In a recent decision, SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) emphasized the importance of a careful reading and complete understanding of the control and ownership requirements for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). This decision provides contractors with an excellent opportunity to brush up on SBA’s control rules regarding qualifying and non-qualifying owners. As the appellant found out in this case, while it may seem to some at first glance that simple majority ownership by the service-disabled veteran is enough to meet SDVOSB requirements, voting provisions matter as well. Failure to keep in mind all aspects of SDVOSB requirements could lead to a denial of SDVOSB status. Let’s take a look at the language of the regulation in question, and how this case illustrates the potential consequences of overlooking a critical item in an otherwise-compliant application for SDVOSB certification.
Continue reading…SmallGovCon Week in Review: January 12-16, 2026
Happy Friday! We are already halfway through January and 2026 is off to a quick start. This week’s federal contracting headlines point to a busy year ahead, but we hope you have time for some rest and relaxation this weekend after a productive week.
In this week’s federal government contracting news, look for updates on how agencies are using AI in all aspects of acquisition and their missions and an emphasis on using different tools to fight fraud.
Continue reading…GAO Checks the Math: An Agency’s Failure to Document OCI and Best-Value Decision Results in Sustained Protest
In the procurement process, agencies are afforded a significant amount of discretion when selecting an awardee. When an agency’s decision is protested, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) focuses primarily on the reasonableness of the agency’s conclusions. But when an agency fails to show its rationale behind a decision, GAO is unable to conclude that the agency’s decision was reasonable.
In a recent GAO decision, Castro & Company, B-423689 (Comp. Gen. Nov. 13, 2025), GAO sustained a protest on three grounds, all of which involved an agency’s lack of documentation.
Continue reading…Webinar Announcement: Understanding the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program, January 22, 2026 hosted by Idaho APEX Accelerators
Please join federal government contracts attorney, Nicole Pottroff, as she breaks down the key elements of the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program. You’ll learn how this program can help small businesses enhance their capabilities and compete for larger contracts—with the support of an experienced mentor. The session will also cover how mentor-protégé joint ventures can create new contracting opportunities and expand your footprint in the federal marketplace.
Topics will include:
- Who is eligible and how to qualify
- The benefits of participating as a mentor or protégé
- How to form compliant mentor-protégé joint ventures
- Key steps in the application process
- Common myths, misconceptions, and pitfalls to avoid
SmallGovCon Week in Review: December 22, 2025 – January 9, 2026
We hope you had a wonderful holiday season filled with time well spent with friends and family, moments of rest, and opportunities to recharge. As we step into a brand new year, we’re excited about what’s ahead and grateful to be back into the swing of sharing insights and updates with you. We took a short pause from our Friday Week in Review over the past few weeks to enjoy the holidays and as a result, today’s edition features more articles than usual. There’s plenty to catch up on, so grab a cup of coffee and take your time exploring the stories and insights we’ve gathered for you. Have a great weekend!
Stories from this week include cybersecurity and AI updates, and what to expect in 2026.
Continue reading…FAR 2.0 Update: Part 33 Protests, Disputes, and Appeals
Many federal contractors have heard about the revamping of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Variously called FAR 2.0, the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul, and most commonly simply RFO, this project has been undertaken by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) and the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council). Initiated by Executive Order in April 2025, the new RFO process has been going quickly, with lots of proposed revisions.
Our earlier posts regarding various aspects of the RFO can be found here: Executive Order, Overview of FAR 2.0, FAR Part 6, FAR Part 19, FAR Part 12, FAR Part 15.
In this post, we’ll review one proposed revision that seems to make some slight changes to the language: Part 33 Protests, Disputes, and Appeals. In particular, this part incentivizes the use of agency level protests over other types of protests.
Continue reading…Happy Holidays!
We wanted to wish our readers a very happy holiday season! Whether you’re celebrating at home or traveling to see loved ones, we hope the season is merry and bright, safe and warm. We are grateful that we were able to help so many people with our insights, updates, and commentary on the changing federal contracting landscape. We are thankful for all the feedback and insights from our readers as well. Thanks for a wonderful year!