This article originally appeared on The Chief Visionary’s Blog of The American Small Business Coalition, LLC, and was reprinted with permission.
(This is the first of six reports based on a conversation with Amy Morris, Morning Anchor at WNEW All News 99.1 (CBS Radio DC) These reports will also ‘air’ on All News 99.1.)
Once upon a time, the U.S. Government developed a way to streamline how it makes certain buys in a way that reduced the administrative burden for both agencies and vendors. But they didn’t stop there. Also built-in to this process was a way for agencies to increase business opportunities for small and disadvantaged business concerns in government contracting. Known as the ‘Simplified Acquisition Procedures,’ this procurement method accounts for billions of dollars in competitive and non-competitive obligations each fiscal year.
But while many in industry bid on and are awarded buys this way every day, most don’t realize it’s a different type of contracting when compared to how most dollars are obligated each fiscal year. “Simplified Acquisitions account for nearly $40B in obligations since the start of FY12,” says Guy Timberlake, chief visionary officer and CEO of The American Small Business Coalition. “It may be a drop in the bucket, but I never turned down an opportunity to engage agencies this way.”
That’s because according to Timberlake, his first million dollar deal in government contracting was the result of developing a relationship with a Navy customer via these smaller buys.
Another potential perk for some in industry is the fact most Simplified Acquisition buys are awarded via a purchase order, a standalone contract. “Purchase orders are not buys placed against an established contract vehicle so this eliminates some of the traditional upfront investment of pursuing and being awarded a GSA Schedule, Blanket Purchase Agreement or Indefinite Delivery Contract.”
So which agencies are buying this way and what are they buying? Timberlake says “Nearly all of them and pretty much anything they want to buy that is considered goods and services.”
Note from Bill: As Guy points out, this is a way to build a relationship. These small purchase items represent “starter” contracts, requiring no vehicle, and can be a way to prove yourself or your solution. Part of the reason for reaching out to ASBC is because they have really focused on the simplified acquisition process, and have made this a way of business to be reckoned with. And since we were members of ASBC back when it started, it’s always good to see more of our small business advocates succeeding.
Guy Timberlake is Chief Visionary and Chief Executive Officer of The American Small Business Coalition (The ASBC). Under Guy’s leadership, The American Small Business Coalition is credited with enhancing the knowledge, skills and confidence of small government contractors, facilitating hundreds of productive partnerships between small, mid-tier and large companies, and contributing to the successful award and capture of contracts and subcontracts valued at more than $10 billion dollars.
