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DIRECTOR’S NOTE

302 S. Gammon Road Madison, WI 53717

Office: 608.243.4490 askBPAC@madisoncollege.edu

http://madisoncollege.edu/bpac

MAY 2013

Director’s Note

A Beginners Guide to Obtain a GSA Schedule

DLA Enforcing Quality Standards

Braddock’s Procurement Opportunities Guide

SAM Scam and Security Breach

Congratulations, You were awarded a Government Contract

DLA Requires DNA Marking to Combat Counterfeit Parts

Cage Codes: What, Why, How

Events

This is the last newsletter you will receive from the Business Procurement Assistance Center (BPAC). Due to new financial realities brought on by policy and economic changes in our State and District, Madison College cannot provide the cash match to support our Center beyond the current grant term which ends on July 31, 2013. Madison College’s strategic focus is being redirected to core programs and services that are directly linked to our role as first point of access to higher education in the District due to budgetary shortages.

Madison College has been the primary supporter along with Moraine Park Technical College and other Wisconsin Tech Colleges since 1988. Madison College has been a great host and we have enjoyed our time here.

During BPAC’s operation we have been credited with assisting Wisconsin companies win contracts and subcontracts valued over $5.1 Billion. According to the Department of Defense these contracts have created or retained over 220,000 Dane County and Wisconsin jobs.

As Program Manager, I have pursued alternative sources of funding and continue to explore other options to continue the valuable services we provide. As of the publication date of this newsletter no additional funding has been found.

There are two other Procurement Technical Assistance Center in the State of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Procurement Institute located in Milwaukee and FACC PTAC –Tribal Procurement Technical Assistance Center serves American Indian Tribes and American Indian-owned businesses, main office in Green Bay.

Businesses wishing to continue their Bid Match Program subscription will need to contact Outreach Systems for contract rates. (Sales: sales@outreachsystems.com or 805-965-9695).

We will continue to provide all of our services and training until we close the end of July. If there is anything we can do to decrease the impact on your business, please let us know.

Sincerely, Alphonso Cooper Program Manager

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A Beginners Guide to Obtain a GSA Schedule By Saundra Schroud

The GSA Schedules program offers great opportunities for both large and small businesses. Becoming a Schedules contractor may take a significant investment of time and resources. It is also important to recognize being on a GSA Schedule is no guarantee of government sales. Here are the steps needed to obtain a GSA Schedule:

1. Whether you are planning to obtain a GSA Schedules contract or not, you will need to obtain a free DUNS number from D&B to do business with the Federal government. Obtain a number at: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/CCRSearch.do

2. Register your company with the Systems For Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/

3. To succeed as a GSA Schedule contractor, you need: a. Two years’ experience in Federal contracting either as a prime or subcontractor b. Commercial sales c. 20 or more clients for your past performance rating. d. Financial stability (must provide two-years of financial statements) e. Compliance with the Trade Agreements Act

4. Research whether this is a good business decision a. Do you have the resources to pursue a Schedules contract? b. Do you have the time to market your Schedule to various federal agencies? c. Do you have the time to compete for business once on a Schedules contract? d. Do the products and/or services you offer fit with a Schedules solicitation? e. Can you compete with the pricing of current Schedules contractors? Review pricelists in GSA Advantage!® to compare your pricing to those vendors already on the schedule.

5. Identify the proper Schedule for your product and/or service a. Use the GSA eLibrary to research what Schedules your competitors are on b. Identify the NAICS Code that best describes your product and/or services; using the GSA eLibrary search Schedules using your NAICS code

6. Select the applicable SINs (categories) a. You do not have to provide all the products/services under a SIN b. At least one of the NAICS Codes identified in the solicitation for the selected SIN(s) needs to be listed in your SAM registration

Marketing to the Federal Government You’ve searched some of the federal government websites and have located a contracting opportunity. Or perhaps you have identified several federal agencies and a major prime contractor that buys your product or service. What do you do next? You need to differentiate your company from the competition. Learn how by taking this class! June 6, 2013 - West Bend

