it will be the start of a new fiscal year. With a new year comes new opportunities! While it may not be Fiscal Year 2024 quite yet (where did the time go), it’s never too early to start doing your homework for what will be a new chances at your first or next Federal contract. In this issue we share step-by-step guides on how to find data on what the Government bought this past year and the key data elements to analyze (including prices paid and methods used to purchase) so you can prepare or scale for Federal opportunities ahead. Learn more about your corner of the Federal marketplace and your competition. Head into the coming year strong!
This issue also includes the last part of our three-part series on what you need to know about the Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS). Department of Labor wage audits are not fun, and they are the LAST place you want to get a crash course on wage and fringe benefit payments or recordkeeping. All it takes is a phone call for the DOL Wage and Hour Division to start asking questions about your Federal contract. Take the time up front to establish a solid recordkeeping system and track wage and fringe payments so you can produce proof of compliance if/when needed; it is worth its weight in gold.
We have many new subscribers this month – welcome all! I appreciate your interest and support. As always, if you don’t see what you need, let us know and we’ll find it for you. Want something added? Tell us! Keeping you informed is our goal.
FAR Case 2023-004 Small Disadvantaged Business Threshold (Final Rule effective 9/7/2023) -- Increased the net worth threshold for individuals eligible as an owner of a small disadvantaged business to $850,000.
FAR Case 2017-014 Use of Acquisition 360 to Encourage Vendor Feedback (Final Rule effective 9/22/2023) -- Establishes the Acquisition 360 tool, a voluntary online survey to elicit industry feedback on agency preaward and debriefing processes in a consistent and standardized manner to support continuous improvement of the Federal acquisition process.
DFARS Case 2022-D006 Defense Commercial Solutions Opening (Final Rule effective 8/17/2023) -- Authorizes DoD to acquire innovative commercial products and commercial services using general solicitation competitive procedures (known as a commercial solutions opening and codified in 10 U.S.C. 3458) and peer review such proposals when procured using procedures under FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
SBA 8(a) Development Program Eligibility (effective 7/19/2023) -- All 8(a) participants whose program eligibility is or will be based upon individual social disadvantage must now establish their eligibility by completing a Social Disadvantage Narrative as part of the program application process. Current 8(a) contractors were notified by email on August 21, 2023, of the basis for their program eligibility and if a narrative was needed to retain their 8(a) eligibility. SBA guidance on how to write this narrative is found here.
Upcoming Regulatory Changes:
FAR Case 2022-006 Sustainable Procurement (Proposed Rule issued 8/3/2023). Comment period closes on 10/2/2023. Read our highlights here.
GSA 8(a) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Pools for Competitive and Sole Source Opportunities
GSA has provided guidance to agencies on how to use the new MAS 8(a) Sole Source Pools. Learn the ropes here and help your agency reach your business.
Department of Labor Proposed Rule Poised to Change Fair Labor Standards Act Thresholds for Salary and Annual Compensation
As covered in our last issue and second installment of the SCLS series, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) outlines the salary and total annual compensation tests that are one part of the decision whether an individual meets the tests for a professional services exemption from the SCLS. On August 30th, DOL announced a forthcoming proposed rule that is about to shake things up a bit in that arena!
Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS): Payment of Wages and Fringe Benefits
The last of our three-part series on the SCLS covers the payment of wages and fringe benefits for SCSL-covered individuals and the recordkeeping necessary to track and prove payments have been made correctly and timely. We've boiled down what you need to know to set yourself up for compliance on your first SCLS-covered contract or refresh your memory for your current contract(s).
What Government Buys, How it Buys it, and the Prices It Pays
There are several easy to access government tools to find and analyze purchasing data from across all agencies. Whether your a big-picture person who likes your data in charts, graphs, and maps, or a details person who wants to see everything you can about a contract award, we've got the guides you need to find both. We are sharing the tools we use and how we use them to get the data of interest to you as you research the Federal marketplace.