiting competition to eligible 8(a) awards over $22 million is increased to $25 million;
• The simplified procedures ceiling for certain commercial items is increased from $7 million to $7.5 million; and
• The prime contractor subcontracting plan threshold is increasing from $700,000 to $750,000.

Read more at:
Federal Register notice: https://bit.ly/33UkEcW

Inside this edition:

Vendors worried about new rules on racial diversity training

Velazquez calls out SBA for obstruction of PPP audits

SBA expands size standards

Sec. 3610 and CR extended thru Dec. 11

Proposed rule expands Buy American

Interim rule on CMMC

Gov-wide veteran certs?

Column: Make Fiscal 2021 Your Best Year Ever

Washington Insider:

Coronavirus Update