A Beginners Guide to Obtain a GSA Schedule - Continued Page 3

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A Beginners Guide to Obtain a GSA Schedule—continued

7. Respond to the Solicitation a. Go to FedBizOpps to download the solicitation files and instructions b. Read all the documents thoroughly c. Follow the instructions d. Contact BPAC for assistance

8. You need a D&B Open Ratings Past Performance Assessment report a. Report valid for one year therefore order the report six weeks prior to submittal b. Upload a copy of the report with a completed copy of the order form with your eOffer c. Address all negative feedback

9. Submit your response via eOffer a. You will need a digital certificate which is tied to a specific person and computer b. At least one certificate needs to be for an authorized negotiator with signature authority c. Purchase digital certificates six weeks prior to submittal d. As you complete and finalize documents, upload them into your eOffer e. After the final review, the negotiator with signature authority needs to “submit” the offer. Hitting the submit offer is your signature and will generate your SF1449

10. After you submit your offer, the system will auto-generate a receipt and send it via email a. A contracting officer (CO) will be assigned to review your offer b. The CO can request clarifications and additional information. Respond to these requests on a timely basis c. Once the CO completes the review of your offer, he/she will set up a time to negotiate price and other terms and conditions d. After the negotiations, you may need to prepare a Final Proposal Revision (FPR) which synopsizes your final proposal and includes the pricing as negotiated with the CO.

11. CO awards you a contract a. GSA Schedule contract number is assigned b. Award letter and a copy of the contract are sent to your firm c. Start to pursue opportunities against your GSA contract d. Upload pricing list to the GSA Advantage!®

Finding Federal Opportunities Do you spend hours searching FedBizOpps and still cannot find a solicitation that is perfect for your firm? Would you like to find agencies procurement forecasts? By attending this seminar, you will learn how to find procurement forecasts, how to register in FBO, how to set-up search agents to do the endless search for you, how to add your firm to an “Interested Vendor’s List” and place an opportunity on your “Watch List”. May 2, 2013 - Beaver Dam June 12, 2013 - Webinar

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Defense Logistic Agency Enforcing Quality Standards By Dave Olson

The Supplier Information Resource Center of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Land and Maritime, in a news release on 12/4/2012, announced that higher-level Quality Standards in some solicitations will be enforced effective February 1, 2013. Solicitations containing contract clause FAR 52.246-11, entitled “Higher Level Quality Requirement (FEB 1999) require compliance with ISO 9001:2008 or an equivalent quality standard. In contracts for complex or critical items, and when the contracting officer in consultation with technical personnel find it in the Government’s best interest, the higher-level quality standards will be monitored and contract clause FAR 52.246-11 will be included in the solicitation and resultant contract. What does that mean to prime contractors and subcontractors that want to do business with the DLA via their DIBBS site? The requirement has been in some solicitations since its conception in 1999; however, now it will be totally enforced. The DLA indicate in their news release that alternate quality programs, similar to the ISO 9001:2008 may be acceptable. You don’t have to invest in the certification process. The offeror will have to provide details in their offer. According to a Quality Product Specialist at DCMA Columbus, the procedure for a one-time submittal of your quality plan is to submit the details in writing to the contracting officer listed in the solicitation. They will in-turn, forward it to the Quality Product Specialist for review. This specialist said that since there are various levels in a quality system, they recommend you tailor your plain to the higher level quality program. Then the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) will send someone out to verify the quality system in place. Also, this requirement only applies to those solicitations which contain contract clause FAR 52.246-11. That is why it is necessary to review each solicitation in detail before submitting an offer. For more information or to view the FAR visit: http://farsite.hill.af.mil/

Selling to the State of Wisconsin The State of Wisconsin spent $1.2 billion on contracts in FY 2012. This comprehensive training seminar provides a foundation for contracting with the State of Wisconsin. Included are websites and techniques to find State purchasing opportunities for your company. May 9, 2013 - Webinar June 6, 2013 - West Bend

