RE: Status of the Technical Writer

["Lauren" <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu>]

> From: Pro TechWriter [mailto:pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com] 
> Sent: Friday, June 08, 2007 6:43 AM
> To: Lauren
> Cc: Techwr-l
> Subject: Re: Status of the Technical Writer
> 
> 
> Hi Lauren:
>  
>that's required. Most tend to use large consulting companies with many
consultants. 

Those are the contracts on GSA that are required as a basis for state
contracts.  The companies are not including technical writing in their
contracts.  Can you name a company or two that provides technical writing
services to the government.  There are 100's of thousands of contracts out
there and I couldn't find one that offers technical writing with other IT
services that include IT services that I was qualified to perform.

>  
> I, too, was surprised by the lack of contracts for small businesses that
include technical writing, but on reflection, it makes sense. All the tech
writers that I worked with at my last agency job worked for a huge
consulting company like Perot Systems or EDS or IBM. 

I pulled up one of Perot's contracts and it includes Technical Writer in the
category of "Technician" with 3 pay rates.

https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS00F0049M/GS00F0049M_online.htm
"T-3 (Technical Writer/Editor, Graphic Specialist, Technician, Clerical)
These staff members possess excellent skills in a specific technical area
and support professional staff under
the supervision of project managers."

EDS has a helpful contract too.
https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F0323J/GS35F0323J_online.htm

I couldn't find a linked IBM contract.
  
> You may have better luck with county or state contracts. They tend to put
more out that are aimed at minority- and women-owned businesses, and they
are (IMHO) easier to work with!

There are 100's of thousands of small businesses with GSA contracts and the
GSA makes it easy to find them through its search engine.  So I can find
them, I just couldn't find many, small business or otherwise, with the job
Technical Writer.

State contracts are built on GSA contracts.  California does not make CMAS
contracts publicly available, as far as I can see, and it directs potential
contractors to GSA.  Local agencies tend to fend for themselves or use CMAS
contractors.

>  
> Your idea is a good one; maybe refocusing it to a more local level would
work for you. 

I am following the state process for becoming a state-approved contractor
and the process goes back the GSA contracts.

>  
> Best,
> PT

Thanks for mentioning the names of the contractors that provide technical
writers to the government.  That was helpful.

Lauren

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