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

The Weekly Update for January 25, 2019

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING As reported in a Nextgov article , the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Chief Procurement Officer Soraya Correa issued a special notice extending the due dates for all unamended acquisition deadlines after December 22. The special notice also states that DHS, and most of its component parts, will not move forward with pending acquisitions until the shut down ends. The notice gives vendors up to seven days after the partial government shutdown is resolved to submit bid proposals if . . . Read More

Using a Joint Venture for Supply Procurements

Joint ventures have been popular arrangements for chasing government contracts, particularly since the start of SBA’s All Small Mentor-Protégé program in 2016. The “ASMPP” allows any small business to enter into an SBA-approved mentor-protégé relationship with a large business. Once a mentor-protégé relationship is approved, the small business and large business can form a joint venture to pursue small business set-asides. This marriage of a small and large business to pursue small business contracts can provide a real competitive edge . . . Read More

A Five-Year Measuring Period for Economic Dependence Affiliation

Earlier this month, we  wrote  about the internal  SBA Information Notice  (Information Notice), which clarifies that the changes made by the Small Business Runway Extension Act (Runway Extension Act) are not effective immediately. The Runway Extension Act requires that receipts-based size standards be based on annual average gross receipts over five years. SBA’s regulations currently require a three-year lookback for size standards based on annual receipts. And, according to the Information Notice, until SBA revises its regulations through the rulemaking process, businesses must continue . . . Read More

The Weekly Update for January 18, 2019

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING According to Bloomberg Government, contract spending has grown by almost 6% per year over the past five years as federal agencies increasingly rely on government-wide contract vehicles and simplified acquisition procedures. Bloomberg Government identified five spending trends that developed from Fiscal Year 2014 through Fiscal Year 2018, listed below. Federal contract spending reached a five-year high in Fiscal Year 2018. The $560 billion in federal contract spending in Fiscal Year 2018 is the highest level since Fiscal Year . . . Read More