Government Contracts Monitor

Update: USDA Designates New Categories of Biobased Products to Receive Preferential Treatment in Federal Procurement

June 18, 2013

As we previously reported here, the Federal Government has a procurement preference program for biobased products called BioPreferred.  On June 11, 2013, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated eight new categories of products that qualify for this program.  They are: aircraft and boat cleaners, automotive care products, engine crankcase oil, gasoline fuel additives, metal cleaners and…

VA Invites Comments to Improve the Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification Program

June 10, 2013

The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (“OSDBU”) is currently reviewing its regulations governing the VA’s Veteran-Owned Small Business (“VOSB”) Program, and is inviting comments, by July 12, 2013, as to “any issue related to improving these specific regulations and the program.”  See Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ANPRM”), VA…

Off to the races: Mentor-Protégé Joint Ventures May Compete as 8(a)s on any Government Contract

June 5, 2013

It has recently come to our attention that contractors, as well as some agencies, may not realize that an 8(a) mentor-protégé joint venture (“JV”) can bid as an 8(a) entity, on an 8(a) contract, without the JV itself being 8(a) certified.  The Small Business Administration (“SBA”) controls the 8(a) program and 8(a) eligibility status, but SBA “does not certify joint ventures as section 8(a)…

SBA Announces New “ChallengeHER” Program for Women-Owned Small Businesses

May 3, 2013

As part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to promote small businesses in federal contracting, the Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced the ChallengeHER Campaign.  The purpose of the campaign is to educate women business owners about federal procurement opportunities and introduce business owners to acquisition decision-makers in order to increase the percentage of…

Update: USDA Designates New Categories of Biobased Products to Receive Preferential Treatment in Federal Procurement

November 27, 2012

As previously reported here, the Federal Government has a procurement preference program for biobased products called BioPreferred.  On November 19, 2012, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated 12 new categories of products that qualify for this preferential treatment.  Thus, effective December 19, 2012, federal agencies are generally required to purchase biobased products within these…

SBA’s New Joint Ventures and Contract Award Rules Clarified

September 4, 2012

We have found that many companies are confused by changes to SBA’s Joint Venture rules, particularly concerning the contracts for which each joint venture may bid and receive before the parties must establish a new, separate, joint venture.  Such confusion results in companies either losing bidding opportunities or incurring unnecessary costs to set-up successive new joint ventures…

Proposed Change to FAR Will Clarify Requirements for Setting Aside R&D Contracts for Small Businesses

August 31, 2012

DoD, GSA, and NASA issued a proposed rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to clarify that contracting officers should set aside research and development (R&D) contracts for small businesses when the market research indicates there are small businesses capable of providing the best scientific and technological approaches.  Small Business Set Asides for Research and…

Energy Security for U.S. Military Bases

August 7, 2012

In April 2012, the Obama Administration set a goal of building green energy capacity on U.S. military bases by 2025 – three gigawatts of solar, wind and geothermal power.  These efforts could require as much as $20B in private funding and will create opportunities for contractors and lenders alike.

Private financing may the only way to fund these kinds of projects.  Why? Because…

SBA Proposes Changes to Small Business Size Standards for NAICS Sectors 22, “Utilities,” and 23, “Construction.”

July 30, 2012

The U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) recently issued one Proposed Rule seeking to revise the small business size standards for 9 industries in NAICS Sector 22, “Utilities,” Small Business Size Standards: Utilities, 77 Fed. Reg. 42,441 (July 19, 2012), and another proposing the revision of size standards for 1 industry and 1 sub-industry in NAICS Sector 22,…

2012 Teaming To Win Conference

May 21, 2012

Jackson Kelly PLLC is proud to be a part of this year’s “Teaming to Win” conference.  Registration is now open for the 22nd annual "Teaming to Win" conference, to be held on May 29-31, 2012 at the Morgantown Convention Center, Morgantown, West Virginia. The conference includes keynote speakers, educational seminars, exhibits and technology demonstrations. Featured speakers include:

• U.S.…

SBA Increases Small Business Size Standards for 22 Industries in NAICS Sectors 48-49, “Transportation and Warehousing,” Effective March 26, 2012

March 21, 2012

The U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) recently issued a new Final Rule, effective March 26, 2012, increasing the small business size standards for 22 industries in NAICS Sectors 48-49, “Transportation and Warehousing.”  Small Business Size Standards: Transportation and Warehousing, 77 Fed. Reg. 10943 (Feb. 24, 2012).  These increases will enable many formerly small companies…

SBA Increases Size Standards for NAICS Sector 54 and NAICS Code 811212, Effective March 12, 2012

March 8, 2012

The U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) recently issued a new Final Rule, effective March 12, 2012, increasing the small business size standards for 34 industries and 3 sub-industries in NAICS Sector 54, “Professional, Technical and Scientific Services,” as well as for NAICS Code 811212, “Computer and Office Repair and Maintenance.”  Small Business Size Standards: Professional,…