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The micro-purchase threshold, the simplified acquisition threshold, the 8(a) sole source contract ceiling and several other similar acquisition limits are likely to increase in 2025. And the oversight and accountability of subcontracting efforts by prime contractors is getting more scrutiny.
Yet, these terms—such as Request for Quotations (RFQ), Request for Proposals (RFP), Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI), and Invitation for Bids (IFB)—are technically indicative of distinct concepts. Most organizational procurement policies define thresholds that dictate when a particular method should be used.
On December 21, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) dismissed a protest by ELS, an unsuccessful bidder on a Department of Defense (DOD) task order opportunity, concluding that it did not have jurisdiction to consider it. GAO reasoned that because “the value of the task order [was] below $25,000,000. 4106(f)(1) and 10 U.S.C. 3406f(2).
By: Richard Arnholt On November 8, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) denied an unsuccessful bidder’s protest that asserted the Veteran Administration’s (VA) evaluation of Texas Waste Company’s past performance was unreasonable and reflected the Contracting Officer’s (CO) bias. B-418123.4, 9, 2020, 2020 CPD ¶ 397 at 5.)
Challenges to a $50 billion government-wide IT contracting vehicle, CIO-SP4, contributed to a 22% increase in bid protests handled by the Government Accountability Office, according to numbers the agency submitted to Congress. The only place you can go is GAO once you meet certain dollar thresholds.”
Government buyers operate under strict purchasing policies designed to ensure accountability and compliance in their procurement processes. Most government contracts require a competitive solicitation process, especially for purchases exceeding certain thresholds, typically ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.
Since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2024, the Government Accountability Office has published 35 decisions, but only two of which resulted in decisions sustaining the challenge. Below we dive into recent bid protest decisions and identify what won, what did not win, and why.
Department of Defense (DOD) has just locked in its Enhanced Postaward Debriefing procedures, making it easier for contractors to understand the source selection and contract award process and make informed bid protest decisions. Critically, enhanced debriefing procedures also grant the contractor more time to submit a bid protest.
GSA created the CPI program under a proof-of-concept moniker with awards to Amazon, Fischer and Overstock Government in 2020 under direction from Congress with a goal of capturing data on and managing products under the micro purchase threshold of $10,000. Overstock Government decided not to bid on the next generation platform, sources say.
In January 2024, the Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) published 31 bid protest decisions, two of which resulted in decisions sustaining the protesters’ challenges. There were also two requests for costs, one of which was denied, and one request for consideration, which was, unsurprisingly, denied.
Multiple-award contracts don’t mean everyone who bids get a slot. Interview Transcript: Tom Temin So this was protested, not to the [Government Accountability Office (GAO)], but to the court in the first place, the Court of Federal Claims. It’s common in a bid protest. Tell us what happened here. Stephen Bacon Sure.
This no-nonsense guide walks you through the contracting process, from initial eligibility to bidding, and ultimately enables your small business to win contracts available every fiscal year. Registering your business with SAM (System for Award Management) is a prerequisite to start bidding for contracts. You’re in the right place!
The tools within the platform are designed to ensure that the proposals for procurements launched through it are of high quality, thus increasing the chances of creating a winning bid with distinctive features in an industry that is quite competitive. Wh at is a Find a Tender Service ?
First, the simplified acquisition threshold currently sits at $150 thousand but there is a FAR proposal on the table that will increase that threshold to $250 thousand. Today we will continue the series with a new requirement concerning feedback to unsuccessful offerors. There are several things to note here.
Accountability Businesses, contractors, and government organisations should have a way to hold each other accountable for their decisions and actions. The type of contract will determine the threshold since different thresholds exist for specific types of contracts. Restricted procedures have two stages.
To qualify for 8(a) certification, a business must meet SBA size standards, be majority-owned by economically and socially disadvantaged individuals, and demonstrate potential for success along with the owner’s good character and appropriate financial thresholds. For instance, an applicant’s net worth must not exceed $850,000.
The basic mandatory information (contact details, exclusion grounds, connected persons, audited accounts) will be captured using the Supplier Information System. For below threshold contracts , Contracts Finder will still be active. This replaces the first part of the information required in the Standard Selection Questionnaire.
Participating in the program opens avenues for securing federal contracts through sole-source awards, eliminating the need for competitive bidding up to a designated threshold. A narrative is a structured account or story that describes a series of events or experiences. What is a narrative?
The latest bid, which followed at least two previous failures, is facing similar troubles as earlier projects: incomplete planning, a technology platform with questionable maturity and, maybe most striking, the hubris of the leadership that their current plan will be successful no matter what evidence emerges that tells a different story.
Accounting Corner: First Glance: Breakdown of the Alliant 3 Draft Solicitation Authored By: Leo Alvarez, Principal, Dylan Schreiner, Manager, and Molly Menoni, Senior Consultant ; Baker Tilly January 18, 2024 The highly anticipated and closely watched second draft of the Alliant 3 solicitation is finally here!
These requirements are expected to be included in all DoD solicitations valued above the micro-purchase threshold, except for procurements that are exclusively for commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) items.
