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5 Things You Should Know: All-Small Mentor-Protege Program

Sep 20, 2017
In late 2016, the SBA rolled out a fantastic tool to help small business grow in the marketplace. Here are five things you should know about the SBA All Small Mentor-Protégé Program: It’s a business development program. I’m often asked by small business owners, What is the new...

SBA OHA Confirms Strict SDVOSB “Unconditional Ownership” Requirements

Sep 19, 2017
Provisions in a company’s Shareholders Agreement, requiring the service-disabled veteran to sell his shares back to the company in the event of the veteran’s death or incapacity, were contrary to the SBA’s SDVOSB regulations. According to a recent SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals decision,...

The “Procurement Guys” of the Future

Sep 18, 2017
The “procurement guys” of the future probably won’t recognize the term. And they certainly won’t have the word “procurement” in their job titles. They won’t work in a stand-alone department at some distance from customers, taxpayers or decision-makers. They won’t have their own...

SmallGovCon Week In Review: September 11-15, 2017

Sep 15, 2017
As we get closer to the end of the fiscal year, things can get a little crazy in the world of government contracts.  This week is no exception, with plenty of news and commentary in our SmallGovCon Week In Review. In this mid-September edition, court documents reveal a bribery scheme centered on...

Bankruptcy Pending, But Contractor Still Wins Award

Sep 15, 2017
Contracting officers have wide discretion to determine that a business can perform the work in question—even if the business is about to enter bankruptcy. In a recent GAO protest, an unsuccessful offeror challenged just such a determination, saying that there is no way the awarded business could...

Digital Marketplace Model for Other Countries to Receive Funding Go Ahead

Sep 14, 2017
G-Cloud, now the Digital Marketplace, the hub for buying IT has been one of the UK government’s great success stories. It is now looking at overseas expansion and replicating the model to make the procurement of IT services and skills more efficient and cost-effective for public sector...

DHS’ Silicon Valley Innovation Program Speeds Proposal Process

Sep 14, 2017
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) is proving to be very popular among startups. Dr. Douglas Maughan, director of the Cyber Security Division within the Science and Technology Directorate at DHS, said SVIP had taken a three-four month proposal process...

Software for Public Sector Financed by Public Money Should Be Open Source

Sep 14, 2017
European Digital Rights (EDRi) is an association of civil and human rights organisations from across Europe which defends rights and freedoms in the digital environment. It is currently championing for public sector software that fosters the sharing of good ideas and solutions for everyone....

DHS Bans Kaspersky Software From Federal Data Systems

Sep 14, 2017
Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Elaine Duke issued a directive announcing all federal agencies must get rid of the Russian-based cybersecurity software within 90 days. “This action is based on the information security risks presented by the use of Kaspersky products on...

NSA Awards Classified $2.4 Billion Tech Contract With More to Come

Sep 14, 2017
CSRA won the National Security Agency’s (NSA) Groundbreaker recompete to modernize portions of the intelligence community’s IT infrastructure. The agency awarded the tech firm the first of three portions of its classified contract and is expected to make the final two recompete awards this...