The SBA has released a proposed rule to use a 24-month period to calculate a company’s number of employees for eligibility purposes in all of SBA’s programs. This change will affect any business seeking to qualify as small under an employee-based NAICS code, such as those applicable to manufactured products.
Continue reading…Department of the Interior Proposes Rules to Remove Barriers in Buy Indian Act Contracting Opportunities
The Department of the Interior (DOI) proposes to revise regulations implementing the Buy Indian Act, which provides the Department with authority to set aside procurement contracts for Indian-owned and controlled businesses. The proposed rule is to revise current procurement regulations that have created barriers to Indian Economic Enterprises (IEEs) from full participation in the DOI’s procurement process. The proposed rule is here.
Continue reading…GAO Affirms any Discussions During Evaluations Must be Meaningful
Evaluation of offers is a crucial point in the procurement process. During this time period, an agency may, in certain procurements, reach out with discussion questions meant to bring clarity to the decision-making process. However, any such discussions must be meaningful.
As one offeror recently found out, meaningful discussions even apply in so-called simplified acquisitions.
Continue reading…SmallGovCon Week in Review: November 1-5, 2021
Happy Friday, Readers. We hope you had a productive week. November 11 is Veteran’s Day. This holiday started as a day to honor the heroism of those who died in our country’s service and was originally called Armistice Day. It fell on Nov. 11 because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to “Veterans Day” in order to recognize and honor all veterans of war. Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC would like to thank all veterans for your service.
As usual, there was a lot happening in federal government contracting this week. Here are a few articles that may be of interest. Have a great weekend.
Continue reading…COVID-19 Federal Workforce Vaccination Deadline Extended to January 4, 2022
This morning, the White House released updated Covid-19 vaccination guidelines. This update includes a nearly month-long delay in the mandate implementation. Previously, all federal workers and contractors must have either been fully vaccinated or granted some form of extension or accommodation by December 8, 2022. Fully vaccinated means two weeks following the final dose, meaning the actual deadline was early November for employees to begin the two-shot cycle of Pfizer or Moderna.
The new deadline also comes with updated recommendations from OSHA.
Continue reading…Five (More) Things You Should Know: Common Vaccine Mandate Misconceptions
The vaccine mandate remains the talk of the governing contracting community. Even as a new lawsuit seeks to block the mandate, many contractors are working feverishly in an effort to comply.
Last week, I addressed responses to five common misconceptions I am hearing about the vaccine mandate. But I am seeing many more misconceptions, and updated guidance from the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force helps address some of them. So let’s take a look at five more common misconceptions about the contractor vaccine mandate.
Continue reading…Event: Contractor Vaccine Mandate Webinar, Hosted by Govology
Here at Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC, we’ve had a lot of contractors ask, “are you going to give a webinar on the contractor vaccine mandate?” I am pleased to say that the answer is yes.
On November 17, please join me and Shane McCall for a special Govology webinar on the vaccine mandate. We will cover which contractors and subcontractors must comply, which employees are covered, when employees must be vaccinated, how employers should confirm employee vaccination, and much more, including the latest guidance from the Safer Federal Workplace Task Force.
It’s easy to register: just click here. See you on November 17!