Government Contracts Insights

September 22, 2021 - Small Business
SBA Issues Final Rule on Appeals Process for PPP Loan Review Decisions
By: Damien C. Specht, Alissandra Young McCann and Markus Gerhard Speidel
The Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a final rule on Borrower Appeals of Final SBA Loan Review Decisions Under the Paycheck Protection Program on Thursday, September 16, 2021, that updates its interim final rule from August 27, 2020, and clarifies open issues. As we discussed
... ›
September 02, 2021 - Small Business
GAO Rules on Solicitation Requirements for Small Business Joint Venture Facility Security Clearances
By: Damien C. Specht and James A. Tucker
In an important new decision, InfoPoint LLC , B-419856, Aug. 27, 2021 , the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has sustained a protest against a Department of Defense (DOD) agency that insisted that small business joint venture offerors themselves were required satisfy a solicitation’s Facility
... ›
August 17, 2021 - Small Business
FAR Councils Promulgate Final Rule Implementing SBA’s 2016 Revisions to the Limitations on Subcontracting Rule
By: James A. Tucker
After a five-year wait, small business subcontracting rules that the Small Business Administration (SBA) promulgated in 2016 will finally appear in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and new solicitations. Chief among the changes is the welcome implementation in the FAR of an updated rule allowing
... ›
April 22, 2021 - Small Business
Levels of Accountability: What Federal Contractors Should Know About Small Business Subcontracting Plans and Compliance Reviews
By: Damien C. Specht, Alissandra Young McCann and Roke Iko
Every year, the U.S. federal government establishes goals for the awards of prime contracts and subcontracts to small business concerns. While agencies are responsible for achieving these goals by awarding prime contracts to small businesses, contractors that are “other than small” are obliged to
... ›
April 01, 2021 - Small Business, Coronavirus
All Is Not Forgiven: PPP Forgiveness and Credits
By: Damien C. Specht, Edward Jackson and Alissandra Young McCann
On March 23, 2021, The House Small Business, Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure held a remote hearing titled: “The Interaction Between the Paycheck Protection Program and Federal Acquisition Regulations: What It Means for Government Contractors.” The hearing focused specifically on the interplay between Paycheck
... ›
February 03, 2021 - Small Business
8(a): The Small Business Administration’s Program for Socially & Economically Disadvantaged Businesses (Guide 3 of 4)
By: J. Alex Ward, Damien C. Specht, Alissandra Young McCann and Roke Iko
SBA’s 8(A) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM What is the 8(a) program and what is it intended to do? The 8(a) program, officially designated the 8(a) Business Development program, is designed to assist small minority-owned businesses compete in the wider American economy. See 13 C.F.R. Part
... ›
February 03, 2021 - Protests & Litigation, Small Business
Small Business Administration (SBA) Programs (Guide 2 of 4)
By: J. Alex Ward, Damien C. Specht, Alissandra Young McCann and Roke Iko
Many government programs exist to help small businesses—especially minority-owned small businesses—secure a foothold in government contracting. Read on to learn more about some common programs, the basic eligibility requirements, and how to register for them. These programs are quite complicated and you should consult
... ›
February 03, 2021 - Small Business
Access to Capital-Funding Opportunities for Minority-Owned Businesses in Government Procurement (Guide 4 of 4)
By: J. Alex Ward, Damien C. Specht, Alissandra Young McCann and Roke Iko
Capital is the lifeblood of small businesses and fundamental to their formation and growth. However, obtaining capital can be difficult for minority-owned business enterprises (MBEs), as a lack of access to capital is one of the primary barriers for MBEs hoping to enter the
... ›
February 01, 2021 - Small Business
Roadblocks Inherent to the Public Procurement Process for Minority-Owned Businesses (Guide 1 of 4)
By: J. Alex Ward, Damien C. Specht, Alissandra Young McCann and Roke Iko
In the next four posts, we will share guides specific to federal contracting as a minority-owned small business. Minority-owned businesses often face unique challenges in the public procurement process due to systemic barriers embedded in the process. These barriers affect minority-owned business at all
... ›
January 19, 2021 - Small Business
The Economic Aid Act and a Second Round of PPP Loans
By: Tina D. Reynolds and Damien C. Specht
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which became law on December 27, 2020, includes a second round of stimulus funding in the form of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act(the “Economic Aid Act”). Among many other measures, the Economic
... ›

Topic Archives: Small Business

SBA Issues Final Rule on Appeals Process for PPP Loan Review Decisions

By: Damien C. Specht, Alissandra Young McCann and Markus Gerhard Speidel

GAO Rules on Solicitation Requirements for Small Business Joint Venture Facility Security Clearances

By: Damien C. Specht and James A. Tucker

FAR Councils Promulgate Final Rule Implementing SBA’s 2016 Revisions to the Limitations on Subcontracting Rule

By: James A. Tucker

Levels of Accountability: What Federal Contractors Should Know About Small Business Subcontracting Plans and Compliance Reviews

By: Damien C. Specht, Alissandra Young McCann and Roke Iko

All Is Not Forgiven: PPP Forgiveness and Credits

By: Damien C. Specht, Edward Jackson and Alissandra Young McCann

8(a): The Small Business Administration’s Program for Socially & Economically Disadvantaged Businesses (Guide 3 of 4)

By: J. Alex Ward, Damien C. Specht, Alissandra Young McCann and Roke Iko

Small Business Administration (SBA) Programs (Guide 2 of 4)

By: J. Alex Ward, Damien C. Specht, Alissandra Young McCann and Roke Iko

Access to Capital-Funding Opportunities for Minority-Owned Businesses in Government Procurement (Guide 4 of 4)

By: J. Alex Ward, Damien C. Specht, Alissandra Young McCann and Roke Iko

Roadblocks Inherent to the Public Procurement Process for Minority-Owned Businesses (Guide 1 of 4)

By: J. Alex Ward, Damien C. Specht, Alissandra Young McCann and Roke Iko

The Economic Aid Act and a Second Round of PPP Loans

By: Tina D. Reynolds and Damien C. Specht