Small Business Regulations and Programs

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In an article posted by Bloomberg BNA, I discussed the success of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) expanded mentor protege program one year post launch. Until October 2016, the mentor-protégé program was only available to just one category of disadvantaged businesses. But last year, the SBA expanded the program so all small businesses could participate and partner with larger government contractors in bidding for work.

“The first year has been a real success story for the SBA,” I stated in the article. “It’s been a long-awaited program.” I commended the SBA saying “The program’s leaders should be commended for keeping application wait times short; for getting the application and approval system entirely online; for working with companies on their applications to help improve their chances; and for raising awareness about the program.”

The full article, “Mentor Program Spawns 300 Partnerships in First Year, SBA Says,” was posted by Bloomberg BNA on October 10, 2017, and is available online (subscription required).

We provided insight on opportunities in government contracting for women-owned small business (WOSB) owners in a September 22, 2017, article in the Nashville Business Journal.

Tennessee is among the 10 fastest-growing states for women-owned companies and currently has approximately 64,000 women-owned businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) women-owned small business program aims to provide eligible businesses a better shot at securing government contracting opportunities, and since it began in 2011, the program has been updated to eliminate barriers to entry, such as the removal of contract caps on set-aside awards and the authority to award sole-source contracts. These improvements helped lead the government to meet and exceed its 5% contracting goal to women-owned small businesses for the first time in fiscal year 2015.

Continue Reading Calling All Women-Owned Small Businesses: Self-Certify with Caution

Last month, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington denied a motion to limit damages against a government contractor, United States ex rel. Savage v. Washington Closure Hanford LLC, where the government sought several categories of damages for alleged False Claims Act (FCA) violations.  With a case centered on a nuclear waste company falsely certifying compliance with small business plan participation requirements, the Court ruled that damages would not be limited to remedies provided in the contract.

Continue Reading Court Rejects Cap on FCA Damages for Allegations of Subcontracting Plan Fraud

On Thursday, August 17, 2017, I will be in Tampa, Florida taking part in the Prime Focus Executive Event.  I will present a session on the All Small Mentor-Protégé Program, highlighting the opportunities of this expanded program for both large and small businesses. During my session, I will explain how SBA-approved mentor/protégé relationships allow small businesses to benefit from significant support from large business mentors without being deemed to be affiliated. I will also offer best practices for large business mentors to enter into joint ventures with protégés and compete for work set aside for small businesses.

This program is hosted by CWU Inc. and Solvability, Inc.

Last month, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released results from its investigation into the effectiveness of the Department of Defense (DoD) Pilot Mentor-Protégé Program. In accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2016, GAO reviewed DoD’s procedures for approving mentor-protégé agreements, its performance measures for the program, and the differences between its program and the new All Small Mentor Protégé Program established by the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Continue Reading GAO Review Calls for Greater Oversight of DoD’s “Pilot” Mentor-Protégé Program

I will be in Tampa, Florida on Friday, May 5 speaking at the 30th Annual Government Small Business Conference: Game Plan for Federal Contracting. I will speak on the topic of, “SBA Mentor Protégé Program” at 10:50 a.m. This session will provide an overview of the Mentor Protégé program and offer insights into how businesses of all types can take advantage of the program. This session is appropriate for businesses looking to develop their business and compete more successfully for federal government contracts.

Visit the Florida Small Business Development Center website for more information and registration.

Later this month, the GSA will issue a refresh to all GSA Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) to incorporate new provisions and clause updates. Even if you are already a GSA Schedule holder, keep reading – a bilateral modification will be issued for your contract.

Continue Reading April Showers Bring Mass Mods: New GSA Schedule Refresh and Mass Modification

This week I will be in Tampa, Florida speaking at the two-day, interactive Florida GovCon Summit presented by Solvability. I will speak on the topic of, “Growing Your Business Through Joint Ventures” at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29. Recent changes in federal regulations have presented businesses with options and strategies for growth, this session will consider how businesses should maximize those opportunities.

Additional program information is available here.

From March 29-30, I will be in Tampa, Florida taking part in the Florida GovCon Summit presented by Solvability. This two-day, interactive summit features speakers with deep and broad roots in federal contracting. The panel session I will be speaking on is titled, “Maximizing Your Value for Exit.” This panel will offer insight into how small businesses can plan their exit strategy, best practices to finding a buyer and the steps to take now to maximize company valuation. I will specifically delve into the major legal considerations and issues to be aware of in planning an exit strategy.

Visit the Florida GovCon Summit website for more information and registration.

On February 2 the House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 37, which would nullify the Fair Pay & Safe Workplaces rule issued on August 25, 2016.  If the identical pending joint resolution is passed by the Senate, S. J. Res. 12, and signed by the President, the entire rule will have no force and effect and no similar regulation could be issued in the future without express Congressional  authorization.  The legislation did not reverse the accompanying Department of Labor guidance or the underlying Obama Executive Order, but both would also be effectively nullified by voiding the regulation.

Continue Reading Congress Acts to Rescind the Already-Enjoined Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Regulation and Other Last-Minute Obama Administration Rules