IN THIS ISSUE:
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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Stimulates Information Technology Spending |
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Understanding Federal Contracting |
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• The top 20 Federal Prime Contractors have approximately 34,000 open positions available at any given time
• Each year, over 1 million people either take a new job with a company that supports the Federal Government or change jobs within the industry
• 10.5 million people are working for Federal Government Support Contractors
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Featured Government Support Jobs:
Java Developer
The J2EE Developer is responsible for the technical development of all back-end/mid-tier development and promotion for a Healthcare Management Website. The developer works closely with designers, web developers, system analyst, product and/or subject matter experts to develop solution. View the complete requirements at http://www.governmentsupportjobs.com/Jobs
/2369/Java-Developer-in-Chantily-Virginia.aspx
Real Estate Manager
Responsible for the management and administration of a corporate real estate portfolio. Manages all lease transactions in designated geographical area. Responsible for all aspects of a transaction from requirements analysis, market surveys, site searches, selection recommendation, lease negotiation, space planning, interior design, build-out, furnishings and move-in. Verifies, reconciles and processes operating costs, CAM charges, real estate taxes, utilities and miscellaneous charges received from the Landlord, and update Lease Summaries for each lease as necessary. Participates in policy development. View more at http://www.governmentsupportjobs.com/Jobs/
2349/REAL-ESTATE-MANAGER-in-Fairfax-Virginia.aspx
Be sure to check out these sites for valuable information on upcoming government contracts:
Technical and Acquisition Management Support (TAMS) Jobs
www.TamsJobs.com
Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETAC) Jobs
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Solutions for Information Technology Enterprise (SITE) Jobs
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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Stimulates Information Technology Spending
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act economic stimulus package will provide approximately $2.5 billion to Federal Government agencies for technology spending. The Act funds new and existing federal technology programs, including programs for the Social Security Administration, Department of State, and Department of Homeland Security. Significant technology spending of approximately $101.2 billion will occur between 2009 and 2012 on programs such as the following:
- Social Security Administration (SSA) National Computer Center data center modernization ($500 million)
- SSA's claims processing program ($490 million)
- The Department of Homeland Security data center and law enforcement communications ($340 million)
- State Department security and network assurance technologies ($290 million)
- Institute of Education Science's high-performance computing and predictive services ($250 million)
- Veterans Affairs Department data center and information technology services ($50 million)
- Agriculture Department's Farm Services Agency data center and systems services ($50 million)
The new spending that is programmed for these initiatives will result in increased job opportunities in information technology, management, and associated support.
In Demand – Experienced Personnel
Government contractors are looking for employees who understand how the Government works. Whether your experience comes from the military, civil service, or as an employee of another government contracting company, chances are you have some skills that are in short supply in this industry. If anything, now is the time to look for government contractor jobs in information technology, intelligence, acquisition support, and operations and maintenance. Recent data and industry insiders indicate that the government is growing – often through expanded support contracts.
Information Technology (IT) job openings are projected to outpace qualified candidates, but it's also important to note that there are plenty of opportunities in other types of positions. People usually think of government support jobs as they relate to the defense industry, but the types of skills utilized by government contractors are wide-ranging: mechanics, technicians, medical professionals, engineers, and managers just to name a few examples.
Federal spending for the government support/contracting industry remains steady at over $450 billion annually. While some areas like Washington D.C. are well known for the number of government-related jobs, other cities also have significant job openings. Among the top 5 cities (other than the Washington DC metro area) for government support jobs are Huntsville, AL; Orlando, FL; Colorado Springs, CO; Los Angeles, CA; and Tucson, AZ.
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Understanding Federal Contracting
This is part III of a V part article on the basics of the federal contracting industry which is important to both veteran and newcomers to this job market. In part I we covered the four basic knowledge areas that are important for a job seeker to understand to focus their job search and be prepared for that all important interview. In part II we took a look at “Knowing the end customer”. In this article we will take a more in-depth look at “Understanding Federal Contracting”.
As a person seeking employment in the government sector, it’s important for you to have a basic understanding of how the government buys products and services. This understanding will give you a competitive advantage over other job seekers, and give prospective employers confidence that you really understand the ins and outs of working in the government sector.
