Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – March 20, 2020
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link. ANNOUNCEMENT: PilieroMazza Forms “COVID-19 Client Response Team,” March 18, 2020 To address the concerns of our clients and resource partners during and long after the coronavirus pandemic, PilieroMazza created the “COVID-19 Client Response Team.” The Team’s purpose is to offer government contractors and commercial businesses practical guidance with information and resources necessary to protect you, your business, and your personnel against the far-reaching impacts of COVID-19. Please also visit . . . Read More
BLOG: Top Priorities from SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza
On January 7, 2020, the Senate confirmed U.S. Treasurer Jovita Carranza as the 26th Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). During her testimony before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Carranza listed a number of priorities she will bring to her role at SBA. Below are notable priorities that may impact small businesses and/or government contractors. Provide Better Resources to Small Businesses in Disadvantaged Communities Carranza mentioned that connecting small businesses from disadvantaged communities with SBA support . . . Read More
SBA to Enact Significant Changes to Small Business Regulations Before 2020: Everything You Need to Know
On November 29, 2019, the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) issued a final rule (“Rule”) that will implement several provisions of the National Defense Authorization Acts (“NDAA”) of 2016 and 2017 and the Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015 (“RISE Act”), as well as other clarifying amendments. As we outlined nearly a year ago when the Rule was first proposed, these changes address key small business issues for government contractors, including: subcontracting plans, the non-manufacturer rule (“NMR”), Information Technology Value Added . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – November 14, 2019
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link. Client Alert: This Just In! SBA’s Implementation of HUBZone Changes and Small Business Runway Extension Act Coming Soon, November 14, 2019, Samuel Finnerty On November 12-13, 2019, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) hosted its 5th Annual Mentor Protégé Conference where SBA’s John Klein, Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law, answered questions from the audience regarding various mentor-protégé issues. Mr. Klein provided some key insights regarding recent and . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – November 6, 2019
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link. LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW Bloomberg Quotes PM Partner Nichole Atallah: Trump Rescinds Obama Order Prioritizing Federal Contract Workers, November 4, 2019 On October 31, 2019, President Donald Trump rescinded an executive order issued by former President Barack Obama that put existing federal contract workers at the front of the line for jobs on the next contract. Executive Order 13495 . . . required qualified workers on a federal . . . Read More
BLOG: Small Talk: SBA Size Calculation for Government Contractors
With changes to size standards this year based on inflation estimated to enable 89,730 firms to gain small business status, annual size recertification requirements, and potentially severe penalties for misrepresentation of size, it is essential that government contractors calculate their size correctly and keep their System for Award Management profile up to date. This is often daunting, as size standards differ by industry and, depending on your industry and the procurement you are pursuing, you may have to calculate your . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – October 29, 2019
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link. NATIVE AMERICAN LAW Emerging Issues in Native 8(a) Contracting The House Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations held a hearing titled, “Native 8(a) Contracting: Emerging Issues.” Recognizing the positive impact that the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a) program could have on tribal communities living in devastating poverty with little to no economic opportunity, Congress created the exceptions in the law for enterprises owned communally . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – October 17, 2019
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link. LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION The Supreme Court Clarifies Vague Arbitration Clauses Affecting Class Disputes for Growing Businesses, October 10, 2019, Patrick Burns For most small to medium-sized businesses, the threat of a class action is not usually front-of-mind. However, as a business grows, the threat can increase depending on the number of employees and the nature of the work being performed. Class actions are commonly thought of as . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – September 19, 2019
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link. NATIVE AMERICAN LAW Key Ruling on Native American Sovereign Immunity Stands—for Now, September 13, 2019, Paul Mengel The Fourth Circuit case Williams v. Big Picture Loans is being hailed as a major victory for Native American sovereign immunity rights. For entities owned by Native American tribes, the case stands as an important ruling for determining arm-of-the-tribe sovereign immunity. The case may be appealed to the Supreme Court. [Read . . . Read More
BLOG: Protégé Subcontract Revenues from Mentor Hold No Basis for Economic Dependence
An important benefit of a mentor-protégé agreement (MPA) is that no determination of affiliation may be found between a protégé and its mentor solely because of assistance provided under the agreement. A recent decision of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA), Avar Consulting, Inc.,[1] upheld a size determination which found that a protégé was not affiliated with its SBA-approved mentor through economic dependence, even though the revenues it received from the mentor constituted over 70% of the . . . Read More