Public Contracting Institute Blog
The Public Contracting Institute blog supplement our govcon training offerings with insightful articles written by leading professionals across the government contracts industry. Our professionals publish articles on topics on government contracts administration, accounting, bids/proposals, disputes, claims, and much more. For more inforamation about our blog, reach out to seminars@publiccontractinginstitute.com.
Additionally, look for the PCI Practical Matters Podcast, coming soon! It will cover the latest news in our industry, along with insightful commentary on the most important topics in Government Contracting.
Afterthoughts: Low Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA)
Following each Nash & Schooner Hot Topics Webinar event, we interview Professor Ralph Nash to get his thoughts on the topic following the panel discussion. On November 29th, Professors Ralph Nash and Steve Schooner and Dean Dan Gordon discussed LPTAs. What...
CAS 401 – Consistency in Estimating, Accumulating, and Reporting Costs
CAS 401 Consistency in Estimating Accumulating Reporting Costs. Provision of the week: CAS 401-50(a) {48 CFR 9904.401-50(a)} Provision: The level of detail in estimating shall be such that any significant cost can be compared with the actual cost accumulated...
No Starry Eyes For ORION 2, GAO Tells DIA
At the GAO, Science Applications International Corporation protested award of a task order under a task order contract to Computer Sciences Corporation. The Defense Intelligence Agency had previously implemented the ORION project to improve the handling of data for...
Proposing a Simpler Exemption
Proposing a Simpler Exemption. On November 19, 2012 the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) and the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board issued an invitation for public comments concerning a proposed modification to the existing “commercial item” exemption....
Effectiveness Rate Up at GAO: Not a Green Light to Protest
The recent GAO report to Congress shows that GAO’s protest business is not in any danger of shrinking even though other Federal agencies are concerned about the looming fiscal cliff. Nearly 2,500 protests were filed in FY 2012, a five percent increase from the prior...
Happy Thanksgiving!
On behalf of PCI's staff and instructors, Happy Thanksgiving. To show our appreciation for your support during the first few months of our blog we would like to invite you to take advantage of some free online training. Training in the following topics is available...
FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting *
Applicability: This FAR solicitation provision, which is incorporated into the contract and thus becomes a clause, specifies the percentage of work that must be performed by a small business concern when it receives a set aside reserved for small businesses. The...
Counterfeit Parts Redux
The issue of counterfeit parts in the U.S. supply chain is becoming more of a “front burner” issue. We told you recently about the formal rulemaking procedures which resulted from several years of investigation, followed by legislation last December, which is now...
FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items: Alternate I Payments Under Time-and-Materials and Labor-Hour Contracts for Commercial Items
Applicability: FAR 52.212-4 applies to acquisitions for commercial items. Alternate I of that clause is included when the acquisition of commercial items will be awarded using a time-and-materials (T&M) or labor-hour contract (LH). Key Requirements: ...
The VA, of All Agencies, Fails to Follow SDVOSB Set-Aside Rules
Phoenix Environmental Design Inc., a service disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) protested to the GAO the failure by the Veterans Administration to set aside a procurement for SDVOSB concerns, as required by the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and...