Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

Podcast: The state of small business contracting

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This week Ken Dodds, government contracting industry expert at Live Oak Bank, and David Black, partner and co-chair of Holland & Knight’s Government Contracts Group, joined The Federal News Network’s Off the Shelf  podcast for a wide ranging discussion on the state of federal small business contracting.

Dodds and Black took a look at the government’s performance drivers in meeting small business prime contract goals.

They also provided key insights on the state of the federal small business market what small businesses need to know about category management, Best-In-Class contracts, and interagency contracting.

Dodds and Black also shared insights on key regulatory and oversight trends for small business subcontracting plans and what it means for both small and large businesses, and took a look at trends in mergers and acquisitions and the growing criticality of supply chain risk management and what it all means for the federal market.

Listen to the Podcast at:  Federal News Network

Proposed bi-partisan legislation could mean changes for small businesses

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Earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills that could mean big changes for small businesses.

The first, the “Capturing All Small Businesses Act,” H.R. 5130, aims to change the way that the Small Business Administration (SBA) calculates a company’s number of employees for the purpose of determining that company’s size.  This act was authored by House Small Business Committee members Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) and Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK).  Rep. Veasey’s website, describes the act as “bipartisan legislation that will protect our nation’s small businesses against being prematurely forced out of the ‘small’ business category due to sudden growth.”

Continue reading at:  GovCon Examiner

False Claims Act: The risks to small business government contractors

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“False Claims Act: The Risks to Small Business Government Contractors” is the fifth episode of “Ex Rel. Radio,” a multi-part series on the False Claims Act, which includes commentary on potential pitfalls for government contractors who may face enforcement issues in light of emerging trends.

In this episode, Firm Counsel Michelle Litteken joins our host, Jon Williams, to discuss how the False Claims Act relates to small business programs, potential risks these companies face, and strategies for avoiding a potentially costly FCA claim.

Listen to the podcast at:  JD Supra

Hartsfield-Jackson designates restaurant spots for small businesses

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As Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport puts contracts up for bid for new restaurants, half of the contracts are designated for small businesses.

The airport concessions business is dominated by longtime concessionaires and large multinational firms with hundreds of locations around the world that have expertise in operating in the unpredictable, security-restricted, round-the-clock environment of an airport.

That can make it difficult for small, local restaurateurs to win a contract at the world’s busiest airport.

Continue reading at:  AJC

More firms will now be eligible for federal government small business contracts

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More companies will be eligible to compete for federal contracts reserved for small businesses, due to the recent implementation of a 2018 law.

On Jan. 6th 2020, the Small Businesses Administration’s final rule to implement the 2018 Small Business Runway Extension Act took effect, increasing the period of measuring small businesses’ annual revenue from three to five years in the contract evaluation process.  This is “going to increase the pool of eligible participants and make a lot more companies eligible to participate for small business set asides,” said Daniel Snyder, director of contract analysis at Bloomberg Government.

The act was signed into law on Dec. 17, 2018.  Snyder said there was a delay in implementation because there were “a small fraction” of companies put at a disadvantage by the change, so the agency wanted to figure out how to best mitigate any negative impact.  The compromise was to “give small businesses the option to choose either three or five years and then there will be a phase-in period, so companies will be allowed to choose…whichever one puts them at a greater advantage until the phase-out period concludes.”  The transition period ends on Jan. 6, 2022.

Continue reading at:  Government Executive

Tips to help small businesses find success with government contracting

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Finding new customers is a tough task all small businesses face.  One option many never consider is taking on the federal government as a client.

Government procurement – having the federal government purchase their goods and services – can be a big boon for small businesses.  The government needs a lot more than just items for the military, so small businesses that aren’t defense contractors shouldn’t look the other way on these opportunities.  The U.S. government spends hundreds of billions of dollars each year on a wide range of commercial items.

While many may think government contracts only go to large corporations, that isn’t the case.  The law requires the U.S. government, which is the largest customer in the world, to consider buying from small businesses.  In total, the federal government awards nearly one-quarter of its service contracts to small businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Continue reading at:  Business.com

Georgia National Guard hosting Vendor Expo Day Nov. 14, 2019

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The Georgia National Guard would like to invite you to be a vendor at its Vendor Expo Day to be held on Nov 14th 2019.  This is an opportunity to showcase your products and capabilities to the Georgia National Guard.  Please take advantage of this opportunity as there will be procurement officials and buyers in attendance.  There is no registration fee to participate in this event.  As an additional bonus, there will be guest speakers from the SBA, GTPAC and FedBid (Unison Marketplace).

