SmallGovCon
Small business federal contracting commentary.
VA CVE Applications: Average Processing Time is 34 Days
In some circles, the VA CVE application process for SDVOSB/VOSB certification has a reputation as being very cumbersome and time-consuming. But while applying for verification isn’t exactly fun, it doesn’t take an extraordinarily long time for most new applicants to be verified.
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 30, 2020
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at SmallGovCon. Hope all our readers have a wonderful and revitalizing holiday. The post Happy Thanksgiving! first appeared on SmallGovCon - Government Contracts Law Blog. View the full article
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 25, 2020
Event: SAM Profiles with Carroll Bernard of Govology
Raise your hand if you love completing your SAM profile! Um, anyone? Anyone? Love it or hate it, SAM is a fact of life for government contractors, and it’s very important to get it right. Mistakes on your SAM profile (including those seemingly never-ending “reps and certs”) can c
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 24, 2020
OHA: Multiple Service-Disabled Veterans Control Company, Despite Internal Dispute
Control over a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business can be held by multiple service-disabled veterans. Having control reside in multiple individuals can make things a little more complicated, though. SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals recently examined a situation where
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 24, 2020
Event: Steven Koprince on The Govcast with Jack Siney
Sure, you could spend the day before Thanksgiving feverishly researching how to deep fry a turkey without burning down the neighborhood, but if you’re a government contracting wonk like me, I bet what you’re really hungering for is some good, fun talk about federal procurement. W
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 23, 2020
Including Dollar Amount in Claim “Sum Certain”-ly Serious Business
In a recent case, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, dismissed a claim for lack of jurisdiction because it did not include a “sum certain.” The case is a good reminder of the importance of demanding a specific sum of money for most claims. The case, Sweet Star Logistic
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 23, 2020
SmallGovCon Week in Review: Nov. 16 – Nov. 20, 2020
I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving this year, even if won’t look the same as it may have in past years. It’s still a time to be thankful, enjoy the (possibly virtual) company of family and friends, and eat some great food–with my personal favorite being stuffing! As you finalize
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 20, 2020
Mentor-Protégé Consolidation Goes Live: What Does this Mean for You?
The 8(a) Business Development Mentor-Protégé Program has officially been consolidated into the All-Small Mentor-Protégé Program. The goal: to eliminate duplications in regulations and to alleviate confusion between the two programs. This change has been years in the making. Since
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 20, 2020
SBA Cuts 8(a) Reapplication Period to 90 Days
The SBA has cut the waiting period for reapplying to the 8(a) Program from 12 months to only 90 days. In a final rule effective November 16, the SBA explains that the shorter period should reduce the need for sometimes-costly appeals of denied 8(a) Program applications. Applying
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 19, 2020
GAO Clarifies Increase-the-Scope Exception For Task Order Jurisdiction
GAO may only consider protests to civilian agency task or delivery orders under $10,000,000 if the protests allege that the order increases the scope, period, or maximum value of the underlying contract. GAO recently dismissed a case for lack of jurisdiction where the protester r
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 18, 2020
SBA Proposes Increasing Size Standards in Professional, Management, and Administrative Industries
SBA’s recent proposed rule will increase size standards for a number of industries. The rule also said that SBA was thinking about lowering size standards. While most often, size standards increase over time, SBA can also lower them. However, SBA decided against lowering them. Re
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 17, 2020
SBA Dials Back on 8(a) Program “Immediate Family” Restrictions
If you’ve been interested in applying to the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program, but have a close family member who has already participated in the 8(a) Program, SBA’s message–until now–has been, for the most part, “thanks, but no thanks.” But in a new rule taking effect on
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 16, 2020
SmallGovCon Week in Review: Nov. 9 – Nov. 13, 2020
