Time for A Check Up of Your Firm’s Compliance with Government Contracting Standards

Some of you may recall that, back in the 1970s, the legendary actor John Wayne appeared in public service announcements urging people to undergo a “check-up.”  Now that the New Year has begun, it is a good time for small government contractors to undertake a “check-up” of their government contracting representations and certifications, as well as ethical compliance programs, to make sure they are still up to date.  To begin, firms that pursue federal small business set-aside procurements should review, . . . Read More

Comments on Proposed Rulemaking Regarding WOSB and EDWOSB Certification

PilieroMazza recently submitted comments on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Women-Owned Small Business and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business—Certification issued December 18, 2015, 80 Fed. Reg. 78,984. We represent many small business federal contractors, including women-owned and economically-disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (“WOSBs/EDWOSBs”). We submitted the comments to assist SBA in drafting a viable proposed rule that is fair and workable for WOSBs and EDWOSBs. Click here to read our comments in their entirety: SBA Should Delay . . . Read More

Comments on Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Women-Owned Small Business and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Certification

Includes comments on: SBA Should Delay Implementation and Work to Change the Law SBA Certification Program If SBA Adopts the Certification Requirement, SBA Should Be the Only Certifier Streamlined Application Process Concurrent Certification Through 8(a) Program Term of SBA Certification Third Party Certification New Regulations & Procedures Are Needed if SBA Permits Third Party Certification in Addition to SBA Certification All Certifiers Should Apply or Re-Apply Term of Third Party Certification No Repository Access for Third Party Certifiers Mentor-Protégé Agreements . . . Read More

The Weekly Update for February 5, 2016

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Small Business Investment Company Program Click here if you would like to download a copy . SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Small Business Investment Company Program SBA proposed a rule defining a new class of small business investment companies (SBICs) that will seek to generate positive and measurable social impact, in addition to financial return. This proposed rule sets forth regulations applicable to Impact SBICs with respect to licensing, leverage eligibility, fees, reporting, and compliance requirements, 81 Fed. Reg. 5666 . Comments are due by March 4, 2016.

The Weekly Update for January 29, 2016

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Employee-Based Size Standards in Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade Small Business Size Standards: Inflation Adjustment to Monetary-Based Size Standards Industries with Employee-Based Size Standards Not Part of Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade, or Retail Trade Small Business Size Standards for Manufacturing DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Implementation of the Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act This week’s report follows,  click here if you would like to download a copy . SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Employee Based Size Standards in Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) . . . Read More

It’s Subcontracting Plan Review Season. Are You Prepared?

After subcontracting plan reports are due in October, SBA starts sending out letters to the firms selected for a compliance review. These letters start going out late in the year, with the compliance reviews scheduled for early in the new year. That means we are in the heart of subcontracting plan review season. Are you ready? Much like preparing for a winter storm, advance planning is critical to make it through a subcontracting compliance review. Don’t wait for the letter . . . Read More

The Weekly Update for January 22, 2016

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Payment of Subcontractors SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Final Rule Adopted for Uniform Administrative Requirements and More This week’s report follows,  click here if you would like to download a copy . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Payment of Subcontractors DOD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement the section of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 that requires contractors to notify the contracting officer, in writing, if the contractor pays a reduced price to a small business subcontractor, or if the contractor’s payment to a small business . . . Read More

The House Small Business Committee Releases a Spate of Small Business Legislation

On the heels of a GAO report calling for more leadership attention to be paid to SBA’s “management challenges,” a number of bills have been referred to the House Small Business Committee since the new year started, calling for more SBA reform and oversight. The following is a summary of the more significant bills introduced, signaling what the House has in store for the small business government contracting community in 2016: H.R. 4340, “Small Business Contracting and Acquisition Programs Efficiency . . . Read More

The Weekly Update for January 8, 2016

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS 2016 Adverse Effect Wage Rates Removal of Requirement to File Direct-Pay Fee Agreements With the Office of the General Counsel Network Penetration Reporting and Contracting for Cloud Services Federal Acquisition Regulation; Sole Source Contracts for Women-Owned Small Businesses Trade Agreements Thresholds Federal Acquisition Regulation; Definition of ‘‘Multiple-Award Contract’’ Defense Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Multiyear Contract Requirements SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Community Advantage Pilot Program Interest Rates This week’s report follows,  click here if you would like to download a copy . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS 2016 Adverse Effect Wage Rates Effective December 22, 2015, the . . . Read More

DoD, GSA, and NASA Issue Interim Rule on WOSB Sole Source Authority

By Megan Connor Effective December 31, 2015, DoD, GSA, and NASA have issued an interim rule amending the FAR to implement regulatory changes made by the SBA that provide for EDWOSB/WOSB sole source authority. Implementation of these sole source procedures in the FAR ensures that contracting officers now have the tools necessary to maximize federal procurement opportunities for WOSB concerns through sole source contract awards. In general, an award under the WOSB program may be pursued on a sole source . . . Read More