IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS  
Updated  December 16, 2009

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE  HEARTLAND PTAC HOME PAGE

SEE THE "CALENDAR"  PAGE  FOR A LIST OF SCHEDULED WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES

Dec. 16, 2009 - GAO Audit of the SERVICE-DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM - Case Studies Show Fraud and Abuse Allowed Ineligible Firms to Obtain Millions of Dollars in Contracts - firms not suspended or debarred .
GAO Audit SDVOSB Oct 2009.pdf

9/21/2009 - Excluded Parties List System (EPLS)

As of Sept 24, 2009, EPLS information will be displayed in Central Contractor Registration (CCR).  EPLS notifies CCR daily of all vendors/contractors that have been debarred or suspended.  If a vendor/contractor is debarred/suspended, the message is displayed on the General information page within CCR update.  The
debarred/suspended notice will also be visible in CCR public search, CCR tools, CCR extracts, CCR XML as well as View TPP.  The debarred/suspended
message is in RED so that it is easily seen.  If the debarred/suspended message is displayed, registrants are still allowed to register in CCR;
however they are advised to go to www.epls.gov to find out why they have been debarred/suspended.   Debarment codes and their meanings can be found on the EPLS website or at the following link:
https://www.epls.gov/epls/jsp/CTCodes.jsp?type=recip#code_D
 

9/14/2009 - E-VERIFY
The  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is reminding federal contractors and subcontractors that effective Sept. 8, they may be required to use the E-Verify system to verify their employees eligibility to work in the United States if their contract includes the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) E-Verify clause.

Companies awarded a contract with the E-Verify clause on or after Sept. 8th, will be required to enroll in E-Verify within 30 days of the contract award date. With certain exceptions, E-Verify must be used to confirm that all new hires, whether employed on a federal contract or not, and existing employees directly working on these contracts are legally authorized to work in the United States.

E-Verify customer is available by calling toll free (888) 464-4218
For more info see this web site:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

9/21/2009 - Contractor Performance Evaluations (ACASS for AE contracts, CPARS for Services, and CCASS for Construction contracts).

This notice is posted on the USACE Tulsa District web site (  http://www.swt.usace.army.mil/ebs/contract.asp )

5/18/2009 - SBA AMERICAN RECOVERY LOAN PROGRAM.  For details see this web site: http://www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/index.html

4/23/2009 - BOEING'S SECURE BORDERS INITIATIVE (SBI).  The SBInet program is part of the Secure Border Initiative created to provide Customs and Border Protection with technology to help them secure the border. Boeing is currently looking for small businesses, especially SDB, WOB, HUBzone and SDVOB, for everything from advanced technology to construction (foundations, roads, etc).
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

4/20/2009 - CLICK HERE FOR RECOVERY FUND INFO

Also see: http://www.recovery.gov/FAQ/Pages/ForRecipients.aspx and https://www.federalreporting.gov

4/20/2009 -  COMPANY ACCUSED OF CONTRACT FRAUD...TO PAY GSA $128 MILLION
Click HERE to read more

12/2008 - IMPORTANT CCR PASSWORD CHANGES

11/6/2008 – DoD’s 5% GOAL FOR SDBs RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL

A federal appeals court has thrown out a law establishing a 5 percent goal for awarding defense contracts to small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The decision has the potential to invalidate the small disadvantaged and 8(a) contracting programs, which help socially and economically disadvantaged firms win billions of dollars in federal contracts every year. The opinion, issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, strikes down a legislative provision, first enacted in 1986 and renewed numerous times since, which sets a goal that 5 percent of federal defense contracting dollars each fiscal year must be awarded to certain entities, including small disadvantaged companies.  For more details see:

http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sdb/index.html

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=41367&dcn=todaysnews

HURRICANE IKE AND OTHER DISASTER CONTRACTING INFORMATION:

As of Sept. 24, 2008,  CCR will now give registrants the option of filling in Disaster Relief Registry entries in CCR.  These entries will help the Department of Homeland Security find vendors that service a certain area when disasters occur. To complete the Disaster Relief Registry, you will need to update your CCR record. For details, go to the Central Contractor Registration web site at and  http://www.ccr.gov/ and see the section titled "Most Recent Changes".

