Tag Archives: APTAC

Thank You, 8(a)s!

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I am back in Lawrence after a wonderful three days at the National 8(a) Association 2018 Small Business Conference in Nashville.  I was part of a great panel on Wednesday on the SBA’s All Small Mentor-Protege Program, and spent a lot of time on the trade show floor talking about government contracts with 8(a)s, government leaders, and large businesses.

A big “thank you” to Ron Perry, Paula Arevalo, and the rest of the National 8(a) Association for inviting me to participate in this fantastic event.  Thank you, also, to everyone who attended my panel or stopped by the Koprince Law LLC booth to say hello.  It was great to see so many familiar faces and make many new connections.

I’ll be sticking close to home in February, but head to sunny Florida in early March for the APTAC Spring Conference.  PTAC counselors, I look forward to seeing you there!

SmallGovCon Week In Review: April 3-7, 2017

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It’s been a rainy spring here in Lawrence, but the sun is finally out today.  And speaking of sunshine, I’ll be in sunny San Diego on Monday to speak at the APTAC Spring 2017 Training Conference.  I am looking forward to catching up with many of my favorite “PTACers” next week.

Before I head to the West Coast, it’s time for our weekly rundown of government contracting news and commentary.  In this week’s SmallGovCon Week In Review, a contractor has agreed to pay nearly $20 million to resolve accusations of overcharging the VA, the GSA is considering removing a mandate requiring industry partners to participate in the new Transactional Data Reporting pilot, the GAO concludes that DoD’s buying power is on the rise, and much more.

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SmallGovCon Week In Review: April 4 – 8, 2016

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For me, the theme this week has been “rock stars.”  I began the week with my friends at APTAC–the rock stars of procurement counseling.  And last night, I enjoyed 3 1/2 hours of the rock stars of, well, rock stars, as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played the Sprint Center in Kansas City.

Even as the refrain from “Badlands” keeps running through my head (not a bad thing!) I haven’t forgotten that it’s Friday–and that means it’s time for the SmallGovCon Week In Review.  In this week’s edition, Samantha Bee offers a pointed but humorous take on the pace of progress for WOSBs, a contractor is accused of SDVOSB fraud in a $23 million case, the SBA is proposing to consolidate the SBIR and STTR Policy Directives, and much more.

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Thank You, APTAC!

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I am about to leave St. Louis, where I have been since Sunday for the APTAC Spring Conference.  My presentation yesterday focused on common misunderstandings about the SBA’s size and socioeconomic rules (for example, a state WBE certification doesn’t mean that a contractor is a federally-certified WOSB).  Thank you to all of the “PTACers” who attended my presentation and asked such great questions.

But for me, the highlight of the trip was yesterday’s luncheon, where the APTAC membership surprised me with a special “Friend of APTAC” award.  I am incredibly grateful and humbled to be honored by APTAC in this way.  Thank you very much to Terri Bennett, Jason Porch, Becky Peterson, and all of APTAC for this great honor.

I’ve said it once (actually, I’ve said it many times), but if you are a small business in government contracting, you owe it to yourself to see what your local PTAC can do for you.  Visit the ATPAC website to get started.

Thank You, Idaho!

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I am back in Lawrence after a great trip to Idaho for the Idaho Small Business Symposium.  My presentation at the ISBS focused on big legal changes on the horizon in small business contracting, including the SBA’s proposed universal mentor-protege program.

Thank you to all of the small business owners, government officials, and others who attended my session or stopped by to visit me at the Koprince Law booth.  And a special thanks to Lee Velten and Gary Moore of the Idaho PTAC, who put together this fantastic event.

Next up for me: the APTAC Spring Conference in St. Louis, where I look forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces–including my friend Guy Timberlake of the American Small Business Coalition, who will also be speaking at APTAC.  If you are a “PTACer,” I look forward to seeing you in St. Louis!