Category Archives: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

8(a) Mentor-Protege JV Didn’t Qualify For SDVOSB Set-Aside, Says SBA OHA

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An 8(a) mentor-protege joint venture didn’t qualify for an SDVOSB set-aside because the mentor firm was not a small business.

In a recent decision, the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals held that a SDVOSB-specific regulation requires all members of an SDVOSB joint venture to be small–notwithstanding language in the SBA’s size regulations and 8(a) Program regulations specifying that an SBA-approved mentor-protege joint venture may bid, as a small business, on any government contractor or subcontract, provided that the protege is small.

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SBA OHA Sets Low Bar For Common Investments Affiliation

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As few as two common outside investments can result in a presumption of identity of interest, and therefore likely affiliation, according to a recent decision by the Small Business Administration Office of Hearings and Appeals.

OHA’s decision in W. Harris, Government Services Contractor, Inc., SBA No. SIZ-5717 (Mar. 7, 2016), lends some clarity to the SBA’s identity of interest affiliation rule, which provides that businesses or firms are affiliated when they have identical or substantially identical business interests. Although it brings the rule more into focus, the decision in W. Harris could prove troublesome to some small business owners, who may have assumed that a handful of common outside investments would not result in affiliation.

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Kingdomware Supreme Court Oral Argument: Listen For Yourself

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Last week, I offered my take on the February 22, 2016 oral argument in Kingdomware Technologies, Inc. v. United States.  Now you can listen for yourself.

The Supreme Court has posted an audio recording of the hearing, as well as the transcript.  To listen to the audio or read the transcript, just follow this link.

Kingdomware’s Day In Court: Watch My Webinar

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Monday was a big day for SDVOSBs and VOSBs, as the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Kingdomware v. United States.  I was in the courtroom for the oral arguments, and yesterday I gave a webinar on the case.

The webinar explains the factual and legal importance of Kingdomware, discusses my impressions from the oral argument, and answers many great questions posed by audience members.  The webinar is now available on the Koprince Law LLC YouTube channel.  To view it, just follow this link.  And of course, bookmark our YouTube channel for other videos and webinars about important government contracting legal matters.

Kingdomware Gets Its Day In Court: My First Impressions

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The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Kingdomware Technologies Inc., v. United States this morning.  I was in the courtroom as counsel for Kingdomware and the government did their best to answer the questions of eight Justices.

Here are my first impressions.

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Justice Scalia’s Passing & The Kingdomware Case

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As the nation pauses to remember Justice Antonin Scalia, SDVOSBs and VOSBs are already asking: what does Justice Scalia’s passing mean for Kingdomware v. United States, which is currently scheduled for oral argument on February 22?

Good question.  Here’s what I know now, plus a little speculation to boot.

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SDVOSB Protests Versus Bid Protests: SBA OHA Provides Some Clarity

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A protest challenging a company’s status as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business is not the same as a protest challenging other aspects of an agency’s award decision (such as the evaluation of the protester’s proposal)–and these differences can determine whether a protest is timely and correctly filed.

In a recent case, the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals provided some clarity on key differences between SDVOSB protests and bid protests, including important limits on the SBA’s jurisdiction.

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