Amidst all the uncertainty that FY 2020 has brought, don’t let your understanding of SBA’s affiliation rules add to that list! Instead, join me and my colleague Steven Koprince for an exciting new learning opportunity. We will be presenting “Affiliations,” a virtual event hosted by the Iowa State University Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) PTAC.
In this webinar, we will demystify the concept of affiliation in government contracts. We will explain (in plain English and usin
The cold weather we’ve been getting this week might signal the end of the summer tomatoes and basil. But we can start looking forward to fall in earnest. For one thing, my kids are getting excited about Halloween. I hope SmallGovCon readers also have much to be excited about in the beginning of the federal fiscal year.
To stay on top of what’s going on in federal contracting, remember to check out our upcoming legal update on October 22, but you can also read on for developments including ex
As we discussed, in late 2019 the SBA issued a proposed rule that would make a number of significant changes to the mentor-protege programs and other small business contracting rules. Well, the SBA will soon issue its final rule on these changes, so make sure you are aware of the new rules.
The rule will be effective 30 days after publication date, and it’s scheduled to be published on October 16, making the effective date November 16 (also note that WOSB changes in section 127.504 wil
Fiscal Year 2020 is officially in the books. For small businesses in government contracting, it was a year of major changes–and many more changes are on their way in FY 2021.
On November 22, please join me (virtually!) for “Small Business Contracting Update & 2021 Predictions,” sponsored by the National Contract Management Association, Boston Chapter. I’ll cover the biggest changes in FY 2020, from the HUBZone Program overhaul to WOSB certification to increases in the 8(a) Program ec
Recent changes to the FAR increased the simplified acquisition and micropurchase thresholds! For change highlights, check out my video:
Have questions? You can reach me here.
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If you’re part of a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, you’ve probably heard of the “extraordinary circumstances” rule–but there’s a lot of confusion out there about what the rule is and how it works.
So let’s get right to it. Here are five things you should know about the SDVOSB extraordinary circumstances rule.
1. The extraordinary circumstances rule allows limited negative control by non-service-disabled veterans.
To qualify as an SDVOSB for federal contracts, whe
Happy Friday blog readers! Hope you are having a nice week. Kick back and relax with the latest federal contracting updates.
This week saw some important federal contracting updates. SBA has increased its size standards for certain industries, among them agriculture, mining, some construction industries, as well as transportation and finance and insurance. Additional stories include a contracting officer sentenced for accepting bribes and GSA working on a new small business IT contract. Read
February of 2020 seems like a long time ago, for many reasons. But that was when the official version of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) standards were released. Recently, the DoD issued an interim rule that will update the DFARS to implement the assessment methodology and CMMC framework for DoD procurements as well as add a new requirement for cybersecurity assessment under the NIST SP 800-171 framework. Here are some of the key points.
The interim rule will be eff
While most of our get-togethers these days involve mask wearing, social distancing, and even virtual happy hours, spending time with friends is a great way to keep spirits light. Unfortunately for one group of friends, their weekly hangouts led GAO to conclude in its recent decision, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., B-418835 (Sept. 265, 2020), that NASA had to cancel a more than $650 million deal and start the procurement process all over.
Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. and SGT, LLC
Ever since the VA set up its SDVOSB verification program, critics of SDVOSB self-certification have been pushing for the government to expand SDVOSB verification government-wide. Now, it might finally happen.
Section 831 of the House of Representatives’ version of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act would expand SDVOSB verification government-wide, formally rename it “certification,” and transfer certification authority from the VA to the SBA.
Here are some of
We’ve been having some great fall weather here in Kansas this week. From what I’ve heard from others around the country (other than the west coast), the cooler weather has definitely arrived. As you break out your sweaters and pumpkin spice . . . everything, check out the latest government contracting updates.
This week’s news included record spending at the end of the fiscal year, a report on the VA’s Medical-Surgical Prime Vendor Program, and updates on the Chinese telecom ban.
Fe
In my legal career representing hundreds of small businesses in government contracting, few topics have caused as much confusion as the limitations on how much work can be subcontracted on small business set-aside contracts and sole source contracts (like 8(a) Program direct awards).
Earlier, working with my friends at Govology, I put together step-by-step compliance guides for service contractors, construction contractors, manufacturers, and nonmanufacturers. Each guide is written in pla
I’m pleased to announce a new learning opportunity from me and my colleague Steven Koprince! There’s been some big changes for government contractors over the last year, so it’s important to sort through them all.
To aid that process, we will be presenting “Government Contracts Legal Update 2020,” a virtual event hosted by the University of Texas San Antonio PTAC. The event will take place on October 22 from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (CDT). More information can be found here.