1.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is requesting that all contractors, interested in performing work related to hurricanes, register and provide information about their company / firm at this website: http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/pubdata/hurricane/register.aspx

See more news at the USACE Galveston District office: http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/swg/default.htm

2. FEMA: Information for Contractors/Vendors http://www.fema.gov/business/contractor.shtm

3. To help in the disaster response and recovery for areas impacted by the recent disasters, the General Services Administration (GSA) contacted Heartland PTAC, requesting that we notify businesses to suggest they register on the GSA “Disaster and Emergency Operations Vendor Profile” web site. If you supply products or services that may be needed, and want to sign up, simply complete the one page form at this GSA web site: www.gsa.gov/disastersupportform (click on “Disaster and Emergency Operations Vendor Profile Form”). You do not have to be a GSA Schedule holder to sign up.

4. This web site is called the “Disaster Contractors Network-Florida” - although it says "Florida", go ahead and "register"  there - you can also contact other companies whose names you see listed for subcontracting work. Consider also looking at the web sites for each state affected by the disaster.
http://www.dcnonline.org/

5. "The Disaster Contracting Assistance Center (DCAC) provides a central point of reference for businesses ... to register for and become aware of federal contracting opportunities. While the DCAC does not award contracts, our mission is to ensure that businesses understand the process and are aware when opportunities become available." :  http://www.disastercontractingassistance.gov/

Please contact your Heartland PTAC Counselor if you have any questions.

SMALL BUSINESS MEETING, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008
McConnell AFB (Wichita, KS)  hosted a  meeting for area businesses to discuss the “restructuring” taking place in US Air Force contracting  on  Sept. 11, 2008 at the Dole Community Center (Bldg 412), McConnell AFB. Heartland PTAC staff and several Heartland PTAC clients attended - to read more about the restructuring, called “Installation Acquisition Transformation” (IAT), see this link: http://ww3.safaq.hq.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=11457 . 

SMALL BUSINESS ADMIN. SIZE ADJUSTMENT:
SBA has issued a final rule regarding size standard adjustment for inflation: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-16148.pdf  . The effective date is August 18, 2008. Your ORCA record will need to be "updated" for this size adjustment - contact your Heartland PTAC counselor if you need help or have any questions.


ATTENTION VETERANS:

June 2008: Verification of Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses per Public Law (P.L.) 109-461. This law provides VA the unique authority to conduct set-aside and sole source procurements with small businesses owned and operated by veterans. Vet-owned businesses, WILL NOT be able to qualify for the "Veterans First Contracting Program" unless they are "verified". Click on links below to read more:
http://www.vetbiz.gov/acquisition/vetsfirst.htm
http://www.vetbiz.gov/vip/verify.htm
http://www.va.gov/osdbu/veteran/index.asp

HERE ARE THE STEPS IN IN THIS VERIFICATION PROCESS (For Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses per Public Law (P.L.) 109-461)
NOTE: Be sure to read carefully all information on these web pages for updated material (fax numbers, etc. may have changed).

1.. Register your business (answer some questions about your business) at this Center for Veterans Enterprises (CVE)  “Vendor Information Pages” (VIP) web site:
http://www.vip.vetbiz.gov/

2. Click on this link: http://www.vetbiz.gov/vip/verifydef.htm , read and click on the link that says “Click here to Continue” after the statement: “ I certify that I have read and understand the control requirements for inclusion in the Verification Program.”.  You may have to click twice on the statement “Click here to Continue” before the correct page will be displayed.

