SmallGovCon Week in Review: August 31- September 4

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Shane McCall

Happy September! We’ve kicked off the month with some very hot days here, but we know the seasons will soon change and cooler fall weather will be here before we know it. We hope you enjoy the long holiday weekend and have plenty of time to relax and spend time with friends and family. Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend and a great start to September!.

This week in federal government contracting included important stories related to a continuing resolution to avoid a shutdown, and a report that purported saved costs from last year’s contract terminations may not be as large as touted.

SBA Proposes Monumental Changes to Small Business Size Standards (Part 2)

Posted on September 4, 2026 by John Holtz

As we discussed last week, on August 19, 2026, SBA proposed what can only be described as a complete shift in the paradigm of the small business size standards. In the first part of our review of these changes, we looked at the actual planned size standards themselves and how massive of a jump they represent from the norm. In that post, we also mentioned that SBA is proposing to simplify and combine several NAICS codes, as well as move several NAICS codes from receipts-based to employee-based size standards. Today, we’re going to explore this latter observation.

Breaking: SBA Releases Guidance on 8(a) Social Disadvantage

Posted on September 3, 2026 by Shane McCall

On August 28, SBA released an 8(a) Social Disadvantage Regulation list of Frequently Asked Questions. This guidance provides more details to implement SBA’s final rule to revamp the social disadvantage rule for the 8(a) Program that will become effective on September 10.

Here are some key points from this guidance.

Free Webinar! SBA Mentor-Protégé Programs, September 16, hosted by El Paso APEX Accelerators

Posted on September 2, 2026 by Shane McCall

Touted as a “game-changer” when it was first introduced in 2016, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s All Small Mentor-Protégé Program isn’t new anymore. Known now as simply the “SBA Mentor-Protégé Program,” it is still extremely useful for large and small contractors alike.

Government contracts attorney and SmallGovCon contributor, Gregory Weber, will explain the ins and outs of the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program, covering the program’s eligibility requirements, its various benefits (including the ability to form special mentor-protégé joint ventures), the application process, and common misconceptions and pitfalls. Additionally, he will provide an introduction to the even older DoD Mentor-Protégé Program, which set the stage for the SBA’s program, and compare the two programs.

Week in Review: August 24-28, 2026

Posted on August 28, 2026 by Shane McCall

Happy Friday! Somehow, it’s already the end of August. The days are still warm, but we are looking forward to some fall weather and football games. Make sure to enjoy the last days of summer before Labor Day arrives. We hope you have a great weekend.

This week in federal government contracting included stories related to the monumental SBA size standard proposal (that we discussed here) and GSA highlighting procurement fraud.

SBA Proposes Monumental Changes to Small Business Size Standards (Part 1)

Posted on August 25, 2026 by John Holtz

Every few years, SBA updates its size standards for small businesses. In most years, these updates, while notable, are not groundshaking, and usually just account for inflation. That cannot be said of the most recent proposed changes. We do not use hyperbole here, but, sometimes, emphatic language must be used. SBA is proposing what can only be described as absolutely massive changes to its size standards for small business contracting. On August 19, 2026, SBA released its proposal for what can only be described as a new size standard paradigm. We explore these in greater detail here, and plan on one or more follow-up posts as there are multiple aspects of the system that would be changed if the proposal is finalized.

GAO: Forgotten Certification Dooms JV Award

Posted on August 24, 2026 by Gregory Weber

Forming a small business joint venture and utilizing it for federal contracts can at times be quite tedious. Often businesses can feel intimidated by the various required joint venture agreement terms in the SBA’s joint venture regulations and the reporting requirements placed on joint ventures. But complying with the SBA’s joint venture regulations can make or break a contract award, especially if the regulations are made a material requirement of a solicitation. The GAO recently issued an opinion which should serve as a warning to all small business joint ventures to make sure to follow all SBA joint venture regulations when bidding on a contract award or potentially risk the award itself.