The post University
We all know online marketplaces are very popular among consumers, so it’s no wonder that federal agencies would want to get in on the action too. But a federal agency is different from an ordinary consumer because the federal government is required to purchase goods and services according to a vast array of federal statutes and regulations. When an agency tried to set up an online marketplace in violation of acquisition rules, GAO didn’t let it fly.
GAO’s recent decision in Mythics, Inc.
If you’re contemplating a bid protest at the Government Accountability Office, meeting its task order jurisdiction threshold might be a box you need to check! Join me as I explain the details of GAO’s task order jurisdiction.
Got questions? For more information, email us at info@koprince.com, or call (785)200-8919.
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SBA recently issued a technical amendment to its SBIR and STTR Programs Policy Directive to clarify that successor-in-interest entities are, in fact, eligible to receive phase III awards. The amendment will take effect on October 1 of this year.
SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are competitive, award-based programs that provide federal research and research and development (R/R&D) funding to encourage small busine
Next week, I’ll be speaking on small business federal contracting issues at for the AFCEA South Florida chapter. But if you can’t catch that talk, there’s a lot of federal contracting news to catch up on this week. Read on below.
Stories from the past week include the White House release of an executive order that may have some effect on federal contractors. The executive order requires a clause in federal contracts prohibiting federal contractors from using “workplace training that inculcat
Mark your calendars for next week. I’ll be speaking at the AFCEA South Florida’s SB Lunch and Learn on September 29 from 11:30am – 12:30pm eastern time. The topic is “10 things every Small Business should know about Federal Contracting Law.”
AFCEA is an organization dedicated to “exploration of issues relevant to its members in information technology, communications, and electronics for the defense, homeland security and intelligence communities.” The event is open to all and registration in
If the VA Center for Verification and Evaluation denies a company’s application for verification as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, the applicant has the right to appeal–but the appeal must be filed with the SBA, not the VA.
In a recent case, an applicant tried to appeal its denial to the VA, apparently based on the erroneous advice of a VA employee. By the time the applicant realized that it had appealed to the wrong agency, it was too late.
The decision of the SBA’
Every year, when the SBA releases its annual Small Business Procurement Scorecard, I hear from a few folks who mistrust the data. “I think small business awards are being over-reported,” is a pretty common theme for Scorecard skeptics.
A new GSA Office of Inspector General report is a reminder that it’s not paranoia if people are really out to get you. According to the GSA OIG, the GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service over-reported small business contracts by a whopping $89 million in just tw
On Monday, the calendar officially moves to fall. Hopefully you have plans to enjoy the last weekend of Summer 2020, whether it’s at the beach, the lake, or just firing up the backyard grill.
Before the weekend begins, it’s time as always for our Friday rundown of the latest and greatest (or not-so-greatest) in federal government contracting. In this week’s edition, an Oregon man gets jail time for his role in a DoD fraud scheme, two members of the CMMC Advisory Board are unexpectedly out,
I wanted to wish our readers a fine National PTAC Day! The local PTACs are an invaluable resource for many federal contractors, especially those just starting out in the federal contracting space.
There are PTACs in all 50 states. And those local branches serve over 48,000 clients. Be sure to give your local PTAC some love this week!
The post Happy National PTAC Day! first appeared on SmallGovCon - Government Contracts Law Blog.
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The SBA’s “Certify” website, certify.SBA.gov, has fallen far short of meeting its objectives, according to an eye-opening report from the SBA’s Office of Inspector General.
The OIG concludes that, despite an investment of $30 million, Certify “does not have many of the essential search, analytical, and reporting tools it was supposed to have.” Additionally, Certify’s lack of functionality has forced SBA employees to use time-consuming workarounds, causing delays in screening and approving a
Before 2001, September 11 was just another day on the calendar. Now, nineteen years later, that date is burned into the minds of everyone old enough to remember. Today, let’s all take a moment to honor those who died, their loved ones, and the first responders who risked their lives to help others.
Before we head into the weekend, it’s time for our weekly look at what’s happening in the world of federal government contracts. In this week’s SmallGovCon Week in Review, a contractor agrees to
Before 2001, September 11 was just another day on the calendar. Now, nineteen years later, that date is burned into the minds of everyone old enough to remember. Today, let’s all take a moment to honor those who died, their loved ones, and the first responders who risked their lives to help others.
Before we head into the weekend, it’s time for our weekly look at what’s happening in the world of federal government contracts. In this week’s SmallGovCon Week in Review, a contractor agrees to
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