Category Management: What Contractors Need To Know
By Michelle Litteken Published in Law360 on September 14, 2016. In December 2014, the Office of Management and Budget announced a new initiative called Category Management, a successor to the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (“FSSI”) that was implemented in 2010. This policy could dramatically change the way the federal government purchases goods and services and the competitive landscape that government contractors face. Category Management has three primary goals: increasing savings, reducing the number of new contracts, and increasing the amount . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Recently Submitted Testimony to the House Small Business Committee Regarding the HUBZone Program
Our law firm represents numerous small businesses operating across the government contracting spectrum, including many businesses that participate in the HUBZone program. We are strong proponents of the HUBZone program and its important and unique place among the federal government’s small business set-aside programs. In representing many HUBZone firms, we have seen first-hand how HUBZone firms benefit from participation in the HUBZone program and, in turn, provide positive impact and many benefits to the people living in underserved communities. However, we have also seen first-hand the . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for September 23, 2016
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Notice of Minimum Wage Rate Change for Contractors SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SBIC – Early Stage Initiative This week’s report follows, click here if you would like to download a copy . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Notice of Minimum Wage Rate Change for Contractors The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor issued a notice announcing that beginning January 1, 2017, the Executive Order minimum wage rate that generally must be paid to workers performing work on, or in connection with, covered contracts will increase from $10.15 per hour to $10.20 per hour, . . . Read More
What You Need to Know About Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order Implementation
The Federal Acquisition Regulation and related Department of Labor Guidance required to implement Executive Order 13673, Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces, were published on August 25, 2016 (Final Rule and Guidance). With over 200 pages of implementing regulations, many contractors are finding it difficult to determine what they need to know now to be prepared for its implementation. After all, contractors will be required to report violations of over 14 labor laws during the proposal process and on SAM, track . . . Read More
Recent Changes to the 8(a) Program Application Process
“They’re asking for what?” This is a not-so-uncommon response from small businesses applying to SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program (“8(a) Program”), which is notorious for the amount of information – and paper – that applicants are required to provide SBA to demonstrate eligibility. However, a recent SBA final rulemaking implemented changes to the 8(a) Program application process to eliminate certain requirements which, according to SBA, impose an unnecessary burden on program applicants. For example, SBA has done away with the . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for September 16, 2016
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS GSAR Construction Contract Administration GSAR Federal Supply Schedule, Order-Level Materials Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment Audit of Settlement Proposals This week’s report follows, click here if you would like to download a copy . GSAR Construction Contract Administration The GSA has issued a proposed rule to revise GSAR part 536, Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts, and related parts, to maintain consistency with the FAR and to clarify, update, and incorporate existing construction contract administration guidance previously implemented through internal Public Building Service policies. The five categories of the . . . Read More
Three Big Reasons Government Contractors Should Complete Seller-Side Due Diligence
By Michael de Gennaro and Dana Livne If approached properly, selling your business will rank among the most significant and rewarding moves of your career, representing the culmination of years of patience, hard work and vision. Whether you are planning a sale or just considering it a possibility down the road, there are good reasons as a seller to be proactive about due diligence. Due diligence involves a thorough analysis of your business that will identify not only its assets . . . Read More
SBAs New Mentor-Protege Program with John Klein and Pam Mazza
How Can My Unpopulated Small Business Joint Venture Get a Clearance?
By Megan Connor When the SBA issued its final rule concerning its new Small Business Mentor Protégé Programs, it adopted a major change for 8(a) and small business joint ventures: no more populated joint ventures. Instead, the rule provides that where a joint venture is formed as a separate legal entity, like a limited liability company, it may not have its own separate employees to perform contracts awarded to the joint venture. For contractors well-versed in the National Industrial Security Program Operating . . . Read More