SBA’s Proposed Rule Alters the Landscape for Size and Status Protests
On September 9, 2022, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a proposed rule (the Rule) making substantial changes to the 8(a) Business Development program (covered here in a previous PilieroMazza alert). Scattered throughout the Rule are various protest-related changes for the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Programs. The Rule expands and limits the ground rules for filing a size or status protest against an apparent successful offeror. To avoid losing contracting opportunities . . . Read More
SBIR/STTR Extension: Proposed Requirements for Small Business Contractors
On September 22, the Senate passed the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Extension Act of 2022 . As it heads to the House of Representatives, government contractors in these programs should be weary of various changes that would significantly impact both programs, if passed. Particularly, the bill cracks down on foreign investment and affiliation in SBIR/STTR participants, as well as increasing performance standards for firms considered “SBIR Mills,” the term given to small businesses receiving a significant number of awards under Phase I and II of the SBIR program . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – September 23, 2022
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . GovCon Live! Podcast: Listen to PilieroMazza’s Podcast Series “Commercial Businesses New to Government Contracting” here . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Enhancing the Security of the Software Supply Chain Through Secure Software Development Practices The Office of Management and Budget published a memo to implement National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) . . . Read More
DOD Offers Relief for Contractors Facing Registration Challenges with SAM.Gov
As many contractors know all too well, the System for Award Management (SAM) has had a rocky 2022 driven by the transition from the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) to the assignment of Unique Entity IDs (UEI) through SAM. PilieroMazza previously wrote about the issues here . The switch resulted in a wide range of entity validation issues, causing contractors undergoing the validation process to miss their payment deadlines and significantly hampering their ability to register in SAM in time for . . . Read More
Impact of SBA Proposals on WOSB and HUBZone Programs, Joint Ventures/Mentor-Protégés, and Nonmanufacturer Rule Waivers
As PilieroMazza noted recently here , SBA released a major proposed rulemaking that will impact government contractors. While the proposed rule is heavily geared toward SBA’s 8(a) Program, SBA included proposals for many of its other small business programs as well. This client alert provides contractors with an overview of SBA’s proposals related to Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and HUBZone Programs, as well as joint ventures and nonmanufacturer rule (NMR) waivers. WOSB Program As you may be aware, SBA’s regulations provide . . . Read More
DOD and GSA Inflation Update: Key Takeaways for Government Contractors
Inflation continues to be among the top problems facing government contractors , as it continues to rise and contractor’s resources to address the problem become depleted. Even falling gas prices is not enough to curb the steady rate of inflation. In the past two weeks, the Department of Defense (DOD) and General Services Administration (GSA) updated their guidance on contractual adjustments for inflation. Although not perfect, the guidance is a step in the right direction. In this client alert, PilieroMazza attorneys offer key takeaways to help . . . Read More
OFCCP Extends Deadline for EEO-1 Data FOIA Objections
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) extended the deadline from September 19, 2022, to October 19, 2022, for government contractors to object to OFCCP’s possible release of the contractors’ Type 2 Consolidated EEO-1 reports. As noted in PilieroMazza’s September 13, 2022 client alert , OFCCP notified contractors of their right to file objections to a recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from the Center for Investigative Reporting. If a contractor fails to object by October 19, OFCCP will assume . . . Read More
5 Associates Join PilieroMazza’s Thriving Legal Practice
PilieroMazza —a business law firm serving the needs of government contractors and commercial businesses—announces the addition of five Associates to the Firm’s Government Contracts and Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice groups. Tony Franco , PilieroMazza’s Managing Partner, remarked: “This is an exciting time for PilieroMazza as we welcome Daniel, Dozier, Annie, Ustina, and Matt to two of our four core practice groups. Their arrival symbolizes the investments PilieroMazza is committed to making to serve our clients and their wide-ranging legal needs.“ Introducing: Daniel Figuenick, III Government Contracts Annie Hudgins Government Contracts Dozier Gardner, Jr. Government Contracts Ustina Ibrahim Government . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – September 15, 2022
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . GovCon Live! Podcast: Listen to PilieroMazza’s Podcast Series “Commercial Businesses New to Government Contracting” here . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS SBA Seeks Comments on Proposed Updates to the 8(a) Program and Many Other Government Contracting Programs, 09.14.22, Jon Williams On September 9, 2022, the Small Business Administration (SBA) published a proposed rule that would make . . . Read More
SBA Seeks Comments on Proposed Updates to the 8(a) Program and Many Other Government Contracting Programs
On September 9, 2022, the Small Business Administration (SBA) published a proposed rule that would make many significant changes to SBA’s 8(a) program requirements, the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and HUBZone programs, subcontracting, protests, and more. Public comments on SBA’s proposals are due by November 8, 2022. Government contractors that participate in any of SBA’s small business programs should take note of the proposed changes and consider whether to address them through public comment. There is a lot to unpack in this . . . Read More