Author Archives: SmallGov Contributor

FedBizOpps Searches: Be Thorough (Or Be Out Of Luck)

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If one type of FedBizOpps search does not turn up a solicitation, try a different search–or run the risk of missing the solicitation.

That is the message to contractors from a recent GAO bid protest decision, in which an offeror was unable to discover a VA opportunity by searching the “Place of Performance” field on FedBizOpps.  As it turned out, the solicitation would have popped up if the offeror had tried other types of FedBizOpps searches, and the GAO held that it was the offeror’s responsibility to more thoroughly attempt to locate the solicitation.

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GAO Task Order Jurisdiction: No Exception For “Bridge” Order

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The GAO lacked jurisdiction to consider the protest of a “bridge” task order valued under $10 million, even though the original order related to the bridge exceeded the $10 million threshold.

In a recent bid protest decision, the GAO held that it had no legal basis to consider the value of the original order in determining whether it had jurisdiction to decide a protest related to a bridge order.

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SBIR Program: SBA OHA Explains The Ownership Requirements

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A firm will not qualify as a small business for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant if it does not meet the SBIR program’s regulatory ownership and control requirements–and those requirements can be confusing.

In a recent size appeal decision, the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals explained how the SBIR program’s ownership and control requirements work in practice.

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Joint Ventures And GAO Protests: Protester Must Have “Standing”

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For a member of a joint venture to file a GAO bid protest on behalf of the joint venture, the member must have the authority to do so.  If a JV Member’s authority to act is in question, the GAO will dismiss the protest for lack of standing.

In a recent decision, the GAO dismissed a bid protest filed by a joint venture member because the other joint venture member disputed the protester’s right to act on the joint venture’s behalf.

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WOSB Program: Sole Source Contracts are Coming!

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Just in time for the holidays, there is good news for WOSBs–sole source contracts are coming!

If you have followed SmallGovCon over the past week, you have seen a few posts about changes made to the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act since the bill was initially passed by the House in May.  But one piece of the original House bill has remained intact: the final 2015 NDAA allows WOSBs and EDWOSBs to receive sole source contracts.

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GAO Report: Only 1% of WOSB Awards Are WOSB Set-Asides

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Only one percent of women-owned small business contract awards have come from WOSB or EDWOSB set-asides.

This disheartening finding was part of a recent GAO report on WOSB contracting, which finds that WOSB set-asides have had a “minimal effect” on agency awards to WOSBs and attainment of agency WOSB goals.  The GAO report offers some insights on program changes that might increase the use of WOSB set-asides, including one major change that may already be in the works.

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Proposal In Government Mailroom Was Still “Late”

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Even if a proposal arrives in a government mailroom by the submittal deadline, the proposal is nevertheless “late” if it does not reach the location specified in the solicitation by the designated time.

In a recent bid protest decision, the GAO reaffirmed long-standing precedent that “receipt of a bid or proposal at a mailroom or other receiving area does not constitute receipt at the location specified in the RFP, provided the agency has established reasonable procedures to ensure that mailed bids or proposals are routed from the mailroom to the location designated in a solicitation for receipt.”

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