Defense Dept. Requires Electronic Invoices, Payments
Effective March 1, the Defense Department began using electronic payment for all contracts except those that are specifically exempted.

SBA Lifts Loan Cap
The Small Business Administration has lifted its $500,000 cap on guaranteed loans under the 7(a) program, allowing loans up to $2 million as authorized by law.

Critics Rap SBA Budget Proposal
Critics charge the Bush administration is shortchanging technical assistance and training programs in its proposed SBA budget for 2004.

Senators Propose Abolishing Prison Labor Preference
Two senators have introduced legislation to end Federal Prison Industries’ sole-source preference in federal contracting.

Defense Dept. to Streamline Acquisition Regs
The Defense Department plans to rewrite, streamline and shorten the massive Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement.

States, Locals Face Barriers to Using GSA Schedule
State and local governments are likely to be slow to take advantage of their new right to purchase through GSA’s information technology schedule, Schedule 70, according to an analysis by the research firm Input of Chantilly, VA.

New Homeland Security Interest Group Forms
A new organization, the Homeland Security Leadership Alliance, is hoping to bring federal, state and local government officials together with contractors who want to do business with them.