tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.comments2020-08-14T05:55:13.178-07:00The Acquisition CornerJaime Graciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344841584780674690noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-17395499564279057192013-12-03T03:53:00.755-08:002013-12-03T03:53:00.755-08:00Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your
blog an...Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your <br />blog and wanted to say that I've truly enjoyed surfing around <br />your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed <br />and I hope you write again soon!<br /><br />my page ... <a href="http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/enlibra-corporation-helps-companies-do-business-with-the-federal-government-357129.htm" rel="nofollow">enlibra corporation</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-37122984096742522112013-07-12T21:10:48.271-07:002013-07-12T21:10:48.271-07:00Nice blog, good information is provided about the ...Nice blog, good information is provided about the fedral communities and administrators. Pic is very good, Are we going Backward. Business Valuation Serviceshttp://ebitassociates.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-27731460879385565372013-05-28T05:19:49.965-07:002013-05-28T05:19:49.965-07:00Nice Blog , thanks for shareing the informationNice Blog , thanks for shareing the informationhotmail customer Service numberhttp://customercaresupportnumber.com/microsoft-hotmail-usa-customer-care-service-support-phone-number/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-72128567207666533812013-03-29T07:03:52.233-07:002013-03-29T07:03:52.233-07:00Obviously more details are necessary to properly c...Obviously more details are necessary to properly comment, but I am nonetheless skeptical if the protest to the SBA was filed properly. These "size standards" protests are done through the Contracting Officer, who then forwards the information to the SBA. The SBA has a mandates to follow through on the correct timelines. Unless there is an issue with the filing, radio silence is not possible. <br /><br />A great resource for these issues is Steve Koprince, who linked to this article of interest:<br /><br />http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/prepare-small-business-size-protest-36156.html<br /><br />Assuming everything was done correctly and there was no response, these issues need to be addressed to the agency OSDBU and procurement leadership.Jaime Graciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06344841584780674690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-22600719675014194112013-03-29T07:03:04.565-07:002013-03-29T07:03:04.565-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jaime Graciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06344841584780674690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-88990361642031733852013-03-28T20:53:25.058-07:002013-03-28T20:53:25.058-07:00When a protest are filed within the requisite time...When a protest are filed within the requisite timeframe, with SBA OIG and the contracting officer, and the bid platform, and the protest is met with radio silence, what then? In just the most recent case, a small business set-aside we bid on was awarded to a competitor. A simple few searches on google revealed it was a company division of Pakistani conglomerate with a U.S. division (according to the intl website contact us page) with a Portland residential home address. No company website for this 'small business' but listed in the SBA DSBS all the same. A follow up call to the OIG was met with this response: "There isn't any one individual that is responsible for reviewing bid protests or fraud reports. We have contractors available at times but the backlog is long. If they decide your case is worth pursuing they will pursue it, there isn't anyone you will be able to follow up with".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-31561794327291865562013-02-27T01:11:40.856-08:002013-02-27T01:11:40.856-08:00This is true that majority of all small business t...This is true that majority of all small business today will suffering from this kinds of problems.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.sigsoog.com/Small_Business_Team_Coaching.html" rel="nofollow">Small business</a></b> sigsooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330198477118104473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-19455754711953898822012-06-04T18:54:02.448-07:002012-06-04T18:54:02.448-07:00Hello! I've been following your weblog for som...Hello! I've been following your weblog for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Dallas Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the fantastic job!<br /><i>Have a look at my blog</i> <b><a href="http://www.myindustrialinjuryclaims.com/asbestosis" rel="nofollow">Posted by My Industrial Injury Claims.com</a></b>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-11274543604549959712012-03-22T20:09:38.375-07:002012-03-22T20:09:38.375-07:00Eric,
