SmallGovCon
Small business federal contracting commentary.
SmallGovCon Week in Review: February 2-6, 2026
Happy Friday! It’s time for another week in review. There was a lot happening across the federal government this week, as you can see from the long list of articles included below. We hope you have a chance to sit back, relax, and catch up on everything that unfolded. Have a wond
Koprince Law LLC · Feb 6, 2026
OHA Reminder: Compliance with SBA Joint Venture Requirements is Determined at Final Proposal Revisions
In most size and status protests, SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) will determine an offeror’s eligibility for a procurement as of the date of initial offer including price for that procurement. Indeed, with regards to SDVOSBs and VOSBs specifically, 13 C.F.R § 134.1003
Koprince Law LLC · Feb 6, 2026
Webinar Announcement! Understanding the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program, February 17, 2026 hosted by Kansas APEX Accelerators
First launched in 2016 as the “All Small Mentor-Protégé Program,” this powerful initiative by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has evolved—but it remains a game-changing tool for both small and large federal contractors. In this informative webinar, Annie Birney and I
Koprince Law LLC · Feb 4, 2026
Bridge to Nowhere: COFC Says Incumbents not Guaranteed Bridge Contract During CICA Stay
Losing an award can be quite tough, especially when you are the incumbent on the preceding related contract. Often, a salve for an incumbent contractor’s pain can be a bid protest which may result in a bridge contract to that incumbent for the period of the protest. This actually
Koprince Law LLC · Feb 3, 2026
SmallGovCon Week in Review: January 26-30, 2026
It’s Friday and time for another SmallGovCon Week in Review. As we finish out January we hope everyone is staying warm with all the snow and cold weather across the country. I was in Washington DC this week for a court hearing, and it’s clear the cold and snow has really done a n
Koprince Law LLC · Jan 30, 2026
Year in Review: Top SmallGovCon Posts of 2025
Hello, SmallGovCon readers! As we do each year, this post revisits the most popular SmallGovCon articles that were posted in 2025, as well as the most popular all-time posts in 2025. As we move deeper into 2026, I look to to reflect on these important and well-liked posts from 20
Koprince Law LLC · Jan 29, 2026
Why File: An Appeal of an 8(a) Program Termination
In a previous blog post, Why File: An Appeal of SBA’s 8(a) Program Denial, we covered the process for appealing SBA’s denial of admission into the 8(a) Business Development Program (AKA 8(a) Program). We discussed what happens when a business is stopped at the door – denied entry
Koprince Law LLC · Jan 28, 2026
BREAKING: SBA’s Newly-Released 8(a) Program Mandate with “Clarifying Guidance” Regarding Social Disadvantage Criteria Brings Far More Confusion Than “Clarity”
On January 22, 2026, SBA issued brand new “SBA Guidance” to its Office of Government Contracting and Business Development and its Office of Field Operations via a highly confusing 8(a) Program Mandate. On its Website, SBA labels it “Clarifying Guidance That Race-Based Discriminat
Koprince Law LLC · Jan 23, 2026
SmallGovCon Week in Review: January 19-23, 2026
Happy Friday! We are preparing for the snow that’s impacting much of the nation. But amidst the frenzy of dealing with the transitory, we also wanted to remember Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy this week and all that he has taught us about the “the arc of the moral universe.” We
Koprince Law LLC · Jan 23, 2026
Back to Basics: SDVOSB Program Eligibility
Recently, SBA’s VetCert Program announced that it had gotten through its backlog, meaning that the system has returned to normal, so to speak. With this in mind, many new service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) no doubt are looking at getting into the SDVOSB pro
Koprince Law LLC · Jan 22, 2026
OHA SDVOSB Appeal: Voting Provisions Scuttle Veteran Control
In a recent decision, SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) emphasized the importance of a careful reading and complete understanding of the control and ownership requirements for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). This decision provides contractors w
Koprince Law LLC · Jan 20, 2026
SmallGovCon Week in Review: January 12-16, 2026
Happy Friday! We are already halfway through January and 2026 is off to a quick start. This week’s federal contracting headlines point to a busy year ahead, but we hope you have time for some rest and relaxation this weekend after a productive week. In this week’s federal governm
Koprince Law LLC · Jan 16, 2026
GAO Checks the Math: An Agency’s Failure to Document OCI and Best-Value Decision Results in Sustained Protest
In the procurement process, agencies are afforded a significant amount of discretion when selecting an awardee. When an agency’s decision is protested, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) focuses primarily on the reasonableness of the agency’s conclusions. But when an agen
Koprince Law LLC · Jan 15, 2026
Webinar Announcement: Understanding the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program, January 22, 2026 hosted by Idaho APEX Accelerators
Please join federal government contracts attorney, Nicole Pottroff, as she breaks down the key elements of the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program. You’ll learn how this program can help small businesses enhance their capabilities and compete for larger contracts—with the support of an ex
Koprince Law LLC · Jan 12, 2026
SmallGovCon Week in Review: December 22, 2025 – January 9, 2026
We hope you had a wonderful holiday season filled with time well spent with friends and family, moments of rest, and opportunities to recharge. As we step into a brand new year, we’re excited about what’s ahead and grateful to be back into the swing of sharing insights and update
Koprince Law LLC · Jan 9, 2026
FAR 2.0 Update: Part 33 Protests, Disputes, and Appeals
Many federal contractors have heard about the revamping of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Variously called FAR 2.0, the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul, and most commonly simply RFO, this project has been undertaken by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) and the Feder
Koprince Law LLC · Jan 6, 2026
Happy Holidays!
