January  - February 2010   Volume 6, Issue 1

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On February 4, 2010, the Senate confirmed 96-0 Ms. Martha Johnson as GSA Administrator.  She will be the first GSA Administrator of the Obama Administration and the first person to hold the job since April 2008.

In Ms. Johnson’s first address to the agency after her swearing in ceremony, she indicated that customer service and innovation should be a priority for the agency.  She is quoted in Washington Technology as saying, “I’ve been thinking hard about how GSA could extend itself, deepen our operational performance and also become better known for innovation and for customer intimacy.”   She also seems focused on innovation through emerging technologies to make buildings and vehicle fleets more energy efficient as well as technology enhancement for information sharing and improvements. 

Ms. Johnson, is a former Chief of Staff to a previous GSA Administrator and a will be leaving her position at Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) to head the GSA.  Her previous experience with the agency is seen as a positive indicator of changes to come.  It is reported that Ms. Johnson will bring great improvement to the functions of GSA based on her inside knowledge of the agency, which should help her to forge respect among current GSA employees.

Many believe that Ms. Johnson’s previous GSA experience will be invaluable in helping GSA to recover from recent problems.  For example, According to Federal Computer Week magazine, “unlike recent administrators, Johnson has experience inside GSA, which would give her an advantage in improving an agency that has suffered through contracting crises, lost business as customer agencies do their own contracting work, and leaders who lacked a deep understanding of the agency.”

Under a new bill being proposed in the Senate called the Small Business Revitalization Act (S. 2989) the Government could become more active in the process of prime contractors paying their subcontractors.  The new bill would required prime contractors to notify their Contracting Officers if they reduce payments to a subcontractor or if the prime contractor is more than three months late in paying the subcontractor after the Government has paid the prime.  The bill would allow for failure to pay subcontractors on time to become part of the past performance evaluation factors used by the Government.  In addition, companies with repeat cases of slow payments to subcontractors may be required to enter into a "funds control agreement,” to ensure subcontractors are paid properly.

This bill is part of a series of bills and initiatives aimed at assisting small businesses in hopes of benefiting the overall economy.

Check out the Washington Technology article by clicking here

Keep us in mind for help with your government contracts.

1401 14th Street, NW
Third Floor
Washington, DC 20005

202-234-8933 phone
202-234-8935 fax
global@globalservicesinc.com
www.globalservicesinc.com 

Newsflash

The Obama Administration has proposed a 1.2% increase in information technology spending for Fiscal Year 2011.  The amount requested in the new budget is $79.4 billion for IT spending.   According to the newly proposed Budget as well reports from Federal Computer Weekly, the Administration is proposing 809 major IT projects (up from 781 in FY 2010) at a costs of $40.4 billion.

To access a complete copy of the newly proposed 2011 Federal Budget use the following web address:  http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/

Update

Use of Digital Signatures Necessary for GSA Schedule Holders 

The use of eOffer and eMod for GSA Schedule submissions and modifications will require contractors to have an Electronic Authentication Certificate (Digitial Certificates).  Obtaining a complimentary Electronic Authentication Certification through the GSA website requires that your company: 1.) is currently registered with CCR and has a valid DUNS. 2.) use the Electronic Authentication Certificate issued for your eOffer or eMod submission.  Click here.

 GSA recommends that you have two registered authorized negotiators maintain a Digital Certificate.  You can also obtain additional Digital Certificates from Operational Research Consultants and Iden Trust. Click here .

February 26, 2010
Washington, DC Chapter of SCORE presents "GSA Schedules 101." This course is from 9:00 AM to Noon. Please contact SCORE at www.scoredc.org or 202-272-0390

March 9, 2010
Global Services hosts The American Small Business Coalition's Washington DC Business Over Breakfast from 8:00am – 9:30am.  This networking event is held at Busboys & Poets at 5^th and K.  It is open to the public.  Click here to register.

March 11, 2010
Global Services presents our GSA Schedule Post-Award Training Seminar: "Staying Compliant and Making Your GSA Contract Work" This course is from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM and will be held in our offices at 1401 14th, Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, DC, 20005. Please click here to register or call 202-234-8933. Space is extremely limited, so register today.

March 12, 2009
Washington, DC Chapter of SCORE presents "Preparing a Winning Federal Proposal." This course is from 9:00 AM to Noon. Please contact SCORE at www.scoredc.org or 202-272-0390
 

www.globalservicesinc.com