What is paramount to the government in tran...Eric,<br /><br />What is paramount to the government in transferring risk is the ability to established fixed, base-lined requirements. Firm-fixed priced (FFP) contracts can then transfer the entire burden on the contractor, and the government can focus on the management and the quality performance of the contract and its outcomes.<br /><br />Regretfully, this rarely happens, as the government has a hard time defining what it truly needs to the point where requirements can be fixed, as they need to be. As a result, contract modifications are the norm for FFP contracts; in addition to pricing adjustments for contractors that cannot perform at the ridiculously low prices they are forced to offer to win the contract in the first place. The government has, in effect, mandated “buying in,” contrary to FAR Subpart 3.5.<br /><br />FFP should always be constructed as performance-based, where outcomes and metrics are used to gauge acceptable levels of quality per established criteria in the quality assurance surveillance plan (QASP). The QASP should outline what is acceptable, but more important, what the objectives are to incentivize performance. As a government manager, you want to help the contractor get that bonus, as it requires a higher level of performance, and better outcomes.<br /><br />There is no excuse for a contractor to get paid regardless of outcomes, but it happens everyday.Jaime Graciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06344841584780674690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-21030827906605064632012-03-21T13:17:13.018-07:002012-03-21T13:17:13.018-07:00Jaime, great post. I actually work for an agency r...Jaime, great post. I actually work for an agency representing a client (iGate) who recently wrote a blog post hitting on some similar key points you mentioned above. Here is the link http://www.govmission.com/?p=76. <br /><br />In their post however, iGate is actually challenging the FFP type of contract by suggesting a different approach in which the contractor must hit certain metrics as opposed to inputs. It is arguing about how the FFP type of contracts do not fully shift the burden over to the contractor since the agencies still have to pay when the deliverable s are met, regardless of their satisfaction. Would love to hear what your thoughts are regarding this, and if measuring by certain metrics is something that can actually work?Eric Kochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01097272060246065446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-16091317437432503962012-03-08T06:15:24.298-08:002012-03-08T06:15:24.298-08:00Experience is usually the best education. However,...Experience is usually the best education. However, if the training was inadequate, and you do not have the proper level of accountability and leadership to help take risks and do the "time-consuming" things, which of course are the better ways of doing business most often.<br /><br />Acquisition shops focus on throughput and paper velocity, and not quality. That is one of the inherent problems of the profession that the training hopes to reverse, or remind.Jaime Graciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06344841584780674690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-27705556869072786172012-03-08T00:35:32.057-08:002012-03-08T00:35:32.057-08:00I hear that there are certain topics that procurem...I hear that there are certain topics that procurement professionals know they have studied in the past, but, after years of experience, are too embarrassed to ask anybody about as they feel they should already know the answer.Project Management Classhttp://www.trainingcenter.com/project-management-online-course-2011.htmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-5137414174715202782012-02-23T10:09:28.185-08:002012-02-23T10:09:28.185-08:00Quita - The fact that this happens with frequency ...Quita - The fact that this happens with frequency is a statement based on standard practices that I have personally witnessed across many agencies, backed up by many contracting officers and industry experts who would agree with this statement. It does happen with alarming frequency, and 4 protests upheld over the last few weeks from various agencies affirm this statement.<br /><br />The protest was against GSA, and thus the basis for the statement and the piece. I would not call GAO's decision to uphold a protest "slander."Jaime Graciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06344841584780674690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-4646804718901853312012-02-22T23:37:20.637-08:002012-02-22T23:37:20.637-08:00"GSA’s defense in the protest decision is com..."GSA’s defense in the protest decision is common" - one incident by one agency doesn't make it a common practice, and or alarming. What is the basis of this statement. Also, this could be said for all federal agencies but to slander one to make a point that may or may not be valid, is alarming!<br />- QuitaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-19781474945335240922012-02-22T08:29:37.439-08:002012-02-22T08:29:37.439-08:00Great information as usual Jaime!
