Frequently Asked Questions About IAE

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8(a) Business	How does a firm qualify for the 8(a) Program? To participate in the 8(a) Program, a firm must be certified by the SBA. To qualify, the firm: must be a small business, must be unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who are of good character and citizens of the United States, and must demonstrate potential for success. How do I certify that I am 8(a)? Contact the local SBA district office serving your area. An SBA representative will answer general questions over the telephone. Some district offices may also have 8(a) orientation workshops to provide additional information regarding the eligibility requirements and to review various SBA forms. To locate the closest SBA District Office go to www.sba.gov or call 1-800-U-ASK-SBA. You may also apply for certification online.
ARO	Federal Agency Registration Officials (AROs). The ARO is responsible for managing the Business Partner Network (BPN) registration of agency buying and selling organizations engaged in Federal intragovernmental transactions.
What is a CAGE Code	The Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code is a five character ID number used extensively within DoD and NASA and is assigned to vendors automatically as they go through the CCR registration process.
Is IAE going to eventually have one universal contract writing system?	IAE is NOT designing one universal contract writing system for use by all federal contracting officers to set up a solicitation/contract. The IAE is working with all the commercial providers of this type of software application to address the needs from a government-wide perspective. If there is any company in this line of work with whom we have not shared the IAE requirements, we are available to include them in the discussion roundtable sessions.
IAE's plans to have a contract writing system "all inclusive" such that the contracting officer doesn't need to leave his/her workspace or desktop to go to another site to get something?	We need an easier way for all the shared services the IAE provides to be available to the contracting officers in their day-to-day tasks. Specifically the IAE oversees the applications that provide the portions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) process that all agencies do in a similar manner. Examples are posting a synopsis, using contractor data, and sharing a performance evaluation. Currently a contracting officer in the process of conducting a procurement must go in and out of several websites to perform a specific task. Some day, we would like them simply to open their systems and be able to access from their primary work environment all the functionality of the various tools available.
CCR Back to Top	Central Contractor Registration (CCR). The FAR requires contractor registration in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database prior to award of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchase agreement on or after October 1, 2003. It also is required for certain grants applications.
eBUY	eBuy, is an electronic Request for Quote (RFQ) / Request for Proposal (RFP) system designed to allow federal buyers to request information, find sources, and prepare RFQs/RFPs, online, for millions of services and products offered through GSA's Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program.
EPLS Back to Top	The Excluded Parties List Systems (EPLS) is the electronic version of the Lists of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Nonprocurement Programs (List), which identifies those parties excluded throughout the U.S. Government (unless otherwise noted) from receiving Federal contracts or certain subcontracts and from certain types of Federal financial and nonfinancial assistance and benefits.
FAR	The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) is located on Acquisition Central. Please email inquiries to Ask Acquisition.
FedReg Back to Top	Federal Agency Registration. OMB Memorandum M-03-01 requires all government agencies that engage in buying or selling goods/services to other federal agencies to register in the Federal Agency Registration database (FedReg).
FOIA Back to Top	The 1966 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits any person to request access to federal agency records or information. Federal agencies are required to disclose records upon receipt of a written request, except for records that are protected from disclosure by nine exemptions or three exclusions in the Act. Each federal agency is responsible for meetings its FOIA responsibilities for its own records.
HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program?	The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program, which is included in the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997, stimulates economic development and creates jobs in urban and rural communities by providing contracting preferences to small businesses that are located in a HUBZone and that hire employees who live in a HUBZone. SBA certifies concerns for eligibility to receive HUBZone contracts and maintains a listing of qualified HUBZone small businesses federal agencies can use to locate prospective vendors.
What is a HUBZone Business? Back to Top	To be certified as a HUBZone Business, the firm must be a small business by SBA size standards; its principal office must be located in a "historically underutilized business zone" or HUBZone, which includes lands on federally recognized Indian reservations; it must be owned and controlled by one or more U.S. Citizens; and at least 35% of its employees must reside in a HUBZone. You may apply for certification online. For more specifics, go to the SBA website.
What is the complete offering of IAE applications	Links are provided at the Acquisition Central website.
What is the Small Business Goaling Report?	Agencies are encouraged to award contracts to small companies owned by women, veterans, and minorities, or located in economically challenged areas. Each year SBA works with agencies to set goals for small business participation in federal contracts. SBA then submits an annual Small Business Goaling Report with achievements against the goals to Congress, based on data generated by FPDS. The official Small Business Goaling Report is published on the SBA website, www.sba.gov. There is also a link to this report at the https://www.fpds.gov/ website under “Reports.”
Is IAE going to eventually have one universal contract writing system?	IAE is NOT designing one universal contract writing system for use by all federal contracting officers to set up a solicitation/contract. The IAE is working with all the commercial providers of this type of software application to address the needs from a governmentwide perspective. If there is any company in this line of work which is interested in the IAE requirements, please contact us to be included in the Contract Writing System roundtable sessions.
