Government Contracting News Flash
Insider Tips and Solutions
New Sub-Chapter Forming in Brevard!
Women in Defense (WID), a National Security Organization, is an affiliate of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). In Florida we have only one Chapter, the Central Florida Chapter. The great news, however, is that we are currently forming a sub-Chapter on the Space Coast.  To learn more and to join, contact Susan Eaton at [email protected] or 321-674-8342.
What's on Your Mind?

If you are interested in any specific topics, please let us know so we can cover them in the upcoming issues. Thank you.

Email us with topics you would like us to cover

I.T. Services
Deltek hosting, design, build, maintain voice and data network infrastructure services are provided by
 
Ask the DCAA Experts 
 
Email your questions to our former DCAA auditors ready to help 

Government Cost Accounting

Have questions regarding government cost accounting, such as fringe, overhead and G&A costs, ICE Models, Rate calculations & audits, FAR & DCAA regulations?
 
Email Debbie Goode, CPA
Website: Hoyman Dobson
Selling to Government Made Easy
Selling to the Government Made Easy
If you are an established business located in Central Florida and are interested in selling your product or service to the government, take advantage of the FREE counseling available through the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at the Small Business Development Center at UCF. Start your journey into the world of government contracting with the right tools and proven strategies.
 Email Tony Espinosa, Procurement Specialist

Insurance
As a Government contractor, how can you make sure your insurance coverage fully meets your needs and the industry requirements?  With questions on  Workers' Comp, General Liability, Auto Liability, Professional Liab, Employee Benefits 
Intellectual Property
Protect your brand and your product through timely and proper trademark and patent registration. Where do you get started?
 
GSA Schedules
Let Gary help you win and administer GSA contracts, market, set pricing and manage your  GSAAdvantage! catalog!
 
Legal Solutions
Ed can help with representing Government Contractors in bid preparation, bid protests, performance issues, claims, and disputes 
 
Bid Proposals
For program management, proposal planning and development as well as system engineering, contact
 
Trade
For International trade strategies & trade compliance solutions, including Government Regulatory Compliance & ITAR Agreements,  contact
 
Beth GItlin (website forthcoming)
                                    March 2010

Greetings,

 
If you are looking to improve your company's profitability through procurement strategies, make sure to come to the training event sponsored by Hoyman Dobson, CPA's and hosted by the Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA).
 
When:   April 20, 3pm - 5pm
Where: TRDA in Melbourne, FL
Cost:     Free
RSVP:   Bonnie O'Reagan at [email protected] .
 
The workshop is geared towards manufacturers who are looking for new ways to increase buying power and mitigate liabilities, reduce payment cycles, increase reliability of sales forecasts, and other strategies that would maximize their and their customers' return on investment. For more information, visit hoyman.com.
Intellectual Property
Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too: How Inventors Can Retain Title to Work Created Under Government Contracts 
By Kelly G. Swartz, Esq., Hayworth, Chaney and Thomas, P.A.  
Questions for Kelly? Email Kelly at [email protected]
A common concern for inventors performing work under government contracts is whether or not they may maintain title to their inventions pursuant to the terms of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Many inventors are surprised to learn that they are not required to sign their intellectual property over to the government simply because they received government funding. However, maintaining title to an invention created under a government contract does require proper planning and adherence to specific guidelines.

Steps to Maintaining Title to Your Invention
In order to maintain title to their inventions, inventors who are contractors for the United States government must generally perform at least the following steps:
Government Contracting
Government Contracting: where do you start? 
By the Government Contracting Advisory Team (GCAT) 
Do you have questions about the article? Send us an email!  
1. Schedule a counseling session with the Procurement Specialist at the Orlando Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). To request a counseling session, go to their website. The counseling sessions are unlimited and free. During the counseling session you will receive information on resources, including:
  • How to register with CCR
  • Federal Government - Small Business Contacts in several states
  • State and local government contracts
  • Where to find procurement opportunities
  • Marketing tips

Note: You will also need to complete an On-line Representations and Certification Application (ORCA) and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. Read the rest of the article

Government Contracting Software
You may recall recently receiving an email invitation to participate in a quick survey on accounting softwares that you use in your business. Below are some responses from the survey:
  • 60% of the respondents feel their current accounting softwares meet their business needs
  • 26% stated that their accounting software has the capability to track and account for every step in the production process.
  • If they were to buy new software today, 66% of respondents do not know which accounting software would best meet their business needs.
  • The survey respondents are currently using: Deltek, Intuitive, QuickBooks, QuickBooksPro, QuickBooks in combination with BillQuick, DACEasy.  
Thank you for participating in the survey! As we continue to research the best possible software solutions for Government Contractors, we will be sure to share our findings with you.   

Meet the GCAT
The Government Contracting Advisory Team
Through the independent services of the Government Contracting Advisory Team (GCAT) businesses can quickly find professional resources to help them succeed in all areas of government contracting.  
 
GCAT can help you with:
  • Marketing & GSA Schedules (including GSA Contract Administration)
  • Accounting services (including assistance with Government cost accounting systems, audit/reviews, and DCAA representation) 
  • Insurance needs (including Defense Base Act/Foreign Exposures)
  • Legal services (such as Intellectual Property Strategies & Contract Negotiation)
  • I.T. Services, including DelTek hosting
  • Proposal Planning & Development
  • International trade strategies and trade compliance solutions, including CTPAT & ITAR
  • Quick access to industry veterans and resources
  • And much more!
The GCAT Members include:
The individual companies participating in GCAT are not affiliated with each other for any purpose other than providing educational programs for issues related to government contracting.  Participating companies do not share fees and, have no obligation to refer client's to companies participating in GCAT and do not assume any responsibility or liability for information provided by any member of GCAT.