I am incredible honored by the shout-out I received in this recent, powerful Washington Post article, by the talented Julian Mark. Mark also wrote the prior article including my statements about the 8(a) Program litigation and changes that took place last summer, which you can read about here. This second article covers the incredible story of 8(a) Program graduate, Curtis Joachim, and my work with him in drafting a successful social disadvantage narrative to remain in the program for his final year—a requirement (now) for all applicants and participants imposed by Federal District Court and implemented by SBA. I am so fortunate I had the opportunity to work with Curtis and so grateful for his strength and grace in sharing his inspiring story.
Author Archives: Nicole Pottroff
Back to Basics: 8(a) Program Economic Disadvantage
When it comes to SBA’s many small business socioeconomic certification programs, the 8(a) Business Development Program is often considered SBA’s “golden child”–as its potential benefits are nearly endless. But it certainly wouldn’t be a “golden child” at all if just anyone could get into it. The 8(a) Program has some of the most extensive and strict requirements out there. In this post, we’ll dig into the basic components of one of those requirements: economic disadvantage. But don’t fret, this post is worth a read for our experienced 8(a)-ers and those just learning about the program. For the former, the information below can serve as a refresher on the basics of economic disadvantage–but also, a source for SBA’s most recent economic disadvantage thresholds (as of 2024, as these are updated periodically for inflation). For the latter, we suggest reviewing these basics of economic disadvantage along with our other Back to Basics blogs on the 8(a) Program (this one discussing the program, generally, and this one discussing all the rules for eligibility).
Continue readingSmallGovCon Week in Review: June 17-21, 2024
Happy Friday and we hope you had an enjoyable Juneteenth. Yesterday was the first day of summer and our humidity was a balmy 96% on the first official day! Whew…so hot. I think that everyone here would agree that we hope that won’t be the norm. We hope you have a great weekend and find a nice cool place to read the articles we have included below. Enjoy!
This week in federal government contracting news: agencies are cracking down on everything from cybersecurity to discrimination in the federal marketplace; GAO is pushing for faster and more private procurements; Artificial Intelligence continues to make its way into government acquisitions and may even aid in disabled veterans living independently; and GSA schedules and our U.S. Supply Chains continue to grow in strength and popularity. Read about these and other happenings in the procurement world below.
Continue readingBack to Basics: SBA’s Certificate of Competency
If a contracting officer determines that a small business offeror is not qualified to perform under a given solicitation, that typically means the offeror’s proposal will be rejected. But when the rejection deals with responsibility, the offeror may get a second bite at the apple through the SBA’s Certificate of Competency (“COC”) program. Whether this is news to you, or something you simply wish to understand a bit better, let’s take a look at the basics of the SBA’s COC Program, rules, and procedures.
Continue readingBack to Basics: Similarly Situated Entities
If you are a small business government contractor who ever utilizes subcontractors to complete federal set-aside contracts, knowing what a “similarly situated entity” is for a given contract is vital to your success. So, let’s take it back to the basics of “similarly situated entities.”
Continue readingFirst Annual MyGovWatch Buyer Survey Results May Surprise You
This post was written by our friend and colleague, Nick Bernardo, president of MyGovWatch, a
bid notification and intelligence website offering a free trial to government contractors in more
than 200 industries.
Webinar! Small Business Certifications, March 20, 2024, 10:00-11:00 am CDT
Please join federal government contracts attorneys Nicole Pottroff & Greg Weber for this informative webinar on SBA certifications hosted by Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship. Participants will get an overview about the Small Business Certifications including:
- Woman Owned Small Business and Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business
- 8(a) Business Development Program
- HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone)
- Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
We will discuss how to get certified, how long it may take, regulations, changes, updates, and tips and tricks on how to be prepared. Please Register here.