Slight Decrease in overall GSA Schedule Sales but some Schedules Thrived.

GSA has released GSA Schedule sales figures for the entire FY2011, which ended September 30, 2011. Overall schedule sales dipped to $38,591,523,579 or 1.5% decline over 2010 figures.  You can view raw figures on our GSA schedule sales page.  This slight decline may not come as a surprise as the government is tightening its belt, and stimulus funds have been expended.  [Note:  These 2011 results do not include VA schedule sales.]

Prior to or immediately after your GSA contract award, you should have a training session to brief sales reps on the benefits and requirements  of this new GSA contract.  The basics include

Last week my ears perked up when President Obama announced that the government would pay small businesses with government contracts, including GSA contracts, more quickly.  I can already hear some of you skeptically saying “sure, I rarely get paid within 30 days already."   I understand, but then again, if they can make this work, then  many small businesses will receive payments much more quickly.  President Obama did not mention any details at the time but today SBA announced the details.  Currently required by law to pay within 30 days of receipt of a properly prepared invoice,  the QuickPay program cuts the time in half, to fifteen (15) days.

Update on the New SBA WOSB Contracting Program

SBA will be holding a web chat session on March 31, 2011 at 1:00 pm (ET).  This session provides small businesses with an opportunity to discuss the new Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) federal contract program.  This program is designed to attract more woman owned small businesses into federal contracting.

The United States Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is an executive branch agency responsible for establishing policies to reduce, and hopefully eliminate, conflicts of interest between the federal government and its employees.  The OGE establishes regulations, standards of conduct, and training programs on the many forms of criminal ethics violations.  As you might imagine, the potential for conflicts of interest is high in government contracting.

Each year, the President proposes an annual budget for how the government’s resources should be allocated among its many departments, agencies, and programs.  Congress then appropriates funds through legislation.  Departments and agencies then award much of these appropriations to private businesses that provide the products and services they need in the form of contracts, grants, loans, etc.  While this process is simple enough to teach in middle school civics classrooms around the country, keeping track of, and understanding where and by whom the government’s vast resources are ultimately spent can be a complex task.

Subcontracting is an excellent way for businesses to break into the government market.  If your firm is ready to market and sell its product or service to the government and all of its agencies, subcontracting might be the perfect fit.  Subcontracting offers a blend of sales opportunity and learning experience that makes it an ideal solution for any firm looking to grow into a sizable government contract of its own.

After an eleven-year debate, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has recently set forth a final ruling designed to expand federal contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses (WOSBs).  On October 7, 2010, the SBA published this Final Rule to be effective February 4, 2011.  On that future date, qualifying WOSBs will be afforded significant advantages in the competition for government contracts.  Ultimately, the SBA hopes 5% of all Federal contracting dollars buy goods and services provided by WOSBs.