Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) Acquisition -- Enterprise IT, Domain IT, and IT Asset Management Support for WHS

The Washington Headquarters Services, Information Technology Management Directorate (WHS/ITMD), is developing its requirements for Enterprise IT, Domain IT, and IT Asset Management Support for WHS. The purpose of this Request for Information is to gather information to assist WHS ITMD in formulating its requirements and identify vendors who can demonstrate a capability to meet the requirements.

Responses to this RFI must be received by Wednesday, 16 November 2005, at 4:00 PM EST. Please provide responses in electronic format (CD-ROM) using Microsoft Office products or .pdf files. Five copies of each response must be hand delivered or sent via courier to Juan R. Lopez, WHS A&PO, Rosslyn Plaza North, Suite 12063, 1777 North Kent Street, Arlington VA 22209-2209, phone 703-696-3970.

The FebBizOpps listing for this RFI is at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/OSD/PRPO/HQ0034%2D06%2DAPO%2DEDAM%2D1/listing.htm l. (The 17 down-loadable documents are also available at this site.)

NAWBO FORMS KATRINA TASK FORCE

Looking to find out how you can help women entrepreneurs affected by Hurricane Katrina? Or are you a woman entrepreneur who was affected and seeking resources?

Visit www.womenbizrelief.com to find out resources that other women entrepreneurs are offering, or to post resources that you can offer. Started by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), many WIPP Coalition partners and sponsors have come together to support the efforts on the Hurricane Katrina Task Force.

A Critique of Minority Set-Aside Programs

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has taken a close look at Federal government contracting set-aside programs, and they don’t like what they see. The basic message from their report ( Federal Procurement after Adarand ) is pretty clear: all government contracting decisions should be race-neutral. In other words, all federal preferential contracting programs, like the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program, should be eliminated. The Commission is recommending a major policy shift, as small and disadvantaged business programs now help fund $19.5 billion in prime contracts (about 7% of all contracting dollars). The Commission’s report recommends that all federal agencies establish new race-neutral procurement programs, and expand marketing efforts so that more small business owners are made aware of new federal contracting opportunities.

The September 2005 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report, Federal Procurement after Adarand , is available at: http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/080505_fedprocadarand.pdf

This story provided by: www.publicforuminstitute.org/nde.

The Biggest Small Government Contractors

Washington Technology is out with its latest edition of the Fast 50, the fifty fastest growing small government contractors. The firms on Washington Technology’s list are all service contractors that do a minimum of $100,000 of government business every year. Not all the firms are located “inside the Beltway.” In fact, this year’s number one, Merlin Technical Solutions, is based in Greenwood Village Colorado . This information technology services provider posted a 362% compound annual growth rate between 2000 and 2004. Hot areas for contractors are IT services, consulting, and systems integration. The issue also lists the top 25 8(a) companies – firms that are minority-owned and specially designated by the Small Business Administration. As in past years, firms owned by Native Americans and Alaska natives dominate the list, with the number one spot held by last year’s winner, Chenega Corporation of Anchorage , Alaska .

The Fast 50 appears in Washington Technology’s annual small business issue (appearing in the September 26, 2005 issue), which is available on-line at www.washingtontechnology.com

This story was provided by: www.publicforuminstitute.org/nde.

Current Update on $69+ Billion in Contracting Opportunities for Disaster Reconstruction

Current Update on $69+ Billion in Contracting Opportunities for Disaster Reconstruction
A National Teleconference to update the contracting opportunities for the Disaster Relief and Reconstruction efforts will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2005 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm EST. This is the third is a series of teleconferences addressing the extraordinary contracting opportunities opening up to business throughout the US .

Speakers:
US Army Corps of Engineers; Chief, Small Business Office, Associate Director for Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Judith W. Blake
National Business Development Expert, Author and Instructor, Gloria Berthold

Contractors from all over the US have unprecedented opportunities to become involved in the reconstruction contracting process. This process will involve both short and long term contracting needs utilizing all types of services and products. Opportunities will continue to open up for many months to come, as long as you know how to open those doors. Upon registration, you will immediately receive the 95 page resource guide: Disaster Relief and Reconstruction Contracting Business Development Toolkit . This downloadable book details the federal and state agencies, prime contractors, related contact people, specific processes and methods to find contracting and subcontracting opportunities. Cost: $119.00 for both the Teleconference and Toolkit.

For full details, or to register go to: http://www.targetgov.com/, click on the “Teleconference” link http://www.targetgov.com/Content.asp?id=2178 or call toll-free: 866-579-1346.

Options:
No time to attend the teleconference? Order the teleconference CD and 95-page Disaster Relief and Reconstruction Contracting Business Development Toolkit from the most recent teleconference. http://www.targetgov.com/Content.asp?id=2181

Or, order just the 95 page Toolkit and get started on your business development process immediately!
http://www.targetgov.com/Content.asp?id=2189

Judge denies Small Business Administration's Motion to Dismiss

The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce's nearly year-old claim against the Small Business Administration received a strong message of support yesterday. The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce claim against the SBA seeks the implementation of a five-year-old law that would expand opportunities in the federal marketplace for women business owners in industries that have historically been closed to them.

On Friday, September 30, 2005, U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton issued an order denying the Small Business Administration's Motion to Dismiss the USWCC Claim and ordered that the SBA provide the court a written statement of the progress made towards implementation of the law.

Read more here