Washington Business Journal: PilieroMazza’s Cy Alba Explores Whether Federal Agencies Are on the Attack Against Small Business Contractors
In the excerpt below from the Washington Business Journal article “Are Federal Agencies on the Attack Against Small Business Contractors?”, PilieroMazza ’s Isaias “Cy” Alba , a partner in the Firm’s Government Contracts Group , explores the challenges facing small business government contractors when working with federal agencies. For the full article, please visit this link . For years, the United States’ official policy on small businesses, deriving from the Small Business Act, has been to assist and protect them in order to preserve free and open competition. . . . Read More
GAO Confirms Joint Ventures Pursuing DOD Contracts May Rely on Facility Clearances of Their Members
In a recent decision , the Government Accountability Office (GAO) sustained a protest challenging the terms of a solicitation because it required that a joint venture (JV) pursuing an Air Force contract hold a facility clearance (FCL), which is prohibited by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2020 and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations. This decision has significant implications for JVs pursuing classified contracts and underscores the value of protests as a useful procurement tool for government contractors. Background . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Announces DC Office Relocation in 2022 to Renovated Washington Center
WASHINGTON, DC, August 30, 2021––A business law firm serving clients in the government contract and commercial business sectors, PilieroMazza announced that in March 2022, the Firm’s DC office will relocate to Washington Center at 1001 G Street NW. The 12-story building is situated at Metro Center, in the heart of the East End district. Pending the March 2022 move, the Firm’s DC office will remain at 888 17th Street NW. “This move represents another major milestone in PilieroMazza’s history and growth,” remarked . . . Read More
Sovereign Acts Doctrine: New Government Defense Tactic Against COVID-Related Claims and REAs
With the rise in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant, government contractors and the government agencies they work with may also see a rise in COVID-related claims and requests for equitable adjustment (REAs) linked to their contracts. In this blog, PilieroMazza reviews a key government defense tactic, the Sovereign Acts Doctrine (the Doctrine), that contractors should be aware of to help them better prepare before filing a claim or REA. What is the Sovereign Acts Doctrine? The Doctrine provides . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – August 26, 2021
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . WEBINAR: Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Webinar Series: Password Protected: Essential Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Planning for Your Small Business, September 14, 2021, Anna Wright and Emily Rouleau. Read more here . WEBINAR: Exit Worth Celebrating – It’s Never Too Early to Plan for Your Exit, September 21, 2021, Cy Alba . Read more here . WEBINAR: Construction Webinar Series: DOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program: What Large and Small Construction Contractors Need to . . . Read More
Strategic Growth Paths of Top Small Business Government Contractors
GovCon Live! · Strategic Growth Paths of Top Small Business Government Contractors
BREAKING: SBA to Suspend Bona Fide Place of Business Requirements for 8(a) Construction Contracts, Effective Immediately
Bibi Hidalgo, the Associate Administrator for SBA’s Office of Government Contracting and Business Development, just announced during her keynote address at the National 8(a) Association Alaska Regional Conference that SBA will be suspending the bona fide place of business requirement for 8(a) construction contracts, effective immediately. Ms. Hidalgo stated that SBA has been looking for ways to empower small businesses and lessen their burden. She accounted, “I am excited to announce today, for the first time, a new SBA policy, . . . Read More
Proposed Rule Seeks to Strengthen Impact of Buy American Act – 6 Key Takeaways
On January 25, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order titled “Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers” (Executive Order). As PilieroMazza previously explained , the Executive Order directed that a number of actions be taken in furtherance of the Biden administration’s overarching policy to maximize the procurement of goods, products, and materials from sources that will help American businesses compete in strategic industries and help American workers thrive. This included a direction for . . . Read More
DOD Issues Proposed Rule on Enhanced Post-Award Debriefing Rights: 5 Things You Should Know
Westlaw Today recently published an article by Jackie Unger titled “DOD Issues Proposed Rule on Enhanced Post-Award Debriefing Rights: 5 Things You Should Know.” The article covers a Department of Defense proposed rule that would amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to permanently implement the enhanced post-award debriefing rights detailed in Section 818 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. To access the full article, please visit this link .
SBA Issues New HUBZone Guidance and Map Updates
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has once again updated its HUBZone FAQs—this time with welcome changes for HUBZone firms with principal offices located in Redesignated Areas and / or Qualified Disaster Areas (QDA). The latest FAQs state that they were effective June 24, 2021, but we saw them for the first time on SBA’s website earlier this month. Below are our top five takeaways from the latest FAQs. While SBA’s FAQs continue to state that a firm located in a . . . Read More