Considered one of the few “must pass” pieces of legislation, Congress uses the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to shape federal procurement policy. Each year, the NDAA contains provisions prohibiting certain...more
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released guidance on December 2, 2021, implementing Executive Order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government” (EO). The...more
Once again, the specter of a government shutdown looms over the federal contracting community. The House just passed a continuing resolution that would extend federal funding through February 18, 2022, and avoid a government...more
The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently issued a proposed rule that would change two size standard calculations. First, SBA is proposing to use a 24-month period, as opposed to the current 12-month period, for...more
As of this writing, and in the absence of a continuing resolution being enacted by Congress, there will be a shutdown of most government operations on October 1, 2021. It is not clear whether the House and the Senate will be...more
LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION -
Watch Your Step: Avoiding False Claims Act Violations from Limitations in Subcontracting and Performance of Work Requirements -
Members of the government contracting community are...more
9/24/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Fraud ,
General Services Administration (GSA) ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
SBA ,
Small Business
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has once again updated its HUBZone FAQs—this time with welcome changes for HUBZone firms with principal offices located in Redesignated Areas and / or Qualified Disaster Areas (QDA)....more
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT -
What President Biden’s Vaccine Mandate Means for Government Contractors and Private Employers -
Westlaw Today recently published an article by members of PilieroMazza’s Labor & Employment Group. The...more
8/20/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Federal Contractors ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Minimum Wage ,
Vaccinations ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
The Small Business Administration (SBA) updated its Historically Underutilized Business (HUBZone) program in a final rule issued on November 26, 2019, at 84 FR 65,222. The Department of Defense, General Services...more
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS -
SBA Extends the HUBZone Map Freeze to June 30, 2023 -
Today, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a direct final rule extending the HUBZone map freeze from December 31, 2021, to June...more
5/7/2021
/ Amazon ,
Biden Administration ,
Consultants ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
FedRAMP ,
GAO ,
General Services Administration (GSA) ,
Independent Contractors ,
Mentor-Protege Program ,
Microsoft ,
Minimum Wage ,
OSHA ,
Qui Tam ,
Relief Measures ,
Restaurant Industry ,
SBA
In January, we issued a client alert discussing how HUBZone firms in redesignated areas could plan to maintain their HUBZone status after the end of 2021. One of the primary strategies we discussed in the client alert was...more
2021 is an important year for the many HUBZone firms located in redesignated areas that will lose HUBZone status after 12/31/21. For these firms, the time is now to plan for maintaining HUBZone status in 2022 and beyond....more
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS -
Key Provisions in the 2021 NDAA for Government Contractors -
‘Tis the season for holiday cheer and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA, commonly referred to as “must pass”...more
‘Tis the season for holiday cheer and the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”). The NDAA, commonly referred to as “must pass” legislation, is a key legislative vehicle that Congress uses each year to address a wide...more
The Department of Defense’s (DOD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements are coming, impacting DOD contractors big and small. This important new certification, if responded to proactively, will help...more
9/3/2020
/ Bid Protests ,
Certification Requirements ,
Cybersecurity ,
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) ,
Data Protection ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Information Technology ,
Joint Venture ,
Native American Issues ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Procurement Guidelines ,
Subcontractors ,
Webinars
One of the hottest topics for government contractors is the General Services Administration’s (GSA) recent release of the updated 8(a) STARS III request for proposal (RFP). With proposals due by August 19, 2020, many...more
With the government’s second round of funding relief for small businesses underway through SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program, small businesses have legitimate concerns about not receiving much-needed funding. How can you be...more
4/30/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Eligibility ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Loans ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Loan Forgiveness ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Relief Measures ,
Safe Harbors ,
SBA ,
SBA Lending Programs ,
Small Business ,
Webinars
In a webinar on March 25, 2020, officials with SBA’s HUBZone Program showed that SBA understands the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak has created some unique challenges for HUBZone firms. Fortunately, SBA acted proactively to...more
ANNOUNCEMENT: PilieroMazza Forms "COVID-19 Client Response Team," March 18, 2020 -
To address the concerns of our clients and resource partners during and long after the coronavirus pandemic, PilieroMazza created the...more
The Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a class waiver of the non-manufacturer rule (NMR) on March 9, 2020. Effective April 8, 2020, it waives the NMR for commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) laptop and tablet...more
CLIENT ALERT: FAR Council Changes Rules Regarding Small Business Rerepresentation / Recertification and Multiple Award Contracts -
On February 27, 2020, the FAR Council published a final rule that amends the Federal...more
3/6/2020
/ Bureau of Indian Affairs ,
Buy American and Hire American ,
Court of Federal Claims ,
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Department of Veterans Affairs ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Funding ,
General Services Administration (GSA) ,
Indian Reorganization Act ,
Joint Employers ,
Multiple Award Contracts ,
NLRA ,
NLRB ,
OFCCP ,
SBA ,
Small Business ,
USAID ,
Women-Owned Businesses
Now that DOD has released the final version of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) guidelines, all contractors that work directly or indirectly on Department of Defense (DOD) contracts should be preparing to...more
3/3/2020
/ Acquisitions ,
Bid Protests ,
Certification Requirements ,
Cybersecurity ,
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Protection ,
Data Security ,
Defense Contracts ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Due Diligence ,
Federal Contractors ,
Information Technology ,
Joint Venture ,
Mentor-Protege Program ,
Mergers ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Subcontractors ,
Webinars
PilieroMazza previously blogged at length regarding the draft releases of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) guidelines in anticipation of its final release. The Department of Defense (DOD) released the...more
"False Claims Act: The Risks to Small Business Government Contractors" is the fifth episode of "Ex Rel. Radio," our multi-part series on the False Claims Act, which includes commentary on potential pitfalls for government...more
PODCAST: Ex Rel. Radio – False Claims Act: The Risks to Small Business Government Contractors
“False Claims Act: The Risks to Small Business Government Contractors” is the fifth episode of “Ex Rel. Radio,” our multi-part...more
1/14/2020
/ Comment Period ,
Cybersecurity ,
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Contractors ,
General Services Administration (GSA) ,
HUBZone ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
NASA ,
Proposed Rules ,
SBA ,
Small Business ,
Tribal Governments