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 February 1, 2018
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING According to a Washington Technology article, just because government agencies reopened after five weeks of a shutdown does not mean things return to business as usual. In fact, the article continues, service providers and other market observers advise that patience and empathy will both be virtues in this situation. Generally speaking, the 800,000 furloughed federal civilian employees were not allowed to check email or telephone messages during the shutdown, which includes many employees responsible for processing invoices to . . . Read More
Comments Submitted in Response to RIN 2900-AQ24—VA Acquisition Regulation
On January 24, 2019, PilieroMazza submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in response to the proposed rule issued on November 29, 2018, RIN 2900-AQ24—VA Acquisition Regulation: Environment, Energy and Water Efficiency, Renewable Energy Technologies, Occupational Safety, and Drug-Free Workplace; Protection of Privacy and Freedom of Information; Other Socioeconomic Programs; and Contract Modifications. Includes our comments on: VAAR Part 826 Will Be Beneficial, But It Needs Further Clarification The VAAR Must Fully Implement the Vets Act Priority for . . . 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 the deadline . . . 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
The Weekly Update for January 11, 2019
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING A Government Executive article discussed the impact of the shutdown on some defense contractors. As the partial government shutdown continues, some American defense firms are receiving multi-million-dollar IOUs instead of payments. For example, executives for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and Engility, two of the government’s largest service contractors, said the payroll for workers idled by the shutdown comes to $10 million every week, and, just three weeks into the freeze, they say the government is about $40 million . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for January 4, 2019
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING According to an article on Law360, American freight shipping company, YRC Worldwide (YRC), was sued in a securities class action lawsuit filed in New York federal court that claims investors paid the ultimate price when the company allegedly overcharged the federal government for carrier services and later tried to cover it up. An investor, who is looking to represent all those who bought stock in YRC from March 10, 2014, to December 14, 2018, alleges that YRC hid . . . Read More
Comments Submitted in Response to SBA’s Proposed Rule on the HUBZone Program, RIN 3245-AG38
On December 27, 2018, PilieroMazza submitted comments to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s proposed rule regarding changes to the HUBZone Program. The proposed rule outlines a comprehensive overhaul to the program’s current eligibility and compliance requirements.
The Weekly Update for December 28, 2018
COMMENTS SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION’S PROPOSED RULE ON THE HUBZONE PROGRAM, RIN 3245-AG38 On December 27, 2018, PilieroMazza submitted comments to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s proposed rule regarding changes to the HUBZone Program. The proposed rule outlines a comprehensive overhaul to the program’s current eligibility and compliance requirements. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING A Nextgov article discussed the potentially significant impacts the government shutdown may have on government contractors, especially small businesses. The article recommended that contractors have preparations in . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for December 21, 2018
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING According to a Bloomberg Government article, more than 30,000 federal contracting opportunities at twenty-eight (28) agencies are coming up for competition in the coming fiscal years. In a webinar, Bloomberg Government identified the top opportunities at nineteen (19) selected agencies, identified 27,751 opportunities at seventeen (17) civilian agencies, and identified 3,281 opportunities at eleven (11) defense agencies. Importantly, however, each agency reports acquisition forecast details differently; some agencies provide more details than others. President Trump signed the Small . . . Read More