BLOG: CVE Denies SDVOSB Verification Application Based on Outdated VIP Profile
SDVOSBs participating in the VA’s Veterans First Contracting Program are required to maintain a Vendor Information Page (“VIP”) profile which contains a significant amount of information about the company, such as ownership structure, financial data, and capabilities. Making sure this information is current and accurate is critical to your verified SDVOSB status, as a recent OHA decision demonstrates. In CVE Appeal of Supreme Cleaning, Inc., SBA No. CVE-114 (2019), the appellant, Supreme Cleaning, Inc. (“Supreme Cleaning”), appealed the VA Center for . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for May 10, 2018
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING Department of Justice – The DOJ released guidance on how the targets of False Claims Act investigations can receive leniency in exchange for proactively disclosing misconduct. The guidance also explained how the DOJ awards credit to defendants who cooperate with investigations. Department of Energy – The DOE released an acquisition letter to communicate revisions to contractual requirements related . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for May 7, 2019
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING The Department of Defense issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to implement section 2804 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which increased the threshold for small business set-asides of acquisitions for architect-engineer services, including construction design, in connection with military construction projects or military family housing projects, to $1 million. The final rule became effective on April 30, 2019. 84 Fed. Reg. 83, 18160 . The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Hearing and . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for April 16, 2018
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING As reported in a Government Executive article , President Trump announced in a tweet that he intended to nominate Jovita Carranza, currently the Treasurer of the United States, to serve as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Ms. Carranza worked as a Senate-confirmed deputy administrator at SBA during the George W. Bush administration and previously had a 20-year career at the United Parcel Service, ending as president of Latin America and Caribbean operations. According to Bloomberg Law, the . . . Read More
BLOG: Thinking of Forming a Mentor-Protégé Joint Venture? Timing Matters
If you are thinking of forming a mentor-protégé joint venture to pursue a particular set-aside contract, it is critical that your timing has enough built-in cushion to ensure that all of the necessary approvals and entity-formation steps are accomplished before you submit your proposal. There is a fairly rigid sequencing of the steps involved in putting together the mentor-protégé application and subsequent joint venture agreement—make sure you do not fall into the trap of skipping a step, or otherwise you may put . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for April 12, 2019
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING The Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a notification of the availability of a white paper regarding the revision of its size standards methodology and explaining how it establishes, reviews, or revises small business size standards. The revised white paper, entitled “SBA’s Size Standards Methodology (April 2019)” (Revised Methodology) is available on the SBA’s website, as well as on the Federal rulemaking portal . SBA intends to apply the Revised Methodology to the ongoing second five-year comprehensive review of size standards required . . . Read More
ANNOUNCEMENT: PilieroMazza Promotes Litigator Matthew Feinberg and Government Contracts Lawyer Michelle Litteken
We are pleased to announce the promotion of Matthew Feinberg to Partner in the firm’s Litigation Group and of Michelle Litteken to Counsel in our Government Contracts Group . Mr. Feinberg is an accomplished litigator with over a decade of experience in all aspects of state and federal civil and appellate litigation, in addition to alternative dispute resolution. His advocacy for corporate clients – from small businesses to publicly traded companies – gives him a unique perspective on successful litigation strategies for achieving the best possible outcome . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for April 5, 2019
HEARING ON THE SMALL BUSINESS RUNWAY EXTENSION ACT PilieroMazza’s Megan Connor testified at the House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure’s hearing on March 26, 2019, concerning the implementation of the Small Business Runway Extension Act (H.R. 6330) (the “Act”). The Act was signed into law in December 2018 and was designed to help small businesses successfully bridge the gap between competing in the small business space and the open marketplace against larger companies by changing the time period . . . Read More
DoD Proposes to Apply Non-Manufacturer Rule to All 8(a) Contracts
Nearly three years ago, the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) issued a final rule that standardized the limitations on subcontracting and the non-manufacturer rule (“NMR”) that apply to small business concerns, including participants in SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program. In a step toward regulatory conformity, the Department of Defense (“DoD”) is now proposing to implement the revised NMR for 8(a) participants that contract with DoD. These entities should familiarize themselves with the proposed rule (“Rule”), which is summarized below. As a brief background, the . . . Read More
Comments Submitted in Response to RIN 2900-AQ21 – VA Acquisition Regulation: Competition Requirements
On April 2, 2019, PilieroMazza submitted comments on RIN 2900-AQ21—VA Acquisition Regulation: Competition Requirements. Includes our comments on: The amendments to VAAR 806.501 will be beneficial, but must be implemented correctly and should include other amendments. In our experiences, small businesses often are unsure of who to contact with small business-related concerns regarding a solicitation. Knowing exactly who to contact at VA and SBA will save time and allow small businesses access to resolve concerns with a solicitation, and may . . . Read More