Happy Friday, SmallGovCon readers. Even as the votes are sifted, the federal government continues to buy goods and services from contractors. To that end, here are some important updates from the last week.
These include veteran-owned small business trends, the critical role of CUI in federal supply chain security, and and update on the rule banning some Chinese equipment.
Continue reading…A federal court has ruled that the VA violated the SDVOSB Rule of Two, as well as a more recent statute, by moving SDVOSB set-aside requirements to the AbilityOne program.
If you think you heard this before, you’re not going crazy or living your own personal Groundhog Day. The court’s ruling is just the latest in a long-running debate about how the VA should balance the SDVOSB and AbilityOne contracting preferences.
Continue reading…The SBA’s recent final rule on Mentor-Protégé Program consolidation included a number of important updates and clarifications. Among these was an explanation of the rules involving a mentor owning part of a protégé while also being part of a joint venture with the same protégé. It’s something I’ve always wanted SBA to confirm, so I’m glad they did.
Continue reading…Last December, SBA overhauled its HUBZone Program rules in an effort to make it easier for companies to obtain and maintain HUBZone certification–and to help the Government stop falling so woefully short of the three percent HUBZone prime contracting goal.
But now, in a new report, SBA’s internal watchdog is questioning whether one of those HUBZone Program changes went too far.
Continue reading…Happy Halloween, SmallGovCon readers! My kids are definitely excited about Halloween, even though the trick or treating will be a little different than in years past.
But there is more to be excited about. Next week is National Veteran Owned Small Business Week. Check out SBA’s events and resources for more information, and join us in celebrating the many veteran-owned small businesses around the country.
This week saw a number of important stories, ranging from an idea for a new set-aside category for federal contracts, an update on SBA’s lending in 2020, and a number of enforcement actions involving federal contracting fraud. Read on for more updates.
Continue reading…Over the last several years, I’ve established an important pre-holiday December tradition. No, not decking the halls or leaving carrots for the reindeer–I’m talking about presenting the annual Government Contracts Year in Review webinar, hosted by my good friends at Govology. The Year in Review covers the year’s biggest government contracting developments, with a special emphasis on small business issues.
The 2020 Year in Review is scheduled for Tuesday, December 15. And just like Kris Kringle, I’ve got a special gift for this year’s well-behaved contractors and acquisition professionals: a 25% discount!
Continue reading…For small businesses and their teammates, few topics in government contracting are as confusing as the limitations on subcontracting for set-aside and socioeconomic sole source contracts. And if that isn’t stressful enough, the “LoS” is an area of heavy enforcement: get it wrong, and a contractor can face major penalties.
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone would explain the limitations on subcontracting in plain English? Well, if you’re a PTAC counselor, you’re in luck. On November 5, 2020, Koprince Law LLC Senior Partner Steven Koprince will present a session at the 2020 APTAC Fall Conference to help PTAC counselors and their clients understand and comply with this essential rule.