Until now, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) did not participate in the SBA’s Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) Contracting Program. But as of January 2021, it looks like that may be changing!
Continue reading…GAO Concludes Expired SAM Registration in Invitation for Bid Cannot be Rejected as Nonresponsive
A company that is nonresponsive to an Invitation for Bid (IFB), or any solicitation for that matter, will usually be rejected for consideration for award. All too often, when a nonresponsive finding is made, there is no coming back.
A recent decision from GAO shines light on what it means to be “nonresponsive” and “not responsible.” GAO confirmed that SAM registration submitting annual certifications are matters of responsibility, not responsiveness.
What is the difference? Let’s look at the two terms and their practical effect on a company’s ability to cure deficiencies.
Continue reading…SmallGovCon Week in Review: Feb. 22 – Feb. 26, 2021
This weekend will get into the 60s, so I’ll be spending some time outdoors soaking up the nice weather. Hope everyone is able to enjoy some nice weather too. As you prepare for your weekend, stay up to date with some of these key government contracting updates.
This week’s stories include continued use of LPTA, increased enforcement of wage regulations, and SBA’s audit plans.
Continue reading…Agency Reasonably Accepted Awardee’s 91% Price Premium, GAO Says
When it comes to “best value” evaluations, agencies ordinarily have broad discretion to accept higher-rated, higher-priced proposals.
How broad is that discretion? Well, in one recent case, the GAO held that an agency reasonably accepted the awardee’s higher-rated proposal, despite a whopping 91% price premium.
Continue reading…Event: Small Business Updates at the Alliance Northwest Conference
The last few months have seen a whirlwind of changes in the government contracting rules for small businesses–everything from rules governing joint ventures to WOSB certification to the requirement for government-wide SDVOSB verification, and much more.
If your head is spinning trying to keep up with all the recent changes, I’m here to help! On March 11, I’ll present a plain-English overview of some of the most important small business changes as part of the Alliance Northwest Conference.
Alliance is one of my favorite annual events, and it’s all-virtual this year–so even if you aren’t located in the Pacific Northwest, you should check it out. Hope to “see” you there!
Koprince Law LLC’s New 8(a) Program GovCon Handbook is Live!
Well folks, the wait is finally over! The Second Edition of our popular GovCon Handbook on the SBA’s 8(a) Program is live, and it’s available here. In this revised, updated, and expanded Handbook, Steven Koprince and I give you the run-down on all things 8(a) (and as always, we do so in plain English).
Whether you are considering applying to the 8(a) Program, in the midst of the application process, already years into your 8(a) Program term, or a recent graduate/non-8(a) entity hoping to team with an 8(a) company one of these days–this book is for you. It covers everything under the 8(a) sun, including:
Continue reading…Update: FAR Final Rule Puts Limits on LPTA Procurements
Lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) source selection has been on the decline lately. A recent final rule from the FAR Council, effective February 16, 2021, continues this trend. In the rule, the FAR Council implemented additional restrictions on the use of LPTA for non-DoD contracts.
Continue reading…