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Braddock’s Procurement Opportunities Guide By Jessica Esse

Braddock's Procurement Opportunities Guide - 2013 Edition is a primer designed to help small-business owners and decision-makers understand the government procurement and private-sector procurement spaces. It provides an overview of government and corporate markets with an emphasis on who buys and how buying decisions are made. It also presents "next-step" resources for federal and state governments and the private sector. Topics include: Selling to the Federal Government/State Governments Selling to Large Corporations Selling to Foreign Governments and International Organizations "Green" Procurement Special Resources for Women-, Minority-, or Veteran-Owned

Businesses A glossary of procurement-related terms is included, as well as a

procurement preparation checklist, information about teaming agreements and joint ventures, and more.

This special Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) PDF edition of Braddock's Procurement Opportunities Guide is available at no charge to Procurement Technical Assistance Center staff members and clients thanks to the generous support of Microsoft Corporation. Download your free copy at: https://netforum.avectra.com We hope you find this resource useful. As always, we at the Business Procurement Assistance Center stand ready to answer any questions you may have and help you take the next steps in your government contracting pursuits.

Architect—Engineering Acquisition Process The federal government spends between $7—$12 billion on A&E services annually. The A&E acquisition process is different from all the other contracting processes: pricing is not part of the selection process. Your firm’s qualifications (SF 330) are used to determine the highest qualified firm with whom the Government negotiates price. Learn how to set your SF330 apart from your competition. This class provides a step-by-step guide to complete a compelling SF 330 Part I and Part II. May 14, 2013 - Webinar

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SAM Scam By Jessica Esse

Assistance vendors are something that businesses must deal with on a regular basis. If you are involved with federal contracting you no doubt have received an email or phone call from one of these vendors asking for payment to help you with your GSA, CCR, ORCA, or other federal registrations. Please note that the Business Procurement Assistance Cen-ter is here to assist you with those registrations as well and we do not charge for those services. One assistance vendor, US Federal Contractor Registration, is targeting companies that are "in process" in SAM. This vendor is sending businesses a request for information from a SAM Case Manager. Below is the e-mail received by one business: "Subject: Incomplete SAM Registration Important information is still needed to finish your registrations. To com-plete the process of your recently started registrations, we are missing important information. Please contact me upon receipt of this email to prevent further delay in your registration. Your registration cannot be completed until we receive this information. Nicketa Flourney, Case Manager, nflourney@usfcrgov.com" Please note that this email is not from the SAM.Gov support staff and is from an assistance vendor hoping to collect a fee to help you with your SAM.Gov registration. Remember that the website for SAM is www.sam.gov not sam.com. If you receive communication regarding government contracting asking for payment in return for assistance please contact the Business Procurement Assistance Center to help de-termine if the source is legitimate or if BPAC can provide that assistance for free. SAM Security Breach By Jessica Esse

The System for Award Management (SAM) website was launched in July 2013. All businesses that were registered in CCR (Central Contractor Registration) and/or ORCA (Online Representations and Certifications Application) had the information merged into those sites over to the SAM.gov website. This merge of businesses’ information was completed for all businesses. The SAM website is managed by the General Services Administration (GSA). On Friday March, 16 2013 the Business Procurement Assistance Center was notified that SAM.Gov had experienced a security breach. It is our understanding that the security breach has since been reconciled; how-ever some of your secure information was made available to others. Please review the communication that some of our clients have re-ceived from GSA regarding this security breach. If you have any ques-tions please contact BPAC at (608) 243-4490.

Getting Started in Federal Contracting The U.S. Government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world. This entry-level seminar provides a solid orientation to federal contracting. Topics include an overview of the federal government procurement process, mandatory government databases and small business certifications. May 15, 2013 - Webinar July 16, 2013 - Webinar

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SAM Security Breach– Continued The below email was sent to some businesses and gives an overview of the security breach: “Dear SAM user The General Services Administration (GSA) recently has identified a security vulnerability in the System for Award Management (SAM), which is part of the cross-government Integrat-ed Award Environment (IAE) managed by GSA. Registered SAM users with entity adminis-trator rights and delegated entity registration rights had the ability to view any entity’s reg-istration information, including both public and non-public data at all sensitivity levels. Immediately after the vulnerability was identified, GSA implemented a software patch to close this exposure. As a precaution, GSA is taking proactive steps to protect and inform SAM users. The data contained identifying information including names, taxpayer identification num-bers (TINs), marketing partner information numbers and bank account information. As a result, information identifiable with your entity registered in SAM was potentially viewable to others. Registrants using their social security numbers instead of a TIN for purposes of doing business with the federal government may be at greater risk for potential identity theft. These registrants will receive a separate email communication regarding credit mon-itoring resources available to them at no charge. In the meantime, we wanted you to be aware of certain steps that all SAM users may want to take to protect against identity theft and financial loss. Specific information is available at www.gsa.gov/samsecurity. If you would like additional background or have questions, you may call 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636), from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET), Monday-Friday starting Monday, March 18. We recommend that you moni-tor your bank accounts and notify your financial institution immediately if you find any dis-crepancies. We apologize for any inconvenience or concern this situation may cause. We believe it is important for you to be fully informed of any potential risk resulting from this situation. The security of your information is a critical priority to this agency and we are working to ensure the system remains secure. We will keep you apprised of any further developments. Sincerely, Amanda Fredriksen Acting Assistant Commissioner Integrated Award Environment” The below email was sent to businesses that used a personal SSN (Social Security Number) in place of a TIN (Tax Identification Number). Please note that you would have entered either a SSN or a TIN, not both, into SAM.Gov. If you did not receive the below email and you believe your SSN was in SAM.Gov please contact BPAC at (608) 243-4490. “Dear Valued SAM User: We have arranged with Equifax Personal Solutions to help you protect your identity and your credit information at no cost to you. The steps to follow are: 1. Enroll in Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with WebDetect identity theft protection prod-uct. This product is being provided to you at no cost for one year. 2. Additionally, you may choose to adopt an increased level of protection by placing a fraud alert on your credit file at Equifax and the other two credit reporting agencies Enroll in Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with WebDetect Equifax Credit Watch will provide you with an “early warning system” to changes to your credit file and help you to understand the content of your Equifax credit file. The key fea-tures and benefits are listed below. Equifax Credit Watch provides you with the following benefits: o Comprehensive credit file monitoring of your Equifax credit report with daily notification of key changes to your credit file o Wireless alerts

How To Respond to a Federal Solicitation June19, 2013—Webinar July 25, 2013– Fond du Lac You just found a 600 page solicitation that may be perfect for your firm. Do you have to read the entire solicitation to determine “bid”/”no bid”? Are there templates to make responding to a solicitation easier? Are there simple, identifiable steps to respond to a solicitation? Learn how to make a ”Bid”/“No Bid” decision; how to set up templates to respond to a solicitation and to follow identified steps to complete a compelling response by attending this seminar. This is a hands-on training. Prerequisites: Getting Started in Federal Contracting June19, 2013 - Webinar July 25, 2013 - Fond du Lac

SAM Security Breach - Continued Page 8

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SAM Security Breach– Continued o Access to your Equifax Credit Report™ o Ability to receive alerts if your Social Security Number or credit card numbers are found on Internet trading sites o $25,000 in identity theft insurance with $0 deductible, at no additional cost to you † o 24 by 7 live agent Customer Service to assist you in understanding the content of your Equifax credit information, to provide personalize identity theft victim assistance and in initi-ating an investigation of inaccurate information o 90 day Fraud Alert placement with automatic renewal functionality How to Enroll To sign up online for online delivery go to www.myservices.equifax.com/goldscan 1. Register: Complete the form with your contact information (name, gender, address, date of birth, Social Security Number and telephone number) and click “Continue” but-ton. Complete the form with your email address, create a User Name and Password, enter Promotion Code provided at the top of your letter in the “Promotion Code” box and agree to the Terms of Use. Then click “Accept Terms & Continue” button. This code eliminates the need to provide a credit card number for payment. The information is provided in a se-cured environment. 2. Verify ID: The system will then ask you up to four security questions. Please answer the questions and click the “Submit Order” button. This is the Equifax Identity Verification Pro-cess. 3. Order Confirmation: This page shows you your order. Please click the “View my Product” button to access the product features. Directions for placing a Fraud Alert A fraud alert is a consumer statement added to your credit report. This statement alerts creditors of possible fraudulent activity within your report as well as requests that they con-tact you prior to establishing any accounts in your name. Once the fraud alert is added to your credit report, all creditors should contact you prior to establishing any account in your name. To place a 90 day fraud alert on your credit file, log into the Equifax Member Center and click on the fraud alert tab, visit www.fraudalerts.equifax.com or call our auto fraud line at 1-877-478-7625, and follow the simple prompts. Once the fraud alert has been placed with Equifax, a notification will be sent to the other two credit reporting agencies, Experian and Trans Union, on your behalf. Fraud alerts last 90 days unless you manually renew it or use the automatic fraud alert feature within your Credit Watch subscription. If you have any additional questions regarding Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with WebDe-tect , you may call 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636), from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET), Monday-Friday. We recommend that you monitor your bank accounts and notify your financial insti-tution immediately if you find any discrepancies. Sincerely, Amanda Fredriksen † Identity theft insurance underwritten by subsidiaries or affiliates of Chartis Inc. The descrip-tion herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms, conditions, and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions. This product is not intended for minors (under 18 years of age). * The Automatic Fraud Alert feature made available to consumers by Equifax Infor-mation Services LLC and fulfilled on its behalf by Equifax Consumer Services LLC” GSA has a new page on the GSA website to update users on the SAM security vulnerability: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/167851. Please review this website for additional information and FAQs. You can also contact BPAC with any questions at (608) 243-4490 or AskBPAC@madisoncollege.edu.

Introduction to Custom Manufacturing for the Military July 24, 2013 - Madison This training is geared for the manufacturer of fabricated metal products, castings, non-metal components and other related industries, who are interested in selling to the Department of Defense. Prerequisite: Getting Started in Federal Contracting

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Congratulations, You Were Awarded a Federal Contract! What Next? Source: SBA.GOV as edited by Rebecca Burkes

Finding government contract opportunities and responding to solicitations are time-intensive and demanding tasks, and many think that winning the contract is the sweet reward…but it’s not all roses and daffodils! Once you receive the award, the hard work of performing according to the terms of the contract begins. It’s important to understand the features of a government contract so you aren’t caught off guard. Here are some tips to guide you: Read the proposed contract. Yes, it’s long, complicated and detailed, but you may find that many of the terms and conditions are standard language which will appear in your next contract so becoming familiar with these terms will improve your understanding (and your ability to “speak government”) for the next contract opportunity. Identify the office that will administer the contract. For most federal agencies (but not all), this is the same office that awarded the contract. For ANY questions about the contract, contact the office responsible for administration. It’s much better to ask for explanations than to lose a contract for non-compliance. Understand that federal contracts differ from commercial contracts. Federal contracts often reference or contain many provisions that are unique to the government, and most of these provisions are described in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Examples of these provisions include:

Termination for default and termination for convenience Contract changes Payments Specifications Inspection and testing

