Your Weekly Acquisition Box Playbook by Pedro Rubio

Author

Acquisition Box
October 30, 2023

Welcome to the Acquisition Box Newsletter!

Introduction

Good morning, my fellow GovCon enthusiasts! It’s Pedro Rubio, your trusted GovCon/GSA Schedule Expert, and I'm here to kickstart your day with a fresh dose of government contracting insights. 🚀 I've launched the Acquisition Box newsletter to inject a new zest into your GovCon News experience. My goal is to equip you with a weekly arsenal of resources that will empower your journey to success in the realm of government contracting. Every week, you can count on me to serve up the latest contract awards from the past week, offer you firsthand agency forecasts, and deliver GovCon News tailored to your specific business needs.

So, grab your coffee, take a seat, and let's embark on this exciting GovCon adventure together! ☕📊📰

Acquisition Box Dashboard

Buckle up because we’ve got the weekly download on all the professional service contracts making waves—and trust us, you’re going to want to stay in the loop. Whether you’re eyeing potential subcontracting opportunities or just curious about the play-by-play of who’s snagging the wins, we’ve got you covered. GovCon Nerds, this one’s for you!

Diving into last week’s stats, the average proposal received per RFQ hit 1.84, with awardees playing the waiting game for a cool 235 days before their award status was revealed. On the small business front, they’re crushing it, raking in 70% of the awards. And who’s flashing the cash? State and HHS are the ones loosening those purse strings.

Now, for the moment of truth: the big winners. Accenture is laughing all the way to the bank with a whopping $191M, while WSP USA Solutions (bet you didn’t see that one coming) is not too far behind, pocketing a cool $90M.

We know you’re going to have a blast exploring this interactive dashboard—trust us, it was as much fun to create as it is to dive into. Enjoy, and here’s to staying savvy on all things contracts! Cheers! 🚀

White Swan (forecasting list)

After a solid decade of dishing out govtech awards for six major agencies, I’m a massive fan of bluebirds, but hey, I know what makes you industry buffs tick—the everyday white swan. So, I’m rolling up my sleeves and diving headfirst into creating the ultimate dashboard, meticulously curated with a list of contracts that are pretty much the agencies' latest needs. We’re talking about a treasure trove of information at your fingertips. The dashboard is under construction, but you a taste; here is a list of DOJ’s upcoming solicitations. 

GovCon News

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) dropped a bombshell on federal cybersecurity. They've released a draft memo about giving the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) a major facelift.
What's the buzz? Well, it's currently in a 30-day comment period, and we're all ears! This is the kind of shakeup that could have a big impact on how things work in the government's cybersecurity playbook. Don't miss out on your opportunity to weigh in! Take a look and share your thoughts by clicking the link. Your input matters! Read more by clicking here.

This is interesting; GSA is interested in hearing from Feds to pitch govtech ideas to solve problems. In a bid to harness the innovative potential of federal employees, the 10x investment program, known for its role in spearheading government-wide solutions like Login.gov and the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS), has opened its doors to solicit transformative technology ideas aimed at solving pressing government issues. The process is straightforward: federal employees can submit their ideas by describing a significant government problem and outlining how technology can address it, all within a few sentences. If you know a Fed, CLICK HERE to see the form for submission by a Fed.

NASA is gearing up for the release of its SEWP VI contract with a whopping 140 companies and a potential $80 billion ceiling over a decade. Unlike its predecessor, SEWP VI is set to diversify with multiple contract types and two new service categories, including innovation services. The evaluation process involves four phases, with price not being a deciding factor. NASA is targeting a final RFP release by the end of winter of 2024 and expects awards to follow by May 1, 2025, so it's time to mark your calendars for this exciting space-age contracting adventure! 🚀💫 #NASA #SEWPVI #ContractingAdventure

Breaking news from the National Security Agency (NSA): They're gearing up to launch a groundbreaking initiative – the "Artificial Intelligence Security Center." General Paul Nakasone, the brains behind this operation, spilled the beans during an event at the National Press Club, and it's a game-changer!
What's the Hype: The NSA is doubling down on AI, and they mean business. The new "AI Security Center" will be the nerve center for leveraging foreign intelligence insights, setting best practices, creating guidelines, and developing risk frameworks for AI security.
Why the Rush: With AI, machine learning, and automation becoming the hottest commodities in town, national security honchos are racing to harness their potential. And the Biden administration is prepping an executive order on AI, emphasizing its importance on the global stage.
Watch Out, Adversaries: General Nakasone isn't mincing words. He's aware of the relentless efforts of adversaries to exploit our AI advancements and steal our intellectual property. The U.S. leads the AI race, but we can't rest on our laurels.
Collaboration is Key: The NSA plans to collaborate with industry experts, national laboratories, and academia to make this AI dream a reality. It's all happening at the Cybersecurity Collaboration Center, which is no stranger to sharing cybersecurity intel with the private sector.

Tip of the Week

Alert! Alert! We’re 18 days before a Government Shutdown.

Time's ticking, folks! Brace yourselves for what promises to be a nail-biter in Congress as we hurtle towards the November 17 deadline. While the drama unfolds on Capitol Hill, here's a pro tip: it's the perfect moment to work your magic on your Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Why? Because you want them to see your contract as essential, especially during a shutdown. So, gather your best persuasive skills, and let's navigate these turbulent political waters like pros! 🏛️💼 #GovernmentShutdownCountdown

GAO Story Time

On September 27, 2023, the GAO shot down a protest by an incumbent company that missed the boat on a recompete solicitation posted on SAM.gov. The company blamed SAM for a flawed notification system, but the GAO dismissed the protest, stating it didn't present a valid challenge to the agency's actions. The RFP was open from May 26 to June 26, 2023, but the incumbent only realized it in late August, too late, as a new vendor was already in the pipeline. They claimed they had given notice, but proof was lacking, and the government isn't obliged to notify bidders. While SAM's notification feature might not be top-notch, the GAO found no violation of procurement laws or regulations, emphasizing that the solicitation was accessible. Lesson: staying in the loop is vital in the world of government contracts. 🚫📣📅

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Thanks for reading!

That's all for now, folks! Stay tuned for more procurement tales. Cheers! ☕📦🌟