Author Archives: Gregory Weber

SBA Finalizes Rule Allowing Set-Asides Under Small Business MACs

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The SBA has published a final rule that would allow for quite the change to small business set-aside multiple award contracts (MACs) and orders issued under them. This final rule amends the SBA’s regulations to authorize task and delivery orders issued under a small business set-aside MAC, to be set-aside for HUBZone businesses, 8(a) businesses, SDVOSBs, or WOSBs.

While agencies had set aside orders under MACs before, SBA has now clarified its regulations to allow socioeconomic set-asides of orders under small business set-aside MACs.

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SBA Proposes to Eliminate Some 8(a) Joint Venture Agreement Approval Requirements

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Recently, the SBA proposed big changes for its small business regulations, including some aspects of the 8(a) Program.

This post is Part 4 in our coverage of these proposed SBA changes and will cover the SBA’s potential changes to the joint venture agreement approval process for 8(a) contracts (here are part 1, part 2, and part 3 of our coverage).

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GAO Recommends Improvements For Comments on Proposed Federal Agency Rules

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Have you ever felt like you were screaming into the void when submitting your comments to a proposed rule in the Federal Register? That your well thought out comments were being drowned out by a mass of other comments on a proposed rule or attributed to someone else? Have you wondered what agencies do with all that information you send them when you submit a comment on a proposed rule?

Well, GAO seems to have the same questions and concerns regarding the proposed rule comments process and has taken time these past few months to examine how agencies wade through comments on proposed rules, publish them, and clearly attribute identities to them.

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SBA Inspector General Identifies “Challenges” with Multiple SBA Programs

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The SBA Office of the Inspector General has taken it upon itself to look at the SBA’s programs and activities in order to determine what risks the SBA may face in the 2020 Fiscal Year. It appears that the OIG did not like what it found.

The examination found multiple risks and problems associated with SBA programs, including the 8(a) program, the WOSB program, and SBA’s small business contract goaling methods.

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FAR Update: Simplified Acquisition Threshold and Micro-Purchase Threshold are Going Up

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The Simplified Acquisition Threshold and Micro-Purchase Threshold are officially increasing under the FAR. While various agencies had already increased the thresholds through deviations, this change will officially update the rules in the FAR.

Although this may seem like a minor update, it will cause changes across the federal contracting landscape and will result in more contracts being issued under the Micro-Purchase and Simplified Acquisition Thresholds.

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DoD Finalizes Restrictions on Use of LPTA Source Selection Process

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Effective October 1, DoD has issued a final rule restricting the use of LPTA solicitations in certain circumstances. This rule implements statutory changes from the 2017 and 2018 NDAA that will greatly impact the use of LPTA procurements by DoD contracting officers.

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GAO Reminds Contractors to Update All Profiles After a Name Change or Risk Bid Rejection

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Many businesses go through name changes and rebranding throughout their growth as a company. But if you’re a government contractor, a business name change requires added updates that, if not done correctly and promptly, can affect the business’s ability to win a contract.

GAO’s recent decision hammered home just how important it is to make sure your contractor profiles are updated if you want to win contracts.

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