The Weekly Update December 1, 2017
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS PROTESTS If the Federal Watchdog Office Works for Contract Protestors, Why the Decline? According to an article posted in the Federal Contracts Report, several reasons could explain the decrease in bid protest filings in 2017 despite an “effectiveness” rate showing that the Federal Watchdog office regularly provides relief to contractors. There has been a 7% drop in filing bid protests in fiscal 2017—from 2,789 to 2,596—and there are various reasons available as likely explanations; including but not . . . Read More
The Weekly Update November 14, 2017
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS SBA Backlash to SBA Regulatory Research Contract Is Growing Critics are raising significant concerns about the award of a federal contract to study regulatory costs to two researchers whose previous work has been widely criticized. The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy on September 21st awarded researchers W. Mark Crain and Nicole V. Crain a contract worth $136,250 to conduct a study on the disproportionate cost impact of regulations on small businesses, due in December 2018. “We . . . Read More
The Weekly Update October 27, 2017
CAPITOL HILL House Small Business Committee letter requesting update to Small Business Tax This week, House Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) sent a letter with Ranking Member Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) to House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) requesting the Committee consider H.R. 3717, the Small Business Owners’ Tax Simplification Act. H.R. 3717 which would update the tax code for small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs. In the letter, Chairman . . . Read More
The Weekly Update October 20, 2017
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS “Conferees Will Determine Fate of Defense Bill Provision to Deter Frivolous Contractor Bid Protest” Government Executive, October 13, 2017. Retrieved from govexec.com Senators, as they have in past bills, inserted language in their fiscal 2018 National Defense Authorization Act that would affect the three-decade-old bid protest process in two ways: Companies with more than $100 million revenues in the previous year’s which file unsuccessful protests against contract awards to a competitor would be required to pay the Defense Department . . . Read More
The Weekly Update October 13, 2017
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program NAICS Code Updates The U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has updated the North American Industry Classification System (“NAICS”) codes authorized for use in the Women-Owned Small Business (“WOSB”) Federal Contract Program (“WOSB Program”). The update is being made to reflect the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s NAICS revision for 2017, identified as NAICS 2017. NAICS 2017 created 21 new industries by reclassifying, combining, or splitting 29 NAICS 2012 industry codes. . . . Read More
The Weekly Update September 29, 2017
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION “Rules of Practice for Protests and Appeals Regarding Eligibility for Inclusion in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Verification and Evaluation Database” The U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) is proposing to amend the rules of practice of its Office of Hearings and Appeals (“OHA”) to implement procedures for protests of eligibility for inclusion in the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Verification and Evaluation (“CVE”) database, and procedures for appeals of denials and cancellations of . . . Read More
The Weekly Update September 15, 2017
CAPITOL HILL “Serving Small Businesses: Examining the Effectiveness of HUBZone Reforms” House Small Business Committee Press Release, September 13, 2017. Retrieved from smallbusiness.house.gov The House Small Business Committee heard from small businesses within the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) program. Specifically, the Committee heard testimony on H.R. 3294, the “HUBZone Unification and Business Stability Act,” introduced by Ranking Member Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH). SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION “SBA Awards $5 Million in PRIME Grants . . . Read More
The Weekly Update September 8, 2017
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Department of Veterans Affairs Withdrawal of Proposed Rule. Federal Register, September 1, 2017. Retrieved from federalregister.gov The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a rule in the Federal Register on November 6, 2015, 80 FR 68795, which proposed amending its regulations governing its Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) Verification Program. The proposed rule sought to clarify the eligibility requirements for businesses to obtain “verified” status, added and revised definitions, reordered requirements, redefined ‘‘control,’’ and provided explanations for information on VA’s . . . Read More
The Weekly Update August 21, 2017
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS “Industry Experts Advise GovCon Firms to Prepare for Possible Gov Shutdown.” ExecutiveGov, August 16, 2017. Retrieved from executivegov.com An ExecutiveGov article from August 16, 2017 analyzes the effects of a looming government shutdown on federal contractors. Expert panelists have advised that it is essential for government contractors to understand the nature of their contracts ahead of a shutdown. Proactively touching base with your contracting officer is the first step to preventing any confusion during a shutdown, as contracting officers . . . Read More
The Weekly Update August 11, 2017
FEDERAL AGENCIES “Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: DFARS Subgroup to the DoD Regulatory Reform Task Force, Review of DFARS Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses.” Federal Register, August 10, 2017. Retrieved from federalregister.gov The Department of Defense published a proposed rule in the Federal Register seeking input on Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplements solicitation provisions and contract clauses that may be appropriate for repeal, replacement, or modification. The public comment period is extended to September 11, 2017. “Report to Congress Restructuring the . . . Read More