The Weekly Update for March 22, 2019
HEARING ON THE SMALL BUSINESS RUNWAY EXTENSION ACT The House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure is holding a hearing on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., 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 . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for March 15, 2019
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING The Congressional Research Service issued a report providing an overview of small business contracting. The report describes the various federal programs, requirements, procurement officers, and procurement offices involved in promoting federal contracting and subcontracting with small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), firms participating in the SBA’s “8(a) Program,” Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses, women-owned small businesses (WOSBs), and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs). The report also examines several federal requirements and authorities in promoting contracting and subcontracting . . . Read More
GAO Finds That Federal Agencies Have Made Few SBIR Awards to Small Businesses Majority-Owned by Multiple Venture Capital Operating Companies, Hedge Funds, or Private Equity Firms
The purposes of the Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) program include, among other things, the use of small businesses to meet federally funded R&D needs and the fostering and encouragement of participation by SDBs and WOSBs in technological innovation. Federal agencies with obligations of more than $100 million for extramural R&D activities (that is, R&D conducted by non-federal employees outside of federal facilities) must establish an SBIR program and are required to spend a percentage of their extramural R&D obligations . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for March 1, 2019
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING The Department of Defense (DoD) updated its list of product categories for which the Federal Prison Industries’ (FPI) share of the DoD market is greater than 5%, as required by statute. The product categories and the products within each of the identified product categories must be procured using competitive procedures in accordance with the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 208.602-70. Contracting officers must consider a timely offer from FPI for any of the product categories on the . . . Read More
Small Business Subcontractor Recertifications
I spoke at the TRI-Association Small Business Advisory Panel (TRIAD) Winter Meeting a couple weeks ago in Nashville, and a number of attendees asked me questions about how often a large prime contractor must require its small business subcontractors to recertify size/status during the term of a subcontract. SBA’s regulations and the FAR indicate that a subcontractor’s status for a particular subcontract is established at the time the subcontractor submits its offer for the subcontract, and a prime contractor may . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for February 8, 2019
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a series of workshops geared to help Native American small business communities with technical assistance and business development. The SBA will participate in the workshops by providing information and access to products and services that are available. The workshops will focus on increased financial literacy and outreach initiatives to enhance the use of the SBA’s financing programs, counseling, and business development services. The SBA and other federal agencies, such as the U.S. . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Submits Comments in Reponse to Revision of Limitations on Subcontracting
On February 4, 2019, PilieroMazza submitted comments on RIN 3245-AG86, Proposed Rule National Defense Authorization Acts of 2016 and 2017, Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015, and Other Small Business Government Contracting. SBA has already issued a thorough body of regulations dealing with the limitations on subcontracting, and SBA has the authority under the Small Business Act to mandate the level of performance by prime contractors on small business set-aside contracts. Therefore, SBA’s regulations represent the . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Submits Comments in Reponse to Proposed Rules on Small Business Subcontracting
On February 4, 2019, PilieroMazza submitted comments on RIN 3245-AG86, Proposed Rule National Defense Authorization Acts of 2016 and 2017, Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015, and Other Small Business Government Contracting. We submitted our comments on the U.S. Small Business Administration’sroposed rule on amendments to its regulations to implement several provisions of the National Defense Authorization Acts of 2016 and 2018 and the Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015 (“RISE Act”), . . . Read More
Comments Submitted in Response to RIN 9000-AN35: Revision of Limitations on Subcontracting
On February 4, 2019, PilieroMazza submitted comments on RIN 3245-AG86, Proposed Rule National Defense Authorization Acts of 2016 and 2017, Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015, and Other Small Business Government Contracting. Includes our comments on: We Support the FAR Council’s Revisions to FAR 52.219-4, But This Clause Requires Further Modifications to Align with SBA’s Limitations on Subcontracting Rules for HUBZone Joint Ventures The FAR Council Should Propose Revisions to the HUBZone Price Evaluation Preference Clause . . . Read More
Comments Submitted in Response to RIN 3245-AG86—Proposed Rule on Small Business Government Contracting
On February 4, 2019, PilieroMazza submitted comments on RIN 3245-AG86, Proposed Rule National Defense Authorization Acts of 2016 and 2017, Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015, and Other Small Business Government Contracting. Includes our comments on: SBA’s Proposed Changes About Subcontracting Plans Provide Necessary Clarification SBA’s Contracting Preferences for Small Businesses in Disaster Areas Are Welcome SBA’s Clarification Regarding the Nonmanufacturer Rule and Information Technology Value Added Resellers Is Beneficial Setting Aside an Order Under a Multiple-Award . . . Read More