Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

GAO rules that DoD may not require small business Joint Venture itself hold facility security clearance

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In an August 27, 2021 decision, GAO sided with protester InfoPoint LLC (“InfoPoint”), and the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) which was invited to submit comments, in finding that a Department of Defense (“DoD”) solicitation provision requiring a small business joint venture offeror to itself hold a facility clearance was inconsistent with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (“2020 NDAA”) and SBA’s regulation at 13 C.F.R. §121.103.

GAO ruled that the 2020 NDAA “clearly and unambiguously prohibits DoD agencies, like the Air Force here, from issuing solicitations that require a joint venture, rather than the members of the joint venture, hold the required facility clearance.”

Continue reading at: Crowell & Moring

Sandia National Laboratories seeks small business suppliers

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Sandia National Laboratories is one of three National Nuclear Security Administration research and development laboratories in the United States and is located in Albuquerque, NM.  The number of employees who work at the lab is roughly 13,000.

The lab is currently seeking capable small, small disadvantaged (SDB), women-owned (WOSB), HUBZone, veteran-owned (VOSB), and service-disabled veteran-owned (SDVOSB) businesses to support its mission.

Once a month (every third Wednesday) they host 1:1 supplier engagement sessions to meet with small businesses interested in learning how to do business with the Sandia.

Their January 1:1 supplier engagement session is 1/19/2022.

If you are interested in requesting a 30-minute appointment for your business, please email: supplier@sandia.gov to schedule an appointment.

Date: 1/19/2022

Time: TBD

Register:  Email supplier@sandia.gov to schedule a 1:1 appointment.  Be prepared to share your capability statement and good luck!

Increasing criminal and False Claims Act liability in small business government contracting programs

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) preference programs can be vital for small businesses trying to compete in the potentially lucrative world of U.S. government contracting, but participation in these programs is not without risk.  Indeed, the programs can be fraught with peril and contain many landmines for those who do not understand and diligently comply with applicable small business program requirements.

Small Business Government Contracting Programs

The SBA works to make sure small businesses get at least 23 percent of all federal contracting dollars each year, primarily through the SBA’s small business and contracting assistance programs.  These programs are designed to assist small businesses by limiting competition for certain government contracts or by awarding a certain percentage of contracts to small businesses that participate in the respective programs.  The SBA has a variety of such programs, such as the 8(a) Business Development (8(a)) Program), the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) program, the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program, and the Historically-Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program, which were created for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people or entities, service-disabled veterans, or women or small businesses operating in historically underutilized business zones, respectively.

Continue reading at: JD Supra

Five things to know about an 8(a) bona fide place of business

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Eligibility to bid for construction contracts in the 8(a) program can be a maze to navigate for small businesses.  The lifeblood for these companies is identifying and becoming eligible to bid for these prized solicitations.  As a new 8(a) entity, or one looking to branch out, you may be wondering how to establish a bona fide place of business.

In order to qualify for construction contracts in the 8(a) program, offerors are required to have a bona fide place of business (or BFPOB) within the established geographic area.  This post will walk you through when and how to request a determination from the SBA, and when to expect a decision.

Before we get to the five things, one important resource for the 8(a) Program to review when questions arise is the SBA standard operating procedure.  But, if you don’t have time to read all 300 pages and the corresponding regulations, we will walk you through the process.

Continue reading at:  SmallGovCon

CRS Report: Small businesses and COVID-19, relief and assistance resources

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CRS has updated its insight report regarding available resources for small businesses that are directly affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and seeking economic relief and assistance.

For an analysis of the small business provisions contained in various congressional legislation throughout the pandemic, see CRS Report R46284, COVID-19 Relief Assistance to Small Businesses: Issues and Policy Options.  For businesses interested in supporting COVID-19 mobilization efforts, see CRS Insight IN11419, COVID-19: Selected Federal Resources for Businesses Seeking to Assist with Research and Manufacturing Efforts.  For a list of CRS products related to COVID-19, see the CRS COVID-19 Resources page.

DoD OSBP hosting webinar on how small businesses can identify and pursue contracting opportunities on April 21st

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The DoD OSBP welcomes Ms. Vicky Mundt Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs as the next speaker in the Defense Small Business Webinar Series.

Ms. Mundt will provide insights into how small businesses can identify and pursue contracts with DOD.  This webinar is open to all but geared toward small businesses, small business liaison offices, and PTAC representatives.

You can sign-up to attend the webinar at the: DAU Website

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is hosting a small business virtual event on May 6th

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Join the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Small Business Program for a FREE Small Business Exchange Virtual Event.  Discover strategies to become a successful small business subcontractor.  Large Prime contractors are seeking small businesses to help them achieve small business goals.  Become familiar with the NRC’s subcontracting opportunities.  Gain valuable insight on how to leverage your small business as a subcontractor.  Learn how to search for upcoming prime and subcontract opportunities, navigate historical contract data, and leverage your small business status as a subcontractor.  What to expect: A virtual event packed with information including targeted upcoming NRC subcontract opportunities and helpful resources from partnering organizations.  Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team if you have any questions.

 

Date: May 6, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon EDT
Location: Online
How to Register:  CLICK HERE

The NRC provides reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities where appropriate.  If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Anne Silk, NRC Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator, at Anne.Silk@nrc.gov or call directly at 301-287-0745.  Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.  Two weeks’ advance notice is requested to try to ensure availability; however, every effort will be made to address a request for reasonable accommodations with less notice.

 

We look forward to meeting you virtually!If you require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Lourdes Martin-Rosa, email: Lmr@govbizsolutions.com.

Again, to register, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/us-nuclear-regulatory-commission-small-business-exchange-virtual-event-tickets-143739513755

Minority-owned small business government contracting guides

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The blog Government Contracts Insights has published a series of posts (4 total) specific to federal government contracting as a minority-owned small business.  You can find links to the four posts below:

  1. Roadblocks inherent to the public procurement process for minority-owned businesses
  2. Overview of SBA contracting assistance programs
  3. Guide to the 8(a) and HUBZone programs
  4. Access to capital opportunities for minority-owned businesses

GSA Region 4 OSDBU hosting small business webinar

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The General Services Administration, Region 4, Regional Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization his holding a webinar entitled “Small Business Contracting & Support During COVID-19.”

Join GSA for a collaborative discussion on federal contract opportunities with various Federal Agencies during COVID-19.

In addition, learn about the second phase of the PPP loan process via the Small Business Administration.

Participating Federal Agencies:

  • U.S. General Services Administration
  • U.S. Small Business Administration
  • Center for Disease Control
  • Federal Aviation Administration
  • Department of Veterans Affairs

DATE:  Wednesday, May 6, 2020

TIME:  2:30 – 4:00 pm, ET

Web-Conferencing via MeetingSpace.

Webinar URL will be provided once you register:  REGISTER HERE

This event is free of charge, but space is limited.

For more information on this event or for special accommodations, please contact r4smallbiz@gsa.gov

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

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