![](media/image1.png){width="1.525in"
height="1.2965277777777777in"}QUALITY PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL (QPC) MEETING

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

GSA's National Furniture Center (NFC) hosted its 49th Quality
Partnership Council (QPC) meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2003 from 1:00 pm
to 4:30 pm at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX
at the 2003 GSA Expo. The event turned out to be a huge success with
over one hundred fifty customer and industry representatives in
attendance. The QPC theme, "Setting the Trends for Modern-Day
Healthcare," sparked interest in teaming opportunities to improve
healthcare environments worldwide.

**[PRESENTING "CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION" TO WAYNE WARREN, DEPARTMENT
OF VETERAN AFFAIRS]{.underline}**

Congratulations Wayne on your upcoming retirement! The Quality
Partnership Council thanks you for your many significant contributions
to the successes of the QPC!

In 1964, Wayne Warren entered government civil service as an
Administrative Technician with the Department of Defense, Lima, OH.
Thirty-three years later, in January 1997, he was appointed Director,
Environmental Programs Services of Veterans Health Administration.
Looking back on his tenure with the Federal Government, Wayne has
continued to demonstrate devotion and commitment to public service. As
he embarks upon a grand new journey, we wish him congratulations, best
wishes and good luck!

QPC Presenters & Topics included:

# Mr. Wayne Warren, Director, Environmental Programs Services of Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)

*Topic: VA Trends in Medical Care*

The Department of Veteran Affairs is working diligently to meet the
goals and initiatives of President George W. Bush and his
administration. In doing so, the VA is recognized as a distinguished
healthcare system due to its extremely large research programs,
integrated system of healthcare delivery and desire to successfully meet
the needs of veterans with particular requirements. In efforts to fully
achieve their mission, the VA is decreasing costs to treat individual
veterans while planning to improve its patient-centered healthcare
facilities, expand its patient base and become a leader in the use of
health information technology. Wayne Warren can be reached via
telephone, 202-565-8525, or email,
[wayne.l.warren@mail.va.gov](mailto:Wayne.L.Warren@mail.va.gov).

## Ms. Mary Elizabeth Boyd, Project Manager, Principal Interior Designer for Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) & Interior Design Team

### Topic: Interior Design Project Overview

One of the main questions asked of the Department of Veteran Affairs by
industry is, "How do you find the people you need to talk to within the
VA?" The VA is divided into three major sections:

-   The Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA)

-   The Veterans Cemetery Administration (VCA)

-   The Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

\*\*(Mary Elizabeth Boyd and the VA Interior Designers are employed with
the VHA.)

The VHA is divided into Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN's)
and contains an online website that allows industry partners to view
working project overviews. Industry can gain access to the VA's
nationwide network of designers by accessing the VA website
([www.va.gov/facmgt/environmental/designerslist.doc](http://www.va.gov/facmgt/environmental/designerslist.doc))
where they can learn more about the VA design focus of human-centered
healing environments that support veterans. Mary Elizabeth Boyd can be
reached via telephone, 202-565-9378, or email,
<mary.elizabeth.boyd@hq.med.va.gov>.

-   **Mr. Malcolm Wilson, President of Contract Sales and
    Administration, Marvin J. Perry & Associates**

##### Topic: Opportunity to Partner 

Marvin J. Perry & Associates combine experience and expertise to provide
superior products and customer satisfaction. Through positive
communication, professionalism, integrity, and not to mention quality
case goods, seating and other furniture commodities, Marvin J. Perry
works to assure that the Federal marketplace and its teaming partners
benefit from their relationships. If interested in partnership
opportunities, Malcolm Wilson can be reached via telephone, 301-564-1112
x11, or email, <malcolmw@mjpw.com>.

-   **Ms. Kimberly Fortenberry, Interior Designer, U.S. Army Health
    Facility Planning Agency**

#### Topic: Trends in Army Medical Facilities

The U.S. Army Health Facility Planning Agency is responsible for
facility life-cycle management including the planning, programming,
design and construction, transition and sustainment of army health,
dental and research facilities worldwide. The agency is currently
reorganizing and is busy ensuring that all furniture and furnishings
selections involved in their realignment, are available through GSA
contract and are appropriate for healthcare. Trends that impact army
healthcare today are maternal and infant initiatives, including the
enhancement of women's wellness centers; emerging technologies such as
the implementation of the artificial retina and bone marrow; and "Green"
products, especially interior finishes such as carpets, wall coverings,
etc. Challenges impacting army healthcare include outdated waiting rooms
in need of refurbishing and an overall need to bring facilities up to
modernity. Kimberly Fortenberry can be reached via telephone,
251-694-4201, or email, <kimberly.fortenberry@otsg.amedd.army.mil>.

