The Weekly Update for April 19, 2019
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING As reported by Bloomberg Government, the Department of Health and Human Services is competing for a follow-on contract worth as much as $347 million to continue implementing the federal employee and contractor identification, authentication, and cybersecurity standards outlined in the Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 ( HSPD-12 ). The scope of the contract—called the HSPD-12 Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) Systems Integration Support (SiS)—falls into two domains. Both domains aim to ensure that employees and contractors have credentials for access . . . Read More
New IRS Requirements for EIN Applications Go Into Effect May 13, 2019
As we have all been scrambling to get our taxes completed this month, a new IRS requirement may have been overlooked that goes into effect on May 13, 2019. This new requirement impacts the process by which any new entity (including sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, trusts, and corporations) can apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), the 9-digit identification number assigned to entities for tax filing and reporting purposes. The new requirements will impact all of our clients . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for April 12, 2019
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING The Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a notification of the availability of a white paper regarding the revision of its size standards methodology and explaining how it establishes, reviews, or revises small business size standards. The revised white paper, entitled “SBA’s Size Standards Methodology (April 2019)” (Revised Methodology) is available on the SBA’s website, as well as on the Federal rulemaking portal . SBA intends to apply the Revised Methodology to the ongoing second five-year comprehensive review of size standards required . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for April 5, 2019
HEARING ON THE SMALL BUSINESS RUNWAY EXTENSION ACT PilieroMazza’s Megan Connor testified at the House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure’s hearing on March 26, 2019, concerning the implementation of the Small Business Runway Extension Act (H.R. 6330) (the “Act”). The Act was signed into law in December 2018 and was designed to help small businesses successfully bridge the gap between competing in the small business space and the open marketplace against larger companies by changing the time period . . . Read More
Comments Submitted in Response to RIN 2900-AQ21 – VA Acquisition Regulation: Competition Requirements
On April 2, 2019, PilieroMazza submitted comments on RIN 2900-AQ21—VA Acquisition Regulation: Competition Requirements. Includes our comments on: The amendments to VAAR 806.501 will be beneficial, but must be implemented correctly and should include other amendments. In our experiences, small businesses often are unsure of who to contact with small business-related concerns regarding a solicitation. Knowing exactly who to contact at VA and SBA will save time and allow small businesses access to resolve concerns with a solicitation, and may . . . Read More
Does SBA’s New Recertification Rule Apply to My Contract?
The Weekly Update for March 29, 2019
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense released a class deviation , effective immediately, that implements section 1006 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. The class deviation prescribes that all contracting officers shall use the clause prescribed in the attachment to the class deviation when contracting with accounting firms providing financial statement auditing or audit remediation services to the Department of Defense in support of the audits required under 31 U.S.C. § 3521. The Office . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for March 22, 2019
HEARING ON THE SMALL BUSINESS RUNWAY EXTENSION ACT The House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure is holding a hearing on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., concerning the implementation of the Small Business Runway Extension Act (H.R. 6330) (the “Act”). The Act was signed into law in December 2018 and was designed to help small businesses successfully bridge the gap between competing in the small business space and the open marketplace against larger companies by changing the . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for March 15, 2019
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING The Congressional Research Service issued a report providing an overview of small business contracting. The report describes the various federal programs, requirements, procurement officers, and procurement offices involved in promoting federal contracting and subcontracting with small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), firms participating in the SBA’s “8(a) Program,” Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses, women-owned small businesses (WOSBs), and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs). The report also examines several federal requirements and authorities in promoting contracting and subcontracting . . . Read More
The Weekly Update for March 8, 2019
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, testified before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs about the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report on high-risk areas. Mr. Dodaro’s testimony explained that the GAO’s high-risk program has focused attention on government operations with greater vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or that are in need of transformation to address economy, efficiency, or effectiveness challenges. The GAO’s 2019 High Risk Report, among other things, identified two . . . Read More