OFPP proposes that category management be official policy

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy wants to make it official: category management, that is.

In a Federal Register notice on Oct. 7, the agency proposed to issue a new Office of Management and Budget Circular to implement category management governmentwide as a policy for acquiring for common goods and services.

The circular would outline strategies, best practices, roles and responsibilities and metrics for success, among other factors.

Category management is a form of strategic sourcing in acquisitions that the Obama Administration has applied in recent years to categories such as office furniture, office supplies, cleaning supplies and professional services.

Comments are due by Nov. 7.

More information: Federal Register notice: http://goo.gl/pujCyT

NASA small biz fraud

A former contract supervisor at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland pleaded guilty to making false statements about his moonlighting with a small business federal contractor owned by his friend, the Justice Department announced. Wright assisted the friend in preparing bids for federal work.

Nathaniel Wright, 55, is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 25, 2017.

More information: DOJ release: http://goo.gl/C7x9jZ

NC couple get prison

Ricky Anthony Lanier, 49, and his wife Katrina Reshina Lanier, 43, both of LaGrange, NC, were sentenced to serve federal prison terms of 48 months and 30 months, respectively, for their roles in a small business federal contracting fraud. They were found guilty by a jury.

For eight years until 2013, the Laniers falsely obtained federal contracts by claiming to operate 8(a) and SDVOSB firms.

More information: http://goo.gl/KgDfx7

Size standard petitions

The SBA is amending its rules of practice for the Office of Hearings and Appeals to implement Sect. 869 of the NDAA for fiscal 2016. Comments are due by Dec. 6.

The law authorized OHA to decide petitions for reconsideration of small business size standards.

Such petitions may be filed after SBA publishes a final rule to revise, modify or establish a size standard.

More information: http://goo.gl/Bh1nu1

NDAA Sect. 838 sparks concerns

OASIS SB adding vendors

GAO limited on task order protests

New RFP adds 5 geographic zones to BMO contract

Judge cancels ASBL hearing

Column: M&A transactions with government contractors

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