We wanted to wish our readers a very happy holiday season! Whether you’re celebrating at home or traveling to see loved ones, we hope the season is merry and bright, safe and warm. We are grateful that we were able to help so many people with our insights, updates, and commentary
Koprince Law LLC · Dec 23, 2025
Wrong Place: GAO Weighs in on 8(a) Program GSA Schedule Eligibility under MAS 8(a) Pool and Finds that SBA Eligibility Finding had to be Challenged at SBA
The GSA instituted a program that would allow 8(a) Program participants to enter into an 8(a) pool for GSA schedules (AKA, GSA Multiple Award Schedule) called the MAS 8(a) Pool. This program would allow 8(a) GSA schedule holders to maintain their 8(a) eligibility for a limited ti
Koprince Law LLC · Dec 23, 2025
SmallGovCon Week in Review: December 15-19, 2025
Happy Friday, readers! We know this time of year gets hectic, with all the preparations and lists to check. One thing you don’t have to check is the updates on federal government contracting for the past week. We’ve done that in our Week in Review! Enjoy the latest updates while
Koprince Law LLC · Dec 19, 2025
Five Tips: For Surviving the End-of-Year 8(a) Audit
If you got an aggressive email from the SBA earlier this month requesting an awful lot of documentation and information in relation to your 8(a) Business Development Program participation—you far from alone. SBA actually sent this December 5th email to about 4300 current and past
Koprince Law LLC · Dec 18, 2025
2025 GAO Bid Protest Report: Numbers Down, Effectiveness Still Even Odds–COFC Shows Increase in Bid Protests
In just a few days the ball will drop on 2025 and we will officially usher in the new year. It’s always a good time for reflecting on the past year and what lies ahead for the new year. And that same sort of review is important when thinking about federal contract bid protests. W
Koprince Law LLC · Dec 18, 2025
SmallGovCon Week in Review: December 8-12, 2025
It’s time for another edition of the SmallGovCon week in review. We hope that all of our readers had a productive week. For many (myself included), this week is the time for holiday concerts and performances, including the fabled Nutcracker performance. The Lawrence Arts Center d
Koprince Law LLC · Dec 12, 2025
Back to Basics: Covenant Against Contingent Fees
Federal contractors are generally familiar with the many FAR provisions listed in a solicitation or contract. So, it can be tempting to simply gloss over these pages of the solicitation, absentmindedly checking off the right box or signing off on the required representations with
Koprince Law LLC · Dec 11, 2025
BREAKING: SBA Launches an End of Year 8(a) Program Audit
8(a) Program participants received an early holiday surprise from the SBA’s 8(a) Program this past week. A mass request was sent out to 8(a) Program participants and some graduates requesting extensive (mostly financial) internal documentation so that the SBA could audit the prog
Koprince Law LLC · Dec 8, 2025
SmallGovCon Week in Review: December 1-5, 2025
Happy Friday and happy December! We hope you had a nice Thanksgiving with friends and family. We all enjoyed our Thanksgiving break and it left us energized for winter and the holiday season. The holiday lights are up here in downtown Lawrence, Kansas and everything is looking ve
Koprince Law LLC · Dec 5, 2025