Month: January 2022

Karen Viera: Doctor, CEO, and SBA Award Winner

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Learn from the doctor, CEO, and SBA Award Winner, Karen Viera, on how you don’t have to be an 8a certified to do business with the government!

BACKGROUND

Born in Barbados, Dr. Karen Viera came to Florida at the age of 18 to attend the Florida Institute of Technology.

She has a master’s in management, a doctorate in Biomedical Sciences, and is a proud graduate of the SBA Emerging Leaders program.

She is also the founder and CEO of The Med Writers, a company providing writing and consulting services for the food, supplement, and biotech industries. 

Apart from that, she also founded Make a Supplement, a team of scientists and doctors who work on any supplement and health-related projects. 

Dr. Karen Vieira is the SBA Miami’s 2018 Woman-Owned Small Business Person of the Year.

BUILDING HER BUSINESSES

Dr. Viera really loves writing, and she started writing on a freelance basis.

Then, when there was more work than she could handle, that’s when she started to subcontract it to some of her school friends. 

The small project then grew and was eventually incorporated as The Med Writers.

She then started learning more about building a successful business through reading a handful of books and resources and joining different programs. 

She even joined the SBA Emerging Leaders Program, as well as other related programs, to learn about the government space.

“Both of those programs made me stop, evaluate my business, ‘Where am I at? Where am I headed?’ Create a plan, a three-year, five-year kind of plan, and then start back on my trajectory, rather than continuing blindly.”

Meanwhile, she also built Make a Supplement in order to help a handful of people to get their supplements off the ground. They help them with the writings and marketing for the supplement. 

ADVICE FOR ENTREPRENEURS

1. Run your business right. 

Stop running your business like it’s an afterthought. Instead, your business should come first. 

With this in mind, don’t let anything hold you back. Remember, the world is your playground, and anything you want to accomplish in life, you can do if you set your mind to it.

“Don’t overthink it, just do it. Put one foot in front of the other. Figure (it) out.”

2. Small businesses don’t show up in other markets. 

As competitive as other markets might be, there are still a handful of niches where nobody is showing up. 

So, what you need to do is to respond to it. If it’s out of your league, you might want to work with a prime or tell other small businesses. 

Consider that if no small businesses show up, most opportunities will just be handed directly to huge corporations. 

3. Go for opportunities that suit your business.

The biggest misconception that people have is that most 8a businesses got their contracts because of their certification.

That idea is not true because these 8a businesses still need to bid and respond to sources sought notices. 

Besides, there are a handful of variables that come with an award. For example, the federal buyer might want to award it because they’re the lowest bidder, or they just provide the necessary solution, among others. 

So, you need to know your business and your numbers and then bid for opportunities that make sense for your products and services. 

4. Be better at writing proposals.

One skill that you need is being able to write a good proposal.

Consider that these federal buyers want responses that follow the format, so if you don’t follow the format or don’t really know how to write well, then you might not be evaluated at all. 

This is why Dr. Viera recommends having different people on the team with different expertise related to what you offer and others who are more specialized in the technical writing stuff.

“Keep it simple. Don’t overcomplicate things, and don’t overanalyze things. Just do it. Action.”

RESOURCES

If you want to learn more about how SBA Award Winner Dr. Karen Viera built her business, then be sure to click the resources below.

You can also visit the GovCon Giant website or the new GovCon Edu, where you learn everything about government contracting!

10: Medical writing, proposal writing, CEO and SBA Award Winner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP8gSzEV0SY

 

Ology Bioservices Inc Awarded $176M to advance the botulinum antitoxin monoclonal antibody cocktail

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Ology Bioservices Inc.,* Alachua, Florida, was awarded a $176,286,308 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to advance the botulinum antitoxin monoclonal antibody cocktail (Anti-BoNT A/B Drug Product G03-52-01) to Food and Drug Administration licensure. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 3, 2028. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911SR-22-D-0009).

Ology Bioservices, Inc. is located in Alachua, FL, United States and is part of the Scientific Research and Development Services Industry. Ology Bioservices, Inc. has 103 total employees across all of its locations and generates $26.62 million in sales (USD). (Sales figure is modelled). There are 5 companies in the Ology Bioservices, Inc. corporate family. (www.dnb.com)

SOURCES SOUGHT: U.S. Government request for lease proposals, recruiting space, Denham Springs, LA

Posted on by Eric Coffie

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking to lease approximately 1,600 gross square feet of existing Class A or B retail space, in the Denham Springs area specifically in zip code 70726. The ideal space would fit the following: building specifications in compliance with all federal, state and local ordinances; force protection standards in compliance with Department of Defense’s Unified Facility Criteria; outfitted with either designated or open parking. An initial five year lease is intended. Space must be ready for occupancy by 31 January 2022.

