The Department of War (DoW, referred to by some as the Department of Defense) is always trying to find new ways to get more federal contractors involved in defense contracts. One of the elements of the DoW which focuses on such is the “Innovation Unit.” Within that unit is now a “Bridge Program” which is hoping to raise the probability of the DoW embracing novel approaches to defense needs while also cutting down on the proverbial red tape which prevented contractors from performing for the DoW in the past, especially regarding security clearance. Let’s dive into some of the ideas and goals of this new Bridge Program.
Continue readingAuthor Archives: Gregory Weber
SmallGovCon Week in Review: October 19-23, 2026
Happy Friday! We hope you have had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend. Fall has finally arrived here, and we are all hoping to find some time to enjoy the typical fall festivities like pumpkin patches, watching the leaves change, and watching our favorite football teams before it gets too cold.
This week in federal government contracting there was a focus on artificial intelligence, transparency, and further audits in the SBA’s 8(a) Program, among other items. Have a great weekend!
Continue readingCome with a Plan, Says SBA OIG in Review of SBA Mentor-Protege Program
Way back in 2019, the SBA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report on the SBA’s (then named) All Small Mentor Protege Program. At that time the SBA OIG found that the SBA didn’t create effective controls to ensure mentor-protege application reviews and evaluations were made in accordance with the regulations and SBA did not make sure such reviews and evaluations measured program success. The SBA OIG gave the SBA a list of recommendations at that time to fix those issues. At the end of September 2026 (after giving SBA a seven-year window), the SBA OIG revisited its 2019 inspection of the SBA’s Mentor-Protege Program (MPP) and found there were some improvements, but still some issues with the MPP, especially regarding protege business plans.
Continue readingGovCon FAQ: Can a Foreign-Owned Entity Be a Small Business Under SBA Rules?
Given that the customer in Federal Government Contracting is the United States government, many people assume that to be a “Small Business” for this industry, you must be owned by United States citizens or a United States business. While this distinction could matter for other federal government contracting purposes, to simply qualify as a small business under SBA rules, a business does not necessarily need to be owned by a United States citizen or business. This installment of our GovCon FAQ series will discuss how a foreign-owned business can still be seen as a small business under SBA rules.
Continue readingGAO: Forgotten Certification Dooms JV Award
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.
Continue readingCounting the Hours: SBA Adding More MPA Requirements
The SBA’s Mentor-Protege Program (MPP) continues to be one of the most popular programs at the SBA. The MPP is a great way for federal contractors to grow and learn from more experienced contractors, in a way that is shielded from size affiliation risks. Historically, the Mentor-Protege Agreement (MPA) between a mentor and protege was a flexible document that allowed the parties to make sure their participation in the program truly fit their processes and aims in their own words. However, in recent years the SBA’s MPA reviews have seemingly taken stricter stances on the format and content of the MPA, leading to confusion among contractors on what they are supposed to draft in their MPA. Recently, we have become aware of the SBA implementing more requirements on MPAs that contractors are not warned about prior to applying to the MPP.
Continue readingSmallGovCon Week in Review: July 27-31, 2026
Happy Friday! It’s been another busy week in the federal government contracting arena. I’m filling in for Shane McCall for the Week in Review, while Shane and his family enjoy a well-deserved vacation away from the humidity and heat we have been experiencing here in the midwest. July feels like it has come and gone quite fast. All of us here at SmallGovCon hope our readers have enjoyed this past month celebrating the 250th anniversary of our country with family and friends, and that you all have a relaxing weekend.
For small businesses in the GovCon space, this week was a reminder that staying informed is just as important as staying compliant. Lawmakers continue to debate procurement reforms, while agencies are emphasizing stronger supply chain security and reviewing cybersecurity requirements that directly affect small contractors. With changes to acquisition policies and ongoing discussions around small business programs, now is a great time to review your certifications, strengthen your compliance posture, and keep an eye on upcoming opportunities.
Below are a few articles from this week’s news in federal government contracting. Enjoy the weekend!
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