SBA Will Begin Accepting Applications for the New Small Business Mentor-Protégé Program on October 1, 2016

Late last month, SBA published its final rule establishing a government-wide mentor-protégé program for all small business concerns called the All Small Mentor-Protégé Program. The rule is set to become effective on August 24, 2016.  Click here  to read our analysis of the final rule and the new program. SBA recently announced that it will begin accepting applications for the All Small Mentor-Protégé Program on October 1, 2016. The application, approval, and monitoring process will be centralized in SBA’s headquarters in Washington, . . . Read More

The SBA’s Two New Recertification Rules

The Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has issued two more regulations that will require that small businesses recertify their size when they engage in a merger and/or acquisition (“M&A”). The regulations, published in conjunction with the final limitation on subcontracting regulation and the new mentor-protégé program, further limit the ability of small businesses to engage in acquisitions that could impact their continued performance of small business set-aside contracts. Both are certain to make it more difficult for small businesses to engage . . . Read More

The SBA’s New Mentor-Protégé Program: The Dilemma of Hiring Project Managers

On July 25, 2016, SBA released its long-awaited final rule creating the new mentor-protégé program for all small businesses. Many aspects of the new rule are very exciting and should be beneficial for the small business community at large. However, buried in the lengthy rulemaking are a few provisions that will be problematic for small businesses when the rules go into effect on August 24, 2016. One of the problematic provisions will adversely effect how many small businesses form joint . . . Read More

SBA Releases Long Anticipated Final Rule Establishing Governmentwide Mentor-Protegé Program for All Small Business Concerns

On July 25, 2016, SBA published the eagerly anticipated  Final Rule  establishing a governmentwide mentor-protégé program for all small business concerns. While there are a few departures from the details outlined in the Proposed Rule released nearly a year and half ago, the Final Rule generally adheres to the plan outlined in the Proposed Rule, which was modeled on the existing 8(a) mentor-protégé program. The Final Rule also contains changes in other areas of SBA’s regulations, such as the rules applying to . . . Read More

SBA Simplifies Minority Shareholder Affiliation Rule for Loan Program Applicants

SBA recently issued a final rule redefining the rules of affiliation for firms applying to SBA’s business loan programs. The final rule separates and distinguishes the loan program affiliation rules from SBA’s government contracting and business development programs. Moreover, the final rule simplifies the guidelines for determining affiliation for small business eligibility as it relates to the loan programs. Case in point—the minority shareholder rule. Under the new minority shareholder rule, when no single owner (individual or entity) holds more . . . Read More