GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service Instructional Letters (ILs) for FY2013 now on the DATA.GOV website  CLICK HERE for details

Annual WPI NCMA Federal Contractor Update
December 5, 2013
Brookfield, WI (Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center)

Market Connections CEO Lisa Dezzutti and Michael Fischetti, executive director of the National Contract Manager's Association will discuss some of the big issues affecting contractors including lowest price, technically acceptable (LPTA).  CLICK here for download.

DoD SBIR
The three-phase SBIR Program directly funds up to $1.15 million in early-stage R&D by small companies. Eligible projects must fulfill an R&D need identified by the DoD and have the potential to be developed into a product or service for commercial or defense markets.
SBIR 2014.1 Solicitation is in pre-release. The solicitation will be open to proposal submission from December 20, 2013 at 6:00 AM ET through January 22, 2014 6AM ET.

SAM UPDATE
Effective November 1, BioPreferred reporting for FY2013 is closed. Beginning November 5, FOUO (Federal Government) users will be able to access the FY2013 year-end summary report via Data Access > EM Extracts > BioPreferred Product Report. BioPreferred Reporting for FY2014 will begin the second week of November.

BioPreferred Questions??? Please visit the FSD.gov website http://www.FSD.gov and search “Bio.”

Pentagon officials are "very close" to finishing their work on an overhaul of the official guidebook to DoD's byzantine acquisition system, and the process led them to the conclusion that they need Congress' help to help unwind a cumbersome maze of laws that have been layered on through decades of well-intentioned reform efforts.The document in question is officially known as DoD Instruction 5000.02 — the key collection of guidance that describes the military acquisition process. Frank Kendall, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, logistics and technology, has been working on a revamped version for months.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY

Kendall: Sequestration Will Make Hollow Force Inevitable - By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. - American Forces Press Service - WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2013 - Budget cuts imposed by sequestration will leave the Defense Department with a hollow force and debilitating shortfalls, the Pentagon’s top acquisitions chief said today.   At a conference at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, outlined the difficultly that the on-going budget sequester is causing in the department’s ability to plan for the future.  CLICK HERE FOR STORY

Acquisitions Chief Seeks System Improvements, Not Reform - By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. - American Forces Press Service - WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2013 – The Pentagon’s acquisitions chief today discussed the state of the defense acquisitions system and methods the Defense Department, working with industry, can use to improve it.  CLICK HERE FOR STORY

Army awards Oshkosh Corp. $74 million truck order By Rick Barrett of the Journal Sentinel
Read more from Journal Sentinel: CLICK HERE   Follow us: @NewsHub on Twitter

Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Solicitation FY-2014 (Release 2) (SBIR) - Due December 2, 2013 and Small Business Technology Transfer Program Phase I Solicitation FY-2014 (Release 2) (STTR) - Due December 4, 2013

DLA director recognizes industry partners’ contributions - including Wisconsin company Xact Tool, Inc., Shell Lake, WI - Each year, DLA field activity commanders are asked to nominate businesses that have significantly helped the agency meet its mission. Nominations are reviewed and judged by a panel of subject matter experts at DLA Headquarters. - CLICK HERE to link to the article

Acquisition Process: Task and Delivery Order Contracts, Bundling, Consolidation

• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is amending its regulations governing small business contracting procedures. Specifically, this rule amends SBA's regulations to establish policies and procedures for setting aside, partially setting aside and reserving Multiple Award Contracts for small business concerns.
• SBA is also is establishing policies and procedures for setting aside task and delivery orders for small business concerns under Multiple Award Contracts.
• In addition, SBA is addressing how it will determine size under certain Agreements and when recertification of status will be required.
• Finally, SBA is establishing a new definition of consolidation and reorganizing its prime contracting assistance regulations.

CLICK HERE to link to the REGULATION

White House Plans a Single FOIA Portal Across Government
The White House plans to launch a single online portal where journalists, researchers and other citizens can file Freedom of Information Act requests, according to an early draft of commitments to the international Open Government Partnership.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY