Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA)

Monday Morning Contracting Tips

by   Dannie E. James Sr

          JE Group LLC

          Phone: 404-557-0027

          Fax: 404-521-4018

          www.jegroupllc.com

The Challenge of Applying the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) Process to the Procurement of Complex Services

When the Government used LPTA, they should be required to define Technically Acceptable to ensure needed quality: Industry has expressed concerns about the use of Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable ("LPTA") selection criteria that essentially default to the lowest price bidder, independent of quality. Where LPTA is used, the Department needs to define TA appropriately to ensure adequate quality.

Government are moving to increased reliance on the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection method. 1 Under defined circumstances, the LPTA process can control costs and result in best value for the Government. But the LPTA process, which can eliminate agency discretion to value technical and other non-cost superiority, is not appropriate for all acquisitions. Within the context of professional services, even under the best of circumstances, the LPTA method creates risks that need to be mitigated by a precisely drafted solicitation and a technically rigorous, carefully managed proposal evaluation process.

Many Contractor’s would recommend that solicitations for complex professional services avoid using the LPTA source selection process. Such solicitations should instead adopt a classic best-value/cost-technical trade-off approach to afford the Government flexibility to value technical superiority relative to potential cost savings.

Many of the government proposal evaluators are pushing back on the use of lowest price, technically acceptable (LPTA) evaluation criteria—and for good reason. They are now learning that this evaluation criteria can limit their ability to exercise reasonable judgment in the evaluation process and may result in contracts awarded to companies that are clearly inferior and have less qualified offerings compared to others in the competition.

Here are two instances where the use of LPTA evaluation criteria backfired on the government decision-makers:

1.   Superior value versus price

2.   Past performance and performance risk



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Experience East Point Multicultural Festival An ISO 20121

by C. Henry Adams


In October of 2015,  an idea to create a multicultural festival began when two business men and one City Councilman of East Point, Georgia toke a walking tour through the East Point Commons; a green space set for future development.

Basically, the concept was to draw more attention to this particular City and its diverse Cultures living in North Georgia. The special event would consist of a three day Family Occurrence located in downtown East Point, Georgia  on Labor Day weekend.

The function would be design to help draw attention to local restaurants, stores, beauty parlors, barber shops and civic organizations. Furthermore,  it would introduce 'Live' Music, Food, Arts and Merchandise for sale in the East Point Commons, as well as, the Buggy Works areas.

The entry to this festival would be free of charge, but  for certain performances on any of the three stages in existence, may require an admission fee.

Several companies got together and eventually pitch this idea to 'East Point Business and Industrial Development Authority', as well as, private land owners who all own a large portion of the East Point Commons.

The simple concept is a WIN-WIN scenario for all involved, if properly implemented.

Why?  Well, it would re-introduce the City of East Point, Georgia to the World.  It would drive people and commerce into the area while broadening the minds of individuals about various cultures.

It is one thing to dream up an idea and it is quite another thing to make it a reality.

In doing so, planning properly is a big key.  But, a plan without actions, checks, balances and a continual flow will not likely work well. 

Thus, ISO 20121 or sustainable events planning - business model, became the International Standard for the development of this festival.

If you would like to sponsor this special event, please click here:

Stay tune for more information about this occasion as it evolves.

Vendors are welcome!  Click here for more information: 


Well, these are my thoughts, what say you?  Thanks for reading our blog.






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West Atlanta, the TSPLOST & MARTA Transportation Referendum

                                Corner of  Linkwood Rd & Tribble Lane (No Sidewalk Visible)

By C. Henry Adams

June 6th 2016  8:15 pm EST

Tonight, located at the Center for Civic Innovation - 115 Martin Luther King Jr Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30303 on the 3rd Floor;  a meeting occurred that I and many others did not get a chance to participate in due to one thing or another.

This meeting was likely a Community Information Meeting, whereas, a Group of People would learn about upcoming legislation.  Perhaps, they discuss placing a general vote on the ballot in the Fall of 2016 to fix our roads, non-existing sidewalks, as well as, other badly needed infrastructure within the corridor of Martin Luther King Jr Drive.

Here is a link regarding the discussion mentioned above:  http://beltline.org/2016/06/03/info-on-marta-and-tsplost-ballot-measures/

Now, if the link does not work after a certain period of time has passed; here are two PDF - Question and Answer documents to download, whereas, one is regarding the TSPLOST and the other - MARTA Transportation Referendum.

1) TSPLOST:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3zMnOB0CuuBNGd3a1lYdmROYmc/view?usp=sharing


2)  MARTA Transportation Referendum:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3zMnOB0CuuBWEVNTWVob0JWcXM/view?usp=sharing 


West Atlanta, particularly Neighbors living near the point sixty-fifth 0.65 of a mile passage called, "Linkwood Road".  It is important to vote in favor of the TSPLOST and call your local City Council Person to get a sidewalk extending from Collier Drive on Linkwood Road to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

This short distance has been a concern since at least 1964 (Over 50 years ago),  when the Linkwood Bridge was built to cross I-20.

Well, these are my thoughts.  What say you?  Thanks for reading our blogs.





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Leading A Horse To Water Is Not Just A Metaphor, It's A Reality

by C. Henry Adams

Today is a great day.  Why?  Despite of our circumstances, we've lived to experience another day.

Disclaimer: Incidentally, we found the above image on the Internet to express a point. We do not own the above image and it is not our intent to sell it, but merely to share it.

What do you interpret from the image shown above?  Well, I see a person trying to lead a horse to water, possibly to drink and it resist. Hidden in the ' Title 'of this blog and the blog itself is a double metaphor.

First, as a person - I'm an optimistic thinker and second, a realist or someone who accepts reality.

As a business person, I try to find a positive solution in everything we tend to perform.  While being very aware of the reality of the situation at hand.

Fore, it is your WILL to live and prosper that help change the outcome of negatively perceived circumstances.

Is this having hope, as well as, faith while being strong through adversity?  In my professional opinion, YES.

So, should I stop trying to lead horses to water to drink?   My answer is NO.

In other words, as a blogger, I should not stop working to bring forth a better financial outlook for clients.

Disclaimer: It is not my intent to be arrogant or disrespectful.

Well, these are my thoughts, what say you?  Thanks for reading our blogs.

Thanks!


C. Henry Adams
Benefits Advisor
Aflac
977 Montreal Rd
Box 1089
Clarkston, Georgia 30021
bienminc@gmail.com
CHA Linkedin 
(404) 254-7187

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Listeria Monocytogenes Concerns

by C. Henry Adams

Listeria Monocytogenes is a bacterium that grows without certain nutritional supplements, AKA a Nonfastidious bacteria.  It can be found in foods that we eat, particularly Sun Flower Seeds, soil and sewage to name a few.

Since April 23rd 2016, we have been observing a number of Food Recalls on the FDA and posting them in Social Media ( From the likes of Facebook to Twitter, to Linkedin and Next Door.)

See a list of FDA recalls below:

1) April 23rd 2016   CRF Frozen Foods Recalls Frozen Vegetables Due to Possible Health Risk
    http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm497297.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

2) May 9th 2016     Kroger Recalls Broccoli Raisin Salad After Supplier Listeria Concern
    http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm499961.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

3) May 10th 2016    Kroger Recalls Simple Truth Organic Frozen Mix Vegetables after Supplier Listeria Concern    http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm500271.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery


4) May 13th 2016    Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods, Inc. Announces Voluntary Recall of Various Dr. Praeger's and Ungar's Products Related to CRF Frozen Vegetable Recall for Possible Health Risk     http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm501243.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery



5)  May 16th 2016    The Quaker Oats Company Issues Voluntary Recall of Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars Due to Possible Health Risk      http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm501248.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery


6)  May 21st 2016   Papa John's Salad and Produce Recalls Oriental Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing Due to Possible Listeria monocytogenes Contamination     http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm502537.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery


7)  May 23rd 2016   First Source Recalls "Various Products Containing Sunflower Kernels Received From Our Supplier Sunopta" Because of Possible Health Risk    http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm502736.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery


8)  May 24th 2016    E S Foods Recalls Meal Breaks Containing Sunflower Seeds Because of Possible Health Risk    http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm503034.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Because, Listeria Monocytogenes is associated with listeriosis and could cause meningitis; this is no joking matter.

Possible Problem Solver: 

Practice rinsing and cleaning Fruits and Vegetables off in clean water before eating. 

Regarding Sun Flower Seeds, try pouring them in a bowl of clean water; let sat for 15 minutes; then drain them slowly in a strainer.  Allow them to air dry.  Heat them at 200 degrees F in a stove for 15 minutes; this could help kill the type of bacteria mentioned above,  if any is present. 

Well, these are my thoughts, what say you?  Thanks for reading our blogs!


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What is it to know about SBA’s Scorecard

Monday Morning Contracting Tips

Dannie E. James Sr

JE Group LLC

Phone: 404-557-0027

Fax: 404-521-4018

www.jegroupllc.com

According to the SBA, its annual Scorecard is an assessment tool to:

1) measure how well federal agencies reach their small business and socio-economic prime contracting and subcontracting goals,

2) provide accurate and transparent contracting data, and

3) report agency-specific progress.

Every year, the SBA works with each agency to set their prime and subcontracting goals and their grades are based on the agreed upon goals.  Each federal agency has a different small business contracting goal, determined annually in consultation with SBA.  SBA ensures that the sum total of all of the goals exceeds the 23 percent target established by law.

The individual agency scorecards released by SBA, as well as a detailed explanation of the scorecard methodology, is available online at:  https://www.sba.gov/contracting/finding-government-customers/see-agency-small-business-scorecards.

Since SBA started the current small business procurement scorecard methodology in FY 2009, six agencies have received a grade of “A+” or “A” seven fiscal years in a row (FY 2009 through FY 2015):  the Departments of Agriculture, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The overall federal small business prime contracting performance released on April 28, 2016 by the SBA, as well as a detailed explanation of the calculations, is available online at http://go.usa.gov/Nxxd.

All The Best

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Crunch Period For EEPMCF Began Today

by C. Henry Adams


Today ( Thursday, May 19th 2016 ) at 7:00 pm EST; 'Experience East Point Multicultural Festival' ("EEPMCF") will go before the East Point Planning and Zoning Commission to pursue the opportunity to bring this Festival to East Point, Georgia in 2016.

There is a saying, " Nothing great comes easy. 'Experience East Point Multicultural Festival' will be a colossal special event."  From May 2016 through the month of June 2016, EEPMCF will work hard to make this occasion a reality in the City of East Point, Georgia on Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 2nd - 4th 2016.

EEPMCF's Staff are constantly balancing themselves through proper planning of this event while seeking sponsors, vendors and acts.

Although, it is the beginning of the crunch period for the organization, success is a job won.

There is a start to the race, a constant run and a sprint to finish the journey while getting it done.

Well, these are my thoughts, what say you?  Thanks for reading our blogs.











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Rest In Peace SHA-1 There Comes A Time For SHA-2

by C. Henry Adams

In Life on the Internet,  like anything else, this (SHA-1) too, shall pass away.   In telecommunications, the Internet, advance technology; what is new today, could be possibly gone tomorrow.  This is a truth that I dare not deny.

Thus, the discussion here is cyber security related.  If the writing is on the wall or should I state in the blogs (LOL), perhaps, we should all listen.

Let's see, it has been written on  September 14th 2014 in Mozilla or farther back in 2005 by Schneier that SHA-1 was a cyber security risk.  Later in the years following, it would begin to be considered phased out as stated in a Mozilla Blog article.

But, if  you aren't a fan of the Firefox Internet Browser, maybe that news did not pertain to you.

Well, how about in November 4th 2015; that ought to have gotten your attention when Microsoft said it would what?  Depreciate or block SHA-1 signed TLS certificates from Windows.

Huh!  What!?  You don't utilize Firefox Internet Browser or Windows Operating Systems?

Well, what say you about Chrome and Google?  Especially when Google states, "Chrome does not treat SHA-1 certificates as secure anymore," on December 18th 2015?

Are you wondering now what the heck is a SHA-1 (or) SHA-2 and how in the Internet World will it involve you?   Ok cool.  Let's learn a little history about encryption.  Why?  Well, in order to know where you are going in life on the Internet, maybe,  it would be good to know where you come from...

SHA-1 was created by the NSA (US National Security Agency) in 1995.  Sorry, we don't have any links to share, but please feel free to research SHA-1.   Basically, it is a cryptographic hash function; in layman terms, I would state, " a mathematical way to scramble communications".  SHA stands for Secure Hash Algorithm. 

