Changes in Federal contracting
From the Executive Director:
Change is coming to Federal contractors – some are referring to these changes as game changers.
As a current contractor or subcontractor (or someone considering entering the market) be aware of what is being considered, discussed and implemented.
Some of these include:
- A proposed US SBA program would expand the Mentor Protégé (MP) program to include Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses, women-owned (WOSBs), small businesses service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs), and all small businesses. Currently the MP program is only available to participants in the 8(a) program.
- SBA is proposing to allow a joint venture to qualify as small for any government procurement as long as each partner to the joint venture qualifies individually as small under the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned in the solicitation.
- Changes to limitations on subcontracting
- Stronger enforcement of large business subcontracting plans
- Elimination of the Woman Owned Business self-certification and replacing with a more formal certification process and authorization for federal agencies to award sole source contracts to certified firms.
There are more – we will keep you advised as progress is made. I do want to caution contractors to keep current on the status of these changes. I also want to caution contractors not to confuse advocacy with implementation – many organizations are publishing reports and commentary – some of which includes erroneous information.
Monitoring sites such as listed below will provide current and accurate information:
Also, visit our website www.wispro.org for an updated training calendar.
Respectfully,
Aina Vilumsons
WPI, Executive Director
