Federal Sales
Alliant: Better Late Than Never
By Richard White
Nov 25, 2006, 13:04

Editor's Note: The Alliant Small Business procurement questions and answers were published this week at FedBizOpps and the due date for proposals remains November 17, 2006. If anything, the answers to the questions made it absolutely clear that GSA is not relaxing any of its original requirements.

Somewhat like CNN, we are providing a list of the most frequent questions we are asked concerning the Alliant Small Business procurement. Our responses are provided in reverse order in terms of the frequency in which the questions arise.

(10) How did GSA arrive at the estimated contract amount of $15 billion over 10 years?

Answer: We presume GSA made an educated guess based on current and projected GSA Schedule expenditures, Government-wide Acquisition Contract expenditures and information technology budget amounts.

(9) Assuming that GSA eventually awards approximately forty (40) Alliant contracts, a company which receives an award would average $38 million per year (using straight-line averaging) in contract revenue. If the foregoing were true, wouldn't the average Alliant contract holder become a large business within a year or two of winning the award?

Answer: Yes, but isn't this the type of problem most businesses would welcome with open arms? But straight-line averaging can be deceiving because annual contract amounts are likely to be the largest in later years as the contract gains momentum.

(8) Why did GSA specify such stringent accounting system and secure facility requirements?

Answer: GSA is clearly catering to the Department of Defense (DOD) as DOD is GSA's largest customer. GSA's source of funding is decreasing due to a downturn in DOD business.

(7) Will GSA remove the accounting system and secure facility requirements when it addresses the questions that arose as a result of the web cast?

Answer: No (See answer to Question 8).

(6) Why are my e-mail messages to prospective joint venture partners being ignored?

Answer: Everyone wants to join but few want to lead. Existing DOD contractors that are able to meet GSA's stringent accounting system and secure facility requirements most likely don't need to bid as a joint venture and those large, small businesses that are leading a joint venture found partners months ago.

(5) How do I find a joint venture to join?

Answer: Use the telephone, not e-mail. Go to the interested vendor list at the GSA Alliant Small Business web site and just keep dialing.

(4) Can we still get a proposal done by the November 17 due date if we are just getting started?

Answer: Yes, if you are bidding alone or have already selected your joint venture partners. Doing so will require intense focus and the tough part will be the Basic Contract Plan. Of course, we have a solution if your Basic Contract Plan is not written.

(3) Will GSA modify the Request for Proposal based on the questions raised during the web cast?

Answer: GSA modified the Request for Proposal slightly but just to clarify issues. No substantive changes were made to the RFP.

(2) Isn't GSA making it clear that they want companies or joint ventures with a wide range of information technology experience?

Answer: Yes.

(1) Why so much interest in Alliant Small Business?

Answer: $15 billion

The Alliant Basic Contract Plan

Save Thousands of Dollars in Costs Associated with Writing a Proposal in Response to the Alliant Procurements.

Fedmarket.com has developed an innovative, new product that will help companies save substantial sums of money. Fedmarket is offering its Alliant Basic Contract Plan. We have created model text that will assist companies in preparing their Alliant Basic Contract Plans. The requirements for the Basic Contract Plan are the same for the Alliant and Alliant Small Business procurements. The model text was developed Richard White using CRMFederal, Fedmarket's proposal-writing software. Mr. White is CEO of Fedmarket.com and the author of CRMFederal.

The Basic Contract Plan model text, provided in Word format, is designed to be refined and modified by companies submitting a proposal in response to the Alliant procurements. Customers using the product may add company-specific information or text to the model plan in order to make the Basic Contract Plan specific to each company's qualifications and experience. The model plan provided is approximately 35 pages. Once a user has refined the model text, they will have a completed Basic Contract Plan that is within the 30-page limit specified in the Alliant Request for Proposals. Fedmarket's Alliant Basic Contract Plan product can save customers person weeks in time spent on the project thereby freeing your staff up to spend more time refining other parts of your Alliant proposal.

*** BUY NOW!

Price: $2,000

Call Matt Hankes at 301.652.9504, Ext. 126 for more information.

Joint Venture Agreement Development

Sample Joint Venture Agreement for Alliant Small Business

Fedmarket.com is now offering a sample joint venture agreement for Alliant Small Business. The sample agreement was not developed by lawyers and should not be construed as legal advice. Joint ventures using the sample agreement should have the draft version of their specific agreement reviewed by legal counsel for compliance with federal and state laws.

The sample was developed to illustrate joint venture responsibilities and profit sharing methodologies that are be compliant with the Alliant Small Business Request for Proposal issued by the General Services Administration.

The sample agreement addresses:

• The DCAA approved accounting system and secure facility requirements specified in the RFP
• Other specific RFP requirements for joint ventures
• A practical methodology for profit sharing among the joint venture partners

*** BUY NOW!

Price: $2000
Call 301-652-9504 EXT. 126 for more information.

Legal Services

G&M Legal Services (G&M) is a Washington D.C. area law firm focusing in government procurement law at affordable rates for small businesses. G&M understands small businesses infrastructures, revenue goals, and business concerns and its overhead and administrative costs allow the firm to offer services at very competitive rates. The firm's focus is to help clients in the government market review and evaluate RFPs, negotiate prime and subcontracts, negotiate joint venture and reseller agreements, and provide assistance with government compliance issues such as price reductions, defective pricing, and false claims. The firm also assists client's with representations and certifications, conflicts of interest, small business requirements, subcontracting plans, and Buy America Act and Trade Agreements Act issues.

For more information on joint ventures for the Alliant Small Business call Matt Hankes at 301.652.9504 EXT. 126.