All Learning Content
SBA CVE Protests and Appeals: Coming October 1
Apr 2, 2018
The SBA will begin hearing protests and appeals related to inclusion in the VA’s SDVOSB/VOSB CVE database on October 1, 2018.
On March 30, the SBA published a final rule, which responded to public comments made on the proposed rule issued last year. SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals...
UK Government Seeks Commitments on GKN Acquisition
Mar 29, 2018
The UK secretary of state for business has sought a series of binding commitments before he will authorise the proposed acquisition of GKN (part of the business supplies UK defence sector) by turnaround specialist Melrose, which is worth £8.1bn. The Engineer has been running a poll (still open) on...
Gen. Wendy M. Masiello, USAF (Ret.) Talks Culture, Communication, and Talent on the Procurement Leaders Podcast
Mar 29, 2018
“Always keep your mind open…always look for a better way of doing business.”
If it were possible to summarize a 36 year career in military procurement leadership into one sentence, you could do a lot worse than the quote above. During our sixth episode of the Procurement Leaders Podcast,...
Institute for Government Launches Manifesto for Better Public Services
Mar 29, 2018
The UK Institute for Government yesterday (March 28) launched what is being called ‘the most radical modernisation of public services in Britain since the birth of the Welfare State.’
The document, “Manifesto for Better Public Services,” is a collaboration between leading entrepreneurs and...
Recommendations and New Strategies in Scottish Procurement
Mar 29, 2018
The Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group for construction has been advised by specialist contractors on ways to improve public procurement. Among the proposals are greater use of project bank accounts, placing retentions in trust and the creation of a construction regulator. There are more...
UK West Coast Rail Franchise Bidding Begins
Mar 29, 2018
The Government has invited bids for the new West Coast Partnership franchise, which will run from 2019 until 2031 and could see a single organisation operating all aspects of HS2. The winner will take on the existing franchise operated by Virgin Trains, as well as overseeing the introduction of...
Recap & Recording: Skills of a World-Class Public Procurement Workforce
Mar 28, 2018
As part of our webinar series focused on helping Chief Procurement Officers and Acquisition Executives understand the key skills and gaps of the procurement workforce, Public Spend Forum, in collaboration with NIGP, provided an overview of the Public Procurement Workforce Competency Model. In the...
HUBZone Program: SBA Will Delete “Direct” Ownership Requirement
Mar 27, 2018
HUBZone companies owned by U.S. citizens will no longer be required to demonstrate that the ownership is “direct.”
The SBA’s HUBZone program rules have long required that a HUBZone company owned by U.S. citizens be at least 51% directly owned by those citizens–as opposed to allowing the...
DoD Mentor-Protege Program: Major Changes Finalized
Mar 26, 2018
The DoD has issued a final rule making major changes in the DoD “Pilot” Mentor-Protege Program. The rule took effect on March 23, 2018.
Among the major changes, DoD has both expanded and contracted the universe of potential proteges–and has included a mandatory certification that seems to...
A New Era For Big Data In Procurement: Part 2
Mar 23, 2018
As illustrated by the quote below, the case for data in business is not a new one, nor one that needs to be much discussed. The purpose is, and always was, to collect sufficient data (and not too much, ‘infobesity’ and ‘analysis paralysis’ are well-known pitfalls in that area) to make the...
British Passports Contract Likely To Go To Foreign Supplier
Mar 23, 2018
It would be remiss of us not to mention the British passports story that is all over the news this week. Basically, the contract to make the new post-Brexit passports is likely to be going to a Franco-Dutch firm, with the existing producer losing out on price. The incumbent UK supplier – and...
New Study on Local Authorities Reporting under the Modern Slavery Act
Mar 23, 2018
The Business, Human Rights and the Environment Research Group (BHRE) of Greenwich University has released the findings from its qualitative research into modern slavery statements from UK local authorities. The research studies public sector implementation of the Transparency in Supply Chains...
