The SBA has cut the waiting period for reapplying to the 8(a) Program from 12 months to only 90 days.
In a final rule effective November 16, the SBA explains that the shorter period should reduce the need for sometimes-costly appeals of denied 8(a) Program applications.
Continue readingIf you’ve been interested in applying to the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program, but have a close family member who has already participated in the 8(a) Program, SBA’s message–until now–has been, for the most part, “thanks, but no thanks.”
But in a new rule taking effect on November 16, 2020, SBA has dialed back on the restrictions applicable to people who want to participate in the 8(a) Program, but who have immediate family members who have previously received 8(a) benefits.
Continue readingMaybe it’s happened to you: your company receives a notice of unsuccessful offeror, and your eyes pop. You can’t believe that the winner’s price is so low. “There’s no way they can successfully perform for that,” you say.
But before you file a GAO bid protest, you should carefully check the solicitation’s evaluation criteria. As one unsuccessful offeror recently learned the hard way, GAO often won’t listen to an argument that “the other guy’s price is too low.”
Continue readingA federal court has ruled that the VA violated the SDVOSB Rule of Two, as well as a more recent statute, by moving SDVOSB set-aside requirements to the AbilityOne program.
If you think you heard this before, you’re not going crazy or living your own personal Groundhog Day. The court’s ruling is just the latest in a long-running debate about how the VA should balance the SDVOSB and AbilityOne contracting preferences.
Continue readingLast December, SBA overhauled its HUBZone Program rules in an effort to make it easier for companies to obtain and maintain HUBZone certification–and to help the Government stop falling so woefully short of the three percent HUBZone prime contracting goal.
But now, in a new report, SBA’s internal watchdog is questioning whether one of those HUBZone Program changes went too far.
Continue readingOver the last several years, I’ve established an important pre-holiday December tradition. No, not decking the halls or leaving carrots for the reindeer–I’m talking about presenting the annual Government Contracts Year in Review webinar, hosted by my good friends at Govology. The Year in Review covers the year’s biggest government contracting developments, with a special emphasis on small business issues.
The 2020 Year in Review is scheduled for Tuesday, December 15. And just like Kris Kringle, I’ve got a special gift for this year’s well-behaved contractors and acquisition professionals: a 25% discount!
Continue readingFor small businesses and their teammates, few topics in government contracting are as confusing as the limitations on subcontracting for set-aside and socioeconomic sole source contracts. And if that isn’t stressful enough, the “LoS” is an area of heavy enforcement: get it wrong, and a contractor can face major penalties.
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone would explain the limitations on subcontracting in plain English? Well, if you’re a PTAC counselor, you’re in luck. On November 5, 2020, Koprince Law LLC Senior Partner Steven Koprince will present a session at the 2020 APTAC Fall Conference to help PTAC counselors and their clients understand and comply with this essential rule.