We sure are enjoying the change to fall weather here in Lawrence, Kansas, home of the SmallGovCon blog! The leaves are beautiful–until you have to start raking them. Hope you are enjoying the weather in your parts, too. This week saw some important updates in the government contr
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 13, 2020
SmallGovCon Welcomes Christopher Coleman
I am pleased to announce that Christopher Coleman has joined our team of government contracts attorney-authors here at SmallGovCon. Christopher is an associate attorney with Koprince Law LLC, where his practice focuses on federal government contracts law. Before joining our team,
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 12, 2020
GAO Confirms You Cannot Challenge Another Offeror’s Inclusion in the Competitive Range
An offeror in the competitive range cannot protest another offeror’s inclusion in the competitive range, according to GAO. In a recent decision, GAO dismissed an offeror’s protest as premature when both offerors were included in the competitive range. After a series of protests a
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 12, 2020
SBA Eases Lifetime Limit on Mentors
The SBA has long had a lifetime limit of two mentors for each protégé–and this limit was enforced very strictly. Say the mentor ghosted the protégé, or the two just never did any contracts together. Well, too bad, that still used up one of the two lifetime mentors that a protégé
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 11, 2020
Happy Veterans Day
Here at Koprince Law, we salute the service of all veterans and their families, both at home and abroad. Thank you. The post Happy Veterans Day first appeared on SmallGovCon - Government Contracts Law Blog. View the full article
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 11, 2020
Here’s Why “The Other Guy’s Price Is Too Low” Often Fails As a GAO Bid Protest Argument
Maybe it’s happened to you: your company receives a notice of unsuccessful offeror, and your eyes pop. You can’t believe that the winner’s price is so low. “There’s no way they can successfully perform for that,” you say. But before you file a GAO bid protest, you should carefull
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 9, 2020
SmallGovCon Week in Review: Nov. 2 – Nov. 6, 2020
Happy Friday SmallGovCon readers. Even as the votes are sifted, the federal government continues to buy goods and services from contractors. To that end, here are some important updates from the last week. These include veteran-owned small business trends, the critical role of CU
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 6, 2020
SDVOSB vs. AbilityOne: VA Violated Rule of Two Again, Court Says
A federal court has ruled that the VA violated the SDVOSB Rule of Two, as well as a more recent statute, by moving SDVOSB set-aside requirements to the AbilityOne program. If you think you heard this before, you’re not going crazy or living your own personal Groundhog Day. The co
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 5, 2020
SBA Confirms Mentor can Own 40% of Protégé and Get 60% of Joint Venture Workshare
The SBA’s recent final rule on Mentor-Protégé Program consolidation included a number of important updates and clarifications. Among these was an explanation of the rules involving a mentor owning part of a protégé while also being part of a joint venture with the same protégé. I
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 4, 2020
YouTube Tuesday: 8(a) Eligibility, Appealing Denials
You put your heart into submitting your 8(a) Business Development Program application, but you still got denied. All is not lost! Join me as I discuss how to request reconsideration or appeal 8(a) denials. If you have questions or would like assistance drafting a request for reco
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 3, 2020
SBA Inspector General Questions Legality of Relaxed HUBZone Residency Rule
Last December, SBA overhauled its HUBZone Program rules in an effort to make it easier for companies to obtain and maintain HUBZone certification–and to help the Government stop falling so woefully short of the three percent HUBZone prime contracting goal. But now, in a new repor
Koprince Law LLC · Nov 2, 2020
SmallGovCon Week in Review: Oct. 26 – Oct. 30, 2020
Happy Halloween, SmallGovCon readers! My kids are definitely excited about Halloween, even though the trick or treating will be a little different than in years past. But there is more to be excited about. Next week is National Veteran Owned Small Business Week. Check out SBA’s e
Koprince Law LLC · Oct 30, 2020
Govology’s Government Contracts Year in Review is Coming–And It’s Easy to Get a 25% Discount
Over the last several years, I’ve established an important pre-holiday December tradition. No, not decking the halls or leaving carrots for the reindeer–I’m talking about presenting the annual Government Contracts Year in Review webinar, hosted by my good friends at Govology. The
Koprince Law LLC · Oct 29, 2020