Legal Updates

Summary from Congressional Research Service Mentor-protégé programs typically seek to pair new businesses with more experienced businesses in mutually beneficial relationships. Protégés may receive financial, technical, or management assistance from mentors in obtaining and performing federal contracts or subcontracts, or serving as suppliers under such contracts or subcontracts. Mentors...

Summary Small business size standards are of congressional interest because they have a pivotal role in determining eligibility for Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance as well as federal contracting and, in some instances, tax preferences. Although there is bipartisan agreement that the nation’s small businesses play an important role in the American economy, there are differences...

As Outlook Law, LLC, previously reported, the comment period for the proposed HUBZone regulations was due to be extended December 31, 2018-the original due date of the comment period.  It was in fact extended on December 31, 2018, with the new comments due on February 14, 2019.  The original HUBZone proposed regulations may be found on the legal updates page.  The notice of extension may be...

An advanced notice in the Federal Register announced that the comment period for the overhaul of the HUBZone regulations will be announced on New Years Eve.  The proposed HUBZone regulation are also contained on this page for ease of usage.  A link to the Federal Register with the advance notice is contained in this post.  Please note the new deadlines is February 14, 2018.  Notice of...

The Federal Register published the new proposed rule to match the statute regarding mandatory performance of work set forth in a 2013 statute and which tracks the SBA's 2016 mandatory performance regulation.  Here is an excerpt from the Federal Register, with a link to the full cite at the bottom of the page.  Please note, that even though this except does not contain it, there are changes to...

Today, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFFCP), released three new directives in an effort to establish and maintain more certainty for contractors regarding investigations and compliance.  A link to the substantive directives, and all directives is found below. OFFCP, according to its mission statement, is in place to protect workers, promote...

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today announced it will modernize federal acquisition by consolidating the agency’s 24 Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) into one single schedule for products and services. (That link is at the bottom of the page). According to the GSA, the MAS transformation is part of GSA’s Federal Marketplace strategy to make the government buying and selling...

The Department of Defense (DoD) updated its regulations to reflect current practice in regards to SBA's Section 8(a) Direct Awards.  The new regulation applies to acquisitions below the simplified acquisition threshold, acquisitions of commercial items, including commercially available items.  The regulation deletes the obsolete requirement for an 8(a) contractor obtain written approval from...

SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) proposes to amend its regulations for the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program to reduce the regulatory burdens imposed on HUBZone small business concerns and government agencies, implement new statutory provisions, and eliminate ambiguities in the regulations. SBA has reviewed all of its HUBZone regulations and...

This update covers new policies and procedures announced by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as well as the DOJ's Sample of Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs.  The sample compliance evaluation is very well done and easy to use.  It is linked at the bottom of this post. As companies strive to meet compliance standards, the DOJ provides guidance in the form of a new memorandum as...