Last week’s blog focused on the Federal Acquisition Service’s (FAS’s) notice seeking UPC codes and Manufacturer Part Numbers (MPNs) from all Multiple Award Schedule contractors. This initiative raises several questions:
- Has FAS complied with the Paperwork Reduction Act with regard to this new data reporting requirement?
- Can GSA Advantage handle the tsunami of data that will have to be uploaded to the site?
- Will there be a schedule by schedule dialogue with industry partners regarding the new requirement?
- Does FAS understand commercial practice regarding UPCs and MPNs?
- Will there be any corresponding reform to legacy reporting requirements currently in MAS contracts?
As I noted last week, FAS Commissioner Tom Sharpe reached out to the Coalition regarding this initiative seeking a dialogue. On August 12th we will be hosting Commissioner Sharpe for a discussion focusing on the UPC/MPN requirement. The meeting will be from 10 to 11 am—the location is to be determined. The Coalition will update our members as to the location as soon as it is finalized. This is a great opportunity for our members to share their thoughts, concerns and comments regarding yet another new data reporting requirement!
Now let’s turn to the Coalition Calendar for the Fall!!
Joseph P Caggiano Memorial Golf Tournament | 35th Anniversary Black Tie Gala | 15th Annual Excellence in Partnership Awards | 2014 Fall Training Conference
Mark your calendars and get ready to hit the links at Whiskey Creek on August 27th at our 2nd Annual Joseph P. Caggiano Memorial Golf Tournament. This charity tournament is to honor our good friend and colleague, Joe Caggiano, who was not only a 23-year veteran of the federal contracting marketplace but a naval veteran as well. We believe Joe would be proud of the fact that 100% of this year’s tournament proceeds are going to a brand new cause that will continue to support our nation’s veterans by way of our Coalition for Government Procurement Endowed Government Procurement Scholarship/Fellowship Fund.
In honor of our 35th Anniversary, and in conjunction with The George Washington University, we have made it a priority to fund and endow a scholarship or fellowship to provide financial support to a deserving veteran. Qualified veterans concentrating their studies in the field of US Government procurement and pursuing the JD or LLM degree in Government Procurement Law or the interdisciplinary Masters of Science in Government Contracting degree (MSGC) at GWU will benefit from the fund. We take our goal of common sense acquisition seriously and that starts with education – students enrolled in these programs will become the next generation of skilled professionals leading this critically important sector of the US economy. There are player slots still available for foursomes and single golfers and we have a variety of sponsorship opportunities remaining, including hole sponsors. Please consider getting a team together to support this worthy cause and enjoy a fun day golfing with your peers in Joe’s honor. Registration and sponsorship information can be found on our website here.
Moving on from summer events, it is with great excitement that I share with you important details of our much talked about 35th Anniversary Black Tie Gala and Excellence in Partnership (EIP) Awards banquet in conjunction with our 2014 Fall Training Conference. These events will be taking place on the evening of November 5th and all day on November 6th.
Our Anniversary Gala and EIP Awards will be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC. This seemed to be a natural fit for us as the Reagan Building is of course owned by the U.S. General Services Administration. It is the first and only federal building designated for public and private use and is mandated by Congress to bring together the country’s best public and private resources to create a national forum for the advancement of trade. The evening’s events will include a reception, silent auction, keynote speaker, and our 15th Annual Excellence in Partnership (EIP) Awards.
The EIP Awards honor acquisition officials who have made significant strides in promoting and utilizing multiple award contracting vehicles. Awards will be given to individuals, organizations and contractors involved in procurement with GSA, VA, DHS, DoD and other government agencies. We urge you to take this opportunity to recognize an individual or organization that is deserving of an EIP Award. Nominations are officially open for the following prestigious award categories:
1. Lifetime Acquisition Excellence Award
2. Contractor Savings Award
3. Government Savings Award (Civilian)
4. Government Savings Award (DoD)
5. Myth-Busters Award
6. Best Veteran Hiring Program
7. Green Excellence in Partnership Award
Please see additional details and category descriptions, as well as make your nominations, on the EIP section of our website located at https://thecgp.org/eip-awards.
Our 2014 Fall Training Conference will take place the following day, November 6th, at the renowned JW Marriott. The JW Marriott is conveniently located at 1331 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, directly across the street from the Ronald Reagan Building. As a note, we will have a limited room block available on a first come first serve basis for the night of November 5th. Our conference agenda will consist of Mythbuster’s discussions on current topics and opportunities in Federal acquisition, training and networking, a keynote speaker, a town hall with Q&A, panel discussions, and of course our very popular breakout sessions in the afternoon.
Thank you for your continued support of The Coalition. We are thrilled to celebrate our 35th anniversary milestone with you in November and look forward to our biggest and best conference yet!
Roger Waldron
President