-Elliot VGreat information as usual Jaime!<br />-Elliot VAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-8891214523099621522011-12-29T01:49:14.733-08:002011-12-29T01:49:14.733-08:00Judgements should be based on information, not log...Judgements should be based on information, not logic. Research provides information to help explain to the decision-making procedure. Customers are overcome these days with marketing initiatives. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.samplequestionnaire.com/category/market-research-questionnaire" rel="nofollow">Market research questionnaire</a>Ruby Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01710522322446393469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-38085601948374310142011-01-05T19:08:05.883-08:002011-01-05T19:08:05.883-08:00I am not aware of any "scoring" done by ...I am not aware of any "scoring" done by OMB, other than looking at metrics and improper payments that has been investigated by GAO as cited in the post. Perhaps by "scoring" you mean properly/improperly executed?Jaime Graciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06344841584780674690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-73264026132797223872011-01-05T15:02:35.571-08:002011-01-05T15:02:35.571-08:00Does anyone know whether OMB scores the potential ...Does anyone know whether OMB scores the potential contract payments that may be paid to a contractor under the award term portion of an award term incentive contract?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-49745556961396937212010-09-27T13:20:44.896-07:002010-09-27T13:20:44.896-07:00Transparency is certainly a tool in hopes of findi...Transparency is certainly a tool in hopes of finding redundancies, but it takes effective management and strategic analysis to uncover the real waste. I believe the term "transparency" is being approached as a data issue, when it is really a more holistic approach to better government management.Jaime Graciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06344841584780674690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-65953359095222157852010-09-27T13:14:33.231-07:002010-09-27T13:14:33.231-07:00Wouldn't increased "trasparency" mak...Wouldn't increased "trasparency" make existing overlaps and redundancies more visible?Dennis D. McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380077706521105704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-85901239017651318282010-09-03T13:10:58.401-07:002010-09-03T13:10:58.401-07:00Any initiative should have a corresponding busines...Any initiative should have a corresponding business case to justify a expenditure of funds. This of course includes costs versus benefits. What are the costs of doing nothing? I believe significant savings can be realized by increasing efficiency through collaboration, although I am not a proponent of some who advocate reinventing the wheel in the name of transparency.Jaime Graciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06344841584780674690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-8052570372126395142010-09-03T11:17:58.997-07:002010-09-03T11:17:58.997-07:00Right off the bat you have to address the concern ...Right off the bat you have to address the concern about the costs of making the process more "transparent." Look at the hue and cry over making more contract details public for publicly funded work -- complaints come from government as well as the private sector.<br /><br />Dennis McDonald, Ph.D.<br />Alexandria, Virginia<br />http://www.ddmcd.com/procurementDennis D. McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380077706521105704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-6564627538610812802010-08-10T18:07:11.359-07:002010-08-10T18:07:11.359-07:00Jamie. I really really appreciate your article. I ...Jamie. I really really appreciate your article. I like it because it is combined with an experienced observation of having been around the procurement capital of the nation long enough and close enough to give a truth filled rendition of what must happen within the contracting community. I invite you to read my article on the President's Speech to the Urban League found on Gov Loop. There are very real parallels to educating our youth and investing in training the younger acquisition community entering the federal workforce. I would say and have said for some time that the contracting officer community along with the SES leadership must take a larger role in making a more positive impact on job creation, and small business contract participation. By doing so, our economy may have a chance to improve and move out of the valley of instability, and volatility. I welcome a collaboration of media resources staying focused on this very crucial subject matter.<br /><br />I find it interesting that this is the 1rst comment on your post.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08173436953008956949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-63467263360571749652009-09-30T18:16:49.790-07:002009-09-30T18:16:49.790-07:00Past performance is a continuous feedback loop, an...Past performance is a continuous feedback loop, and is a product of the life-cycle of a contract. It is created during contract execution, and refined and used for future awards. The issue here is twofold: past performance data needs to be created and documented, resulting from effective contract oversight. Second, this data should be a primary driver of awarding contracts. The status quo is acquisition personnel do not update past performance data, have poor skills in oversight and management, and thus do not have or use any effective past performance data or methodology to confirm performance. Technical and management solutions drive best value (again reality where cost is usually the primary driver), and “best value” becomes elusive. Most of us know that for COTS solutions and services, there is not that big of a differentiator there, other than past performance. Therefore price becomes the factor, and the Government cheats itself. Not a very effective way to administer or award contracts.Jaime Graciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06344841584780674690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064967406414913264.post-70073173492586192382009-09-29T09:40:26.005-07:002009-09-29T09:40:26.005-07:00Reporting on past performance is critical. I think...Reporting on past performance is critical. I think anyone with a modicum of acquisition experience has to agree on that.<br /><br />But I view that as the output of the actual contract oversight and execution. Past performance is what happens after the product or service is procured. Therefore, I think past performance information should come from the oversight tool/s used during the real acquisition.<br /><br />Montly reporting, financials etc. Those are done during the acquisition as required government activities. And they automatically create the past performance. No special action or reporting required. Actual performance during the contract period creates the actual past performance.testhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06870302406467697102noreply@blogger.com