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Federal Market Intelligence for Small Business |
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How will eBuy Open impact GSA Schedule holders?The General Services Administration’s plan to open up access to the public to viewing eBuy is stirring some discussion on the potential negative impacts on current GSA Schedule contract holders. On the one hand, Federal Acquisition Service Administrator Tom Sharpe is a strong advocate for eBuy Open so that contracting officials and industry can have more insight into past and current pricing. Sharpe said in July that eBuy Open would be open by year’s end. Officials say the project is still moving forward despite delays. But some GSA Schedule holders who currently have access to eBuy have raised concerns. Those vendors believe they may lose their competitive edge once that viewing is available to the public, according to a recent column by Jason Miller, executive editor of Federal News Radio. “Being able to see the potential opportunities is part of the differentiator,” he wrote. But he urged that broader goals prevail. “Under the current e-Buy, industry can’t look at task orders until they have a schedule. And to get a schedule, according to one industry executive, could cost upwards of $25,000 plus the time and energy to get this through GSA’s maze,” Miller wrote. More information: FedNewsRadio column: http://goo.gl/AcxA2Z DHS using OTS acquisition form for innovative ITThe Homeland Security Department’s Science & Technology Directorate will begin using a contract vehicle called Other Transaction Solicitations (OTS) to seek contracts for innovative products and services, according to a notice on FBO.gov. DHS plans to spend $20 million on awards using the OTS framework to attract innovative small companies and startups. Companies can apply to be part of the four-phase procurement process. Each phase will last three to six months. Awardees will be paid $50,000 to $200,000 for each phase. More information: https://goo.gl/UYKJqp DOD boosting its mentor-protege programThe Defense Department is refocusing attention on its mentor-protege program to better serve the vendors and the military, Rob Stewart, program manager, said at a recent AFCEA meeting, according to a report in AFCEA’s Signal magazine. Specifically, DOD is looking for ways to help small vendors utilize mentors to help boost DOD IT networks and cybersecurity. In the coming spring, the DOD’s small business utilization office plans to hold a mentor-protege training week in Houston, TX, the article said. More information: http://goo.gl/7YH7tN Locality pay to riseFederal employees are receiving their first locality pay raise since 2010. The adjustments will raise the total federal payroll by 0.3% in 2016. San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, CA will see the largest gain, with a .6% increase, according to an article in GovExec. Workers in Los Angeles and San Diego, CA; New York, NY and Washington, DC will receive increases between 0.5% and 0.6%. The adjustment in the DC capital area will rise 0.56%, to total 24.78% of an employee’s base salary. More information: GovExec article http://goo.gl/C26qTP
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