Termination Generally, the government may cancel/terminate your contract if: You fail to make delivery within the time specified in the contract; You fail to make progress so as to endanger performance of the contract, and/or; You fail to perform any provisions of the contract. Defects and Default: Prior to termination, the contracting officer must give you an opportunity to remedy defects or show why the contract should not be terminated. If your contract is terminated for default, you are entitled only to payment at the contract's price for items accepted by the government. If the government still needs the items that you failed to deliver, it has the right to procure the same items elsewhere and, if they cost more, charge the excess costs to you. The last thing any contractor wants is to pay the government for purchasing goods or services that the contractor, itself, could have provided! Convenience of the Government: If you can show that your failure to deliver or to make progress is excusable, your contract will not be terminated for default. To be excusable, a delay must be beyond your control and not caused by your fault or negligence. If your contract is terminated for default and you can prove that the government's action was improper, the termination will be treated as one for the “convenience of the government.” The government may unilaterally terminate all or part of a contract for its convenience. Termination for convenience does not arise from any fault on the part of the contractor, but protects the government's interests by allowing it to cancel contracts for products that become obsolete or unnecessary. The government must give you written notice of termination for convenience, but is not required to give advance notice. The notice of termination will usually direct you to stop work, terminate subcontracts, place no further orders, communicate similar instructions to subcontractors and suppliers, and prepare a termination settlement claim. If you fail to follow these

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Congratulations, You Were Awarded a Federal Contract! What Next? - Continued directions, you do so at your own risk and expense. You should also receive detailed instructions as to the protection and preservation of all property that is or may become government-owned. After termination for convenience, the government will make a settlement with you to compensate you fully and fairly for the work you have done and any preparation made for the terminated portion of the contract. A reasonable allowance for profit is also included. Contract Changes: Because the government's needs change from time to time, government contracts contain a clause authorizing the contracting officer to unilaterally order changes in the specifications and other contract terms. The changes must be "within the general scope of the contract." The contractor is obliged to perform the contract as unilaterally changed by the contracting officer. A change is within the scope of the contract if it can be regarded as within the contemplation of the parties at the time the contract was entered into. The government cannot use a change order to change the general nature of the contract. The contractor is entitled to an equitable adjustment in price and delivery schedule if changes are ordered. Payments: One great aspect of government contracting is that you don’t have to worry about collecting payment! The obligation to make prompt payments for products delivered or services rendered is, generally speaking, the primary obligation of the government on a procurement contract. Your contract will specify the government office responsible for payment and will contain invoicing instructions. The more accurate your invoices, the more quickly you will be paid, so it is important to understand the payment process thoroughly. Prompt payment on all contracts serves the best interest of both the contractor and the government. Under certain circumstances, if the government does not accomplish prompt payment, you can submit a request for interest payments. Under fixed-price contracts, the method of payment can vary with the dollar value of the contract. For relatively small contracts with a single item of work, you will generally be paid the total contract price in one lump sum. Payment is made after the government accepts delivery. For larger contracts with many items, you can invoice and receive partial payments. For example, in a contract for 120 units with a delivery rate of 10 per month, you can invoice each month for the price of delivered (and accepted) items. Larger fixed-price contracts and subcontracts where the first delivery is several months after award may contain a clause permitting you to receive progress payments based upon costs incurred as work progresses. Because progress payments are based on work that is not completed, you must repay them if you fail to complete the work. To protect its interest, the government takes title to your work-in-process for which progress payments have been made. To qualify for progress payments, you must have an accounting system that can accurately identify and segregate contract costs. Specifications: The federal government has exact specifications for most of the products and services it buys on a regular basis. In all likelihood, your contract will contain such precise specifications. In fact, the specifications — which describe the government's requirements — were contained in the invitation to bid or request for proposals on which you based your bid or proposal. Once an award is made to your company, you are contractually bound to deliver the product or service described in the specifications. Sometimes, the basic specifications will make reference to and incorporate other Federal specifications. You are, of course, bound by the terms of these specifications as well as the basic specifications. Failure to deliver a product meeting these terms may result in termination of your contract by default. Never bid on a contract unless you have read and understood all of the specifications. Also, read the specifications again before you start work under the contract!

