GSA makes it easier to buy from schedules

      It just got easier for the Army, Navy and all other agencies to use the GSA Schedules and all other interagency acquisition vehicles.

      Previously, federal agencies that wanted to use interagency acquisition vehicles needed to affirm in a written determination, for each and every order, that it was the best procurement approach.

      Under Section 875 of the NDAA for Fiscal 2019, Congress authorized federal agencies to remove that requirement. Instead, the agencies are now allowed to make a blanket written determination for each contract vehicle.

      GSA recently issued a class deviation letter implementing the change, effective immediately.

SSA subcontractors

      Some SSA subcontractors say they are getting paid by their primes late or not at all.

Read more at:
Federal Times story: https://bit.ly/2B2Bw2U.

Do political connections help contractors?

      Contractors with political connections are more likely to have “sweetheart” clauses in their federal contracts, according to a recent study by three business school academics.

      The sweetheart clauses include provisions for sole-source, cost-plus and multiple-year contracts and exemptions from providing cost or pricing data or both, the authors wrote.

      The study looked at corporate Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to campaigns to measure political connectedness.

      “Our results suggest that PAC donations provide a unique channel for social connections and the mutual exchange of favors between a firm and government officials,” the authors wrote.

Read more at: NCSU EFA Financial Review: https://bit.ly/2DhQZh0

Who are the House’s likely new chairs?

      Voters elected a majority of Democrats in the House, with these likely chairs of House committees:

• Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-NY, Judiciary;
• Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-MD, Oversight and Investigations;
• Rep. Nita Lowey, D-NY, Appropriations;
• Rep. Maxine Waters, D-CA, Financial Services;
• Rep. Adam Smith, D-WA, Armed Services;
• Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-MA, Ways and Means;
• Rep. Bobby Scott, D-VA, Education & the Workforce;
• Rep. Frank Pallone, D-NJ, Energy and Commerce;
• Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-CA, Intelligence;
• and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-OR, Transportation and Infrastructure.

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Column: Big Changes in the HUBZone Program Coming in 2019

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