HHS Continues to Develop their New Blockchain Contract Writing System: HHS Accelerate

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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been working on a new contract writing system called HHS Accelerate. The system uses blockchain technology and artificial intelligence to create more transparency in the contract writing process. The use of blockchain technology ensures real time pricing transparency, and transparency for contracting officers into HHS’s acquisition process. The program is headed by Jose Arrietta. Arrietta is currently the company’s CIO, a recent switch from his former position as associate deputy assistant secretary for acquisition.

Arrieta and his team have been testing HHS Accelerate since the summer of 2018. HHS Accelerate was created to solve problems HHS has had in the past with accessing real-time data. Arrieta has revealed that it had previously taken months to analyze pricing data. With the creation of HHS Accelerate, HHS will be able to analyze pricing data in seconds rather than months. The pricing data from different departments within the agency will now be compiled into one system. HHS Accelerate has taken influence from one of HHS’s other programs, HHS Buy Smarter. Buy Smarter uses A.I. technology to identify opportunities that comply with requirements within HHS departments. The data from HHS Buy Smarter has been used for analyzation services within HHS Accelerate.

Arrieta believes HHS Accelerate will not only help HHS make better decisions about pricing on contracts but also shorten the acquisition cycle. Arrieta hopes the technology will facilitate the data analyzation process for  HHS employees. The technology is expected to be operational by Thanksgiving. HHS expects that with the pilot release they will be able to take feedback and better incorporate it into the program, thereby creating a program that can be used by HHS employees and contracting officers alike.

Author: Alison Cottingham

Blog Sources

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/blockchain/2018/09/hhs-turns-to-blockchain-for-novel-acquisition-model/

https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2019/01/hhs-moves-ahead-blockchain-acquisition-modernization

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/ask-the-cio/2019/07/hhs-new-contract-writing-system-testing-more-than-an-innovative-technology-approach/

https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2018/07/26/hhs-blockchain.aspx

https://www.fedscoop.com/jose-arrieta-new-hhs-cio/

https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/buysmarter/index.html

For the 5th Time, Sabre88 Appears on the Inc. 5000

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Ranking No. 3383 

“A mere 4% of companies have made the list 5 times” – James Ledbetter

Inc. Recognizes the fastest-growing private companies in America. This year, the winners have, once again, placed the bar very high. Companies that made the list, on average, have grown sixfold since 2015. During a stretch when the economy grew around 2 percent, that’s a result most business can only dream of. We are delighted to announce Sabre88 has been ranked 3,383 on the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies, for the year 2019. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. To be considered a company must submit an Application to INC 5000 Must have consistent exponential growth over the course of 3 years 5 consecutively.

Our CEO Bob Cottingham this said about the reception of Sabre88’s fifth consecutive Inc 5000 win. “We are excited to be on the Inc 5000 list for the fifth year in a row its truly a testament to the hard work and dedication our employees have put in to serving our government customers”

The 2019 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2015 and 2018. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2015. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent. “The companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 have followed so many different paths to success,” says Inc. editor in chief James Ledbetter. “There’s no single course you can follow or investment you can take that will guarantee this kind of spectacular growth. But what they have in common is persistence and seizing opportunities.”

The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held October 10 to 12, 2019, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona.

PRESS RELEASE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                            CONTACT: Ben Bratton

August 8, 2019                                                                                                                   Brand Strategy Manager

973-321-4886

 

Sabre88 Awarded Contract with the U.S. Department of the Interior

Award expands the influence of a company that has been providing reliable administrative support services to the Federal Government since 2008.

Newark, N.J., August 8, 2019 – Sabre88, LLC, a provider of professional, technology and management services announced yesterday that it was, recently awarded a contract to provide support to the Office of the Executive Secretariat and Regulatory Affairs (OES) at the Department of the Interior.  The contract has a one-year base period plus two one-year option periods and provides Freedom of Information Act processing services.

The Freedom of Information Act is a law that gives any person the right to type request federal agency records and requires federal agencies to make certain types of information available without a request. Sabre88 will be working to ensure quality timely responses to requests for federal agency records from the Office of the Secretary to meet the increased demand.

“Sabre88, LLC is grateful to usher in a new working relationship with the United States Department of the Interior with the award of this contract,” said Robert Cottingham, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Sabre88.   “And for the opportunity to further its reputation as a business focused on upholding its core values and providing precise, swift solutions to the federal government.”

About Sabre88

All of the figures that point to our growth and capabilities are second to the fact that Sabre88 provides customers with the defined and impactful solutions to everyday problems.  Founder, Robert Cottingham, Jr., began the firm from the ground up in 2008 after realizing a need for innovative small businesses that can provide the government with 100% customer focused service.  For Sabre88, this unique outlook in approach is the foundation of the company’s sustainability and growth which allows the organization to not just win new opportunities, but develop exclusive and individualized partnerships based on the customer’s unique circumstances.

GSA Senior Advisor Leaves Agency: The Future of FEDRAMP

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Matt Goodrich, a senior advisor at GSA, recently left the agency. Goodrich announced his departure from the agency with a tweet that detailed his exact departure date to be the 26th of July 2019. Goodrich was head of  FedRAMP, GSA’s Federal Risk and Management Program, from 2011 to August 2018. FedRAMP is a GSA security program that secures cloud services. According to the FedRAMP website, FedRAMP now offers services to over 150 agencies and covers more than 5 million assets.

Goodrich ran the program until August 2018 when he was promoted to head GSA’s Office of Products and Programs or OPP and Ashley Mahan took over as FedRAMP’s current acting director. As head of OPP Goodrich was able to oversee the FedRAMP program in addition to monitoring some of GSA’s other technological services such as their data analysis portfolio.

Ashley Mahan, who has been referred to as FedRAMP’s evangelist, has been acting director since August of 2018. Mahan’s work has helped grow FedRAMP from a program with 60 agency users to a program with 150 agency users. In her year as Acting Director of the program, Mahan was able to reduce the timeline of authorization with the program by 75 percent. Mahan’s work leaves little doubt that she will continue as an effective leader of the program, however, Goodrich’s work with FedRAMP from the start has been instrumental in making the program as widely renowned as it is today. There is little known about where Goodrich plans to go now that he has left GSA, in the tweet he released announcing his departure he said he would be headed to the private sector, however little is known about exactly where he plans to go.

Author: Allie Cottingham

Sources:

https://fcw.com/articles/2019/07/15/goodrich-leaving-gsa.aspx?m=1

https://www.nextgov.com/it-modernization/2019/07/mr-fedramp-leaving-government/158425/

https://washingtonexec.com/2019/04/fedramp-ashley-mahan-changes-goals/#.XUGnG5NKjdR

https://fcw.com/articles/2018/08/24/leadership-changes-fedramp.aspx

https://www.fedramp.gov/about/

https://www.fedscoop.com/goodrich-promoted-opp-mahan-lead-fedramp/

https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/technology-transformation-services/office-of-products-and-programs