SBA Increases Its Size Standards, Opening More Opportunities for Winning Government Contracts
The long-awaited increase to size standards by the Small Business Administration (SBA) has arrived. On March 31, 2022, SBA issued four final rules that increase the small business size standards for a number of industries. As a result, many businesses will gain eligibility for federal small business assistance programs or retain eligibility for a longer period. These programs include SBA’s business loan programs, Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, and federal procurement programs that provide targeted, set-aside opportunities for small . . . Read More
COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Laws Could Show Emerging Compliance Trends for Employers
Since the onset of the pandemic, many states and localities have passed COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave laws requiring employers to provide leave to employees for COVID-19-related reasons. California and Colorado have gone beyond many other states by adding to the required amount of sick time. These laws present unique administrative compliance challenges and financial burdens on employers who must prepare for employees’ additional paid COVID-19-related absences. Even employers with no employees in California and Colorado should be mindful, however, . . . Read More
Federal News Network Quotes PilieroMazza’s Cy Alba about Small Businesses’ Chances of Winning Polaris Contracts
PilieroMazza ’s Cy Alba , a partner in the Government Contracts Group , discussed the Polaris government-wide acquisition contract with Federal News Network recently. His remarks came after the General Services Administration (GSA), which issued the solicitation, clarified that it would allow joint ventures to rely on the past performance and experience of a single member, including large business SBA-approved mentors, when evaluating the entire joint venture for award. This clarification to the solicitation gave some small businesses, especially those with little direct experience in the core . . . Read More
OHA Confirms M&A-Related Recertification Won’t Impact Contractor’s Eligibility Under Pre-Existing, Set-Aside Contracts
For small businesses, navigating the recertification rules promulgated by the Small Business Administration (SBA) is no easy task. SBA rules generally provide that the size of a concern is determined at the date of its initial offer including price and if the firm is small at that time, it generally will be considered small throughout the life of the contract. However, if a concern undergoes a merger, sale, or acquisition, or novates its small business contract to another concern (each . . . Read More
JD Supra Again Distinguishes PilieroMazza for Government Contracting Content
PilieroMazza continues its streak by earning JD Supra’s 2022 Readers Choice Award as the “Top Government Contracting Firm” for content for a fifth consecutive year. Partners Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV , of the Government Contracts Group and Nichole Atallah of the Labor & Employment for Government Contractors Group were among JD Supra’s top five authors from a pool of more than 1,900 authors. “We’re honored that JD Supra acknowledged the insights our attorneys published in the important area of government contracting,” said Tony Franco , PilieroMazza’s managing partner. “Providing thought leadership that readers find beneficial to their business . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – March 31, 2022
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . GovCon Live! Podcast: Listen to PilieroMazza’s latest episodes and follow us to hear more here . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS GSA Releases Polaris Q&A Signaling Key Changes in Upcoming RFPs, March 25, 2022, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV GSA recently released a Q&A in anticipation of the first two Polaris Requests for Proposals (RFPs). GSA anticipates the . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Win in Game-Changing Randolph-Sheppard Decision Could Increase Food Service Attendant Contract Awards to Federal Contractors
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a notable decision on March 24, 2022, in a protest filed by PilieroMazza attorneys Katie Burrows and Matt Feinberg on behalf of J.W. Mills Management, LLC (J.W. Mills), B-420416. The decision clarifies the scope of the Randolph-Sheppard Act (RSA) and could lead to new contract award opportunities for federal contractors in the food service attendant, mess attendant, and dining facility attendant industry. Federal contractors operating in the food service attendant space should consider how this . . . Read More
GSA Moratorium on Enforcement of Economic Price Adjustment Provisions: 3 Important Takeaways for Government Contractors
In response to rising costs for government contractors amid skyrocketing inflation, the General Services Administration (GSA) is temporarily suspending the enforcement of many limitations contained in several Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) contract clauses. Below we summarize three important takeaways for federal contractors—especially small businesses and small-disadvantaged businesses—to help you manage your GSA contract performance in light of rapidly changing economic circumstances. The GSA’s March 17, 2022, acquisition letter establishing the moratorium applies to these EPA contract clauses: GSAR 552.216-70 Economic . . . Read More
HUBZone Principal Office Flexibility Ends April 1
The Small Business Administration’s HUBZone office will soon end the principal office flexibility it introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting April 1, 2022, firms will no longer be able to count employees who spend most of their time working at home as a principal office employee. HUBZone firms need to be mindful of this as they prepare for their 2022 recertification and manage their HUBZone eligibility going forward. Below, we review the changes announced by SBA and offer our recommendations for dealing . . . Read More
GSA Releases Polaris Q&A Indicating Key Changes in Upcoming RFPs
GSA recently released a Q&A in anticipation of the first two Polaris Requests for Proposals (RFPs). GSA anticipates the RFPs for Small Businesses and Women-Owned Small Businesses will be released soon, while those for the Historically Underutilized Business Zones Small Business (HUBZone) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) pools will be released between July 1, 2022, and September 30, 2022. Some of the answers in the Q&A clarify what offerors should expect, while others continue to create ambiguity. In this client alert, . . . Read More