In a bid protest argued by our firm before the United States Court of Federal Claims on September 23, 2014, the Court ruled in favor of our client, RLB Contracting, Inc., (RLB) in a matter involving the designation of the dredging exception to NAICS code 237990, which is for “Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction.”
Common Pitfalls in Federal Contracting Teaming Arrangements and How to Avoid Them: Tips for Safeguarding your Small-Business Program Eligibility
Last month, Ed DeLisle and Maria Panichelli’s guest article on federal teaming agreements “Common Pitfalls in Federal Contracting” appeared on Onvia’s website. The article is based on Maria’s very successful webinar series on Teaming Arrangements. The article and webinars address the benefits and drawbacks of teaming arrangements with a focus on how improper
Is the End Near for Race-Conscious Contracting Programs? Federal Contractor Challenges the 8(a) Minority Business Development Program
By: Edward T. DeLisle, Kayleen Egan & Maria L. Panichelli
Is the Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) minority business development program, also known as the “8(a) Program” unconstitutional? The legality of the program has been a hot topic of debate over the year, most recently due to a significant DC District Court case. That case,
Big Changes for Small Business: Revisions to Protest and Appellate Procedure
By: Edward T. DeLisle, Gary J. Repke, Jr. & Maria Panichelli
Attention all small business owners! As a result of a final rule issued by the FAR Council on July 25, requirements for protesting small businesses size and eligibility status are changing effective August 25, 2014. This rule, which finalizes an interim rule issued
SBA Increases Small Business Size Standards for Businesses in Numerous Industries, Including Construction
If you participate in federal government procurement programs, either as a prime contractor or as a subcontractor, listen up! Your small business size status may have changed on July 14, 2014 as a result of an interim rule issued by the SBA. The rule increased revenue-based size standards for numerous industries, including general and specialty
Understanding How to Effectively Team on a Federal Project Webinar
Teaming is a concept much discussed in the world of federal contracting, yet it is often misunderstood. 
On May 7, 2014 Maria L. Panichelli hosted a webinar for Women Impacting Public Policy (“WIPP”) and Give Me 5 (“GM5”) entitled “There’s No “I” In Team – Understanding How to Effectively Team on a Federal Project.” In
House Small Business Committee Approves Two Bills Designed to Help Small Business Contractors
A little over a month ago, Rep. Sam Graves, Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, introduced a pair of bills designed to increase the participation of small business contractors in federal contracting.
The first bill, the Greater Opportunities for Small Business Act (“GOSBA”), would raise the government’s small business contracting goal from
SBA's Mentor-Protege Program – Are Changes on the Horizon?
I have been inundated with questions about the SBA’s Mentor-Protege Program over the last six to eight months. That interest is being driven by what Congress included in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013. After failing to implement changes to the Mentor-Protege Program following the passage of the Small Business Jobs Act of
2014 NDAA Reform Will Allow Primes to Count Lower Tier Subcontractors Toward Small Business Subcontracting Goals
A little over a week ago I had the privilege of speaking at the Associated General Contractors of America’s national convention in Las Vegas. I was asked by the Director of the Heavy Highway and Federal Division to address a number of “hot topics” in the world of federal contracting. Over the next several weeks,
A New Rule Designed to Assist Small Business Subcontractors
On November 25th, the DOD, GSA and NASA issued a final rule incorporating a new clause into the FAR regarding accelerated payments to small business subcontractors on Government projects. The new rule, which takes effect December 26, 2013, requires large business prime contractors receiving accelerated payments from the Government to, in turn, accelerate payments to