Tracking federal contract actions

The new law that requires a single source for keeping track of all federal contracting actions (both contracts and grants) is beginning to get attention in the media and elsewhere. This article is a good summary of the law and the deallines to watch for.

With our experience with FPDS-NG and our business intelligence systems, implementing this should be pretty exciting to watch.

Planning for Procurement Process Improvement

Lean Six Sigma. We have heard about it. It is something about making things work better. However, you know that it began in some factory somewhere and you don't work in a factory.

There is a lot of discussion, including books, about applying these principles to office/administrative type work. Michael George made that case in his book, "Lean Six Sigma for Services" (this link is provided for informational purposes but doesn't necessarily indicate any endorsement). Some call what we do "transactional" work.

How can we make something better that seems to be different for each contracting action we work?

This article makes a case for workload planning as a way to do just that. Author Dan Markovitz, president, TimeBack Management says that:

A well-written project implementation plan breaks complicated and/or long-term projects into simple, sequenced, discrete steps with clearly assigned
responsibilities and interim due dates. Workers schedule time in their calendars to complete each task for which they are responsible (or to follow up with the person responsible for a given task).

He recognizes that, unlike production workers, we are pulled many ways (participate in multiple value streams is "lean speak" for this) at the same time. However, the author, recommends that

every project, every meeting and every action that consumes time must be rigorously entered into the calendar. Only by doing so can (you) see the total
demand on (your) time, identify capacity constraints in advance, and by applying
heijunka (leveling the workload), adjust (your) commitments appropriately. The result is fewer crises, better allocation of resources, and lower stress for everyone.

So, think of the work in your inbox. Determine when it is due, count back the days you need for review, approvals and research, then schedule that time. Do that with the other items in your inbox and see if you find those days when your workload is less and schedule some work from your heavier work days.

This a first step to a lean office.

Let's continue this discussion on Lean Six Sigma in contracting.

Government Purchase Card program needs regular oversight

This is a story of GPC misuse. Once again, someone is given the responsibility to do things faster, better, cheaper and only thought of themselves. Just remember, he will always be known as the guy who bought $682.50 in golf balls for $1,409 and may get 15 years in jail.

Note his creative writing skills. There will be quite a future for him as a jailhouse lawyer and author!

Crime still doesn't pay.

JWOD becomes AbilityOne

As reported in GovExec.com, the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act programs are getting a face lift beginning with a name change. A federal procurement preference program dedicated to employing people with disabilities, JWOD has a long history of providing products and services to the federal government. Now, under this fresh start, AbilityOne hopes to expand its service to its constituents and the community.

Providing jobs to 48,000 people who are blind or have other severe disabilities, the JWOD Program is the single largest source of employment for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities in the United States. Two organizations oversee this program- National Industries for the Blind and NISH (a proponent for the severely handicapped).

Government facilities around the country benefit from the JWOD program. Military commissaries, snack bars, lawn maintenance services, military base supply stores and Skilcraft pens are just some of the products and services where you may have been touched by the program.

I have been a big supporter of the JWOD program for years . For the most part, shelter and workshop managers are doing great things, providing a future for thousands of handicapped American. I hope that this change will create a better "brand," increasing public awareness and acceptance. The long term effect will be the betterment of the country as a whole.

Strategic sourcing comes to procurement of services

This is the next step in the consolidation and bundling of services- without using the words consolidation and bundling. This is a natural progression. We do it ourselves. We figure out what we need a lot of and buy it in bulk at Costco or Sam's Club or BJ's Wholesale. We don't have a lot of personal experince at services...perhaps if neighbors shared a lawn service, they may get a cheaper rate. I may have to think a little longer on a services example.

Regardless, it may be a good thing for federal procurement, but preference programs and overseers will not let this occur easily.

Pricing tool to make price decisions easier

The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) is starting to add quite a few new items to its repertoire. In addition to is courses and knowledge base information, it is adding tools that might prove helpful. Here is a tool that can be used to make pricing decisions for commercial, modified commercial and non-commercial products.

New small business recertification rules

The Small Business Administration announces new recertification rules. This helps to keep large businesses from buying up small businesses and taking advantage of preferences programs to get even more business. The html link is here. [For future reference, this was announced in the Federal Register, November 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 220) Page 66434-66444]

In case you missed this...

Just before the end of last fiscal year (September 28, 2006) new thresholds were established for micro purchase and others. The full text, in html, is here.

All except Defense and Homeland Security still under continuing resolution

The continuing resolution for the remaining 9 appropriations bills may not become firm until March. Read how this happened and how it may affect what the federal government must do until then.