Fall FSS Update
Recently, the Coalition for Government Procurement (www.thecgp.org) hosted a meeting with procurement leadership from VA’s National Acquisition Center (NAC) in Chicago, IL. It was fantastic to have a follow-up to the information provided at this spring’s NAC Healthcare Industry Day. Dan Shearer, the FSS Service Director, provided some interesting facts and figures about the health of the FSS Service.
Commitment to personnel management and performance
FSS has implemented annual contract management reviews. By routinizing this process each CS will gain a full understanding and ownership of their assigned contract.
The hope is that this will also simplify the extension review process by keeping track of performance annually throughout the first 5-years of contract performance (instead of reviewing 5-years of performance at one time).
Authority to hire 6-journeymen CS
The FSS Service is at 95% staffing capacity (83 of 87 FTEs)
The goal is to limit the number of contracts managed by each CS to 25. Currently, the average contract load is 30 – as the Service gets closer to full capacity the expectation is that the contract load will decrease thereby allowing the CS to meet stated work product goals.
Fast Track Program
Mr. Shearer clarified that this is not an official program within the Service – there is not an official policy about what offers qualify.
Fast Track does exist in that it is a prioritization done by the Chiefs – the more intelligence (market research; price comparisons; best offered pricing, terms, and conditions) the faster your assigned CS can determine the economic value of your proposal.
Streamlining Contract Extensions
FSS is reviewing internal guidance (PG22) with regards to contract extensions. They are considering exercising their post-award audit right after contract extension.
By exercising their post-award audit right after contract extension FSS hopes to drastically shorten the contract extension process; however, this could mean a heavier burden on contractors after the extension.
For FY2020 FSS is focused on speed, choice, value, and quality. To meet these goals, FSS has implemented some interesting (and much needed) changes:
The 66III Cost-Per-Test, Clinical Laboratory Analyzer Schedule program is now an Evergreen Contract! 66III contractors now enjoy a 5-year base contract period with three 5-year option periods, for a total contract life of 20-years. If the Evergreen option is successful under 66III program, FSS believes that they will be able to expand to other Schedule programs.
Starting January 2020, small business subcontracting plans (SBSP) will be reviewed and executed by your assigned CS – this will no longer be a centralized process.
FSS has added a line item count to the offer intake database. This will help the Chiefs to better manage CS workload, prioritize offers, and assess customer impact.
FSS spent much of the early fall updating the modification forms for Pharmaceuticals and Commodities (to include 66III). Before you submit your next mod request be sure to download the current forms.
There have been a lot of changes since we last spoke with FSS – many of them for the better. FSS is facing a crisis as VA moves toward DOD contracting vehicles (DAPA, eCAT, DMMLS, and Prime Vendor programs) – but Mr. Shearer is trying to keep the Service relevant.
Orlaithe is here to help you navigate the ever-changing world of federal healthcare procurement. Contact us today for help with your FSS proposal, contract administration, GSA Advantage! SIP uploads, related contract vehicle submissions, subcontracting plan development, FBO search criteria, and creating contracting processes + guidelines.
Whatever your federal healthcare contracting needs, Orlaithe is here to help – with passion, diligence, and experience.
Hannah Zerphey, Managing Member | (708) 870-2332 | hannah@orlaitheconsulting.com
Greg Madden, Managing Member | (331) 250-0814 | greg@orlaitheconsulting.com