JanSan RFQ out

The General Services Administration is seeking contractors for the upcoming “JanSan” blanket purchase agreements (BPAs)for janitorial and sanitation supplies. It’s part of the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative to save money and boost efficiency, but small companies worry they may be left out.

“The RFQ seeks to establish 21 BPAs, and it is GSA's stated intent to channel as much federal spending as possible through these BPA holders. As a consequence, the current estimated 1,000 or so JanSan GSA schedule holders stand to be disenfranchised and lose significant sales if GSA is successful in channeling federal spending to those BPA holders,” Bill Balek, director of legislative affairs at the International Sanitory Supply Association (ISSA), told Set-Aside Alert.

Eleven agencies--including Army, Navy, Air Force, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs--have committed to using the JanSan BPAs, according to Federal News Radio.

In addition, GSA released a solicitation for maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) supplies. Both solicitations together cover about $1.7 billion a year in purchases.

More information:
GSA JanSan RFQ https://interact.gsa.gov/node/62442
GSA MRO RFQ https://interact.gsa.gov/blog/request-quote-rfq-issued-fssi-mro
JanSan/FSSI advocacy initiatives:
     http://www.jansanfssi.com/Articles-JanSan-FSSI.html
     http://www.stopfssi.org/
ISSA news release http://goo.gl/Qf4aFJ
Federal News Radio article http://goo.gl/4Efk5V

MAC set-asides rule

The Small Business Administration issued a final rule for setting aside multiple award contracts and task and delivery orders for small businesses.

The rule implements parts of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.

An interim rule in November 2011 allowed contracting officers to use their discretion in creating set-asides on all or part of MACs and individual task orders. The final rule gives additional guidance, according to an article by Wiley Rein LLP.

More information: Wiley Rein article http://goo.gl/fmF3r
Federal Register notice http://goo.gl/Qxv5ck

IT forecast

Federal agencies are forecasted to spend $70 billion on information technology in fiscal 2014, down from a peak of $80 billion in 2010, according to TechAmerica, reported FCW. Total IT spending likely will rise to $78.5 billion by 2019.

Civilian agencies are expected to spend $38.3 billion in 2014, while defense IT is forecasted at $31.7 billion this year and will remain flat through 2019.

Trends in IT include use of lowest price technically acceptable criteria, legacy systems being extended, and operations and maintenance outpacing new projects and innovation.

More information: FCW article http://goo.gl/urhIBF