SmallGovCon Week In Review: September 16 – September 20, 2019

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Shane McCall

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for another weekend of college football. Here in Lawrence, there is some renewed interest in the Jayhawks after last week’s surprise Friday night upset over Boston College. Let’s hope the Hawks can keep the intensity up tomorrow.

It also means it’s time for another roundup of some of the more interesting updates from the federal government contracting world. This week, we look at stories including that Federal, state, and local authorities are intensifying scrutiny of minority contracting programs; the House Small Business Committee Chairwoman pushes for improvements to SBA’s 8(a) Program; and whether AI can help decide if work is inherently governmental.

GAO Reminds Contractors to Update All Profiles After a Name Change or Risk Bid Rejection

Posted on September 19, 2019 by Gregory Weber

Many businesses go through name changes and rebranding throughout their growth as a company. But if you’re a government contractor, a business name change requires added updates that, if not done correctly and promptly, can affect the business’s ability to win a contract.

GAO’s recent decision hammered home just how important it is to make sure your contractor profiles are updated if you want to win contracts.

AbilityOne Contractor Loses Work to SDVOSB, Has Protest Dismissed

Posted on September 18, 2019 by SmallGovConContributor

As recently as May, the Department of Veterans Affairs told a nonprofit helping to employ blind workers that it intended to renew its contract. The organization was shocked, therefore, when on July 30, the VA issued a notice of award to a service-disabled veteran-owned small business. To make matters worse, the nonprofit’s GAO protest of the award was promptly dismissed for being untimely.

What the heck happened?

5 Things You Should Know: Joint Ventures

Posted on September 17, 2019 by SmallGovConContributor

Editor’s note: For more information, check out our updated post on Joint Ventures.

In the age of consolidated contracts and increased competition, small business federal contractors are searching for a way to improve their odds of winning the next opportunity. One of the most important tools for doing so is to form a joint venture.

Here are five things you should know about small business joint ventures:

GAO Walks the Line on Whether Facility Clearance is Proposal Acceptability or Responsibility Matter

Posted on September 16, 2019 by SmallGovConContributor

Your small business is interested in submitting a proposal that requires a Department of Defense Facilities Clearance (FCL). While you will not have the required FCL when proposals are due, you have applied for the FCL and all signs indicate you will have the FCL by the time contract performance begins. In this scenario, can the agency outright deny your proposal or would it have to refer your proposal to the SBA for a certificate of competency?

Turns out, it all hinges on whether GAO views the FCL requirement as a matter of proposal acceptability or corporate responsibility.

SmallGovCon Week In Review: September 9 – September 13, 2019

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Shane McCall

It’s Friday the 13th and a harvest moon. That isn’t going to happen again until 2049. So be safe out there, don’t let any black cats cross your path as you look at the moon, and enjoy this rare event.

You can also enjoy some updates from the world of federal government contracting news, as there are some interesting tidbits this week. For instance, we’ve been hearing about the bribery charges for FEMA officials, examples of malicious actors targeting government contractors, and details about DOD’s use of pilot programs for software-only appropriations.

GSA On Track to Release Consolidated MAS Program Schedule On First of October

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Nicole Pottroff

This week, GSA announced it is on track to debut its Consolidated Multiple Acquisition Schedule (MAS) Program Schedule Solicitation on October 1. GSA also gave federal contractors planning to bid on the MAS a head start on the process by releasing a final draft solicitation and an updated industry FAQs sheet.

Let’s take a look at how to utilize this opportunity to prepare for the solicitation’s long-awaited debut.