SmallGovCon
Small business federal contracting commentary.
SmallGovCon week in Review: August 18-22, 2025
Happy Friday! It’s beginning to look like the Fall season is upon us, with the kids going back to school and football season starting. Our college town is buzzing with activities as the students arrive to start the semester. We hope you have a wonderful weekend and can catch a ga
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 22, 2025
OHA Says: For a Size Protest, Bring the Receipts or Face Dismissal
Filing a size protest requires more than just pointing the finger at the protested concern and hoping SBA decides to investigate further. The protest must contain at least some level of specific information that demonstrates why the protested concern is other than small. SBA regu
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 22, 2025
SBA Aims to Streamline SBIC Program, Make Investment Easier
For years, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has run a program for Small Business Investment Companies (or SBICs) to, in part, allow for “low-cost, government-backed capital that you can use to increase private investments in U.S. small businesses.” For small business feder
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 19, 2025
TAA Can Apply to Small Business Set-Aside: COC Clarifies Trade Agreements Act and Buy American Act Applicability
The Trade Agreements Act (TAA) and Buy American Act (BAA) are among the most complex regulatory systems in federal contracting. There’s been a lot of confusion from both contractors and agencies on when they apply to a procurement and how. We have written on the BAA and TAA in th
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 15, 2025
SmallGovCon Week in Review: August 11-15, 2025
Happy Friday to our SmallGovCon readers. I just got back from a lovely trip through upstate New York and Canada to visit Niagara Falls. Here is the view of Horseshoe Falls, the largest of the waterfalls in Niagara Falls. The view of the falls is majestic and the cooler weather in
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 15, 2025
GovCon FAQs: Can I Ask the Government to Participate in ADR?
Why yes, yes you can! In fact, there is a little known provision of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) that speaks directly to a contractor’s right to request government participation in Alternative dispute Resolution (ADR) for any contracting “issue in controversy.” And a
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 14, 2025
SmallGovCon Week in Review: August 4-8, 2025
Happy Friday! I just got back from a trip to Niagara Falls and enjoyed some cooler weather up there. Unfortunately, the bulk of the country, including in the Midwest, is suffering through some heat. I think it is safe to say that we are looking forward to some cooler weather this
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 8, 2025
GAO Pushes Back on 2025 NDAA’s Fee Shifting Suggestion
Diving into the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”) has become something of an annual tradition in federal contracting. There seem to always be some sections that impact federal contracting, pushing for changes in processes or procurements. Part of 2025’s NDAA suggests fe
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 6, 2025
Back to Basics: Brand Name or Equal
In some circumstances, it is in the best interest of the government customer to require a specific item made by a specific manufacturer. Though it doesn’t use this technique often, the government can achieve this by soliciting the contract using a “brand name or equal” basis. But
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 4, 2025
SmallGovCon Week in Review: July 28-August 1, 2025
Happy Friday! And happy August! The cool Fall weather is slowly, but steadily making its way to the Midwest. Let us tell ya’, we at SmallGovCon are quite excited for more double-digit temperatures (as 100+ degrees is nothing rare for a summer in Kansas). And as you can see from a
Koprince Law LLC · Aug 1, 2025
Timing is Everything: GAO Dismisses Post-Bid Protest of Solicitation Terms as Untimely.
It is safe to say that every federal contractor, at one time or another, has felt the terms of a solicitation were unfair or otherwise didn’t make sense. Federal agencies are comprised of people, and people make mistakes. Sometimes, then, mistakes make it into the solicitation. U
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 30, 2025
Back to Basics: HUBZone Eligibility
When exploring the world of SBA socioeconomic programs, the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program isn’t always the first program on a business’ radar. One reason for this could be the distinct eligibility requirements an applicant must meet to qualify for HUB
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 25, 2025
SmallGovCon Week in Review: July 21-25, 2025
Happy Friday! It’s been a busy week in the federal government space, with leadership changes and sweeping workforce shifts making headlines. For one, the State Department’s deputy secretary has stepped in as acting head of the GSA. Contractors should also keep a close eye on chan
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 25, 2025
FY2024 Small Business Scorecard Shows Strong Small Business Federal Contracting Numbers
Once a year the SBA publishes its scorecard which rates how well federal agencies have met their small business contracting goals. The purpose? To provide a sense of how strong the federal government’s small business contracting initiatives are performing on an annual basis. And
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 23, 2025
SmallGovCon Week in Review: July 14-18, 2025
Happy Friday! We’ve finally received some much-needed rain this week in the Midwest, after a very warm couple of weeks. It seems there has been quite a lot of rain around the country, as well. We hope you are staying cool, dry, and safe out there. It’s also been another busy week
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 18, 2025
A Wobbly Bike: Some Initial Thoughts on FAR 2.0
In recent months, the revamping of the FAR has been a big topic of discussion for federal contractors and those who work with them. This project is referred to as FAR 2.0 or the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul or simply RFO. An executive order got the ball rolling, setting forth the m
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 15, 2025
SmallGovCon Week in Review: July 7-11, 2025
Welcome to another edition of the SmallGovCon Week in Review. We hope that our SmallGovCon readers have a great and relaxing weekend. While the kids may be out of school, the government sure isn’t, and it pays to stay on top of the latest in federal contracting. This week in fede
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 11, 2025
Small Business Contracting Goals: Current State of Agency Goals
In recent years, the Small Business Administration’s small business contracting goals have been on an upswing, with the requirements growing beyond the statutorily required minimums in an effort to encourage federal agencies to increase awards to small businesses, especially disa
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 11, 2025
SBA Introduces its New Small Business Search System
Recently, and with very little fanfare, the SBA released its Small Business Search system (SBS), replacing the Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) system that had been in use for a number of years. Per the SBA, existing business profiles have been migrated to this new platform.
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 9, 2025
SBA OHA Says: Claiming Social Disadvantage? Prove it!
Many individuals who have gone through SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program (the 8(a) Program) will tell you that the application process is not for the faint of heart. One of the most time-consuming, and often frustrating hurdles of the application is the Social Disadvantage
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 3, 2025
Happy Independence Day from SmallGovCon!
Happy 4th of July! We hope that our SmallGovCon readers have a happy and safe holiday. This is a good time to remember that this country would be a far different place had we not achieved independence from the United Kingdom in the manner that we did. And maintaining the independ
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 3, 2025
SBA Announces an Audit of 8(a) Program Contracts
SBA has announced that it will be auditing the 8(a) Program in a recent press release entitled: “Administrator Loeffler Orders Full-Scale Audit of 8(a) Contracting Program.” 8(a) Participants and former Participants should be aware that SBA will be focusing on a review of contrac
Koprince Law LLC · Jul 2, 2025
SmallGovCon Week in Review: June 23-27, 2025
Happy Friday and happy summer, everyone! Things are really heating up here in the Midwest as well as the rest of the country. But the heat does not mean the WIR takes a week off. Rather, the news is just as hot off the press as is the weather. This week in federal government cont
Koprince Law LLC · Jun 27, 2025
End of the Bona Fide Place of Business Moratorium
SBA requires that, for 8(a) Program construction contract set-asides, the contractor must have a “a bona fide place of business in the applicable geographic area.” 13 C.F.R. § 124.501. In 2021, SBA suspended the enforcement of this requirement in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. O
Koprince Law LLC · Jun 27, 2025
GovCon FAQs: What is the Difference Between an REA and a Claim?
There is an old saying that the only thing constant is change. While true in a broad sense, it is especially true in federal contracting. At some point a federal contractor will find itself facing a change to its contract or performance, costing it money or time. Inevitably, that
Koprince Law LLC · Jun 24, 2025