August 22 2003 Copyright 2003 Business Research Services Inc. 202-364-6473 All rights reserved.

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Washington Insider
Calendar of Events
Subcontracting Rule Changes Are Planned
The Office of Management and Budget plans to propose new regulations to ensure that prime contractors live up to their subcontracting plans, said Angela Styles, administrator of OMB’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

8(a), HUBZone Parity Rule in Limbo
The Small Business Administration has withdrawn a proposed rule that would grant HUBZone firms parity with 8(a) companies in awarding contracts, after the House Small Business Committee approved legislation that would overturn the rule.

COMMITS RFP on the Street
“Pick on somebody your own size” is the keystone of COMMITS NexGen, the governmentwide acquisition contract set aside for small information technology firms.

8(a) GWAC Up for Grabs
The General Services Administration has released the final solicitation for the FAST2 governmentwide acquisition contract, a set-aside for 8(a) information technology firms.

Opportunities for Small Firms in Big IT Contracts
Although federal information technology contracts are growing bigger and more complex, there are opportunities for small businesses to get a piece of the action in even the biggest of them, according to an analysis by the market research firm Input.

GAO Sees Flaws in Eyeglasses Contract
In a ruling that exposed the apparent incompetence of a contracting officer, the General Accounting Office faulted the Veterans Affairs Department for its decision not to compete a procurement for eyeglasses as a small business set-aside.

Post Offices Allowed to Buy from Local Suppliers
The Postal Service says its offices may buy office supplies locally in some circumstances, bypassing the service’s national contract with Boise Office Systems.

Tech Firms Respond to Homeland Security Appeal
The Homeland Security Department is evaluating more than 3,300 proposals received from its first broad agency announcement issued in May, said Charles McQueary, DHS undersecretary for science and technology.

Census to Survey Business Owners
About 1 million business owners will receive a U.S. Census survey next month, asking for information about their companies and their personal backgrounds.

Expectations Outlined for OSDBUs, Businesses
Small business representatives and directors of federal Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization have developed a model “code of expectations” to guide their relationships.


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