-   **Mr. Chris Bennethum, Director, Business Development Division,
    NFC**

> *Topic: Security ID Update*

GSA is working to provide ID cards that will facilitate easy access into
any GSA-controlled Federal Building. GSA, however, is unauthorized to
adjudicate national security clearances for contractors; DOD DISCO
assumes this responsibility. For your convenience, examples of forms
required were included in the folders that were distributed at the QPC.
When initiating the background investigation, please include the type of
investigation that you require, and a check to cover all costs. The
minimum cost is \$95.00 to complete the National Agencies Check with
Inquiries and Credit (NACIC). For higher-level background
investigations, the costs are significantly more. Once approved, and a
GSA ID card has been issued, you will have access to all federal
facilities under GSA control. John Fichtel, the GSA National Furniture
Center COR, can be reached via telephone, 202-494-7581, or email,
[john.fichtel@gsa.gov](mailto:christopher.bennethum@gsa.gov).

-   **Mr. Gary Rigoletti, President of Thomas W. Raftery**

#### Topic: Designing Bid Specifications to Foster Competition

The majority of current bid specifications provided by federal customers
for the purpose of obtaining competitive bids are inadequate to insure
fair bidding opportunities. This is a widespread problem. Many
furnishings projects and most industries in the furnishings business are
affected. Insufficient specifications allow for a variety of
interpretations by different bidders, and vendors often bid the lowest
quality, lowest cost item they can produce to technically comply with
the specification. When bidding, please be sure to provide sufficient
specification information to ensure "apples to apples" bidding. It is
important to identify specific details such as fabric pattern, color or
base cloth, the type of hardware desired, any construction details and
other details required for fair, equal bidding. Gary Rigoletti can be
reached via telephone, 860-278-9870, or email, <grigolett@aol.com>.

-   **Mr. Steve Robinson, Vice President, Government Sales, Knoll**

-   **Mr. Dobbins Callahan, General Manager, Government Markets, Collins
    and Aikman**

#### Topic: Systems Subcommittee & Environmental Committee Update

GSA is allowing vendors to bring Class B and Class C fire rated panels
onto schedules. Testing is required, but the Systems Subcommittee is
trying to figure out how to get around tremendous testing costs
involved. The Subcommittee suggested that certification by product last
five years versus the current three years and GSA is considering this
option. The Subcommittee also wants to make available a complete line of
fabrics, but is currently limited due to the testing requirements.
Therefore, the Systems Subcommittee is working to offer customers a
broader palette of products. Steve Robinson can be reached via
telephone, 202-973-0410, or email, <steve_robinson@knoll.com>.
Additionally, the Environmental Committee investigated ways to enhance
environmental education and outreach programs to facilitate
communication regarding regulations and compliance with executive
orders. Dobbins Callahan can be reached via telephone, 706-259-2039, or
email, <dcallahan@powerbond.com>.

-   **Mr. Matt Yanson, Vice President of Sales, CMA**

-   **Bernard Rubenstein, President & CEO of Diamond Industries,
    Inc./Diamond Companies**

Topic: Quarters Furniture Manufactures Association (QFMA) Health
Insurance and Benefits Update

The QFMA Association Plan is offered to provide employees quality,
affordable health benefits. As a member of a group or an association,
employers have access to savings on a broad range of benefit plans.
Through Diamond Companies, members get physician, in-patient and
prescription drug benefits. They receive a portfolio of optional benefit
plans including medical, dental, vision, life and disability. Members of
the Diamond Companies' QFMA Association Plan gain the flexibility to
choose benefit plans based on individual needs. Matt Yanson can be
reached via telephone,

301-975-9700 x2, or email,
[*matt.yanson@cma-gsa.co*](mailto:matt.yanson@cma-gsa.co).

-   **Mr. Jeff Koses, Program Manager, Contract Management, GSA**

> *Topic: Reduction of the Industrial Funding Fee (IFF)*

GSA's Contract Management team has three primary responsibilities. They
include:

-   Ensuring that industry partners fully understand what government
    agencies and GSA expect of them as a commercial partner

-   Making sure that contractors meet their requirements

-   Evaluating a contractor's performance

Responsibilities are carried out through GSA's Administrative
Contracting Officer (ACO) and Industrial Operations Analyst (IOA) who
periodically review basic reporting requirements with contractors. As a
result of the astounding increase in schedule sales, revenue from the
GSA Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) program has exceeded expectation.
Beginning in January 2004 the IFF will decrease from one percent to
three-fourths of a percent. Jeff Koses can be reached via telephone,
703-305-7675, or email, <jeffrey.koses@gsa.gov>.

The QPC meeting served as a forum to facilitate communication between
GSA, customers and our corporate partners by encouraging discussion
about business opportunities with the federal government and allowing
new contractors and customers to introduce themselves to the QPC
participants. Members of the National Furniture Center's Business
Development Division serve as the bridge to your comments, questions
and/or concerns. The NFC point of contact is Ms. Dionne Everett who can
be reached via telephone, 703-308-8312, or email,
<dionne.everett@gsa.gov>. The next QPC is scheduled for **August 19,
2003 in Norfolk, VA**. We hope to see you there!