The Weekly Update July 7, 2017
CAPITOL HILL “Assessment and Enforcement of Domestic Preferences In Accordance with Buy American Laws.” June 30, 2017. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov. The Office of Management and Budget and Department of Commerce issued a memo to provide agency guidance in accordance to Executive Order 13788, Buy American and Hire American. The memo prompts agencies to assess their compliance with all statutes, regulations, rules, and Executive Orders relating “Buy America” or “Buy American” and Federal procurement. In order to maximize the Federal Government . . . Read More
The Weekly Update June 30, 2017
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor On May 12, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) published a rule entitled “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses” with an effective date of January 1, 2017 for the final rule’s electronic reporting requirements. The final rule sets an initial deadline of July 1, 2017, as the date by which certain employers are required to electronically submit the information from their completed 2016 Form 300A to . . . Read More
The Weekly Update June 23, 2017
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION “SBA Ignite Tour Blazes Across the Country.” Small Business Administration Press Release, June 21, 2017. Retrieved from sba.gov. Administrator Linda McMahon announced that she will visit more than 60 cities as part of the SBA Ignite Tour, a national outreach campaign aimed to listen, educate, and advocate for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Administrator McMahon visited Las Vegas, Nevada on June 20 and visited Salt Lake City, Utah on June 21, 2017. Additional cities this summer include: Pittsburgh, Puerto . . . Read More
The Importance of a Carefully-Drafted Work-Share Provision
The Weekly Update June 16, 2017
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING “GSA Adds Hundreds of Small Businesses to the 8(a) STARS II GWAC Contract.” GSA Press Release, June 15, 2017. Retrieved from gsa.gov. The GSA 8(a) STARS II Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (“GWAC”) recently added approximately 500 qualified industry partners during an Open Season. The Open Season enables GSA to continue its support of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) 8(a) Business Development Program and assist agencies in meeting their small business goals. With over 3,200 task order awards and . . . Read More
The Weekly Update June 9, 2017
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Rules of Procedure Governing Cases Before the Office of Hearings and Appeals The U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has amended the rules of practice of its Office of Hearings and Appeals (“OHA”) to implement section 869 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 and section 1833 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. This legislation authorizes OHA to decide Petitions for Reconsideration of Size Standards (“Size Standard Petitions”). This . . . Read More
The Weekly Update May 23, 2017
OTHER NEWS SBA Administrator Linda McMahon Appoints Four Senior Executives, SBA PRESS RELEASE (May 25, 2017) Administrator Linda McMahon of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the appointment of four new Associate Administrators: Peter Cazamias for the Office of International Trade; Robb Wong for the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development; Allen Gutierrez for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development; and Michael Hershey for the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs. In a statement Ms. McMahon said: I am . . . Read More
New Option for Past Performance Ratings
The Weekly Update May 19th, 2017
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Proposed Rule to Revise and Streamline VA Acquisition Regulation To Adhere to Federal Acquisition Regulation Principles The Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) is proposing to amend and update its VA Acquisition Regulation (“VAAR”), to revise or remove any policy that has been superseded by changes in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”), to remove any procedural guidance that is internal to the VA, and to incorporate any new regulations or policies. This proposed rule will correct inconsistencies, . . . Read More
The Weekly Update May 5, 2017
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress has passed, and the President has signed, Public Law 115-21, a resolution of disapproval of OSHA’s final rule titled, “Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of each Recordable Injury and Illness.” OSHA published the rule, which contained various amendments to OSHA’s recordkeeping regulations, on December 19, 2016. . . . Read More