Well, there is an old saying that does not exactly go like this,  " If one person can build an object of desire and usefulness,  a Knucklehead can figure out a way to come and completely tear it down. So, before he or she do,  anticipate this action and build many more. "

Thus SHA-2 and SHA-3.   So, I'm guessing you would like to know the purpose of a SHA.

Well, a SHA has (4) properties:
The ideal cryptographic hash function premises:

• compute a value for any given message
• generate a message
• make a small change to a message
• create more different messages to communicate

Anyway, it looks like SHA-1 was just not working securely, so they decided to retire it.  In fact, 2017 appears to be an important year, if not sooner (July 1st 2016) for the change over.

I can hear someone saying, " What change over!? "   To best answer that question, a SHA-2 signed TLS (Transport Layer Security) certificate would be ideal now to utilize within web development when communicating money transactions, personal information (healthcare information related) , as well as, many other aspects on Today's Internet.

Well, those of my thoughts, what say you?  Thanks for reading our blogs.



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CZIM: Experience East Point Multicultural Festival Presentation

by C. Henry Adams

On Tuesday, May 17th 2016 at 6:30 pm EST; located in the City of East Point Office of Planning and Zoning, 'Experience East Point Multicultural Festival' will give a brief presentation to the public regarding this upcoming occasion.  The introduction of the special event will be followed by a question and answering period.

A number of Public Notices were officially mail out to Citizens, Businesses and Civic Organizations in the City of East Point Ward A.  Currently, a Purple Sign is also posted in the East Point Commons area next to East Point Street.





To learn more about "Experience East Point Multicultural Festival, click here and download a PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3zMnOB0CuuBVDB5ZU12ajZ1bGs/view?usp=sharing

Well, thanks for reading our blog.  Stay tune for more information regarding this phenomenon.


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The Small Business Government Contracting “Past Performance” Challenge

Monday Morning Contracting Tips

Dannie E. James
djames@jegroupllc.com

As a small business begins the proposal submission process to federal government agencies or to prime contractors the past performance challenge is a major challenge. By definition a start-up company in government contracting has no direct government agency past performance projects to site in meeting the requirement in requests for proposals (RFP’s) for historical references to similar projects in terms of size, duration and complexity.

Past performance data must be specific to the enterprise bidding a contract. Many companies attempt to site historical references to performance of individuals now in the company when they were with other firms, achievements by predecessor companies or successful projects that the current company did not perform as its current entity. Some federal agencies identified this reference as "Fronting" a new enterprise with misleading information about the Company’s past performance.

So how can a new organization or one that is new to government contracting muster a response to the past performance challenge?

The answer lies in historical projects that may be similar in the commercial arena and a high quality proposal that clearly demonstrates an understanding of the requirement at hand, a unique and cost effective project plan and high performing personnel and/or products tailored to the statement of work to offset an interim, light past performance record.

A past performance reference sheet usually accompanies an agency RFP. It normally requires the bidder to fill it out with references to historical projects the company has performed and the contact points for confirmation. The government may request these forms in advance of the main body of the proposal to allow enough time to send them to the references. The past performance form is sent by the government to the references and you never see the result. The input goes directly from your past performance references back to the government.

Many small businesses work through prime contractors to "Grow" past performance history (subcontracts count). By teaming with a sizable firm a small entity can relate its participation to larger projects and ultimately graduate to a good library of references, carefully maintained and kept as a living, growing data base of good customer service records that can be sited again and again in proposals.

It is wise to keep customer perceptions of your professionalism and products or services alive by constant vigilance, visits, surveys and other feedback mechanisms so that you are not surprised at a proposal debriefing when you find that a client you thought rated you highly did not.

The major services maintain past performance records by contract that you can access. Inquire with them as to a membership at the appropriate web site and review them regularly. The GSA utilizes service companies to rate contractors. You can get your rating by inquiring with them, much like a credit rating, except pertinent to cost, schedule and technical performance. Monitor your D&B report. It is always out there for prime contractor and government assessment of your financial health, your vendor payment history, your organization profile and your rating.

Insure your web site, your capability statement and your marketing plans are maintained current alive and dynamically reflective of your successes as you pursue new business and carefully develop your library of past performance record by project with accessible profiles to use in your government proposals.

All The Best

Dannie E. James Sr

JE Group LLC

Phone: 404-557-0027

Fax: 404-521-4018

www.jegroupllc.com


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