Protests: Timing Is of the Essence

Another federal government fiscal year end is quickly approaching and with it comes the usual uptick in spending, awards…and inevitable protests. If you are considering a protest, it is critical to understand the deadlines for filing. When to file varies depending on a number of factors including: the type of solicitation; whether or not a debriefing is required; the protest grounds; and whether the solicitation was a set-aside that may trigger a size or status protest. Different forums are available . . . Read More

It’s Not Just About Being Disadvantaged: An Overview of the SBA’s Potential for Success Requirement for 8(a) Program Entry

Gaining entry to the Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) 8(a) Business Development Program (the “8(a) Program”) is not just about proving a social and economic disadvantage. If you are a small business owner thinking about applying to the 8(a) Program, there is another eligibility requirement you need to understand: potential for success. A business applying for 8(a) status must possess reasonable prospects for success competing in the private sector before it can be admitted to the 8(a) Program. What does that . . . Read More

Inflation Adjustments Coming to Small Business Size Standards

On June 12, 2014, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an interim rule, which goes into effect on July 14. This new rule increases the size standards applicable to nearly every NAICS code used in Federal Contracting (some were not adjusted, especially cases where the size is set by statue). This was the first time that the SBA adjusted any of the size standards to account for inflation since 2008. Given that many sectors of the economy are starting to . . . Read More

Victory in House of Representatives for Improvements to WOSB Federal Contract Program

By Barbara Kasoff, President of WIPP Dear WIPP Members & Friends: It is with great pleasure I write today, celebrating an enormous victory for women business owners. As many of you already know, earlier today the House of Representatives passed their annual defense bill, which included two changes that strengthen the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) procurement program. First, the bill allows sole-source contracts to be awarded through the program. Currently, contracting officers are unable to award sole-source contracts through the . . . Read More

HUBZone Map Changes – New Information Released for Over 100 Non-Metropolitan Counties

By Katie Flood Good news for many HUBZone (or HUBZone-interested) firms:  The SBA has just announced that 104 non-metropolitan counties have been designated as newly qualified HUBZones or have had their redesignation periods extended, based on 2013 unemployment data recently released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the SBA  has provided the new information  on the counties in the form of PDF and Excel documents,  the HUBZone maps  have not yet been updated.  However, simply because the map has not been updated would not prevent a contractor . . . Read More

Strategic Tips for Approaching Lenders and How to Choose the Right One

For those small businesses that are looking to obtain debt financing or to refinance existing debt, there are some strategic planning tips to consider in approaching and selecting a potential lender. As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression.  With lenders, this first impression is all-important.  Failing to make a good one can be the difference between a lender making or not making a loan.  And, this first impression will also significantly influence the . . . Read More

Presumed Loss Rule: They Are Who We Thought They Were

After a gut-wrenching loss on Monday Night Football several years ago, former Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Dennis Green, speaking about the victorious Chicago Bears, famously ranted:  “They are who we thought they were.  And we let them off the hook!”  Since the implementation of the SBA’s presumed loss rule last year, you should be applying the same sentiment to your subcontracts with small businesses.  Make sure your subcontractor is who you thought they were, and do not let them off . . . Read More

It’s Not Just Michael Jordan’s Number Anymore: Previewing the SBA 2013 Small Business Procurement Scorecards

By Megan Connor Although the  SBA is not ready  to make its formal announcement yet, government-wide spending for fiscal year 2013 exceeded the 23% spending goal for small businesses for the first time in seven years. Based on data released via the  Small Business Dashboard , of the $356 billion eligible dollars spent by the government in fiscal year 2013, small businesses received $83.4 billion or 23.43%. Meeting the 23% government-wide goal for 2013 is even more notable considering  Bloomberg’s recent study , which showed that overall federal contract spending fell by . . . Read More

Simplified Renewal: Not So Simple After All for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

Nothing in life is as simple as it seems, so it should come as no surprise to Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (“VOSBs”) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (“SDVOSBs”) that the Center for Verification and Evaluation (“CVE”) simplified renewal (“SR”) application process is not necessarily a walk in the park. The SR process is available to VOSBs and SDVOSBs that have been previously verified with a full document examination. Through this supposedly streamlined process, instituted by CVE to reduce the time and . . . Read More

Strategic Sourcing a.k.a. Constructive Criticism

The small business community’s ongoing struggle to increase its access to federal contracting and its share of the federal spend is facing yet another challenge. We say that small businesses are more robust then larger firms and are more able to adapt and mobilize in less time. Well the fact is that they have to be–particularly in our current environment. As the pie shrinks and agencies struggle to do more with less, a new or recycled term has emerged as . . . Read More