Almost every contract job in the government sector is the result of an awarded contract, whether it’s for a product, service or integrated solution. The government puts these contracts in place through the Federal Acquisition System, a complex series of events and activities driven by the desire to obtain quality products and services at a fair and reasonable price, while conducting business with integrity, fairness and openness. The Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR provides the guiding acquisition policy and procedures used by most of the government to execute the acquisition process. The FAR System is managed by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. It is prepared and maintained under the joint authority of the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and NASA.
The FAR is published in a series of “parts,” each of which addresses a specific policy or procedural area. For example, FAR Part 6 provides policy and guidance to help contracting officers determine if they should compete the contract among multiple bidders or issue a “sole source” contract award. When the decision is to compete the work under “full and open competition,” FAR Part 15 provides the policy and guidelines for how to solicit for, evaluate and award contracts. Many of you have probably seen this “negotiated” procurement process in work, as it involves writing competitive proposals in response to Government Requests for Proposals, or RFPs. FAR Part 19 provides policy for Small Business programs, including how government agencies will work with the US Small Business Administration, and how agencies must meet federally mandated small and disadvantaged business requirements. Unless you are looking for a job as a contract administrator you probably don’t need to know much more then this but you can get more information at http://www.acquisition.gov/far/. Reading the FAR is also an excellent sleep aid if you suffer from insomnia.
The Federal Government awards different kinds of contracts to companies depending on the type of product or service being procured. The following is a basic list of the type of contracts the government awards. These are provided to give you a very basic understanding of these types of contracts and familiarize you with the vocabulary of the industry. There are four basic types you should become familiar with:
- Firm Fixed Price (FFP). A firm-fixed-price contract provides for a price that is not subject to any adjustment on the basis of the contractor’s cost experience in performing the contract. This contract type places upon the contractor maximum risk and full responsibility for all costs and resulting profit or loss. It provides maximum incentive for the contractor to control costs and perform effectively and imposes a minimum administrative burden upon the contracting parties.
- Cost-reimbursement. Cost-reimbursement types of contracts provide for payment of allowable incurred costs, to the extent prescribed in the contract. These contracts establish an estimate of total cost for the purpose of obligating funds and establishing a ceiling that the contractor may not exceed (except at its own risk) without the approval of the contracting officer. Common contracts in this category include;
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF)
- Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF)
- Indefinite Quantity/ Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ). An IDIQ contract provides for an indefinite quantity or delivery, within stated limits, of supplies or services during a fixed period. The Government places orders for individual requirements. These contracts are very common in procurements with multiple contractor awards. Individual orders can be placed through a delivery order contract or task order contract under the IDIQ contract umbrella. A delivery order contract means a contract for a supply that does not procure or specify a firm quantity of supplies (other than a minimum or maximum quantity) and that provides for the issuance of orders for the delivery of supplies during the period of the contract. Task order contract means a contract for a service that does not procure or specify a firm quantity of services (other than a minimum or maximum quantity) and that provides for the issuance of orders for the performance of tasks during the period of the contract.
- Time and material (T&M). A time-and-materials contract provides for acquiring supplies or services on the basis of direct labor hours at specified fixed hourly rates that include wages, overhead, general and administrative expenses, and profit; and/or the actual cost for materials.
How do these policies and contract types impact you as a job seeker? Here are three important things to consider:
First, recognize that the companies bidding these contracts must demonstrate their ability to meet and exceed all contract requirements. When the contract is for services, this is typically accomplished by providing resumes of qualified people. Unless they are the incumbent service provider, companies seeking these contracts cannot hire and staff up in advance of award, so they make job offers that are “contingent” on award and funding of the contract.
Second, recognize that price often becomes the overwhelming factor when the government selects the winner. When the contract is for services, the single largest variable cost the bidders have is personnel costs (both in terms of salaries and fringe benefits.) So, you may find yourself in a situation where companies are simply not able to meet your desired salary and benefit requirements you’ve been seeking.
Third, contracts are awarded for set periods that can be as short as weeks or months and as long as five or more years. This is important to know when searching and/or evaluating a job. If you are being considered for a position that is in direct support of a contract it is nice to know how long that contract will be good for before it is completed or it has to be competed again.
In Part IV of this continuing article we will discuss “Understanding the Market”: The federal contracting market has a diverse set of federal clients and contractors who support them. Further, the market itself is heavily influenced by the politics, economic climate and environmental trends of the day. Keeping tuned in to this market will provide you with knowledge of new opportunities and the companies who will capitalize on those opportunities. Part IV will provide an overview of the market and resources you can turn to help you seek out and secure the job you desire.
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