MILESTONES:

New Successful PICC Clients

Two PICC clients join the list of first time government contractors. One company is in Gary, and the other is in Indianapolis. The total contract dollars were $385,527. This brings the total for the year to six companies and $729,645. PICC is pleased have played a part in these recent successes.

CONFERENCE NEWS:

PICC Selected for Roundtable Presentation

Dennis Terry, President of PICC, and Joann Ostrognai, a PICC Workshop Instructor, will hold three roundtable discussions at the 23rd Annual Northeast Indiana Business and Industrial Conference June 14^th and 15^th at Potawatomi Inn, Pokagon State Park near Angola, IN. Round table breakout sessions will be on June15^th from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

This event, which is designed to trigger new and assist in expanding industrial operations in Northeast Indiana, is one of Indiana’s most historically successful economic development events. The featured speakers will be The Honorable Patricia Miller, Secretary of Commerce for the State of Indiana; Jack Schultz, COO, Agracel, Inc.; Morton Marcus, Director Emeritus, Indiana Business Research Center, Kelley School of Business, IU; and Damian Mason, Common Sense Comedy for Corporate America.

For more details contact Lincoln Schrock at 260-426-7649.

Columbus Supply Center offers a Supplier Conference in August 2005

The Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC) has scheduled their 2005 supplier conference for August 29th, 30th and 31^st. This is a tremendous opportunity to meet procurement officer’s defense department procurement officers and prime contractors.

Many PICC clients are currently doing business with DSCC. The Columbus Center is the largest Inventory Control Point in the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) which serves the U.S. military. Currently DSCC manages 1.6 million spare parts, as well as construction work.

The 2005 Supplier Conference will feature briefings, breakout training session, and cross talk panel discussions. PICC will present additional information on attending this event as it becomes available. Or simply [Click Here] for more details.

OTHER NEWS YOU CAN USE:

DoD Announces BRAC Recommendations

The long-awaited Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) report was released in May. In Indiana, the big “winners” are the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Indianapolis with net gains of 3,495 positions and the Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station, 313 more positions. Crane Naval Support Center will lose 683 positions.

Michigan will gain 647 positions at the Detroit Arsenal; so will Selfridge Air National Guard Base, adding 84 positions. Hardest hit in Michigan will be the Selfridge Army activities with a loss of 300 positions and the Kellogg Air Guard Station with projected losses of 274 positions.

In Illinois the largest losses are targeted for the Great Lakes Naval Station (2,022 positions lost) and the Rock Island Arsenal (1,263 projected losses). The big “winner” in Illinois is Scott Air Force Base with 797 new positions projected.

Call PICC (219-762-8644) for the complete state-by-state breakout, if you have specific questions about other facilities.

House panel takes aim at Army Corps' contract practices

By Peter Cohn, Congress Daily

Citing lean budgets, House lawmakers are proposing the most significant changes in the Army Corps of Engineers' contracting practices in nearly a century, which if enacted would curb funding of construction projects spread out over multiple years.

First authorized by Congress in 1890, the practice of awarding "continuing contracts" traditionally has been aimed at allowing the Corps flexibility in managing large construction projects, which can be slowed because of unanticipated weather conditions, funding shortfalls, and even the discovery of antiquities on a project site.

House appropriators argue that the Corps has abused the practice in recent years, awarding continuing contracts on projects for which the White House has requested no funding; small-scale projects with contracts extending for only a few months into the next fiscal year; and obligating more funds for a project than what was provided in a fiscal year.

Full story: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0505/052405cdam1.htm

Prime contractors vexed by reimbursement rules

By Kimberly Palmer

How much should contractors get paid for work they farm out to subcontractors? It depends on whom you ask.

The General Services Administration, which runs a set of supply schedules that federal agencies can use to purchase products and services, has ruled that in some situations, prime contractors hired under the schedules can charge the government their own rates for work performed by subcontractors. But in other cases, GSA has said, the prime contractor can charge the government only what it is paying the subcontractor—meaning it can't keep any profits for itself.

Last year, the Defense Contract Audit Agency issued a memo saying this ambiguity was "causing uncertainty among auditors and contractors as to what rates should be used to reimburse the prime contractor for the effort of the subcontractor."

Full story: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0505/052405k1.htm

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:

PICC is offering three low-cost workshops in these areas:

(#1) Is there a Federal Market for your Product or Services?

 June 29, Kokomo, 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. (bring your own lunch)

July 14, South Bend, 10 a.m. until noon

Fee: $50 in PICC service area; $75 outside PICC service area

 (#2) How to complete a Bid Package for a Federal Contract

 July 27, Portage, 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Fee: $125 in PICC service area; $150 outside PICC service area

 (#3) Package and Bar coding to meet Federal Standards

(For companies with existing contracts only.)

June 21, Fort Wayne, 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Includes light lunch

Fee: $90 in PICC service area; $120 outside PICC service area

For details on presenters and programs, see the April Newsletter.

In Kind Contributions

PICC would be at a great disadvantage without the In Kind contributions and wants to thank the following businesses, institutions and associations:

• La Porte Chamber of Commerce,

• The Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce,

• Merrillville Chamber of Commerce,

• Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce,

• Michigan City UEA,

• Hammond Development Corp.,

• Indiana University Northwest,

• NIPSCO,

• Netnitco,

• NIRPC,

• NWIN Forum,

• SBDC,

• Starke County.

Cash Contributors

 Cash contributions are necessary for PICC to obtain its federal grant. The government matches 75% to 25% of the total contributions. Contributors for last year were:

• The Hammond Urban Enterprise Association

• City of East Chicago

• Lake County Council

• La Porte County

• Regional Development Corp.

• NIPSCO

PICC would like to thank these sponsors for their generous contributions.

Partners in Contracting Corporation
6100 Southport Road, Portage, Indiana 46368 219.762.8644

Satellite Offices: (By Appointment)
LaPorte Chamber of Commerce, 414 Lincolnway 219.362.3178
Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, 150 Lincolnway 219.462.1105
Hammond Development Corporation, 5246 Hohman Ave. 219.853.6399
Michigan City Urban Enterprise Assoc. 2601 E Michigan Blvd, Ste 200 219.873.2300
IUN, 3400 Broadway, 219.981.4258
Pulaski Co. Community Development Commission, 623 W. 11th St., 574.946.3869
Starke Co. Development Foundation, 4 N. Main St., 574.772.5627