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Congratulations, You Were Awarded a Federal Contract! What Next? - Continued Inspection and Testing: Government contracts provide that the government may inspect and test the items you deliver to determine if they conform to contract requirements and specifications. The government will not accept a contractor's product unless it passes inspection. The type and extent of inspection and testing depend largely on what is being procured. Recommendations and Advice for Your New Contract In addition to having a working knowledge of government contracting procedures, you should be aware of the following: The government conducts its business through authorized agents called contracting officers. Unless you are otherwise advised in writing, only a contracting officer has authority to bind the government. However, even contracting officers have limits on their authority, so do not hesitate to make sure of the authority of the person with whom you are dealing. Government procurement has historically been used as a vehicle for advancing various national, social, and economic objectives. As a government contractor, you will be required to comply with the labor standards statutes (Service Contract Act, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, etc.) and other statutes advancing national socio-economic objectives, except for certain contracts where such legislation is specifically stated as non-applicable. You should become familiar with the contract provisions protecting the integrity of the government procurement process. These provisions include the "officials not to benefit" clause, the "anti-kickback" provisions, the "gratuities" clause, and more. Disputes between you and the contracting officer may occur under the contract. Federal contracts contain a clause setting forth procedures to resolve disputes. If the contracting officer issues a decision that is not satisfactory to you, you must make a timely appeal to the Board of Contracts Appeal or the decision becomes final.

Do not attempt to build something bigger, better, or different than called for by the contract. If you do, it may be too big or too heavy or may not fit and the government will not accept it. Simply comply with the contract terms, particularly the specifications. If your contract requires production, establish a production control schedule to assure that you will have the right materials in-house at the right time to meet delivery requirements. Make sure to place any subcontracts promptly and schedule delivery of

subcontracted items carefully to avoid over- or under-stocking. If it appears you will not meet your schedule, notify the administration office immediately to obtain assistance. Failure to deliver on time gives the government the right to cancel your contract, with possibly disastrous results to you. Being e-commerce-savvy is very important in doing business with the Federal Government. For example, if you want to do business with the Department of Defense, you must be able to invoice and receive payments electronically. Therefore, small business owners interested in doing business with the federal government should master electronic commerce.

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Defense Logistics Agency Requires DNA Marking to Combat Counterfeit Parts Source: DLA

In an effort to enhance current safeguards to prevent counterfeit parts from entering the Defense Logistics Agency’s supply chain, the agency introduced a new authentication marking requirement for the electronic microcircuits supply class. DLA is requiring the use of deoxyribonucleic acid, more commonly known as DNA, authentication marking for future procurements of items falling within Federal Supply Class 5962, Electronic Microcircuits. The requirement only applies to procurements made by DLA. Suppliers were notified of the new requirement by a special notice on the DLA Internet Bid Board System, the Supplier Information Resource Center and the Federal Business Opportunities websites. Suppliers who provide DLA electronic microcircuits will be required to provide items marked with a unique, botanical SigNature® DNA mark. The authentication DNA used must be unique to the supplier, or the manufacturer of the part. The initial requirement for DNA marking applies to a subset of microcircuits supplied under the Generalized Emulation of Microcircuits program. Susan Lowe, 703 767-6310, susan.lowe@dla.mil

Cage Codes: What, Why, How Source: DLA

WHAT IS A CAGE CODE? A CAGE Code is a five (5) position unique identifier for entities doing or wishing to do business with the Federal Government. The format and character position of the code vary based on country.

WHY DO I NEED A CAGE CODE? The code is used to support a variety of mechanized systems throughout the government. The code provides for a standardized method of identifying a given facility at a specific location. The code may be used for a Facility Clearance, a Pre-Award survey Engineering Rights, automated Bidders Lists, pay processes, source of supply, etc. In some cases, prime contractors require their sub-contractors to have a CAGE Code.

