SmallGovCon
Small business federal contracting commentary.
8(a) Social Disadvantage Narratives: What SBA is Looking For–Now, From ALL Individually-Owned 8(a) Applicants and Participants
Writing a social disadvantage narrative for application to SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program has always been an arduous undertaking–to say the least. And up until a recent Federal District Court decision (which we blogged on here), only a small portion of 8(a) Program appli
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 21, 2023
SBA Update: Get Your Social Disadvantage Narrative Ready
As you likely know, there are some major changes going on in the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program. And like many, I am sure you have a lot of questions—given the fact that these changes are being implemented right now without a published final rule explaining the details,
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 21, 2023
Govology Webinar: The Ins and Outs of Defense Production Act Title III Agreements, August 24, 2023, 1:00pm EDT
Steven Koprince, Govology Legal Analyst and retired founder of Koprince McCall Pottroff (and all around cool dude) will be presenting this webinar which covers the Ins and Outs of the DPA Title III Agreement, including which contractors are eligible, how to find and pursue DPA Ti
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 21, 2023
SmallGovCon Week in Review: August 14-18, 2023
Happy Friday! School started this week and I’m not sure who was more excited, the kids or the parents? Seems like the summer school break flew by. It’s really fun to see all those first day of school photos that the parents are posting. Here in Lawrence, Kansas the university stu
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 18, 2023
OHA: A Manufacturer Must Own or Lease Facilities to Qualify
In a recent decision, the Small Business Administration’s Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) reviewed the requirements to establish that a company is a manufacturer of a product under SBA’s rules. In particular, there is a requirement that a company use “its own facilities” in
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 16, 2023
SBA Clarifies Inconsistencies in 8(a) and Mentor-Protégé Ownership Rules
A lot has been happening in the 8(a) Business Development Program world over the past couple of weeks. SBA has been busy updating regulations applicable to the 8(a) Program to both bring SBA rules into alignment with the economic realities in a post-COVID world and to make 8(a) r
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 15, 2023
Podcast: Understanding the 8(a) Lawsuit and Its Impact: Attorney John Holtz Reveals All
John Holtz was recently interviewed by Dr. Kizzy Parks with K. Parks Consulting, Inc. about the current 8(a) Program situation Program situation") and the pause on applications. Please use this link to access this informative podcast and we invite you to visit YouTube for all of
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 14, 2023
SmallGovCon Week in Review: August 7-11, 2023
Hello, Readers! Many small business contractors and agency personnel are paying close attention to the fallout from the recent court decision on the 8(a) Program, as shown in this week’s articles. For an explanation of the decision, see the post from John Holtz, while Nicole Pott
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 11, 2023
Senate-Passed 2024 NDAA set to Raise DoD Set-Aside Sole-Source Contract Threshold Limits
Through an amendment to the Senate-Passed 2024 NDAA, the Department of Defense (“DoD”) sole source threshold for many socioeconomic set-aside programs would be increased significantly under the Senate-passed version of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. Also a method to
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 10, 2023
8(a) Rule Update: Agencies Can’t Limit 8(a) Competition to Participants with Additional Certifications, SBA Clarifies Bona Fide Place of Business for Construction Contracts
A few months ago, we explored SBA’s new rule that made changes to the 8(a) program, the limitations on subcontracting rules, and the ostensible subcontractor rule. There was another aspect of that new rule that also makes some needed clarification on how contracting officers can
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 9, 2023
Event: “Small Business is BIG Business in Government Procurement” Training Workshop, August 15, 2023 San Antonio
The San Antonio Business Opportunity Counsel will be hosting this workshop that will include a day of training, networking, speakers and exhibitors in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. I’m excited for the opportunity to be the keynote speaker and will be presenting on Mentor Protege,
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 8, 2023
SmallGovCon Week in Review: July 31 – August 4, 2023
Happy Friday, Readers! As we move into a new month this week, big things are happening in the world of federal government contracting, from the impacts of recent federal court decisions on SBA’s 8(a) Program–to the ever-developing conversations about artificial intelligence and s
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 4, 2023
SBA Puts “Temporary Pause” on New 8(a) Program Application Submissions
