For the first time in 20 years, SBA is proposing an extensive overhaul of its regulations for the HUBZone program. SBA recognizes the difficulty firms face getting into and staying in the HUBZone program, so they are revising the HUBZone rules to provide greater certainty to HUBZone applicants and participants. The proposed rule would reduce the regulatory burdens imposed on HUBZone small business concerns and on government agencies by eliminating ambiguities in the regulations and making it easier for HUBZone . . . Read More
Last year, I wrote about a decision of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (“COFC”) in which it held that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) must perform a “Rule of Two” analysis to determine whether at least two veteran-owned small businesses (“VOSB”) are capable of performing the work at issue before procuring the work through a non-VOSB set-aside solicitation, including through the AbilityOne Program. That case, PDS Consultants, Inc. v. United States, was appealed by VA and the awardee of . . . Read More
A few years ago, we wrote about the likely effect of a case commonly called “Cyberlock” on teaming agreement enforceability in Virginia. Cyberlock Consulting, Inc. v. Info. Experts, Inc., 939 F. Supp. 2d 572, 580 (E.D. Va. 2013), aff’d, 549 F. App’x 211 (4th Cir. 2014). While decided in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Cyberlock looked to Virginia state court precedent for its conclusions on the enforceability of the teaming agreement at issue. As we noted at the time, the Cyberlock court . . . Read More
Presented By Nichole Atallah and Sarah Nash Click here to view the recorded session. What you don’t know, can really hurt you. From bidding to negotiations to price adjustments, understanding how labor laws influence government contracting can have huge implications for contractor business. Make sure you have the information you need before bidding on a contract with a unionized (or organizing) workforce.
Presented by Paul Mengel and Matt Feinberg Click here to view the recorded session. Given the country’s current social and political climate, there has been a significant public focus recently on, among other things, sexual harassment and sexual assault, public corruption, fraud against the Government, and the wage gap. Companies should therefore reasonably expect to become involved in some sort of investigation or private claim and, as a result, to receive a subpoena or other document request, whether from a state attorney . . . Read More
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT Class Deviation-Commercial Items Omnibus Clause for Acquisitions Using the Standard Procurement System According to an article on acq.osd.mil , this class deviation rescinds and supersedes Class Deviation 2013-00019. Effective immediately, when using the Standard Procurement System (SPS) to contract for commercial items, all Department of Defense (DOD) contracting activities may deviate from the requirements at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 12.301 (b)( 4) and the clause at FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders- . . . Read More
While there has been some confusion and a bit of a grey area surrounding when an offeror’s profile with the System for Award Management (SAM) must be active, the confusion will be put to rest effective October 26, 2018. Recently, a final rule was released clarifying that offeror registration in SAM is required prior to submission of an offer. Currently, FAR 4.1102(a) requires contractors to be registered in SAM “prior to award of a contract or agreement,” with some narrow exceptions. While this seems . . . Read More
Presented By Nichole Atallah and Sarah Nash Click here to view the recorded session. Whether your employees are unionized or not, chances are the National Labor Relations Act applies to you. This seminar will help you navigate the Act and keep on the right side of labor laws.
As we noted in our May 2, 2018, post on the possible 809 Panel recommendations for bid protests, the Panel was planning to make radical changes to the bid protest process at DOD, which would lead to less oversight and accountability, opening the floodgates for fraud and abuse by government personnel. However, we recently learned that the Panel may be thinking of taking action that could benefit DOD’s buying processes, without reducing public oversight, by looking at more inward-facing policy changes . . . Read More
