The Small Business Administration recently published a notice of an amendment to the Policy Directives for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program on April 3, 2023. The intent of the amendment is to incorporate a template that federal agencies may use to request information from SBIR and STTR applicants that the applicants are statutorily required to disclose. The revisions will be effective May 3, 2023, unless the SBA receives significant adverse comments prior to the effective date. Not sure what the SBIR and STTR Programs are? I’ve provided a very brief overview below. Curious about the required disclosures? Read on to find out!
Continue readingTag Archives: statutes and regulations
Law to Create One Stop Shop for Small Businesses Questions
In late 2022, Congress passed and the President signed a law that aims to make it easier for Small Business Contractors to track down small business compliance information for the wide range of agencies involved in government contracting, that are currently housed somewhere within each specific agency’s website. In this post, SmallGovCon reviews this law, and through it, can examine with our readers where you can currently find the many resources available for small business issues at federal agencies. While these small business offices may not be able to solve all your problems as a federal contractor, a free resource is always good to have.
Editor’s Note: the website is up and running here.
Continue readingGAO Sustains Protest to Solicitation’s Implementation of Randolph-Sheppard Act
GAO recently sustained a protest to the terms of a solicitation incorporating the Randolph-Sheppard Act (RSA). The RSA is a statutorily-prescribed preference for blind individuals in the operation of vending facilities (which include cafeterias, snack bars, and automatic vending machines) on Federal property.
The protester here, the incumbent contractor and a non-RSA HUBZone concern, challenged the agency’s decision to include the RSA preference in its HUBZone set-aside solicitation for food service attendant services, arguing the work the solicitation contemplated was not for the operation of a cafeteria. And GAO agreed. This GAO decision could have a significant impact, given the broad range of food service solicitations that agencies have been (seemingly increasingly) applying the RSA to lately. Let’s take a deeper dive.
Continue readingNew Senate Bill Takes Aim at Organizational Conflicts of Interest
These days it often seems like both sides of the congressional aisle cannot agree on anything and bipartisan support is in short supply. However, one thing that Congress can agree on is the fact that organizational conflicts, which can lead to unfair advantages, have no place in Federal contracting. On March 23, 2022, Michigan Senator Gary Peters, with support of three other senators, introduced S. 3905, the Preventing Organizational Conflicts in Federal Acquisition Act (the Act). The bill aims to identify and prevent organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) that have been slipping through the cracks, stating that “[p]rotecting against conflicts of interest in Federal acquisition is vital to the integrity of Government operations.”
Continue readingYouTube Tuesday: What is EDWOSB Status?
There have been a few changes recently to the WOSB and EDWOSB certification process–so now is as good a time as any to walk through the requirements for EDWOSB (or Economically-Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business) status. In this video, I provide an overview of the benefits of and requirements for EDWOSB status:
If you have questions, we are happy to help! You can reach us here.
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YouTube Tuesday: What is a WOSB?
With changes coming next week to the WOSB program certification process for women-owned small businesses (which we have discussed recently here and here), we thought we’d take a step back to look at the basics of program benefits and eligibility requirements. In this video, I lay out the reasons why women-owned businesses should consider participating in the program and discuss the three primary eligibility requirements:
Need assistance determining whether you’re eligible? Call us!
YouTube Tuesday: WOSB Certification–Changes Coming July 2020
On July 15th, big changes are coming to the SBA’s Women-Owned Small Business program certification process! We’ve discussed the changes in depth here, here, and here, but if you’re looking for the highlight reel, this video is for you:
If you have questions about WOSB certification, please give us a call at 785-200-8919.
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