What are IAE’s plans for an “all inclusive” portal which will allow the contracting officer to access all necessary systems without having to go in and out of their primary work environment?	The next generation of aggregated IAE business services will make it easier for government contracting personnel, vendors, and citizens to do business with the government, while making it easier for IAE to adapt to new requirements. Under the new acquisition strategy, all the IAE services will be available through one logon—“one stop shopping.” Instead of having to log on to a variety of systems to review new solicitations or update their CCR information, vendors will enter a single logon at, for example, “Welcome to IAE” and that logon will allow them to update their company information, update their Reps & Certs, view solicitations, etc. across the IAE space. Government Contracting Officers will also be able to develop new solicitations, in the same fashion, using one logon without having to go in and out of their primary work environment.
What applications are offered under the “IAE umbrella”?	Links are provided to all systems at www.acquisition.gov, click on “Acquisition Systems.” For more information on the IAE systems, go to the FAQs located on each system's individual website.
JWOD	The independent federal agency that administers the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD). The Committee's mission is to create employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities by educating federal customers about their requirement to purchase products and services made available by nonprofit agencies across the country employing such individuals.
MPIN	Marketing Partner ID (MPIN) is a personal code that allows a CCR registrant to access other government applications such as grants.gov and IAE systems such as PPIRS, FBO, and ORCA.
NAICS	The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system used by the statistical agencies of the United States for classifying business establishments.
ORCA	Online Representations and Certifications Application replaces most of the paper based Representations and Certifications (Reps and Certs) in Section K of solicitations with an Internet application.
PSC	Product Service Code. PSC's are categorizations of what the U.S. Government buys. They consist of: -Federal Supply Classification Codes (FSC) for commodities. -Research and Development codes cover all aspects of research, development, and evaluation (including management and support). -Services include all other non-tangible services and purchase or lease of buildings.
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)	To be considered an SDB, owners of business concerns must be socially and economically disadvantaged.
Certified SDB Back to Top	What is a Certified SDB? A Small Disadvantaged Business Concern that is certified by the SBA is eligible for special bidding benefits
Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Back to Top	A small business concern that is at least 51% unconditionally and directly owned by one or more service-disabled veterans may represent itself as a Service-Disable Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern in the Central Contractor Registration (www.ccr.gov). To participate in the federal marketplace, the veteran must have a service-connected disability that has been determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs or his or her respective military branch of service. For more information, go to www.sba.gov/vets.
Small Business Set Asides Back to Top	FAR 19.501 describes procedures for Small Business Set-Asides. A “set-aside for small business” is the reserving of an acquisition exclusively for participation by small business concerns. A small business set-aside may be open to all small businesses. A small business set-aside of a single acquisition or a class of acquisitions may be total or partial.
SIC Back to Top	The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) has replaced the U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system.
"Small Business" Back to Top	The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines a small business as a concern that is organized for profit; has a place of business in the United States (U.S.); operates primarily within the U.S. or makes a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor; is independently owned and operated; and is not dominant in its field on a national basis. The business may be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or any other legal form. In determining what constitutes a small business, the definition will vary to reflect industry differences. For more information on small business size standards go to www.sba.gov.
Small Business Assistance Back to Top	The SBA offers assistance on starting, financing, and managing your business, as well as business opportunities with the federal government. You can also click on “Business Opportunities” on the SBA website at www.sba.gov.
Small Business Size Standard Back to Top	SBA has established numerical definitions, called “size standards” for every private section industry in the U.S. economy. A size standard, which is usually stated in number of employees or average annual receipts, represents the largest size that a business (including its subsidiaries and affiliates) may be to remain classified as a small business for SBA and federal contracting programs. All federal agencies must use SBA size standards for contracts identified as small business.
Small Business Size Standard Table Back to Top	SBA's Table of Small Business Size Standards based on the North American Classification System (NAICS) codes
The Small Business Goaling Report Back to Top	The policy of the United States, as stated in the Small Business Act 15(g)(1), is that each agency shall have an annual goal that represents, for that agency, the maximum practicable opportunity for small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by service disabled veterans, qualified HUBZone small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and small business concerns owned and controlled by women to participate in the performance of contracts led by that agency. Each year SBA works with agencies to set these goals. SBA then submits an annual Small Business Goaling Report with achievements against the goals to Congress, based on data generated by the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). The official Small Business Goaling Report is published on the SBA website, www.sba.gov. There is also a link to this report at the https://www.fpds.gov/ website under “Reports.”
TPIN Back to Top	Trading Partner Identification Number (TPIN). The TPIN is your confidential password to change your Central Contractor Registration (CCR) information. The TPIN is not to be used on contracts or other government paperwork. If you cannot remember your TPIN number, click on https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/scripts/indexTPIN.asp.
UNSPSC	The United Nations Standard Products and Services Code is a hierarchical convention that is used to classify all products and services. GSA Advantage and DoD EMALL currently use UNSPSC for products and services.
Veterans Assistance	How do I get more information on Veteran’s Assistance? Click on "Business Opportunities" at the Veterans Administration website (www.va.gov).

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