Doing Business with the

Transcription

1 Doing Business with the Federal Government Melody Kebe, CMP, CGMP Immediate Past tpresident Society of Government Meeting Professionals

2 Government Contracting Facts Less than 5% of the businesses in the United States do business with the U.S. Government The U.S. Government is the largest company in the world. Approximately $1 billion in new opportunities in the service sector of Government contracting is available to bid on by private business each day. The federal government signs over $11 million contracts a year.

3 Processes Register with the ecentral Contractor Registration (CCR) and obtain a DUNS # Request for Information Is issued when an agency wants to gather information about a specific company or a supplier s s products or services Two methods for purchasing products or services, sealed bidding and negotiation. Invitation for Bid (IFB) Request for Proposal (RFP)

4 IFB (Sealed Bidding) A copy of the specifications Instructions for preparation of bids The conditions of purchase Deliveryandpayment schedule The date and time of bid opening Sealed bid is opened in public at the purchasing office Facts about each bid are read aloud and recorded Contract is then awarded to the low bidder whose bid conforms with all requirements of the invitation and will be advantageous to the government

5 Request for Proposal (Negotiation) Issuance of RFP Negotiation of each element in the proposal Award is made to the proposer who has the best proposal in terms of both technical content and price Buying by negotiation is authorized in certain circumstances by law under applicable Federal Fd Acquisition Regulation or FAR For example, items or services may be purchased by negotiation when it is impossible to draft adequate specifications, or to describe fully the specific item, service, or project.

6 The GSA Schedule Contract is a five year, with three five year option periods. Enables your business to receive orders for products or serviceswithout the needto respond to each government buying opportunity Contract is a government wide contract, which means you can sell to any Federal agency. Without such a contract, you would need to bid on and negotiate with agencies separately

7 Comptroller General Head of Government Accountability Office (GAO) Legislative branch of the government GAO issues decisions on expenditure of appropriatedgovernment funds including spending funds for food and beverage for events Decisions are published and can be referenced when procuring certain items

8 When Can Government Pay for F & B? F & B for Meetings and Conferences Training Awards Ceremonies Working Meal Reduced per diem for the government traveler Cultural Awareness Celebrations Ethnic Celebrations Combined Federal Campaign Activities

9 History of F&B Decisions... In 2000, the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) maintainedby GeneralServices Administration (GSA) provided authorization for agencies to pay for lightrefreshmentsduringmeetings meetings.... Early in 2003, the GAO said GSA does not have that authority... In 2005 GAO issued a decision in... In 2005, GAO issued a decision in response to request from NIH regarding paying for coffee breaks...

10 2005 GAO Decision B Agency develops formal policy Outline types of events where food might be purchased Meals and refreshments are incidental to the event Attendance at meals and where refreshments are served is important to ensure full conference participation Event attended by individuals outside of agency and/or government Mealsandrefreshments and are part ofa larger event that includes speeches and other events taking place while food is being served

11 FedBizOpps FedBizOpps is the Federal government s web site that posts all Federal procurement opportunities with a value over $25,000 RFI s are posted here Provides you with a sophisticated search engine for finding immediate RFP opportunities It alsolistslists possible future federal contract opportunities All GSA Schedule solicitations are also listed on FedBizOps. Often, it can be many months from the release of an RFI to the release of an RFO, and not all RFIs will result in an RFP release.

12 BACK UP SLIDES

13 No Cost Contracting B , Nov 27, 2007 No Cost Contracts for Event Planning Services Government agency has no financial obligation to venue or contractor Contractor has no expectation of payment from the government

14 Gifts from Prohibited Sources $$ Threshold $20 each occasion $50/year same source

15 Contracting Terminologies Bid a tender, proposal p or quotation submitted in response to a solicitation from a contracting authority Closing Date the deadline for all bid submissions Competitive Bidding offers submitted by individuals or firms competing for a contract, privilege or right to supply specific services or merchandise Contract obligation between competent parties, a legal consideration,

16 Contracting Terminologies Continued Contract Amendment an agreed addition to, deletion from, correction or modification of a contract Contractor one who contracts to perform work or furnish materials in accordance with a contract Procurement the process of obtaining material and services which includes the determination of requirements and acquisition from a supply system or by purchase from the trade Proposal an offer, submitted in response to a request from a contracting authority, that constitutes a solution to the problem, requirement or objective in the request