HOW DO I GET A CAGE CODE? Supplement (DFARS) have been amended to require contractor registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to the award of any contract, basic agreement, blanket ordering agreement or blanket purchasing agreement unless the award results from a solicitation issued on or before May 31, 1998. Having a CAGE Code alone is no longer sufficient to qualify a contractor to do business with DoD. Parts 204, 212, and 252 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation. All SAM registrants are validated through the CAGE system. If you have a CAGE Code, it will be identified and applied to your Trading Partner Profile (TPP). If you do not have a CAGE Code, and are a U.S.* company, one will be assigned to you. You can register in SAM at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ or call for assistance at 1-866-606-8220.

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Mark your calendars!

Feedback If you have any feedback about our newsletter or our services,

please contact us at any of the following locations, phone numbers, or email addresses:

http://madisoncollege.edu/BPAC

Moraine Park Technical College

West Bend Campus: 2151 N. Main Street West Bend, WI 53090 Chuck Wallschlaeger, 262.335.5893 Available: Mondays and Thursdays CWallschlaeger@madisoncollege.edu

Madison West Campus: 302 S. Gammon Road Madison, WI 53717 Office: 608.243.4490 Available: Monday‐Friday askBPAC@madisoncollege.edu

Portage Campus: 1800 Kutzke Road Portage, WI 53901 Dave Olson, 608.212.3546 Available: Wednesdays deolson2@madisoncollege.edu

Madison Area Technical College

Reedsburg Campus: 300 Alexander St. Reedsburg, WI 53959 Dave Olson, 608.212.3546 Available: Tuesdays deolson2@madisoncollege.edu

Veteran Entrepreneur Training Symposium (VETS) June 10-13, Reno, NV www.veterantrainingsymposium.com (VETS) is a Business Development Conference created by Veterans for Veterans. The goal of this event is to provide the knowledge and relation-ships needed for Veterans to transition into Business Owners to service the Federal Government. VETS2013 will bring together Federal agencies, Prime contractors, and Veterans to discuss how to take full advantage of the Federally mandated contracting opportunities set aside specifically for Veteran-owned small businesses.

InBusiness Expo & Conference October 23rd, Madison, WI www.madisonbusinessexpo.com In Business magazine will host the 3rd annual In Business Expo & Confer-ence at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis. This is Dane County's premier business-to-business expo with over 1,000 attendees and more than 110 exhibitors. The expo continues to grow in 2013 with even more educational opportunities, business experts, awards ceremonies and pro-fessional networking opportunities.

Midwest Small Business Government Contracting Symposium May 22-23 Moline, IL www.ndia.org The symposium theme for 2013 is "Developing Partnerships for Success". The 6th Midwest Small Business Government Contracting Symposium ob-jective include: *Two-day interchange for senior government and industry leadership to better understand future Arsenal Island business opportunities. *Military, DoD Civilian, and Industry Participation. *Networking Opportunities.

DOD/VA Healthcare 2013 Expo May 20-23, San Antonio, TX www.dodhealthcare.com Seamlessly linking technology, clinical care and research to create com-prehensive care DoD/VA Healthcare 2013 returns for its fourth year with its leading industry training forum showcasing the latest military medical technologies and providing an unparalleled educational experience for those involved in delivering patient care and support to service members and their families.

Michigan Defense Exposition (MDEX) May 14-15, Warren, MI www.ndia.org The Michigan Defense Exposition will offer new features to attract an ex-panded audience focused on Defense Prime attendees and facilitate strong networking opportunities between government and industry, while showcasing industry capabilities to enhance product performance to serve our warfighters.

SOFIC (Special Operations Forces Industry Conference) May 14-16, Tampa, FL www.ndia.org This year’s conference theme, “Strengthening the SOF Bond,” will provide a forum for military, government, academia, and industry stakeholders to network and discuss current and future challenges and how to best sup-port our Special Operations Forces (SOF) in four key areas: Preservation of the Force and Families, Human Domain, Support of the Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs), and Innovation.