The SBA’s Office of Government Contracting and Business Development, the office that handles the 8(a) Business Development Program applications, has just confirmed that SBA has “temporarily paused” the submission of new 8(a) Program applications in light of the recent decision by
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 3, 2023
On Deck for SBA Regulations in 2023: Affiliation and WOSB Rule Changes
SBA, like other agencies, publishes a semiannual Regulatory Agenda to provide an update on the various rules it has coming up as well as a timeline for when they will be published or become final. While SBA doesn’t have to meet these timeframes, it’s always good to check in on wh
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 31, 2023
SmallGovCon Week in Review: July 24-28, 2023
Happy Friday! It’s time for another edition of WIR. I’d like to start off by thanking the El Paso Community College’s Contract Opportunities Center APEX Accelerator and the always-lively Pablo Armendariz for hosting me and allowing me to speak at the Procurement and Contracting S
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 28, 2023
$162B in Small Business Contracts: SBA Releases Small Business Scorecards for FY 2022
The SBA published its annual Government Wide Small Business Procurement Scorecard for fiscal year 2022, and it appears that nearly every type of small business set-aside by the SBA, with the continued exception for Woman-Owned Small Businesses and HUBZone businesses, either met o
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 27, 2023
Initial Challenge to 8(a) Presumption of Social Disadvantage for Certain Minority Groups Succeeds: What This Means for Now
On July 19, 2023, the federal district court of the Eastern District of Tennessee issued a decision regarding a case involving the rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage in place under the 8(a) Business Development Program. Ultima Servs. Corp. v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 220C
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 24, 2023
SmallGovCon Week in Review: July 17-21, 2023
Hello and Happy Friday! We hope you had great week and are finishing the week strong today. The SBA and Whitehouse announced that the current administration exceeded its small business goal with a record breaking $163 Billion in federal procurement opportunities. That’s an $8.7 b
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 21, 2023
Webinar: CMS Reverse Industry Day, August 3, 2023, 10:00am EDT
On behalf of CMS (Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services), the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and the Professional Services Council (PSC) will host a 90-minute virtual industry-led discussion, with our very own Nicole Pottroff as a presenter. The webinar will p
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 20, 2023
DoD Revises its Other Transactions Guide
Something we frequently hear, when talking to those involved in the federal contracting industry, is that just when you think you have a handle on all the different ways federal contracting is run, you find out about another new program, authority, protest, guidance, regulation,
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 20, 2023
Govology Webinar: An Introduction to Government Small Business Certifications (2023 Update) July 25, 2023, 1:00pm EDT
Steven Koprince, Govology Legal Analyst and retired founder of Koprince McCall Pottroff (and all around cool dude) will be presenting this webinar providing a big-picture overview of small business certifications in the government marketplace. In this webinar, you will learn abou
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 18, 2023
SmallGovCon Week in Review: July 10-14, 2023
Happy Friday! Our SmallGovCon authors and attorneys were busy this week. Aside from our normal updates, Nicole Pottroff and John Holtz presented a 3-Part Series for Govology, this week, on compliant and effective teaming agreements, joint ventures and subcontracts. This is always
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 14, 2023
First OHA HUBZone Appeal Debuts on the Docket
It’s here–the first ever SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) HUBZone appeal decision! Sure, it is a very short decision and a dismissal–in fact, one reiterating some of the limitations of the new appeal avenue. But that doesn’t make it any less important. This is still SBA O
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 12, 2023
Clock Now Ticking on Federal Contractor TikTok Ban
Federal contractors, be sure to ask your kids or a young person what TikTok is (if you don’t already know), because those providing services to the federal government now have to take steps to ban it from employee’s devices in certain situations. A recent FAR rule has now impleme
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 10, 2023
SmallGovCon Week in Review: July 3-7, 2023
Happy Friday! We hope you had a nice 4th of July and a great week. It was another scorcher here in Kansas, on the 4th, but thankfully our temperatures are much cooler to finish out the week. Here’s hoping you can find time to rest and relax this weekend and perhaps, read a few ar
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 7, 2023