Expressions of interest should include the following:

  • Building name and address
  • Floor plan drawing
  • Digital photo of a street view of property -Area (BOMA rentable square feet & BOMA usable square feet) -Rental rate per square foot rentable space Common area factor (s) for available space, if applicable

Interested parties may contact: Will Johnston at U. S. Army Corps of Engineers,

ATTN: CESWF-RE-A (Johnston), 819 Taylor Street, Rm 2A06, Fort Worth, TX 76102-0300; 817-886-1120; or [email protected], no later than 30 January 2022.

  • Original Set Aside: Partial Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
  • Product Service Code:
  • NAICS Code:
  • Place of Performance: Denham Springs, LA 70726 USA
  • Original Response Date: Jan 30, 2022, 05:00 pm CST

Full details via beta.sam.gov

 

Canadian Commercial Corp Awarded $70M for the Wescam Aggregate Services Plan

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Canadian Commercial Corp., Ottawa, Canada, has been awarded a $70,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the Wescam Aggregate Services Plan. This contract provides for the continuation of contractor logistics support for the three configurations of L-3 Communications/Wescam MX Electro/Optical Infrared (EO/IR) Sensor System line replaceable units installed on the AC-130U/W/J. The contract also provides for on-site support to include field level repair and troubleshooting in deployed locations in foreign countries, and operator familiarization training. Work will be performed at Hurlburt Field, Florida; and Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2028. Fiscal 2021 procurement funds in the amount of $10,843,410 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins AFB, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8509-22-C-0004).

Canadian Commercial Corporation is located in Ottawa, ON, Canada and is part of the Administration of Economic Programs Industry. Canadian Commercial Corporation has 120 total employees across all of its locations and generates $13.69 million in sales (USD). There are 10,786 companies in the Canadian Commercial Corporation corporate family. (www.dnb.com)

Finding Bidders For “No Certification Needed” Contracts

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Believe it or not, there are contracts amounting to $90 million, and no one is bidding on them. These are “No Certification Needed” Contracts and no one is showing up!  

If these contracts get lucky, maybe a maximum of three but generally, there aren’t enough people showing interest. 

We often hear complaints as to why there aren’t any opportunities in the federal arena for small businesses but there are six-digit contracts and up, sitting on the shelf, waiting for capable people to come through.

FINDING POOL CONTRACTS

In every local city or municipality, there is a list of what’s called “pool contracts.” When people ask me where or how they can start in the federal arena, this is probably their best bet.

When you get on the list of the pool contractors, all you need to do is just qualify for them. No certification is needed! They just require you to pre-qualify your business to whatever they’re asking for. 

If you want to sell fuel or gasoline, they’d require you to have a specific license, but that’s it.

The list shows everything from debris removal to pest control to elevators and golf carts. They have everything! They also tell you who is on the contract, and see if there are five or ten or four vendors.

If you want to compare it to the federal government’s IDIQs or GSA like their GWACs or BMOs, or things of that nature, these pool contracts are those multi-year contract vehicles that you work your butt off to qualify to get on.

1. Go to your local city or municipality.

Each city or municipality has pool contracts. When you go through the list, often, you find multi-million dollar contracts with one or two people bidding on it. 

With that information, the odds of you winning the contract is significant. So, figure out if you can qualify to get in those pool contracts, and get the wins that you deserve.

If this is all new to you, don’t worry! Your local municipality has Small Business Representatives and they can help you out with that. 

2. Build a relationship with the vendors.

Most people may think that the bidding process is the hardest part of this whole thing, but the truth is it’s building relationships with your vendor and supplier.

After going through the pool contracts, you want to find a supplier or vendor that’s going to give you credit terms. 

When you’re able to do that, you don’t have to worry about paying the money upfront, so that eliminates you having to have credit and spending your money. It also ensures the quality is going to be there.

GOVCON GIANTS CHALLENGE 

For people who’ve known the GovCon Giants, for quite some time now, you’d know that state and local contracts aren’t exactly the contracts that we go for. 

So, it might be confusing as to why I am telling you right now to go locaHowever, l. I realize that not everyone is confident yet to go for opportunities in the federal arena which is more complex and extensive.

But there’s really no shame if you’d want to go for these low-hanging fruit contracts before jumping out there to massive contract opportunities. It’s pretty strategic because this is an excellent way for you to navigate the government contracting space, plus you would be able to build relationships. 

Having said that, I challenge you to make a commitment over the next 90 days to get off the sidelines and get on the field. Stop with all your excuses! If you’ve been with us for quite some time then you’ve had enough practice. 

How do you expect to play if you are not in the loop and not on the field? You’ve got to get off the sidelines. You cannot play in the game, watching on the sidelines, watching it on TV. You have to get in the field.

RESOURCES

If you want to learn more about the tips and tricks in winning government contracts, then join us here at GovCon Giants.