To be at the 100-employee threshold, the employer must be a “business enterprise that employs— (i) 100 or more employees, excluding part-time employees; or (ii) 100 or more employees, including part-time employees, who in the aggregate work at least 4,000 hours per week, exclusive of hours of overtime.” [57] 22, 2023), available at [link]. [21]
A flurry of new domestic-preference updates brings greater clarity to the requirements and imparts important lessons that government contractors should know when bidding for and performing on federal financial assistance programs. McMillen’s bid submission used foreign butterfly valves and requested a waiver, which was denied.
Rather, CICA provides that a required debriefing is only available where competition/award is “on the basis of competitive proposals[.]” [16] “The term ‘competitive proposals’ is not defined by Bid Protest Regulations, nor is it expressly defined by statute or regulation.” [17] It uses the term offer, not bid or quote. 3703 , 10 U.S.C.
Further, confirming the broad applicability of CMMC, DOD confirmed that these requirements will be applicable to contracts below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (which currently sits at $250,000). These proposed rules represent continued affirmation to DOD’s dedication to rolling out CMMC soon.
A contract notice makes sure everyone knows what’s up for grabs, who’s bidding, and how decisions are made. This keeps the process fair and accountable. Tendering and Bidding A contract notice is published, inviting suppliers to submit bids. It outlines pricing, service quality and other key details.
Check out the list of upcoming events and register below: October 3 : Webinar: Bid Protests and Other Recent Federal Contract-Related Litigation – and Impacts on Contractors – Click here to register. Other Upcoming Events The Coalition will have a packed calendar leading up to the Fall Training Conference! The CMMC 2.0
The suggestions apply to all segments of competitive bidding, including the SME segments of Supplier Diversity, Indigenous and Social Procurement. These reactions can lead to strict risk management and purchasing policies with overly complicated bid documents and onerous requirements that are imposing on potential SME bidders.
He began with the Government Accountability Office before serving as Chief Counsel to the then-GSA Board of Contract Appeals. As we bid farewell to Tom in his professional capacity, the Coalition extends our heartfelt gratitude for his years of service and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.
Jay Blindauer Bid protests are crucial to the proper functioning of the procurement system. For today’s overworked Contracting Officer (“CO”), the bid protest is the only real disincentive to perfunctory contract award decision-making. Indeed, it is only the possibility of a bid protest that provokes adequate diligence.
On March 6, 2024, the Federal Circuit vacated the CBCA decision on the threshold jurisdictional issue. The Government Accountability Office disagreed and sustained the protest. [6] Thus, the TET provided a “some confidence” rating for the prospective awardee under the small business participation evaluation factor.
KS&T was a market participant in OCTP with tracking accounts for emission allowances in Ontario and California. KS&T bid in auctions in Ontario and consistently transferred emission allowances to California for trading. The Program commenced in January 2017 and was linked with similar programs in California and Québec.
Construction tenders may include a mandatory site visit where attendance is required in order to bid. Step 4 Evaluation Once the procurement closes bids are evaluated. Disqualified bids are rejected and do not proceed to the next evaluation stage. Sometimes a bid response requires clarification.
18] And, for DoD, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (“DFARS”) 216.203-4 limits the use of the FAR EPA clauses to DoD contracts that exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (presently $250,000 with exceptions), and performance is longer than six months. [19] GAO’s competitive prejudice threshold should be similar.
GAO Reviews Agency Progress on Cybersecurity Executive Order MeriTalk reports that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a review on April 18 which found that, while 49 of 55 leadership and oversight requirements from the 2021 Executive Order (EO) on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity have been implemented, five are still unfinished.
Cost Accounting Section 802 amends 10 U.S.C. Although consolidation of the DIB has been an area of increased regulatory focus in recent years, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report in October 2023 finding that DoD lacked sufficient resources and insight to perform its M&A monitoring and assessment function.
Covered follow-on contracts include most contracts governed by the Service Contract Act (SCA) that exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, currently set at $250,000. In a recent bid protest, the Area Office found the protest concern to be eligible, and the agency awarded the contract the next day.
The 2020 data strategy stressed that Public procurement data are essential to improve transparency and accountability of public spending, fighting corruption and improving spending quality. In order (sic) words, public procurement is rich in data, but poor in making it work for taxpayers, policy makers and public buyers.
However, a recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlighted the importance of improving data collection in these spaces. The only exceptions are for contracts solely for the purchase of Commercial Off-the-Shelf items or contracts under the $10,000 micro-purchase threshold. The CMMC 2.0
The rule applies to contracts below the simplified acquisition threshold, and to commercial products, including commercial off the shelf (COTS) items, and commercial services.
There is no exception for contracts below the simplified acquisition threshold, for commercial products and services, or for commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) products. The new FAR provisions are to be included in all solicitations and contracts.
There is no exception for contracts below the simplified acquisition threshold, for commercial products and services, or for commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) products. The new FAR provisions are to be included in all solicitations and contracts.
Tom Temin And that $2 million that you mentioned, contract threshold, that is a significant reduction from the requirement for periodic competition now, which is 10 million. But at the same time, this regulation doesn’t take any of that into account. Originally had proposed it.
Significantly, FSS Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), which leverage individual agency requirements, now account for over 53% of the dollar value of orders under the program. billion, which accounted for 11.4 GAO recommended that OMB lead efforts with the FRPC to develop new benchmarks for utilization that account for telework.
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