Category Archives: Uncategorized

As a small business, do you find yourself missing out on opportunities that you know you can do well but can’t compete because you don’t have the right past performance?

Or, as a large business, do you find yourself shut out from opportunities that are set-aside for small businesses?

In either case, the SBA’s All Small Mentor-Protégé Program (ASMPP) might be a good way for you to overcome these barriers. Once the SBA approves your Mentor-Protégé application, you may form a Joint Venture (JV) to pursue opportunities for which you would otherwise not be eligible.

A large business that mentors a small business through this program can compete for those small business set-asides through the JV and a small business protégé can rely on the large business’ past performance. For more information on the benefits of this program or to discuss whether this is right for your business, please contact us today.

Vic Ferlise and Mike Ferlise will be attending the upcoming AFCEA Belvoir Industry Days on April 3-4, 2018 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, MD. This popular event had attracted over one thousand attendees and has boasted hundreds of industry participants in the past.

The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) – Belvoir Chapter, supports the Fort Belvoir community, through this event by connecting the Government with IT industry professionals. Fort Belvoir is home to over 90 diverse tenant and satellite organizations from the Department of Defense, including PEO EIS, INSCOM, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Army Cyber Command, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), DTIC, PEO Soldier, and many others

Vic Ferlise and Mike Ferlise will be attending the AUSA Global Force Symposium in Huntsville Alabama from March 26th through the 28th.

The three-day event will include featured presentations from Army leadership including keynote remarks from the Secretary of the Army, the Undersecretary of the Army, the Chief of Staff and the Vice Chief of Staff. Other senior Army leaders such as the commanders of Forces Command, Training and Doctrine Command and Army Materiel Command will also participate.

The Global Force Symposium and Exposition combines the interests and ideas of warfighters and Senior Army Leaders with the spirit of entrepreneurial and commercial leaders of the Defense Industrial Base. The symposium also incorporates thought leaders from academia and industry to provide a professional development forum that allows participants to learn, network, and move our Army forward.

Look for some changes in the New Year regarding debriefings.  For years, Ferlise & Associates has been recommending that clients request a copy of a properly redacted source selection document in connection with debriefings, regardless of the dollar value of the acquisition or and the agency involved.   Now Section 818 of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), titled the “Enhanced Post-Award Debriefing Rights”, which was signed into law December 12, 2017, makes production of a redacted copy of the written source selection award determination mandatory for ANY Defense Agency contract valued over $100 million, or for any Small Business award which is valued at $10 million or more.

That section also requires written or oral debriefings for ALL contract/task or delivery order awards valued at $10 million or more. The third major change is that Defense Agencies must give offerors the option to ask questions within 2 business days after receiving a debriefing. This means that the “protest clock” doesn’t start until the Government answers those questions. While these changes are certainly welcome, please note that they only are applicable to Defense Agencies and not Civilian Agencies like the VA.  Hopefully, we will see these reforms spread soon.

Happy holidays and best wishes for the new year from all of us here at F&A!

Wendy McCutcheon (the former VA TAC Director) and Vince Buonocore (the former VA TAC Chief Counsel) along with Vic and Mike Ferlise will be attending this year’s National Veterans Small Business Engagement (NVSBE) from December 5–7, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri at the America’s Center. The NVSBE is a great opportunity to meet other Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) including Service Disabled VOSBs as well as other businesses and to learn about VA procurement opportunities.

We look forward to seeing you at this year’s conference.

To all those who have put their lives on the line in defense of this great nation….   THANK YOU from all of us here at F&A!

Victor Ferlise and Michael Ferlise will be attending this years AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition.  The AUSA’s Annual Meeting is the largest landpower exposition and professional development forum in North America. Taking place over three days (October 9-11th), the Annual Meeting is designed to deliver the Army’s message by highlighting the capabilities of Army organizations and presenting a wide range of industry products and services.

On September 1, 2017, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) withdrew its proposed revised rules which are codified at 38 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 74. This regulation covers “Veterans’ Small Business Regulations” which are administered by the VA’s Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE). The reason given for withdrawing the proposed rule was “(b)ecause of the adverse comments received during the comment period…” Of particular concern are the “disconnects” between the Small Business Administration’s regulations and the CVE requirements to include the impact on current small business contract holders who grow large during the period of performance. We are hoping that VA and the SBA can craft rules which are fair and consistent with each other. We will keep you informed. The Federal Register Notice can be found at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-09-01/pdf/2017-18543.pdf

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) will be hosting its 2017 National Veterans Small Business Engagement (NVSBE) from December 5–7, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri at the America’s Center. This is a great opportunity to meet other Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) including Service Disabled VOSBs as well as other businesses and to learn about VA procurement opportunities.

“NVSBE directly connects VOSBs with (Procurement Decision Makers) PDMs from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), other federal agencies, state government, as well as Commercial Firms with procurement needs—and provides learning sessions to improve the capabilities of small businesses to successfully compete for procurement opportunities.

NVSBE also enables VA PDMs to engage with a large number of VOSBs in a short period of time, facilitating market research in support of meeting VA socioeconomic goals.”

You may sign up at https://nvsbe.com/

Ferlise and Associates will be attending and would be happy to discuss the services that we offer with you.  Please let us know if you would like to schedule a meeting out in St. Louis.