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18F Is Testing Micro-Purchase Auctions

micropurchase.18f.gov

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Re: 18F Is Testing Micro-Purchase Auctions

#11

Post by tvanantwerp »

thebiglebrewski wrote: post #5

Great marketplace! Now why is it so damn hard to sign up to do government contracts on this crappy website? https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/##11#1

I'm still trying to figure this out. I'm stuck at getting myself a D-U-N-S number. D&B can't figure out if I really exist, though they can verify my 15-years-dead father is real and could register a business.

http://www.tomvanantwerp.com/my-kafkaesque-attempt-to-make-a...

Re: 18F Is Testing Micro-Purchase Auctions

#12

Post by tomkinstinch »

tvanantwerp wrote: post #11
thebiglebrewski wrote: post #5

Great marketplace! Now why is it so damn hard to sign up to do government contracts on this crappy website? https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/##11#1

I'm still trying to figure this out. I'm stuck at getting myself a D-U-N-S number. D&B can't figure out if I really exist, though they can verify my 15-years-dead father is real and could register a business. http://www.tomvanantwerp.com/my-kafkaesque-attempt-to-make-a...

It wasn't hard for me to register my LLC for a DUNS number, and I don't recall any sort of onerous verification process, but I also used the free signup for gov't contractors[1]. It still strikes me as extremely strange that government contracts require registration with a private entity—seems like it should be done through the OMB or SBA or something. Be forewarned that if you register a DUNS entity, DnB will hound you with worthless phone calls offering "value added" services (possibly including unnecessary paid "verification"); best to use a Google voice number or a line to which you can otherwise apply a blacklist.

1. http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do

Re: 18F Is Testing Micro-Purchase Auctions

#13

Post by danieltillett »

thebiglebrewski wrote: post #5

Great marketplace! Now why is it so damn hard to sign up to do government contracts on this crappy website? https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/##11#1

I wrote a long step-by-step article about what you need to do [1]. It is written for Australian companies, but only a couple of steps need to be changed for any other country.

1. https://www.tillett.info/2015/12/01/how-to-register-an-austr...

Re: 18F Is Testing Micro-Purchase Auctions

#15

Post by netinstructions »

Am I understanding this correctly? Someone was awarded $350 to add 19 lines of CSS?

The auction/requirements: https://micropurchase.18f.gov/auctions/6 The code change: https://github.com/cwarden/micropurchase/commit/9e0f896023c6...

I should sign up! Looks like the other auction/requirements are more involved though.

Re: 18F Is Testing Micro-Purchase Auctions

#16

Post by matt_wulfeck »

netinstructions wrote: post #15

Am I understanding this correctly? Someone was awarded $350 to add 19 lines of CSS? The auction/requirements: https://micropurchase.18f.gov/auctions/6 The code change: https://github.com/cwarden/micropurchase/commit/9e0f896023c6... I should sign up! Looks like the other auction/requirements are more involved though.

Sounds like a fantastic deal. Seriously. There's so much government waste that it's a miracle when they pay someone less that $1000 to pick up a pencil.

Re: 18F Is Testing Micro-Purchase Auctions

#17

Post by nordsieck »

ante_annum wrote: post #4
jelder wrote: post #2

Can anyone explain why an otherwise very forward-looking, user-experienced focus got stuck with an incomprehensible name like "18F?"

Its name refers to its office location in northwest Washington, D.C., on 18th and F Streets.

I'm sure it doesn't hurt that 18F is the MOS designation for "special forces intelligence sergeant".
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