OrangeSlices' The Real Deal
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The rules of federal contracting may be changing in a big way and for small businesses, the implications could reshape everything from competition and growth strategies to mergers and acquisitions.
On this episode of The Real Deal: Winning, Growing, and Exiting in GovCon, hosts Sarah Djamshidi of Speedshift Ventures and Cy Alba of PilieroMazza PLLC step away from their usual guest format for a candid conversation about the regulatory changes and market shifts that could redefine what it means to be a small business in GovCon.
At the center of the discussion is the SBA’s proposed overhaul of small business size standards, including potentially dramatic increases in eligibility thresholds and a shift toward employee-based measurements for certain industries. Could companies generating hundreds of millions in revenue soon qualify as small businesses? And what would that mean for smaller contractors already struggling to compete?
Sarah and Cy explore both sides of the equation: the potential for increased investment, new market entrants, greater flexibility for growing businesses, and more M&A activity—alongside concerns about intensified competition and whether truly small companies could get squeezed out.
The conversation also examines the Rule of Two, its application to task orders, and what happens when expanded size standards intersect with changing set-aside protections.
Their message for GovCon leaders? Don’t build your future around a certification or size designation alone. As the market evolves, companies need to rethink their growth, teaming, and competitive strategies, strengthen their differentiators, and look beyond the traditional playbook.
If you’re building, scaling, acquiring, or preparing to exit a GovCon business, this conversation offers important perspectives on the changes that could shape your next move.