3. Download and submit VA Form 0877, then FAX it to the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) at the following number: (202) 303-3330. To download the form you'll see the link at the bottom of the page displayed in Step 2 that says "Click here to open the VA Form 0877", OR you can 
Click here to open the VA Form 0877  .  As the registering agent for your business, you must complete your portion of the form and, if you are not at least 51% owner of your business, your other veteran business partner(s) must also complete and sign their own verification form(s). " ( pdf form). It is very important for you to print out and save the transmittal confirmation sheet for your FAX. In addition to the info requested on the form, write your DUNS number and your company telephone number on the form. Once the form is received in CVE, an electronic acknowledgement will be sent to you to you. Again, you must register in VIP before submitting VA Form 0877.

Note: Verified companies will be "annotated" in the VetBiz Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database and will receive the rights to display the Verified logo in their marketing materials.

END STEPS IN VERIFICATION PROCESS

Joint Venture and Teaming Arrangements for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business: See this web site for an "Information Letter" on  joint ventures and teaming arrangements for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses: http://www.va.gov/osdbu/veteran/index.asp

Public Law 106-50, the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Act of 1999, requires small business participation by small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans at not less than 3% of the total value of all prime contract and subcontract awards as a Government-wide goal for each fiscal year.  In addition, to help carry out their responsibility under this law,  the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) has developed an Internet database of veteran-owned small businesses called “VetBiz Vendor Information Pages (VIP).”   This resource is available to Federal and commercial buyers as a tool to quickly locate businesses that are at least 51% owned and controlled by veterans or service-disabled veterans.  All veteran owned companies should register their company in this free database. To access and register in the database, at the link below, SELECT the icon titled "Access Vendor Information Pages web site", THEN "Register Your Business", THEN "See If You Qualify". You then will be asked to check ALL APPROPRIATE BOXES (e.g. circles).  IF you qualify and check at least the following 3 boxes,  you can then proceed with the registration: 1) Veteran 2) Veteran-owned Business, and 3) Small Business Concern. You will then be asked your email address and a password you want to use.  If you have any questions about the database contact  LaDonne Austin (at CVE),  telephone 866-584-2344, ext. 5243 or your Heartland PTAC Counselor.   This database is available to any veteran owned business - you do not need to be in Federal contracting. 
Note: While not required by Federal rules, some corporations ask to see a veteran’s DD214. To obtain a replacement form, contact:
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

CCR Upcoming Release Notice:
On Sunday afternoon, March 30, 2008
Central Contractor Registration (CCR) upgraded to release  v4.08.1.Release Notes; this can  be viewed on-line at  https://www.bpn.gov/ReleaseNotes
To see screen shots of error messages that a company may see when they "update/renew" their CCR registration  or when they first register in CCR,
click HERE

4 Items will be implemented in  v4.08.1:
* D&B Out of Business Indicator Code
* 3 Strike Password Attempt
* CCR/FedReg Cross Reference
* Allowing 0 (zero) for Annual Receipts and Number of Employees

RFID
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tagging is required for DoD vendors following implementation schedule guidelines:
Click HERE to view the implementation schedule.
Also, look at these web sites:
http://www.heartlandptac.org/rfid.htm
http://www.dodrfid.org 
http://www.dodait.com
https://wawf.eb.mil
http://www.rfidjournal.com/

ACCESS TO DRAWINGS:
Machine shops and other companies that may need to access drawings that are restricted but unclassified subject to “export control regulations” should submit DD Form 2345 to get on what’s called the “Certified Contractors Access List".  Select this link for the home page for the Joint Certification Program:
Main web site: http://www.dlis.dla.mil/JCP/
Select this link for a copy of the form and completion instructions (it’s in pdf): http://www.dlis.dla.mil/JCP/forms/DD2345Form.pdf
Select this link for more details:
http://www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp/forms/PAMPHLET.pdf
Joint Certification Office 800-352-3572

ImageR is a software program that machine shops may need to view drawings. To download "ImageR" free, go to this web site, enter your email address, then a "password" will be sent to you by email.
http://edmstag.redstone.army.mil/index.asp

