GSA Pauses Polaris RFPs
GSA’s Polaris RFPs are on pause after the agency received comments regarding the evaluation of joint ventures. GSA is now assessing whether changes are required to the RFPs and is temporarily pausing the RFPs until further notice. WOSBs, SDVOSBs, and HUBZone IT service providers should pause proposal activities until the assessment is completed. This assessment may be an indication that GSA is carefully considering aspects of Polaris RFPs that will hopefully be beneficial to both large and small contractors and improve . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Represents Federal Compass in Venture Capital Transaction
PilieroMazza is pleased to announce that the Firm’s Business & Transactions Group , led by attorneys Dave Shafer and Frank Massaro, served as legal counsel to Federal Compass as it secured a Series A venture financing round from Blueprint Equity . Federal Compass is a Vienna, VA, company that provides software for federal contractors. Blueprint Equity, based in Solana Beach, CA, is an investment firm that supplies expansion capital to enterprise software and technology startups. Federal Compass was founded in 2019. It plans to use the proceeds from this . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – April 6, 2022
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . GovCon Live! Podcast: Listen to PilieroMazza’s latest episodes and follow us to hear more here . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS OHA Confirms M&A-Related Recertification Won’t Impact Contractors’ Eligibility Under Pre-Existing Contracts , April 1, 2022, Samuel S. Finnerty For small businesses, navigating the recertification rules promulgated by the Small Business Administration (SBA) is no easy task. SBA rules generally provide that the size of . . . Read More
SBA Increases Its Size Standards, Opening More Opportunities for Winning Government Contracts
The long-awaited increase to size standards by the Small Business Administration (SBA) has arrived. On March 31, 2022, SBA issued four final rules that increase the small business size standards for a number of industries. As a result, many businesses will gain eligibility for federal small business assistance programs or retain eligibility for a longer period. These programs include SBA’s business loan programs, Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, and federal procurement programs that provide targeted, set-aside opportunities for small . . . Read More
COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Laws Could Show Emerging Compliance Trends for Employers
Since the onset of the pandemic, many states and localities have passed COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave laws requiring employers to provide leave to employees for COVID-19-related reasons. California and Colorado have gone beyond many other states by adding to the required amount of sick time. These laws present unique administrative compliance challenges and financial burdens on employers who must prepare for employees’ additional paid COVID-19-related absences. Even employers with no employees in California and Colorado should be mindful, however, . . . Read More
Federal News Network Quotes PilieroMazza’s Cy Alba about Small Businesses’ Chances of Winning Polaris Contracts
PilieroMazza ’s Cy Alba , a partner in the Government Contracts Group , discussed the Polaris government-wide acquisition contract with Federal News Network recently. His remarks came after the General Services Administration (GSA), which issued the solicitation, clarified that it would allow joint ventures to rely on the past performance and experience of a single member, including large business SBA-approved mentors, when evaluating the entire joint venture for award. This clarification to the solicitation gave some small businesses, especially those with little direct experience in the core . . . Read More
OHA Confirms M&A-Related Recertification Won’t Impact Contractor’s Eligibility Under Pre-Existing, Set-Aside Contracts
For small businesses, navigating the recertification rules promulgated by the Small Business Administration (SBA) is no easy task. SBA rules generally provide that the size of a concern is determined at the date of its initial offer including price and if the firm is small at that time, it generally will be considered small throughout the life of the contract. However, if a concern undergoes a merger, sale, or acquisition, or novates its small business contract to another concern (each . . . Read More
JD Supra Again Distinguishes PilieroMazza for Government Contracting Content
PilieroMazza continues its streak by earning JD Supra’s 2022 Readers Choice Award as the “Top Government Contracting Firm” for content for a fifth consecutive year. Partners Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV , of the Government Contracts Group and Nichole Atallah of the Labor & Employment for Government Contractors Group were among JD Supra’s top five authors from a pool of more than 1,900 authors. “We’re honored that JD Supra acknowledged the insights our attorneys published in the important area of government contracting,” said Tony Franco , PilieroMazza’s managing partner. “Providing thought leadership that readers find beneficial to their business . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – March 31, 2022
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . GovCon Live! Podcast: Listen to PilieroMazza’s latest episodes and follow us to hear more here . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS GSA Releases Polaris Q&A Signaling Key Changes in Upcoming RFPs, March 25, 2022, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV GSA recently released a Q&A in anticipation of the first two Polaris Requests for Proposals (RFPs). GSA anticipates the . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Win in Game-Changing Randolph-Sheppard Decision Could Increase Food Service Attendant Contract Awards to Federal Contractors
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a notable decision on March 24, 2022, in a protest filed by PilieroMazza attorneys Katie Burrows and Matt Feinberg on behalf of J.W. Mills Management, LLC (J.W. Mills), B-420416. The decision clarifies the scope of the Randolph-Sheppard Act (RSA) and could lead to new contract award opportunities for federal contractors in the food service attendant, mess attendant, and dining facility attendant industry. Federal contractors operating in the food service attendant space should consider how this . . . Read More