Many Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) operate under the assumption that SDVOSB certification is only required at the time of initial offer for SDVOSB set aside contracts. But as one company recently learned the hard way, SDVOSB eligibility for VA procurements must be maintained at both the time of offer and award.
Continue reading…SmallGovCon Week in Review: September 29-October 3, 2025
It’s Friday and time for another week in review. Well, as we all know, this week’s news is all about the government shut down and the impact on federal government contracting. The days ahead remain uncertain, but the impacts of the shutdown are already rippling across the federal landscape. Until this is resolved, hang in there, Contractors, and please continue to visit SmallGovCon for more information and updates.
You can read more about this topic in the articles we have provided below. Have a safe weekend.
Continue reading…FAR 2.0 Update: Small Business Rule of Two Lives on in Part 19 – Small Business
Many federal contractors have heard about the revamping of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Variously called FAR 2.0, the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul, or simply RFO, this project has been undertaken by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) and the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council). An executive order got the ball rolling, setting forth the mandate to create FAR 2.0 by October 12, 2025. We wrote about it in our earlier post, and described it as two parallel tracks. Track 1 involves a rewrite into “plain language” and removing non-statutory and unnecessary content. Track 2 involves the development of the non-mandatory guidelines to guide procurement officials.
Our earlier posts regarding the RFO can be found here: Executive Order, Overview of FAR 2.0, FAR Part 6, FAR Part 8.
The revision of the FAR sections has continued over the past few months, with additional proposed revisions being released throughout 2025. In this post, we’ll review one proposed revision that seems to make some significant changes to the language: Part 19 – Small Business. A key takeaway is the FAR will retain the small business rule of two.
Continue reading…SmallGovCon Week in Review: September 22-26, 2025
Hello, SmallGovCon Readers! It’s Friday and time for another week in review.
A potential government shutdown is prominent in this week’s headlines and poses some challenges for federal contractors. As negotiations in Congress drag on, contractors are faced with a lot of uncertainty. You can read more about this and strategies to deal with the government shutdown in articles below.
Please check out the blog from our SmallGovCon contributor Nicole Pottroff for some best practices for federal contractors:
Strategies for Dealing with a Government Shutdown
Have a great weekend!
Continue reading…SBA’s SDVOSB Warning: Spell Out Veteran Control in Business Documents and Minutes
It is quite common for businesses in the private sector to share control and duties among many executives or individuals. However, as many who have looked into SBA socioeconomic certifications have found out, to gain certification in a set-aside program, basically all control needs to reside with one individual. Recently, the SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) reviewed a SDVOSB recertification denial, and provided a reminder to contractors interested in the SDVOSB and VOSB program that the veteran must be the sole individual in control.
Continue reading…OHA: Size Protest Review Must be More Than a Rubber Stamp
As Federated Maritime, LLC, SBA SIZ-6360, 2025 demonstrates, an agency’s review of a size protest must be more than just a surface-level review and a rubber stamp. This size appeal started with a disappointed bidder (here, the Appellant) that questioned the relationship between Schuyler Line Navigation Company, LLC (or Awardee), a company that won two cargo charter contracts, and its alleged affiliates. The contracts were 100% set-aside for small businesses under NAICS Code 483111 – Deep Sea Freight Transportation.
Continue reading…SmallGovCon Week in Review: September 15-19, 2025
Happy Friday. Federal contracting is seeing a lot of movement lately. Contractors, as usual, must stay flexible as the federal acquisition world and rules keep shifting. With regulatory updates rolling out and fresh talk of bid protest reforms, contractors have a lot to keep up with. Luckily, we have summarized these updates for you!
You can read more about what is happening in federal government contracting this week, in the articles below, including a bipartisan bill on price gouging by contractors and talks of a a potential shutdown.
Have a great weekend!
Continue reading…