You could also visit our website and other social media platforms or check the new GovCon Edu, where you learn everything about government contracting!

To learn more about the topic above, check these resources below:

Debris Removal and Hurricane pools are still at all-time lows in May

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDHtL1c1auc 

Bidders needed for low hanging fruit contracts .. no certifications required

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS9Lq_dhEfc 

118: Eric Coffie – My crypto journey and what the government is trying to do with crypto wallets

Posted on by Eric Coffie

With all the buzz circling the universe around crypto NFT’s Web3 and Defi I thought it fitting that we make a video detailing my ventures into the crypto space.

It was not long ago 2017 that I was hearing the buzz about bitcoin. A new type of currency being traded amongst really smart tech people or friends of tech people in this underground type of manner.

Without having any prior knowledge I realized that this was going to be the next big deal and I wanted in.

Today’s podcast highlights some ups and downs of my adventures in the crypto space. But also more importantly what is the government role in this new marketplace. We look at some recent public requests from the government to curtail people hiding money in wallets and finding ways insert themselves into the next internet wave of the future.

Hope you enjoy this next 90 minutes with me on my Crypto journey.

Click here to view the Youtube Video.

SOURCES SOUGHT: Interim Link-16 Capability for HC-130J

Posted on by Eric Coffie

This request for information/sources sought is published for market research purposes only. The purpose of this subject task order description is to define the requirements for the integration of a Line of Sight (LOS) Data Link 16 radio on up to twenty two (22) HC-130J aircraft using portions of the Airborne Mission Networking (AbMN) system developed for the MC-130J and EC-130J to ensure compatibility between the SACU, LOS data Link‑16, and AbMN software on the HC-130J aircraft.

Contractor shall integrate a government furnished Multifunctional Information Distribution System – Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS-JTRS) LOS data Link 16 radio on up to twenty two (22) HC-130J aircraft using portions of the Airborne Mission Networking (AbMN) system developed for the MC-130J and EC-130J to ensure compatibility between the SACU, LOS data Link‑16, and AbMN software on the HC-130J aircraft.

Contractor shall perform one (1) Trial Kit, one (1) Kit Proof, and up to Twenty (20) Production installations.
There shall be no degradation of current HC-130J systems (i.e. Vortex, SADL, AFTRS-R, PRC-117G, etc.).

  • Original Set Aside:
  • Product Service Code:
  • NAICS Code: 336411 – Aircraft Manufacturing
  • Place of Performance: USA
  • Original Response Date: Jan 28, 2022 05:00 pm EST

Full details via beta.sam.gov

 

Humana Government Business Inc Awarded $121M for T2017 East Managed Care Service Contract (HT9402-16-C-0001)

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Humana Government Business Inc., Louisville, Kentucky, was awarded a $121,895,674 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price T2017 East Managed Care Service Contract (HT9402-16-C-0001). This modification implements changes to the Military Health System required by the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, specifically, the replacement of TRICARE Extra and TRICARE Standard health programs with TRICARE Select. Work will be performed throughout the eastern region of the continental U.S. at military service component sites, contractor call center, and within an integrated healthcare provider network, with a period of performance of Jan. 1, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 operation and maintenance funds are being obligated at time of award. The Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Dec. 14, 2021)

Humana Government Business, Inc. is located in Louisville, KY, United States and is part of the Insurance Carriers Industry. Humana Government Business, Inc. has 19,000 total employees across all of its locations and generates $1.15 billion in sales (USD). (Sales figure is modelled). There are 690 companies in the Humana Government Business, Inc. corporate family. (www.dnb.com)

SOURCES SOUGHT: Real Estate Brokerage Services for OCC Retail Space

Posted on by Eric Coffie

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is requesting information from all qualified vendors to determine whether capability and interest exists for Real Estate Brokerage Services for the OCC Retail Space requirement.

This Sources Sought is intended to inform the OCC on the current status of industry sources that can provide real estate brokerage services for OCC retail space. Your responses to the draft statement of work will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

  • Original Set Aside:
  • Product Service Code: X1JZ – LEASE/RENTAL OF MISCELLANEOUS BUILDINGS
  • NAICS Code: 5312 – Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers
  • Place of Performance:Washington , DC 20219 USA
  • Original Response Date: Jan 24, 2022 01:00 pm EST

Full details via beta.sam.gov

 

Stryker Orthopaedics Corp Awarded $491M for cardiovascular procedural packages and supplies.

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Stryker Orthopaedics Corp., Mahwah, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $491,835,235 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for cardiovascular procedural packages and supplies. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is New Jersey, with a Feb. 5, 2027, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2022 through 2027 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-22-D-0005).

Stryker Corporation is located in Mahwah, NJ, United States and is part of the Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing Industry. Stryker Corporation has 412 employees at this location. There are 294 companies in the Stryker Corporation corporate family.(www.dnb.com)