GAO Report is a Good Reminder to Bidders on Federal Procurements: Agencies Don’t Always Follow the Rules!
August and September will likely set a blistering pace of federal contract awards.
Source: Stites & Harbison PLLC, Article written by Zachary D. Jones, Published August 20, 2015
The United States government has awarded more than $280 billion in contracts so far this fiscal year—FY2015 ends September 30. Last year, that number was just over $445 billion on September 30. (Data available online at https://www.usaspending.gov). While this year’s total contracts awarded will be less than last year, the disparity reveals that the rest of August and September is likely to set a blistering pace of federal contract awards. In late July, the Government Accountability Office (GAO)—tasked with investigating how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars—released what many are calling a scathing report. The report explains that many federal agencies fail to follow the procurement regulations found in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). The report is a good reminder for contractors who bid on federal procurements to be watchful of procurements that appear to deviate from the rules. Data suggest not only that these agencies are breaking the rules, but also that protestors who call them on it are increasingly getting some relief. MORE….
Read the full story at http://www.stites.com/learning-center/legal-updates/gao-report-is-a-good-reminder-to-bidders-on-federal-procurements-agencies
As federal agencies rush to obligate their appropriations, federal contractors and suppliers need to watch for procurements that deviate from the rules. Contact your nearest PTAC with questions about federal procurements.
For help with Government Contracting: contact your nearest Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). Funded through Cooperative Agreements between the U.S. Department of Defense and state and local governments/institutions, PTACs provide free and low-cost assistance in virtually all areas of government contracting.