Category Archives: Federal Government Contracting

SmallGovCon Week in Review: August 17-21, 2026

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Happy Friday! I recently returned from the 2026 National APEX Accelerator Alliance – NAPEX conference in Orlando. It’s always a great event and this year was no exception. The venue was wonderful and a great space for interacting with many enthusiastic NAPEX counselors and people in the procurement industry. I was able to say hi to a lot of the great NAPEX folks. And I presented on the complex topic of domestic preference rules. Thanks to the NAPEX team for a great event!

This week in federal contracting news included a proposed SBA rule to revamp size standards and some thoughts on a revised GSA AI clause.

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SmallGovCon Week in Review: August 10-14, 2026

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Happy end of week to our SmallGovCon readers. Hard to believe, but it’s halfway through August. The heat has been unrelenting, but it has to break soon, right. Arounder here, kids are heading back to school and our college town is buzzing with activity. The school year always brings a new level of energy after the slower pace of summer. It’s one of those times of year that reminds us just how special it is to live in a college town. We hope you are looking forward to a great weekend.

This week in federal government contracting saw stories about increased production of key systems, continued funding of the government, and updates on various large contracts.

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Not Quite Tribally Owned: A Lesson on Tribally-Owned Entities and the 8(a) Program

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Not every participant in the 8(a) Business Development Program is owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. There are also a sizable number of entities that are owned by Native American tribes, Native Alaskan entities, Native Hawaiian organizations, either directly or through other entities (collectively, we’ll call them Tribally-Owned Entities). While the presumption of social disadvantage for 8(a) eligibility for members of certain ethnic and racial minorities was found unconstitutional (and is formally being removed), Tribally-Owned Entities go by a different set of rules that makes admission into the 8(a) Program easier. That does not, however, mean that these rules apply to any and all entities owned by a Native American or even where actions are supposedly taken on behalf of a Native American tribe. A company learned this the hard way in a recent SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) decision that we’ll explore today.

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SmallGovCon Week in Review: August 3-7, 2026

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Happy Friday to our SmallGovCon readers. We hope you are having a great summer and finding some time to get away with family and friends and enjoy some relaxation. I recently spent a week in Colorado with my family and enjoyed some wonderful views and fresh air courtesy of Rocky Mountain National Park. This is the beginnings of the Colorado River, which runs to Mexico. It’s inspiring to know that such a great river starts from such a small stream.

We hope you have time for some rest and relaxation this weekend. Here’s what’s happening in federal government contracting news, including a new SBA website and how the government can procure faster and with more contractors.

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Counting the Hours: SBA Adding More MPA Requirements

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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.

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SmallGovCon Week in Review: July 27-31, 2026

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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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Event: 2026 National APEX Accelerator Alliance (NAPEX) Conference, August 16-20, 2026

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I’m excited to be presenting “Domestic Sourcing: Buy American Act & Trade Agreements Act” at the 2026 National APEX Accelerator Alliance (NAPEX) Annual Conference in Orlando on Tuesday, August 18.

My session will explore the Buy American Act and Trade Agreements Act, providing practical guidance and discussing important legal decisions that impact how to navigate these important domestic sourcing requirements in federal contracting.

The NAPEX Annual Conference is a premier professional development event for APEX Accelerators and Small Business Liaison Officers (SBLOs) from across the country. The conference provides opportunities to share best practices, strengthen the government contracting assistance network, and discuss emerging issues affecting the acquisition and supplier communities.

In conjunction with the conference, NAPEX is also hosting the 2026 Industry Expo, which is open to government contractors and industry partners. The Expo offers an excellent opportunity to connect with leading organizations across the defense and government contracting community.

Whether you’re attending the conference for professional development or participating in the Industry Expo to expand your business network, Orlando offers valuable opportunities to learn, connect, and engage with government contracting professionals from across the nation.

If you’ll be attending, I hope you’ll join my session on Tuesday, August 18, and stop by to say hello.

Learn more about the 2026 NAPEX Annual Conference at https://www.napex.us/national-conferences/.

Additional information about the 2026 Industry Expo is available at https://www.napex.us/businessindustryexpoo.