The value in demanding an explanation for contract awards Jun 14, 2013 Throughout our lives we are often faced with choosing between what seem at first glance to be two equally acceptable options. But in government contracting, while it sometimes seems to come down to a flip of a quarter, decisions must be made by […]
Sweet justice in a protest decision? Not necessarily. Jun 7, 2013 In December of last year I wrote in Battle Lines about a protest by Exelis that was sustained because, according to GAO, the Department of State treated incumbent PAE differently than other bidders. Now here we are again: DOS reevaluated the offers and made […]
How contractors can get punished for good behavior May 31, 2013 The government has done so much to try to make government contracting fair and impartial, and while bureaucratic, the system mostly works as intended. Still, every once in a while, the system created to provide opportunity to the most deserving actually punishes good behavior. […]
When contractors don’t know best May 24, 2013 They say that ignorance is bliss. That is seldom the case when preparing a government contract proposal. But there is a situation that contractors occasionally find themselves in where understanding of the experience needed to fulfill the contract is of little value and can actually be a […]
Vets First: A true misnomer Dec 14, 2012 After more than a year of disagreement between veteran business owners, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Government Accountability Office, the Court of Federal Claims finally resolved the question of whether the VA is required by law to give priority to veterans-owned businesses when awarding contracts. […]
In oral presentations, direct answers are more important than creativity Sep 14, 2012 When required to give an oral presentation with little time to prepare, directly answer the questions presented by the contracting agency, and the chances of winning the contract will increase dramatically. Conversely a poorly given oral presentation could cause the agency to […]
In some bids, you can provide too much information Sep 7, 2012 Contracting officers know that most contractors are only as good as the people who actually do the work. It is possible, however, to provide too much information on a proposed staffing plan. Protesting contractor: Vinculum Solutions Inc., Broomes Island, Md. Contracting agency: Treasury […]
How past performance can haunt a contractor Aug 31, 2012 In sports, there’s the phrase, “you are only as good as your last game.” In contracting, you are only remembered for the recent, negative parts of your record. Protesting contractor: Johnson Controls Government Systems LLC, Milwaukee, Wis. Contracting agency: General Services Administration Issue: Whether the […]
Timeliness for protests matters — usually Aug 24, 2012 So, late is late and there are never exceptions to requirements that protests be filed in a timely manner, right? Not exactly. This case gives us a rare example of when a protest that falls short of timeliness requirements is considered and a recommendation made by […]
Patience pays off in bid competitions Aug 17, 2012 We have all heard that age-old proverb, “all good things come to those who wait.” Any company that has participated in government contracting has learned the meaning of patience — in some cases the hard way. Protesting contractor: Global Automotive Inc. (GAI), D.C. Contracting agency: Department […]
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