Guest Blog: Smart Contracting is Saving Money

By Teddy Kidd
PSC Manager of Legislative Affairs

In an environment of increasing budget austerity a surprising piece of wisdom was shared at a recent meeting of the House Smart Contracting Caucus: This is a time of opportunity for federal contractors to help the government save money.

Great Moments in Contracting History: It’s a Grand Old Flag



The Betsy Ross flag.



Tomorrow is Flag Day, so today we thought we’d celebrate by noting the one of the U.S. government’s first contracts—the deal with Betsy Ross to sew the nation’s first flag.

According to legend, a secret committee of the Continental Congress approached the seamstress in 1776 with a rough outline (some things never change) of the flag design they wanted and she perfected the familiar stars and stripes. Following the successful completion of the contract, Ross turned her upholstery business into a flag making business, making her perhaps the first woman-owned small business to do business with the government.

Many historians believe Ross’ exclusive claim on the flag to be nothing more than really good PR. Evidence shows other upholsterers made flags for the Colonial-era government around the same time. Many of those upholsterers were women.

How Green is Thy Company?

After May 31, government contractors may have to show their green before they get a contract. Don’t worry, I’m not talking about money. The green on display is environmental in nature.

Under an interim rule published May 31, and made effective that day, 95 percent of government purchases must be “energy-efficient (Energy Star or Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated), water-efficient, biobased, environmentally preferable (e.g., Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered), non-ozone depleting, contain recycled content, or are non-toxic or less toxic alternatives, where such products and services meet agency performance requirements.” National security, law enforcement and intelligence purchases exempted, of course.