Contractor’s Creative Staffing Proposal Leads to Elimination from Competition

Posted on July 16, 2020 by SmallGovConContributor

In the competitive federal marketplace, businesses are always looking for ways to make their proposals more competitive. With millions of dollars at stake, it is no surprise that some competitors develop clever approaches to give their proposal a competitive edge.

As one competitor recently discovered, however, there is a point where an offer can get too clever, which may result in proposal elimination. Especially when an agency views the clever approach as violating a solicitation staffing requirement.

FAR Final Rule: Increased Micro-Purchase and Simplified Acquisition Thresholds

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Shane McCall

The Federal Acquisition Regulation has officially been updated to increase the micro-purchase threshold and the simplified acquisition threshold, effective August 31, 2020. Various federal agencies had already increased the thresholds through deviations, but this rule makes it official across the board. A few additional thresholds will increase due to inflation.

Read on for the details on how this could impact federal procurement.

YouTube Tuesday: Writing Your 8(a) Application’s Social Disadvantage Narrative- What the SBA is Looking For

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Nicole Pottroff

One of the trickiest requirements for admission into the SBA’s 8(a) program is demonstrating social disadvantage. While some groups are presumed socially disadvantaged (as discussed here), social disadvantage can also be demonstrated based on other characteristics not specifically included in the SBA’s regulations. For those characteristics, applicants must submit a “social disadvantage narrative.”

In this video, I provide you the tricks of the trade you’ll need to write a successful narrative:

For assistance drafting your social disadvantage narrative, reach out to us here!

Room for Improvement: GAO Reviews Agency Oversight of Small Business Subcontracting Plans

Posted on July 13, 2020 by SmallGovConContributor

Recently, GAO published a report on small business subcontracting plan compliance, concluding that agency oversight of these plans need improvement.

Week In Review: July 6 – July 10, 2020

Posted on July 10, 2020 by SmallGovConContributor

Congratulations, everyone! We’ve made it through another week. Hopefully your weekend will be full of (socially-distanced) pool parties and barbecues . . . or, at the least, an afternoon couch nap.

Before we log off for the weekend, it’s time for the SmallGovCon Week In Review. In this week’s edition, we’ll touch on CMMC (of course), the Alliant II cancellation, and more.

Have a great weekend!

COVID-19 Lockdown No Excuse for Late Filing, GAO says

Posted on July 9, 2020 by SmallGovConContributor

In a recent bid protest decision, GAO said being under a COVID-19 “Stay at Home Order” was no reason to miss a comments filing deadline.

GAO Rules RFQ Requirement Unreasonably Restricted Competition

Posted on July 8, 2020 by SmallGovConContributor

In recent GAO decision, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., B-418449 (Comp. Gen. May 18, 2020), GAO reminded the Marine Corps to make sure its RFQ requirements were reasonable—and in line with the underlying contract.