Recently, a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship called for increased small business participation in federal contracts during a hearing on the SBA’s contracting programs. Senator Ben Cardin based his concern on a recent report showing that the number of small businesses with federal contracts was at a 10-year low.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Events
Posts dealing with seminars, webinars, and other government contracting events in which Steven Koprince is a speaker, panelist, sponsor, etc.
Runway Extension Act: Return of the SBA
Congress and the SBA continue to disagree about the timing for the implementation of the Runway Extension Act (conveniently allowing my Star Wars references to continue).
SBA recently provided testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship. Senator Marco Rubio called the hearing to address, among other things, why the “SBA has refused to follow the Runway Extension Act.” (We have wondered the same thing.)
Continue readingThank You, APTAC!
I am back in Kansas after a fantastic trip to Reno for the 2019 APTAC Spring Conference. On Sunday, I taught a four-hour class on the FAR, followed by a general session Monday on major changes in Government contracting.
By my count, this was the ninth time I’ve attended an APTAC conference, and they’ve all been great. It was wonderful to see so many old friends and make some new ones, too. Thank you to APTAC’s leadership for inviting me, and for Terri Bennett of our home-state Kansas PTAC, who introduced my general session. A big thanks also to Carroll Bernard of Govology and Joshua Frank of RSM Federal, who kindly allowed me to share their booth.
If you’re a government contractor who hasn’t yet connected with your local PTAC, you’re missing out. Visit the APTAC website to find out more.
Changes to Limitations on Subcontracting: My Game Changers Podcast
The limitations on subcontracting are undergoing some major changes in 2019, including a newly-effective DoD class deviation and the FAR Council’s long-awaited proposal for a comprehensive overhaul.
Recently, I joined host Michael LeJeune of RSM Federal on the Game Changers podcast to discuss these important changes. Click here to listen to my podcast, and be sure to check out the other great Game Changers podcasts featuring voices from across the government contracting landscape.
Thank You, Live Oak Bank & GMU!
I am back in Kansas after a whirlwind trip to Washington, DC where I was part of a fantastic governing contracting event sponsored by Live Oak Bank and George Mason University. My panel focused on the legal and practical issues that companies face when they grow out of their small business size standards–an important topic that doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it should.
Many thanks to Jackie Robinson-Burnette, Erin Andrew, Tess Mackey, Jerry McGinn and everyone else who planned and coordinated this event. Thanks also to my fellow panelists, Gloria Larkin and Rosetta Rodwell–and to everyone who asked questions and stuck around afterwards to chat–for a great discussion about government contracts. And a big thank you to the chefs at Ray’s the Steaks, where I had dinner for the first time in about six years. Tasty as ever!
Next on my travel agenda: New Orleans, where I’ll be attending the 2018 National Veterans Small Business Engagement and SAME Small Business Conference. Hope to see you there!
Thank You, Indian Country!
I am back from a great trip to Norman, Oklahoma where it was an honor to be part of the annual Indian Country Business Summit. My talk at the ICBS covered recent legal developments in government contracting law, including the Section 809 Panel reports, the strict SBA SDVOSB ownership requirements, enhanced debriefings, and much more.
A big thank you to the Tribal Government Institute and Oklahoma Bid Assistance Network for sponsoring this wonderful event, and Victoria Armstrong and everyone who worked with her to organize it. And, of course, thank you to all of the clients, old friends, and new faces I met and spoke with at the conference.
I’ve been a road warrior recently, but will be sticking around town for awhile as the fourth quarter heads into its last stretch. Next up on my schedule: the Buy, Build and Sell Conference in Washington, DC on October 11. I’m looking forward to spending a day in my old DC stomping grounds.
Thank You, DOE Small Businesses!
I am back in Lawrence after a great trip to Houston, where I spoke at the DOE 17th Annual Small Business Forum & Expo. My breakout session on the Top 10 Legal Issues for Small Contractors covered a range of topics from enhanced debriefings to joint ventures.
A big thank you to Earl Morgan, Anita Anderson, and all the other organizers of this outstanding event. And thank you, also, to everyone who attended my session and stuck around afterward to ask questions.
I’ll be in Wichita on June 5 to present a much longer version (a half-day!) of the Top 10 Legal Issues seminar. To register, visit the Kansas PTAC website. I hope to see you there!