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FEDERAL & STATE ADVOCACY ISSUES
Interior Design Practice Laws
Healthcare Reform
IRS & Tax Issues
SBA/VA/DOD/GSA Issues
Contact Your Federal and State Officials
An important benefit of membership in OFDA is our advocacy of members’ interests before the U.S. Congress, federal government agencies and, as appropriate, state governments, particularly on public policy issues with national ramifications.
OFDA continually monitors federal legislation and regulatory developments affecting the office furniture industry, works with its Government Affairs Committee and Board of Governors to establish advocacy goals and policy positions, and orchestrates grassroots advocacy campaigns with members to achieve association goals.
Currently, OFDA plays an active role on behalf of its independent office furniture dealer members and their business partners (i.e., manufacturers) on issues of broad industry concern, including:
- Government Procurement Reform – OFDA has played a central role in seeking and achieving critical small business government procurement reforms, including action to:
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Limit federal contract bundling and sole-source contracting
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Require contracting officers to rely upon a “best value” purchasing criteria rather than price considerations alone
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Ensure full transparency and small-business-friendly procedures in contract bidding, award decision-making and award protests
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Maximize government-wide purchasing of office furniture from small business entities through set-aside contracts, dealer teaming arrangements, blanket purchase agreements, and regional/local contracts whenever feasible.
- Federal Prison Industries Reform – OFDA is pushing for legislation to require that federal agencies conduct “best value” reviews all procurement competitions where Federal Prison Industries (FPI) is a competing bidder. OFDA was instrumental in achieving initial legislative reforms in 2004-05 and is now seeking more permanent reforms on a government-wide basis.
OFDA also plays a central role in various coalitions working on general, non-industry specific public policy issues affecting small business. Most notably, OFDA participates actively in a coalition on Small Business Health Insurance Reform, which supports increased interstate risk pooling arrangements and other reforms designed to boost price competition and improve choice and access for small businesses to affordable health insurance.
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