Debriefings are a crucial part of the complicated world of bidding on Government contracts. They can provide wonderful insight to contractors on where they can improve, where their proposals were strong, and in cases, may provide information that could indicate to a contractor that a bid protest may be warranted. Therefore, it is vitally important for contractors to understand what Debriefings are, what they can and can’t provide you, and why they matter. Previously, we here at SmallGovCon discussed 5 things you should know about Debriefings, but in this post we will do a more detailed dive into Debriefings based on the current regulations and contracting landscape.
Continue readingTag Archives: Back to Basics
Back to Basics: Limitations on Subcontracting
One of the common questions small business contractors ask themselves when planning performance of a contract is “how much of this work are we allowed to subcontract?” Trying to answer this question inevitably leads contractors to one of the most commonly used and frequently misunderstood rules in federal contracting, the Limitations on Subcontracting. In this post, we will break down some of the basics of this rule, and hopefully clear up any basic misunderstandings regarding it.
Continue readingBack to Basics: SBA’s Mentor-Protégé Program
One of the biggest gamechangers among Federal Contracting programs is the SBA’s Mentor Protégé Program. It provides an avenue for small businesses and large businesses to work together where they otherwise may not have been able to previously, helps federal contractors develop their companies, and can provide protection from affiliation. However, in order for businesses to take advantage of this program, the relationship between the mentor and protégé businesses must meet certain requirements. This entry in SmallGovCon’s Back to Basics series will provide a quick overview of some of the requirements and important areas for contractors to remember if they are considering participating in the SBA’s Mentor-Protégé Program.
Continue readingBack to Basics: Veteran-Owned Businesses and SDVOSB Eligibility
To honor the sacrifice made by our country’s veterans, the federal government has made it a priority to set aside federal contracting opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB). To qualify for these opportunities, businesses must meet certain specifications in ownership and control. Let’s take a quick look at some the general qualifications needed to qualify as an SDVOSB and bid on SDVOSB set-aside contracts.
Continue readingBack to Basics: SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program
If you’re a small business owner interested in government contracts, you’ve probably heard about the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program. The 8(a) Program itself is complex, and its eligibility rules are some of stricter rules out there; but its potential benefits are tremendous. In this Back to Basics post, I’ll break down some of the very basics about the 8(a) Program. But don’t worry, not only will I follow this post up with another to unpack more of the complexities, I have also included links throughout this post to other posts doing the same.
Continue readingIntroducing: SmallGovCon’s “Back to Basics” Series
We at SmallGovCon try to stay cognizant of the fact that there are new federal contractors every day, as well as seasoned companies venturing into the federal government contracting realm every day. As such, we are proudly introducing our new Back to Basics series of posts that will (yes, you guessed it) take you back through some of the basics of various federal government contracting programs, regulations, and procedures. If you are new to federal government contracting, new to specific programs (i.e. 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, etc.), a first time protester, or simply looking for a refresher on some of the basics, this series is for you! You can use the category bar on our blog website to find all posts in the Back to Basics series, but also, keep an eye out for new ones!