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Veterans - Vendor Information Page (VIP) Temporary Shutdown
Vendor Information Page (VIP) Temporary Shutdown
Counselor Info-Gram
007-2016
Date: 15 July, 2016
Subject: Vendor Information Page (VIP) Temporary Shutdown
Summary:
The VA Veterans First verification program is undergoing a transformation in response to feedback provided by VOSB. The modifications and enhancements will result in significant changes to our application process to improve the Veteran experience as we establish “My VA Verification.” The changes also will involve our management information system for the Vendor Information Pages (VIP).
The magnitude of these changes compels us to take VIP off-line commencing 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 11th until 8:00 a.m. Monday, August 22nd. During the period VIP is off-line, firms will not have access to their profile, and CVE will not be able to process applications. Firms will not be able to commence the reverification process or submit a change request to modify any aspect of the firm’s profile/status. Additionally CVE will be unable to accept new verification applications. For this reason, we strongly encourage firms whose eligibility expires before October 15, 2016, and firms that desire to submit a request to update any aspect of its status or profile do so as soon as possible, as CVE will not be able to grant any extensions of eligibility due to the temporary hiatus in verification processing. Additionally, we recommend firms interested in submitting a verification application do so as soon as possible.
During the VIP outage, the CVE Call Center/Help Desk will continue to be available to assist callers with information only. The Call Center/Help Desk telephone number is 866-584-2344; and its time of operations will continue to be 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
When VIP is back online, and we have completed the modifications and enhancements mentioned earlier, you can expect the MyVA verification process to provide an improved Veteran experience in keeping with the principles of My VA established by Secretary McDonald. CVE remains committed to focusing on the Veteran and being an organization which fulfills the values of ICARE - Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence.
Please direct any questions or concerns to your Verification Support Liaison at (202) 632-9099 or email [email protected].
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NM Engineering Firm Attains New Success
After 20 years of engineering across the state, VENCOR Engineering is achieving new growth thanks in part to their work with the New Mexico Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP). Led by President Hector Vasquez, a visionary who set his sights on future growth, the SBA 8(a) firm has achieved new success. Mr. Vasquez recently announced the establishment of VENCOR Construction to complement the expertise and demand for VENCOR Engineering.
A few of the services which VENCOR Engineering, LLC offers include municipal engineering, site developments, drainage channel improvements, water district infrastructure expansions, reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plant reconstruction, Preliminary Engineering Reports, Vulnerability Assessment Reports, site plan reviews, grading, drainage, water, sewer, paving and “as-built” documents.
Most of the work requires rapid response and cost-effective solutions with intense project management. As a PTAP client, Mr. Vasquez stays on top of networking and contracting opportunities offered by PTAP. He has successfully grown his company over the years and built an impressive range of past performance history. His credits include federal, state and local contracts.
In 2010 VENCOR Engineering, LLC was retained by the Lower Rio Grande Public Water Works Authority (LRGPWWA) to plan, design, permit, administer and record the construction installation of the Berino - Mesquite / Del Cerro Water Systems Improvement (BMDC) Project in Dona Ana County, NM. The 32 mile, $7.2 Million water pipeline project required 22 months to install and involved inter agency coordination that included the US Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD), New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), NM Water Trust Board, NM Department of Transportation (NMDOT), Dona Ana County and the Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID).
Private entity and permit filing involved BNSF Railroad and the Kinder Morgan Pipeline Utilities Corporation. The successful design and installation of this monumental water line project is already improving the quality of life of thousands of Dona Ana County valley residents.
Most recently, VENCOR Engineering, LLC entered into a subcontracting agreement with another PTAP client for a construction project with the City of Las Cruces.
Mr. Vasquez is always willing to serve his community as well and participated in a Career Fair at the Dona Ana Community College in Las Cruces where he spoke to job seekers about interview techniques. He continues to be very enthusiastic about job growth within his own organization and always maintains a positive, progressive attitude. Most importantly, he stays on top of opportunities for training, networking or contracting notices sent out by PTAP.
If you want to know more about PTAP, click here.