Federal Technical Data Solutions (FedTeDS)
Note: FedTeDS no longer in use, all documents now can be downloaded directly from FedBizOpps at http://www.fbo.gov for specific announcements/opportunities.
/http://www.fedteds.gov/ ( WEB SITE NO LONGER ACTIVE)
FedTeDS is an online “dissemination solution” designed to safeguard sensitive acquisition related information for use by all Federal Agencies and their approved business partners. You will need your CCR MPIN, DUNS, and CAGE code. Technical Data includes  drawings, engineering data lists, and other materials, such as construction drawings; drawings of bridges, dams, aquifers, and lakes; Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP); schedules, work hours, and security clearance requirements, that are related to an active solicitation. To download documents that are designated as "export controlled," you must be certified by the  Joint Certification Program (JCP) explained above.

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS (BAA):
Defense Acquisition Challenge Program:
The Defense Acquisition Challenge Program (DACP), like the SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research)   program, has been established to provide opportunities to "challenge" existing DoD acquisition programs with alternative technologies and product improvements. This program provides any (business) person or activity within or outside the DoD the opportunity to submit a proposal,  known as a “Challenge Proposal”, that may result in improvements in performance, affordability, manufacturability, or operational capability of that acquisition program.  Select this link for details: DACP  - Read the FY05 BAA (Broad Agency Announcement). If you cannot connect to the above link (DACP), try this link: https://65.167.192.21/dacp

Technical Support Working Group (TSWG):
The Government encourages small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors to submit proposals related to combating terrorism. As part of its outreach program, TSWG has assembled helpful information and web links to assist in finding contracting opportunities, start-up assistance, funding, regulations, procedures, training, technology licensing, partnering availability, and technology transition assistance. The TSWG is soliciting proposals in specific mission areas as identified on this web site.
http://www.tswg.gov/tswg/home/home.htm

Navy Broad Agency Announcements:
http://www.onr.navy.mil/02/baa/default.htm

Other Broad Agency Announcements:
http://www.bids.acqcenter.com/ ( https://65.167.192.21/ )

Note: If you have a new idea that doesn't fall under a Broad Agency Announcement or Request for Proposal, you can still submit a written proposal called a "Unsolicited Proposal" to a any federal agency. Proposal procedures are different for each agency. Contact the Small Business Office for the agency that interest you for specific procedures. 

GOVWORKS:
GovWorks Federal Acquisition Center (http://www.govworks.gov), operated under the Minerals and Mining Service within DOI  buys products and services for federal agencies using GSA schedules, GWACs (Govt. Wide Acquisition Contracts), BPAs (Blanket Purchase Agreements),  and their own IDIQs (Indefinite Delivery - Indefinite Quantity) contracts. Their FY 2004 goals were 47.5%, 10%, and 6%, respectively for Small Business,  8(a), and Woman-Owned companies.  Take a look at their web site (Vendors, FAQs, etc.) and contact them to explore additional contracting opportunities.  


PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION:
The Automated Best Value System (ABVS):  The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) assigns a "past performance" score for companies that do business with DLA - here you can find the score for your company - you will need to enter your PROGATE "User ID" and "Password". Companies that do business with any of the DLA Centers should check their score frequently and notify the appropriate Center (DSCR/DSCP/DSCC) if you don't agree with it or have questions - you'll see a link there that says "Who To Contact for Assistance".  Contracting officers use this score as an additional evaluation factor in making "best value award" decisions. Click on the web site below to find your score.
http://www.dscr.dla.mil/proc/abvm/abvm.htm

Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS). “PPIRS is a web-enabled, government-wide application that provides timely and pertinent contractor past performance information to the Federal acquisition community for use in making source selection decisions. PPIRS assists Federal acquisition officials make source selections by serving as the single source for contractor past performance data…”
 http://www.ppirs.gov/  or   https://www.bpn.gov/  for access to PPIRS, Excluded Parties Listing System, and ORCA (Online Representations and Certifications Application)

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