- Underrepresented Industries Identified, Expansion, and Spending Goals Met for WOSB Program
- SBIR/STTR Programs to be Reauthorized
- Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors
This week’s report follows, click here if you would like to download a copy.
Underrepresented Industries Identified, Expansion, and Spending Goals Met for WOSB Program
On March 3, 2016, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the results of a study that identified industries in which women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) were underrepresented in federal contracting in connection with the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program (WOSB Program), 81 Fed. Reg. 11340. The study was conducted as part of a requirement within Section 825 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015, of which SBA had to comply with to carry out the program. The designations of industries contained in this notice apply to all solicitations issued on or after the effective date. SBA also published updated NAICS code lists for EDWOSB and WOSB set-aside and sole source contracts, which included over 100 more eligible six-digit NAICS codes, including 237310, Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction, 237990, Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction, and 562910, Remediation Services, among others.
The results of the study comes on the heels of an SBA announcement on March 2, 2016 that revealed for the first time, federal government spending in FY 2015 met the 5 percent spending goal for WOSBs. According to the SBA, 5.05 percent, or $17.8 billion of all federal small business eligible contracting dollars, were awarded to WOSBs.
SBIR/STTR Programs to be Reauthorized
On March 2, 2016, Steve Chabot (R-OH), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, announced at a hearing that he will begin the process for reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs—something the committee believes “would give stability and predictability to thousands of American entrepreneurs.” The programs were set to expire in 2017. Click here to read the news release.
Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors
The Department of Labor is proposing regulations to implement Executive Order 13706–Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors (the Order), which requires certain parties that contract with the Federal Government to provide their employees with up to seven days of paid sick leave annually, including paid leave allowing for family care. The Order directs the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations by September 30, 2016 to implement the Order’s requirements. This proposed rule defines terms used in the regulatory text, describes the categories of contracts and employees the Order covers, excludes from coverage, sets forth requirements and restrictions governing the accrual and use of paid sick leave, and prohibits interference with, or discrimination for, the exercise of rights under the Order. It also describes the obligations of contracting agencies, the Department of Labor, and contractors under the Order, and it establishes the standards and procedures for complaints, investigations, remedies, and administrative enforcement proceedings related to alleged violations of the Order, 81 Fed. Reg. 9592. Comments are due March 28, 2016.