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WOSB/EDWOSB Industries Expanded
by Diane Kimbrell Howell
Procurement Advisor
PTAP wants to make small business owners aware of a significant, and positive, change to the WOSB/EDWOSB Program: the number of industries has been expanded by over 30% (as measured by the addition of North American Industry Classification System [NAICS] Codes). On March 3, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) changed its rules for the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program in two ways: 1) They increased the number of eligible NAICS codes and 2) They dramatically increased the percentage of NAICS codes for WOSB compared to those for Economically-Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB).
The background on what prompted the SBA to make these changes is interesting. An amendment to the Small Business Act in 2014 mandated that a new analysis of industries be performed to assess where Woman-Owned Small Businesses are under-represented. The SBA asked the U.S. Department of Commerce to assist with the required study and it was published at the end of 2015. You can read an Article about the report and you can Read the full report using the links in blue.
The report is a valuable read for any small business doing Federal contracting, illuminating the factors that correlate with winning Federal awards. The report made it very clear that woman-owned businesses struggle to win Federal awards at an alarming disadvantage when compared to their competitors. As the only de facto NAICS-driven SBA contracting program, a positive corrective action comes in the expansion of the NAICS codes available for WOSB/EDWOSB set-asides. The industries covered by the combination of both programs increased significantly and there was a movement toward fewer codes being limited to the EDWOSB only. The table below compares the number of NAICS codes in the 2012 list put out by the SBA compared to the number of codes in the 2016 list.
| 2012 | 2016 | |
| Program | # of 6-digit NAICS codes |
|
| EDWOSB | 169 | 81 |
| WOSB | 136 | 365 |
| Total Codes | 305 | 446 |
Only 21 codes were eliminated entirely from the program and with the exception of several codes involving paper product manufacturing, very few of the eliminated codes represent significant government contracting potential (e.g., 488111 Air Traffic Control). There are over 140 new 6-digit codes and most importantly for our PTAP clients here in New Mexico, many construction related codes are now in the program (along with new medical and education industry codes). The EDWOSB now includes waste management and some telecom industry codes.
As mentioned in our February 25th article in the news stream below, the SBA continues to gather feedback on the implementing regulations for changes to the WOSB/EDWOSB Program written into law in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (NDAA). Those of us in the industry await the final publication of the rules adding sole-source contracting authority to WOSB/EDWOSB firms as well as potentially removing the self-certification process.
If you are 51% woman-owned and have not looked into the WOSB/EDWOSB Program before, consider contacting PTAP for an appointment to assist you with how to apply so that you get ahead of the anticipated rush; if you are already certified (either self or third party) you should also contact PTAP to ensure your industry/primary NAICS code remains within the program when the 2016 codes go into effect.
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SBA invites comments on WOSB program
Please join the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy at Fatpipe, ABQ located at 200 Broadway Blvd, NE on Monday, February 29th 3pm-5pm to discuss potential policy changes to the SBA’s Women Owned Small Business certification process.
SBA is inviting commenters to critique the third party national certifying entities currently approved by SBA, as well as the WOSB certification programs available through the SBA’s 8(a) Program and by states that have certified women to be DBEs for the USDOT’s DBE Program.
Over the last few months, the SBA solicited comments on proposed SBA policy changes to the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification process. Though the comment period ended on February 16th, SBA Advocacy is interested in hearing additional feedback so that we can represent your interest before SBA. We are requesting comments from small businesses, entrepreneurs and corresponding stakeholder groups and trade associations on how to best structure the WOSB certification process. SBA Advocacy is particularly seeking feedback related to the existing four (4) approaches to self-certify and ways in which this approach may be better strengthened and streamlined. Additionally, SBA Advocacy is interested in soliciting feedback on grace periods; identification and validation of third party certifiers; identification and validation of state and other federal WOSB certifiers and corresponding processes; and suggested changes/modification to the existing SBA certification process, specifically as it relates to program structure, process time, documentation, and recognition of the WOSB designation via other certifying partner agencies/organizations.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking input and comments on certification of Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB) in connection with the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program (WOSB Program). SBA is planning to amend its regulations to implement section 825 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (2015 NDAA). In the 2015 NDAA, Congress directed SBA to end self-certification for WOSBs and EDWOSBs and implement a certification process. SBA is now soliciting feedback on how to best implement Congress’ directive. Through the advance notice, SBA is providing commenters the ability to suggest what they believe is the most appropriate way to structure the WOSB/EDWOSB certification process before SBA engages in formal rulemaking. Specifically, SBA seeks comments as to the four possible certification approaches. Although the language of Section 825 of the 2015 NDAA authorizes certification by a federal agency, a State government, SBA, or a national certifying entity approved by SBA, SBA requests commenters to weigh in on whether each of the four types should be pursued. SBA also requests comments on whether there should be a grace period after implementation to give firms that have self-certified the time necessary to complete the new certification process, and what should become of the current WOSB repository and whether or not it should be maintained.
