|
USEFUL U.S.
GOVERNMENT
TERMINOLOGY
- 7(j)
Program:
Authorizes
the
U.S Small Business Administration to enter into grants, cooperative
agreements or contracts, with public or private organizations that can
deliver management or technical assistance to eligible individuals and
enterprises. This assistance is delivered to 8(a) certified firms,
small disadvantaged businesses, businesses operating in areas of high
unemployment or low-income or firms owned by low-income individuals. top of page
- 8(a)
Certification: The 8(a)
program is a business development program intended to assist
individuals that are both socially and economically disadvantaged and
have a net worth of less than $250,000. If a currently certified DBE
wishes to become 8(a) certified, it must meet the following criteria:
- Show U.S.
citizen ownership.
- Show a net worth
of less than $250,000, excluding the primary
residence.
- Show potential
for success and good character.
- Show 51 percent
ownership by socially and economically disadvantaged
individuals. top of page
- Business.gov:
Is the official business portal of the Federal Government and provides
guides and resources that help businesses comply with Federal
regulations.
- Central Contractor
Registration (CCR):
Is the primary supplier database for the U.S. Federal government. The
CCR collects data from suppliers, validates and stores this data, and
disseminates it to various government acquisition agencies. top of page
- Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR):
The codification of the general and permanent rules published in the
Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the
Federal Government. It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad
areas subject to Federal regulation. top of page
- Commercial and
Government Entity (CAGE):
A five position code that identifies contractors doing business with
the Federal Government, NATO member nations, and other foreign
governments. The CAGE Code is used to support a variety of mechanized
systems throughout the government and provides for a standardized
method of identifying a given facility at a specific location
- Contract Types
- Simplified Acquisition: Provide an
accelerated route to federal government contracts, cutting through much
of the red tape involved with sealed bids and negotiated procurements.
Simplified acquisitions are typically reserved for smaller-dollar buys,
although they can be used for purchases of commercial items as high as
$5 million. Usually reserved exclusively for Small Businesses —
as long as the federal contract officer can obtain competitive offers
from at least two small companies.
- Micro-purchases: Federal contract
officers can make “micro-purchases” without soliciting competitive
quotations, as long as the contracting official thinks the price is
reasonable and other micro-purchases are distributed fairly among
qualified suppliers.
- Purchase Orders: Government
officials typically issue a purchase order in response to a company’s
oral or written quotation for a federal contract. The purchase order
describes everything the purchaser and seller must know to complete the
transaction, including prices, delivery details, and federal contract
and acquisition numbers. The purchase order is not a binding federal
contract unless the seller accepts the order or performs the required
work.
- Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs):
A federal contracting office typically issues these agreements when the
government wants to make repetitive purchases from a seller over a set
period of time.
- Time and Materials (T&M):
Payments are based on hourly rates and costs of materials used, up to a
not-to-exceed amount.
- Cost-Reimbursement: Reimburses the
Contractor for incurred costs. This pricing arrangement enables
contractors to take on financial risk, but it provides little incentive
to control costs.
- Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF):
Reimburses
the Contractor for costs and adds a negotiated fee (i.e., fixed dollar
amount or percentage).
- Cost-Plus-Incentive-Fee (CPIF):
Reimburses the Contractor for costs and adds a negotiated fee, which is
adjusted by a formula based on target costs, providing an incentive to
keep costs low. Note: This type of contract may also include fee
adjustment as an incentive for the Contractor to meet or surpass
negotiated performance targets.
- Cost-Plus-Award-Fee (CPAF): Consists
of a base fee (which may be zero) and an award fee, determined at
periodic milestones set forth in the Contract.
- Firm-Fixed Price (FFP): The price is
set and fixed by unit of product or measure. FFP contracts impose the
maximum risk on the Contractor and minimum administrative burden on the
customer. top of page
- Fixed-Price Contract with Escalation (FPE):
Establishes a fixed contract price, but provides for adjustment based
on specified contingencies, such as an economic price adjustment. top of page
- Fixed-Price Incentive (FPI): A
fixed-price contract that provides for adjusting profit and
establishing the final contract price by application of a formula based
on the total target cost. top of page
- Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS):
A unique nine-character identification number provided by Dun &
Bradstreet (D&B). top of page
- Defense
Contract
Audit Agency (DCAA): Under the authority, direction,
and control of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), is
responsible for performing all contract audits for the Department of
Defense, and providing accounting and financial advisory services
regarding contracts and subcontracts to all DoD Components responsible
for procurement and contract administration. top of page
- Defense
Logistics Agency (DLA): Is
the largest agency in the United States Department of Defense, with
about 22,000 civilian and military personnel throughout the world. The
agency provides supplies to the military services and supports their
acquisition of weapons and other materiel. top of page
- Department
of
Defense (DoD):
The federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all
agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national
security and the military. top of page
- Department
of
Homeland Security (DHS): Is
entrusted with the critical mission of safeguarding the nation in three
specific areas: improving border security, enhancing chemical security
and strengthening the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). top of page
- e-gov:
The Official Web Site of the President's E-Government Initiative. top of page
- Federal
Acquisition Regulations (FAR): The rules and
regulations by which all contractors selling to the federal government
must comply. top of page
- FedBizOpps.gov:
The single
government point-of-entry for Federal government procurement
opportunities over $25,000. Government buyers are able to publicize
their business opportunities by posting information directly to
FedBizOpps via the Internet. top of page
- FirstGov.gov:
Home page of the US Government's Official Web Portal for all government
transactions, services, and information. top of page
- General
Services Administration (GSA):
Information on a broad spectrum of federal agency support functions,
including recent contractor suspensions, safety initiatives. top of page
- HUBZone Program:
Stimulates economic
development and creates jobs in urban and rural communities by
providing Federal contracting preferences to small businesses. These
preferences go to small businesses that obtain HUBZone (Historically
Underutilized Business Zone) certification in part by employing staff
who live in a HUBZone. top of page
- My Biz for
Women: The portal provides easy, one-stop online access to
government business resources, research, tools, and tips from
successful women entrepreneurs. top of page
- North American Industry
Classification
System (NAICS): An industry classification system used by
statistical agencies to facilitate the collection, tabulation,
presentation, and analysis of data relating to establishments. NAICS is
erected on a production-oriented conceptual framework that groups
establishments into industries according to similarity in the process
used to produce goods or services. Under NAICS, an establishment is
classified to one industry based on its primary activity. top of page
- SBA
Office of
Veteran’s Business Development (OVBD): Is dedicated
to
serving the veteran entrepreneur by formulating, executing and
promoting policies and programs of the agency that provides assistance
to veterans seeking to start and develop small businesses. top of page
- Service-Disabled
Veteran-Owned Small
Business Concerns (SDVOSBC): This procurement program provides
that Federal contracting officers may restrict competition to SDVOSBCs
and award a sole source or set-aside contract where certain criteria
are met. top of page
- Small
Business Administration (SBA): The mission of the off ice of SBA is
to maintain and strengthen the Nation’s economy by aiding, counseling,
assisting, and protecting the interests of small businesses. top of page
- Womanbiz.gov:
Useful information and links specifically focused on the woman business
owner interested in doing business with the Federal government. top of page
- Women-Owned Small
Business (WOSB): A
small business concern—(a) which is at least 51 percent owned by one or
more women; or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51
percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women; and (b)
whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or
more women."
|
| |
|
