MD Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit

Torrey Owens — Thu, 06 May 2010 14:59:13 +0000

*The Tax Credit makes available a $5,000 tax credit (that’s $5,000 in real money – not just a tax deduction) for each “Qualified Employee” hired by a “Qualified Employer” to fill a “Qualified Position.”

*The Qualified Employee must be hired between March 25, 2010 and December 31, 2010.

*The Qualified Position must be a “net new position” in the state of Maryland, and not simply one that is “created” by the shifting of employment functions from one facility to another facility of the same Maryland business entity, through a merger or acquisition, or by the displacing (i.e., terminating) of an existing employee.

To learn more go to –> http://business.marylandtaxes.com/taxinfo/taxcredit/jobcreation/default.asp

MBE/DBE Contracting Workshop

Jennifer Adams — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:39:16 +0000

CRTC’s B2G Committee Meeting last Wednesday was a great success – thanks to Dennard Covington, Outreach Supervisor for the Maryland Department of Transportation, Office of Minority Business Enterprise. Mr. Covington spoke to a full-house of committee members and guests on the Maryland MBE/DBE certification requirements, especially the advantages of certifying as a MBE/DBE firm in Maryland. We also reviewed some of the basics of the SBA’s certifying process for small, minority, and disadvantaged firms. Here’s a few tips that might be of interest:

The SBA is in the process of reviewing the financial net worth restrictions for small business applicants – look for thresholds to be adjusted upward to admit more participants. The current restrictions have been in place since 1979!

Many places throughout Maryland, including Crofton and inner-Baltimore are designated HubZones – businesses located in these special development areas can realize contracting opportunities.
Firms located in Baltimore should investigate whether they are eligible for a Baltimore City certification for special contracting opportunities.
Qualified small businesses should look into the Maryland Small Business Reserve Program, as more agencies are placing contracts to meet state small business contracting goals.
MDOT frequently hosts MBE/DBE application assistance workshops for those interested in getting certified as a minority-owned or disadvantaged business enterprise. Check the MDOT website for dates.

The B2G Committee is chaired by Kevin E. Lancaster, Managing Partner of The Winvale Group, LLC, President of CRTC. We encourage members who are government contractors or aspiring government contractors to check out our Workshops and other committee events.

We meet the second Wednesday of every month in the CRTC offices: 2660 Riva Road, Suite 200, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Meeting times: 4:00-5:00 (give or take a few minutes). The Chesapeake Regional Tech Council, the area’s fastest-growing tech organization.

B2G Committee Blog moderated by Jennifer C. Adams, Esq., J.Adams, Attorneys. To contribute to the blog, send me an email!

April 21st-Tech Focus Seminar-Gov’t & IT Human Capital Mgmt

Torrey Owens — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:36:16 +0000

Check out our upcoming seminar ”Government Insourcing: How Recent Changes Will Impact Your Business”
Date: 4/21 7:30 am – 9:30am
Location Sponsor: AACC, Arundel Mills Campus, Lecture Hall, 7009 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD 21076
For more program and registration details check out the CRTC events page.

What are you doing for Earth Day?

Ajay Gupta — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:36:48 +0000

The 40th Annual Earth Day is Thursday, April 22nd!

I hope you take a moment that day, and the days leading up to the 22nd to celebrate our shared planet.

Here is a listing of local activites throughout the Washington area: http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/EarthDay.htm

Please feel free to add your own.

Protesting Task Orders under Multiple-Award Contracts

Jennifer Adams — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:16:30 +0000

Federal procurement rules provide an inherent incentive for agencies to maximize their use of supply schedule or simplified acquisition procedures, streamlined purchases that are generally exempt from many of the rules covering negotiated procurements. Negotiated procurements (those covered by FAR Part 15) can be time-consuming and process-heavy. Sometimes, agencies will issue task order requests for proposals under multiple-award contracts that are outside the scope of the original procurement and thus unfairly limit competition.

In one new decision issued this March, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) sustained a protest in which a potential offeror challenged the Army’s use of task order requests for proposals under multiple ID/IQ contracts for the supply of materially different services than originally procured.

DynCorp International protested the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command’s decision to issue two task order RFPs (TORPs) under multiple indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contracts held by several competitor companies. The ID/IQ contracts were limited to providing counter-narcoterrorism support services worldwide. The ID/IQ support services specifically covered technology development and application of new counterdrug technologies, and related training, operations and logistics for the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, and partner nations in counterdrug activities.

By contrast, through the task orders, the Army sought to acquire mentoring, training, facilities, and logistics support services for the Ministry of the Interior and Afghan National Police in general law enforcement and counter-insurgency activities. Neither of the task orders contemplated activities specifically related to counterdrug technologies or support services. Sustaining the protest, the GAO determined that the scope of work under the TORPS was not reasonably contemplated under the ID/IQ contracts, and was thus outside the scope of the underlying multiple-award contract.

The GAO is authorized to hear protests of task orders issued under multiple-award contracts (or protests of the solicitations for those task orders) over $10 million, or where the task order increases the scope, period, or maximum value of the contract under which the order is issued. Tasks orders that materially differ from the original procurement may be improper, such as when a task order changes the type of work, the performance period, and the costs between the contract as awarded and as modified by the task order. In addition, the GAO will consider whether the original contract solicitation adequately advised offerors of the potential for the type of task order issued.

The GAO’s decision is docketed as In re DynCorp International, LLC, B-402349, March 15, 2010.

CRTC’s Business to Government Committee provides support for members doing business with the government, or those members desiring to sell goods and services to the government. We meet the second Wednesday of every month in the CRTC offices: 2660 Riva Road, Suite 200, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Meeting times: 4:00-5:00 (give or take a few minutes). The Chesapeake Regional Tech Council, the area’s fastest-growing tech organization.

B2G Committee Blog moderated by Jennifer C. Adams, Esq., J.Adams, Attorneys. To contribute to the blog, send me an email!

CRTC’s B2G Committee Monthly Workshop Series

Jennifer Adams — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:58:04 +0000

After a few weeks paralyzed by snow, the B2G Committee is heating up in anticipation of spring. The committee has crafted a series of Workshops for 2010 to stimulate learning and exchange among members. Our last workshop featured a thoroughly informative session on contracting with the U.S. General Services Administration (or GSA, for those accustomed to federal acronyms). Upcoming workshops include presentations on “set-asides,” accounting for government contractors, and marketing for government contractors. Look for regular updates on the schedule – and join us for useful discussions on how to play the government contracts game. Presentations are moderated by a B2G Committee member, and everyone within the CRTC community is welcome.

The B2G Committee is chaired by Kevin E. Lancaster, Managing Partner of The Winvale Group, LLC, a CRTC Platinum Sponsor. We encourage members who are government contractors or aspiring government contractors to check out our Workshops and other committee events.

B2G Committee Blog moderated by Jennifer C. Adams, Esq., J. Adams, Attorneys. To contribute to the blog, send me an email!

A Cheaper Way to Heat Water?

Ajay Gupta — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:01:29 +0000

This article in the Wall Street Journal discusses solar-power water heating solutions.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703906204575027012258855730.html?mod=WSJ_PersonalFinance_PF2

Turning Waste into Useable Fuel

Kris Valerio — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:32:22 +0000

Join the conversation at the next Green Markets Roundtable on 2/25.

Click the following link for details (PDF): Going Green Roundtable Flyer 022510

Or click here to register to attend!

MD Clean Energy Center News

Kris Valerio — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:24:05 +0000

Click Here to Read “The Current”

Green business made some progress during recession- USA Today

Kris Valerio — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:02:08 +0000

Read the USA Today Article