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Montech, Inc. is the PTAP Star Client for 2015
Montech, Inc. has been named the Star Client for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) for the year 2015. Principal Monica Jojola and owners of other star client businesses in the New Mexico Small Business Development Center network will be honored at a reception at La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. All Star Clients will be introduced on the floors of the State House and State Senate the following morning.
A New Mexico PTAP client since January 2013, Montech, Inc. serves as an example of how clients attain success. Montech’s primary PTAP counselor Diane Kimbrell Howell says, “Ms. Jojola is doing everything right; she began her business in the staffing industry that she had worked in for years and she started small by seeking sub-contracting opportunities to build her past performance. That track record ultimately demonstrated not only to the SBA 8(a) certifiers (that recently issued her certification in the business development program), but also to the USAF customers here locally that have now awarded her two separate contract vehicles for staffing services. Ms. Jojola not only understands the importance of demonstrated capability, she also has a commitment to marketing discipline, maximizing every opportunity for prospective customer interaction.”
The owner also credits her strategic partnerships and nearly two decades of federal contracting that have led Albuquerque-based Montech Inc. to success since its inception in 2011. The 100 percent American Indian-owned corporation provides federal and state agencies, tribal governments and commercial clients a high-quality workforce and support services for newly awarded projects.
Company Principal Monica Jojola of Isleta Pueblo initially began her business consulting after working at Datacom Sciences and Chickasaw Nation Industries (CNI) for more than 15 years. As director of Business Development at CNI, Ms. Jojola interfaced at the highest federal levels, including briefing commanding officers at the Pentagon and negotiating with senior executives.
“Mid-point in my career, I knew I could build a business earning government contracts,” said Ms. Jojola, who resigned from CNI on a Friday and went to start her own company the following Monday. “With the experience I had gained, I was not quite as fearful of building something on my own.”
As Ms. Jojola began this new venture, she was also acquiring partners and started organizing personnel and resources for the partners that were awarded multimillion competitive contracts. Now Montech is also prime contractor with full-time and part-time employees, including a Catholic priest and a Protestant Religious coordinator who worked at Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB).
“The Procurement Technical Assistance [Program] played a key role in my providing religious services at Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB). While assisting another client, PTAP learned of the base’s need to contract out some religious services requirements. That need would have caused an undue burden on existing personnel for the services by requiring them to start a new company, complete all the necessary registrations, provision back office services and learn how to be fully compliant with all the various statues and regulations, both Federal and state.
PTAP approached my firm and the KAFB customers with a potential solution that was a win for all parties involved: Montech took on the personnel under a staffing contract. Other businesses may not have wanted to take on such small contracts, but ultimately Kirtland awarded Montech multi-year contracts for both religious assemblies. The assistance from the PTAP Albuquerque and Bernalillo offices was invaluable.
The business relationships that you build while doing this work are incredible. These people become your long time partners,” according to Ms. Jojola, who received SBA 8(a) certification in July 2015.
In early 2016, Montech, Inc will be awarded another multi-year contract that PTAP assisted her with – this one for staffing services to provision health and fitness instructors to KAFB.
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Registration is Free; Be Careful What You Pay For
The first step in pursuing government contracts is registering in the System for Award management (SAM), the federal government’s vendor database. There is never a fee to register as a government contractor. For more information, read the Blog written by the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.
