GAO Finds NIH Failed to Refer SDVOSB Offeror’s Capability to SBA

In a recently published  GAO decision , GAO sustained a SDVOSB’s protest of its exclusion from the competitive range by NIH under the CIO-SP3 SB GWAC procurement.  The CIO-SP3 SB RFP required an evaluation of proposals in two phases. NIH evaluated offerors in Phase 1 under four “Go/No-Go” requirements, including factor 2, management approach, subfactor 1, domain-specific capability in a health-related mission. NIH found the protester’s proposal unacceptable under this factor/subfactor because the protester’s proposal was “not sufficient to demonstrate inherent capabilities . . . Read More

Are Agencies Ignoring SBA’s Application of the Nonmanufacturer Rule to Resellers of Major Commercial Software?

Early last year, on January 26, 2016, SBA issued a new requirement that IT Value Added Resellers (“ITVAR”) under the footnote/exception to NAICS Code 541519 have to comply with the nonmanufacturer rule when reselling software under that code.  Thus, according to the rule, any ITVAR must provide software that is manufactured (i.e., developed) by a small business unless a waiver of the nonmanufacturer rule is requested by the contracting officer and granted by SBA for each and every ITVAR procurement. . . . Read More

SBA Size Standards Under the Microscope

?SBA’s size standards are one of the agency’s most important metrics. The size standards draw a bright line between small and large businesses for each industry by NAICS code. A firm that is below the size standard for its industry is eligible to pursue federal contracts and programs reserved for small businesses. And small businesses are also exempt from other rules that would otherwise apply to federal contractors. So how and where SBA draws the size line for each industry . . . Read More

SBA Corrects Discrepancy in Small Business Joint Venture Rules

By Megan Connor and Julia Di Vito On December 23, 2016, the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) issued a technical correction to its July 25, 2016 final rule regarding the new mentor-protégé program for all small business concerns to address an inconsistency among the joint venture rules applicable to the SBA’s various small business programs. The SBA’s July 25, 2016 rule provided that when a joint venture is a separate legal entity, the profits of the joint venture must be . . . Read More

Investing in Small Businesses Through SBA’s SBIC Program

We work with many firms that have or would like to invest in small businesses. One of the biggest issues for an investor in a small business is the potential that the investment will create an affiliation between the investor and the small business. An “affiliation” under SBA’s rules can cause the small business to lose its small business status. For example, to protect its investment, the investor may require certain protections or veto rights over the day-to-day operations of . . . Read More

How to Succeed Under SBA’s New Mentor-Protege Program

By Katie Flood and Megan Connor As of November 1st, SBA’s  certify.sba.gov portal is operational and accepting applications for the new Small Business Mentor-Protégé program. By now, you’ve heard of the program and are considering its potential value for your business. However, there are a few key things you should consider before submitting your application, in order to best situate you and your potential partner for SBA approval and to maximize your success under the program. First, it is critical that . . . Read More