The event will take place on November 14, 2019 at:

The Clay National Guard Center, 1000 Halsey Ave, Bldg 447 (Drill Hall), Marietta, GA 30060

You can find a Google map link here.

The Expo Day will be on Nov 14th from 10:00 a.m. ET to 2:00 PM ET.

There will be a setup day available the day before the event on Nov 13th from 10:00 a.m. ET to 2:00 PM ET for vendors with large displays who need additional setup time.  Vendors with smaller displays can set up the day of the event at 9:00 a.m. ET.  Should you decide to attend the event, register below by clicking on the registration link.  Space is limited and the Georgia National Guard will be accepting vendors on a first come first serve basis.  If you have questions you can contact Derrick A. Thomas, Contract Specialist, 678-569-6202, or email:  ng.ga.gaarng.mbx.uspfo-contracting@mail.mil

The deadline to register for this FREE event is Friday, November 1st, 2019 by 5:00 PM.

REGISTER HERE:  https://gtpac.ecenterdirect.com/events/8734

Click “sign-up” once on the registration page.

Please note:  The Georgia National Guard is located at a secure military installation.  All adults will be required to present a valid government identification to enter.  All personnel are subject to further vetting as needed, and the Georgia National Guard, Dobbins AFB and its Visitor Control Center reserve the right to deny entry.

GTPAC participates at National MBE Manufacturers Summit

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On Aug. 12th 2019, GTPAC Program Manager Andrew Smith spoke at the National MBE Manufacturers Summit at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center in Atlanta, GA, and introduced Christopher Hall, Deputy Director of the Office of Small Business Programs for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).  Smith also spoke briefly about the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center and the free services Procurement Technical Assistance Centers provide to businesses interested in exploring the government market.  Thanks to the Defense Logistics Agency, there are PTAC programs like GTPAC in all 50 states.

Deputy Director Hall spoke to the crowd about how to do business with DLA and educated the audience on the various DLA commands and what they typically purchase from small business manufacturers.  As Deputy Director of the DLA Office of Small Business Programs, Hall supports DLA leadership on small business issues and seeks to increase small business participation in DLA acquisitions.  The DLA Office of Small Business Programs promotes small business utilization to strengthen the industrial base, which fulfills DLA’s mission as the Nation’s Combat Logistics Support Agency.

“I was very pleased with the event, and I’m excited about the dynamic technology and innovation taking place right now in the manufacturing sector,” said Smith, “I believe these innovative manufacturers have a lot to offer the government and DoD… I hope many of them explore working with DLA to support the warfighter and to strengthen our industrial base and DoD supply chain.”

If you would like to learn how to work with DLA, you can visit the DLA Small Business website:  https://www.dla.mil/SmallBusiness/

 

Former Virginia state delegate gets prison time for $80 million contracting fraud

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A former member of the Virginia General Assembly was sentenced Tuesday to 2½ years in prison for taking part in an $80 million government contracting fraud conspiracy.

Ronald Villanueva, 49, a former Republican delegate from Virginia Beach, pleaded guilty to one conspiracy charge this year and agreed to pay more than half a million dollars in restitution.

Villanueva served in the House of Delegates from 2010 until 2018; he lost his seat to a Democratic challenger in 2017.

For much of that time, Villanueva admitted, he and a partner in the tactical-gear supply business used other people as figureheads to get preferential treatment designed to help minority contractors.  They also relaunched the company at one point, changing its name from SEK to Karda, so it would qualify for contracts aimed at newer firms.

Continue reading at:  Washington Post

Understanding HUBZones

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Location, location.  It’s the biggest factor in the price of real estate but it also gives some businesses an advantage in the highly competitive world of federal contracting.

Where a company’s home office is located and even where its employees live determine whether it gets a bigger slice of the juicy federal pie of contracts and sub-contracts.

The Small Business Administration designates certain geographic locations throughout the country as Historically Underutilized Business Zones, or HUBZones.

HUBZone firms in Madison County were awarded almost $42 million in federal contracts in the 2018 fiscal year, according to Tom Todt, director of the Alabama District office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Alabama has 135 HUBZone-certified companies and 47 of those are in Madison County, said Mary Jane Fleming, Procurement Business Adviser for the Alabama Procurement Technical Assistance Center.  That center is co-located with the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Small Business Development Center at the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce.  PTAC helps companies with HUBZone certification and other SBA contracting programs at no cost.

Similar to set-aside contracts for businesses owned by minorities, women or service-disabled veterans, the HUB program is designed to give an advantage to certain areas based on history and demographics.

“The SBA HUBZone program’s purpose is to increase employment opportunities, investments and economic development” in those areas, Fleming said.

Continue reading at:  AL.com

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