SBA Proposes to Change When Companies Need to Recertify Size and Status for Orders

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Shane McCall

SBA recently proposed changes to a number of its small business rules, as we’ve written about in earlier posts. The same proposed rule includes a small but significant change to when a business has to recertify its size and status for orders under multiple award contracts.

Based on the number of times we’ve written about size and status protests for orders under multiple award contracts (see the related content at the bottom of this post for a sampling), this is an area in need of clarity.

Federal Government Contractors Can Use Electronic Signatures for Claim Certifications, ASBCA Says

Posted on December 2, 2019 by SmallGovConContributor

Despite technological advance, some (perhaps even you) still cling to the notion that a signature, written by a human hand, is the only official kind. In other words, if a person doesn’t personally affix his “John Hancock” in cursive script or some other creative form, then the document really isn’t signed.

If this thought sounds familiar, we’re here to liberate you. You are no longer bound like a medieval prisoner to your tube filled with ink. You can use an electronic signature in your contract work with the U.S. Government, including certifications connected to claims submitted under the Contract Disputes Act.

GAO: Trade Agreements Act Inapplicable to Small Business Set-Asides

Posted on November 27, 2019 by SmallGovConContributor

It’s no secret that federal government contracting has the reputation of being a seemingly endless morass of regulations. In fact, the confusion frequently associated with federal contracting was on full display in a recent GAO protest that implicated the SBA’s nonmanufacturer rule, the Buy American Act, and the Trade Agreements Act. In a procurement that invited bids from both large and small businesses, a large business contractor argued that the application of certain small business contracting regulations would unfairly advantage the small business participants.

GAO disagreed, and dismissed the protest because any advantage was the result of the regulations operating as intended. Sometimes it pays to be a small business.

New HUBZone Rules Kick In December 26

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Shane McCall

SBA proposed a major revamp of how it will interpret and enforce the HUBZone program’s rules back in October of 2019. We wrote about the major changes in a couple of posts (here and here) as well as some of the common misconceptions that SBA cleared up as part of the proposed rule.

Well, the wait is over. SBA will release the final rule November 26 and the new rules will become effective on December 26, 2019.

SmallGovCon Week In Review: November 18 – 22, 2019

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Shane McCall

SmallGovCon readers, have a great Thanksgiving! We won’t be posting our weekly roundup next week due to the holiday, but we’ll catch up on any missed news the following week.

In the mean time, enjoy this week’s roundup of federal contracting news. Also be sure to enjoy the family, friends, and food at your Thanksgiving table. My personal favorite–stuffing! Below are some interesting updates about GSA’s investigation into the rocky transition to beta.sam.gov, a guilty plea in a “Rent-A-Vet” Scheme, and Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division establishing New Business Opportunities.

Protester Hits the Trifecta: Bid Protest Sustained, Denied, and Dismissed

Posted on November 22, 2019 by SmallGovConContributor

GAO issued a bid protest decision that sustained a protest in part, dismissed it in part, and denied it in part. Contractors can learn from this that even if all the arguments do not work, all it takes is one.

High Noon Unlimited, Inc. protested the U.S. Marine Corps decision to buy rifle magazine pouches off High Speed Gear, Inc. There was a large difference in price between the two offerors, with High Noon offering approximately $2.2 million while High Speed charged just under $3.6 million.

SBA Proposes to Eliminate Some 8(a) Joint Venture Agreement Approval Requirements

Posted on November 21, 2019 by Gregory Weber

Recently, the SBA proposed big changes for its small business regulations, including some aspects of the 8(a) Program.

This post is Part 4 in our coverage of these proposed SBA changes and will cover the SBA’s potential changes to the joint venture agreement approval process for 8(a) contracts (here are part 1, part 2, and part 3 of our coverage).