SBA has delayed a rule that would limit financing of “goodwill” as part of a business acquisition. At least until Aug. 31, SBA’s Standard 7a Loan Guaranty Processing Center will consider on a case-by-case basis any loan application for an acquisition that values goodwill at more than $250,000.

While some lenders told SBA they do not finance goodwill, others stated that SBA financing of goodwill is the only financing available in the present credit market. SBA said it will conduct further research on the issue before Aug. 31.

The Defense Department is seeking comment on whether changes should be made in the Defense Base Act insurance program.

The Defense Base Act requires all contractors performing work outside the United States to have DBA coverage that provides workers’ compensation benefits for employees. Currently, except for contracts being performed in Iraq and Afghanistan, contractors are required to obtain that insurance from the private insurance carriers. DOD is seeking information on a wide range of alternatives, from no change to the current program to a DOD-managedinsurance program.

The announcement is Defense-Base_Act_Insurance_DOD_Acquisition_Strategy, published in the Feb. 27 FedBizOpps.

The Social Security Administration will be the first federal agency to switch to an Internet-based telephone system.

Federal Times reports the agency’s 1,600 phone systems will be folded into a single one over the next three years. The voice-over-Internet protocol, or VOIP, network will allow more efficient switching of calls and simplify repairs, because they can be done remotely, without waiting for a technician to visit.

After testing VOIP for three years, Social Security awarded a 10-year, $300 million contract to Nortel.