Just GSA

RFQ for BPA's Laptops, Desktops, Notebooks, Netbooks, etc issued

Following the Industry Day in September, GSA's National Information Technology Commodity Program has issued an RFQ (4QBF47116809) for Blanket Purchase Agreements for Information Schedule products (Laptops, Desktops, Notebooks, Netbooks and Warranties) against Schedule 70, which are due December 21, 2011.

See https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=5dbd6fdcb8f3a9bc08bc7716a142f9f3&tab=documents&tabmode=list

The General Services Administration (GSA) National Information Technology Commodity Program (NITCP) intends to utilize innovative acquisition strategies in establishing several multiple award Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) for a variety of leading Information Technology (IT) products. NITCP considers the following IT products as areas to utilize innovative acquisition strategies: Laptops, Desktops, Notebooks, Servers, Video Teleconferencing and Monitors, to name a few. The NITCP has a goal to improve consistency of IT commodity offerings across the federal government. The NITCP's vision is to be viewed as the leading source and first choice for providing IT commodity end-to-end solutions for federal customers. The NITCP’s mission is to procure IT commodities and ancillary (integral and related) services for customers located nationwide using innovative solutions. In addition, the NITCP supports the Office of the Chief Information Officer’s 25 Point Federal IT Implementation Plan, specifically point #20 entitled, to work with Congress to consolidate commodity IT spending under Agency.

The Government estimates, but does not guarantee, that the volume of purchases through this agreement will be $275,855,000. This is not a ceiling amount and the accumulated value of delivery orders/call issued under this BPA may exceed this amount without modification to the BPA.

Senators question success of vet-owned business program

FCW, 11-8-11

As the Obama administration recently has emphasized the need to help America’s veterans find work, several senators are questioning whether Veterans Affairs Department officials are doing their part to make sure veterans are getting federal contracts.

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairwoman, Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) together sent a letter Nov. 3 to GAO Comptroller Gene Dodaro about the critical need to ensure the Veterans Affairs Department's Center for Veterans Enterprise works effectively and efficiently.

In 2006, Congress created the Veteran First contracting program to help small businesses that are owned by veterans and service-disabled veterans have preference over other types of companies. VA was charged with putting procedures in place to verify the ownership and status of the companies that wanted to participate in Veterans First. CVE began verification of companies in 2008.

However, there has been problems ever since, according to the senators.

“Since that time, CVE has struggled to implement an effective verification program,” the senators wrote.That has led to ineligible firms getting veterans' benefits. The VA inspector general found that up to 1,400 contracts went to companies that improperly claimed veteran-owned status in fiscal 2010.

The senators want GAO to help CVE to get the resources and necessary skills for an efective verification process. Overall, they have asked GAO to figure out if the systems work smoothly as applicants go through the evaluation process. Are the processes efficient? What metrics is CVE using in evaluating its processes? Are the processes effective in reviewing and verifying businesses? Has CVE improved its capacity to reduce manual data entry?

The senators also asked for GAO’s advice on specific steps to get CVE working better.

“These veteran-entrepreneurs continue to face red tape, delays and hurdles as they work to verify their businesses with CVE,” Murray said. “After sacrificing so much to serve their country, they should not have to face such challenges when they return home.”

Days before the veterans holiday, the Obama administration too issued proposals for putting veterans back to work with jobs banks, online resources for finding jobs, and a tax credit for companies that hire veterans.

New Authorization for American National Red Cross to Purchase via GSA Schedules

The IT Schedule 70 Center is excited to inform our industry partners of a new business opportunity. GSA Schedule contractors can now sell to the American National Red Cross through their Federal Supply Schedules contract. Section 2 of the Federal Supply Schedules Usage Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-263), provides that in furtherance of the purposes of the American National Red Cross as set forth in 36 U.S.C. & 300102, the Administrator of General Services Administration may provide for the use of the Federal Supply Schedules.

There is no modification required at this time to your Schedule contract in order to accept orders from the American National Red Cross. Acceptance of orders from the American National Red Cross is voluntary, and Schedule contractors may decline an order, for any reason, within a 5 day period after receipt of the order; however, credit card orders must be declined within 24 hours (GSAM 552.232.79).

Orders placed under this authority are subject to the Industrial Funding Fee and should be reported quarterly on your 72a Form under your Federal sales. GSA Order 4800.2G, Eligibility to Use GSA Sources of Supply, has been updated to reflect new eligible ordering activity.

For questions, please contact Tricia Scaglione via email patricia.scaglione@gsa.gov or Elaine Sauer via email susan.sauer@gsa.gov.

Expansion of GSA 1122 Program

The 1122 Program, which originally established the authority for states and units of local government to purchase law enforcement equipment in support of their counter-drug missions through federal procurement channels, was expanded to all states that choose to participate and have appointed and certified State Points of Contact (SPOCs). The expansion allows authorized states to purchase equipment in support of counter-drug missions as well as equipment for  homeland security and emergency response activities. The Schedule and Special Item Numbers are the same as previously approved under the 1122 Pilot Program.

 

The authority for the 1122 Program expansion, resides in Section 885 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 amended 10 U.S.C. 381. The Department of Defense (DOD), DLA, and the General Services  Administration (GSA) all provide equipment for purchase to the participating states under the program. Participation by each state is voluntary and determined by the Governor’s office.

 

For a list of approved SPOCs and a copy of the 1122 Program catalog, please visit; www.gsa.gov/1122program