Often contractors will protest an award, then learn that the contract at issue was cancelled by the government due to corrective action. When that occurs, contractors of course feel as if their concerns were not resolved, or the protested other parties were let off the proverbial hook. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims recently explained that if that happens, there is no procurement left to protest, even if there are related research and development projects or actions continuing within the Government.
Continue reading…News Flash: SBA Releases Final HUBZone Rule Update, Other Small Business Changes
SBA has released the final rule for the HUBZone Program Updates and Clarifications, and Clarifications to Other Small Business Programs on December 17, 2024. As we have discussed, this rule made a lot of changes to the HUBZone program. But it also updated a lot of other small business rules. Below are the details on some of these significant changes. This rule will be effective on January 16, 2025.
Continue reading…SmallGovCon Week in Review: December 9-13, 2024
Hello and happy Friday! We’ve been getting some chilly temperatures here in the Midwest and it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. The lights are up downtown and the city is looking very festive! We hope you are enjoying the holiday season in your neck of the woods. We also finished up our last webinar of the season, the 2024 Government Contracting Year-End Review with Govology. Check it out to learn all the updates from 2024 to get ready for 2025.
This week in federal government contracting news saw updates on big picture contracting goals for DoD and software rules for federal contractors.
Continue reading…NAICS Code Appeal: OHA Says Agency’s Assignment of Code Doesn’t Have to be Perfect
When a contractor believes an agency assigned the wrong North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code to a solicitation, it can file an appeal with the SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA). However, for OHA to correct the NAICS code, the contractor must show the contracting officer’s assignment was clearly erroneous. As we’ve discussed, counting just those NAICS code appeals decided on the merits, about 45% were granted, per a GAO report.
Continue reading…SBA Issues Final Rule to Streamline WOSB Program Rules
In June, we reported on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that applied to the SBA’s Woman-Owned Small Business/Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) regulations. These proposed rules were intended to take the WOSB regulations and make them more consistent with the other types of set-aside programs offered by the SBA. Now, following the required period for comments from the general public, the SBA has published its Final Rule which will be effective January 3, 2025. Read ahead to find out more!
Continue reading…SmallGovCon Week in Review: December 2-6, 2024
Happy December! How’s the holiday shopping going so far? It seems the shopping time is even shorter than ever with Thanksgiving being so late this year. Oh boy! And the calendar is busy with so many events happening in December, it’s difficult to choose. This Saturday is the 24th annual Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade here in Lawrence, Kansas, featuring horse drawn buggies. We also hope you have some fun holiday plans this weekend and try not to stress about that shopping list.
But the federal contracting world was busy as well and has not quite settled down for its slumber. This week in federal government contracting news saw new WOSB rules, claim appeal stats from the CBCA annual report, and updates from the new administration.
Continue reading…Govology Webinar: December 12, 2024 – The 2024 Government Contracting Year-End Review
Please join Nicole Pottroff and me for this informative webinar, where we will discuss important new small business rules and updates, changes to 8(a) Program certification, joint venture modifications, HUBZone certification updates (including the new extensive HUBZone proposed rule), key provisions of the most recent National Defense Authorization Act, recent cases relevant to federal contractors, and more.
This is always a great way to end the calendar year in federal contracting. Register here. Hope to see you there!