BLOG: OFCCP Releases Technical Assistance Guide for Construction Contractors
In keeping with its commitment to offer more technical guidance for government contractors across all industries, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently published its Technical Assistance Guide (the Guide) for construction contractors. The OFCCP released the Guide as a self-assessment tool to help contractors review the equal employment opportunity practices they have in place. Using this tool, and fixing issues it might reveal, may help construction contractors avoid potential investigation and interruption to their business operations. For . . . Read More
SBA to Enact Significant Changes to Small Business Regulations Before 2020: Everything You Need to Know
On November 29, 2019, the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) issued a final rule (“Rule”) that will implement several provisions of the National Defense Authorization Acts (“NDAA”) of 2016 and 2017 and the Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015 (“RISE Act”), as well as other clarifying amendments. As we outlined nearly a year ago when the Rule was first proposed, these changes address key small business issues for government contractors, including: subcontracting plans, the non-manufacturer rule (“NMR”), Information Technology Value . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – December 3, 2019
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Client Alert: SBA to Enact Significant Changes to Small Business Regulations Before 2020: Everything You Need to Know, December 3, 2019, Samuel Finnerty On November 29, 2019, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a final rule that will implement several provisions of the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) of 2016 and 2017 and the Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015, as well as other clarifying amendments. As . . . Read More
BLOG: No More “Consent to Subcontract” for 8(a) Firms
Firms that participate in the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) 8(a) program operate in a highly regulated environment. For years, 8(a) firms were required to seek approval, or “consent to subcontract,” from contracting officers and SBA to subcontract work on an 8(a) contract. In September, with little fanfare, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council removed the consent-to-subcontract requirement from two Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”) clauses (FAR 52.219-12 and 52.219-17), which are supposed to be incorporated in all 8(a) contracts. According to . . . Read More
Changes to SBA’s HUBZone Program Are Here: Their Impact on Your Business Goals
Effective December 26, 2019, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will implement final rules overhauling regulations for the Historically Underutilized Business Zone Program (HUBZone Program). The new rules will (1) offer HUBZone firms reduced regulatory burdens, (2) help government agencies by eliminating ambiguities in the regulations, and (3) make it easier for HUBZone firms to understand and comply with Program requirements. Below is a practical guide on how the final rules will impact the business goals of government contractors in the HUBZone Program. . . . Read More
BLOG: Turning Compliance Into a Competitive Edge: Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Levels 1 – 3 Update
PilieroMazza previously wrote at some length about the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), particularly following release of revision (rev.) 0.4 for public comment. The Department of Defense (DoD) has now released rev. 0.6 for public comment and review. Rev. 0.6 incorporates the public comments resulting from review of rev. 0.4 and, pursuant to those comments, has significantly streamlined the requirements present in rev. 0.4. [1] DoD government contractors will need to prepare for the implementation of CMMC in order to use their compliance as a competitive edge. . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Represents BWM Outcomes in Acquisition by Bluestone Investment Partners and Intrepid Solutions and Services
MCLEAN, VA, NOVEMBER 25, 2019: Attorneys from a cross-section of PilieroMazza ’s core practice groups—including Business & Transactions Law and Government Contracts Law —assisted client BWM Outcomes, LLC (“BWM”), a provider of cybersecurity and intelligence analysis services, in its acquisition by Intrepid Solutions and Services, Inc. (“Intrepid”), a portfolio company of Bluestone Investment Partners, LLC (“Bluestone”), a McLean, Virginia-based private equity firm. BWM was founded by Ms. Jacqueline Bahe who before starting BWM served in the United States armed forces as a Communications and Intelligence Officer in the Marine Corps and an Intelligence Officer in the Navy. Ms. Bahe will join . . . Read More
BLOG: Healthcare Company Investments and Acquisitions
In recent years, acquisitions of and investments in healthcare companies have been on the rise, particularly driven by increasing private equity investment activity. These investments can provide unique opportunities for healthcare companies to grow and for investors to realize the benefits of the expanding healthcare industry. While these acquisitions and investments often look and feel like standard acquisitions and investments, the highly regulated nature of the healthcare industry imposes additional risks and requirements on any investor in these companies. This . . . Read More
ANNOUNCEMENT: PilieroMazza Welcomes Sara Nasseri to Its Labor & Employment Group
PilieroMazza is pleased to announce that Sara Nasseri has joined the Firm as an Associate in its Labor & Employment Group . Ms. Nasseri focuses her practice on advising clients on a range of workplace-related matters, including equal employment opportunity laws with a particular focus on workplace compliance laws and regulations, federal contractors’ affirmative action and non-discrimination obligations, and pay equity and systemic pay discrimination. “Our government contractor and commercial business clients will benefit from the legal and business acumen Sara brings to resolving the most nuanced labor . . . Read More
BLOG: JEDI Protest Saga Continues: Amazon Protests Microsoft’s Award in Court of Federal Claims
On November 8, 2019, Amazon filed a bid protest pre-filing notice with the Court of Federal Claims (“COFC”) indicating its intent to protest the Department of Defense’s (“DoD”) award of the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (“JEDI”) contract to Microsoft. Amazon’s decision to move forward with a protest does not come as a surprise to most practitioners who have been following this hotly contested procurement since its inception. For government contractors, if you are protesting an award, make certain you do . . . Read More