News nuggets from SBA’s budget justification

      The SBA’s FY2019 Congressional Budget Justification and FY2017 Annual Performance Report had some interesting news bits:

• On page 62, SBA officials state they “will cease reviewing joint-venture agreements for 8(a) contracts and will focus on preparing a model joint-venture agreement.” When asked about this, an SBA spokesperson told Set-Aside Alert that “we continue to review JV agreements for 8(a) contracts, and JV agreements are still subject to protest in connection with other set aside procurements. Any change in policy will be done through rulemaking subject to public comment.”
• On page 65, regarding SBA’s budget for surety bond guarantees, there is a decrease in the amount targeted for fiscal 2018. SBA officials told us they “are realigning the targets to be more realistic.” While the target dropped slightly, the actual amount to be spent is likely to increase, SBA said.
• On page 67, there appear to be large decreases in funding for SBIR and STTR. The SBA spokesperson explained that there was a drop in fiscal 2018 due to interagency funds no longer being included, and another drop is projected for fiscal 2019 due to SBA not requesting funds for the Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST) Program or the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC).

      Also, see more analysis of the SBA FY2019 budget in the March 2, 2018 issue of Set-Aside Alert.

More information: SBA FY2019 Budget Justification: http://goo.gl/8L49py

FEMA contract bill

      More than a dozen House lawmakers are co-sponsoring HR 4995.

      It would require that prior to awarding a disaster recovery contract, FEMA must review the potential contractor’s past performance to determine if the contractor has “adequate” resources to perform the contract. It was motivated by the recent failed FEMA contract to a small business for 30 million meals to Puerto Rico; 50,000 were delivered.

More information: H.R.4995 text: http://goo.gl/1SYA9K

Small firms, big contracts

VA, DOI, DOE and 8(a) less responsive

Proposed bill for “beneficial owners”

Exclusive Research

NASA makes SBIR awards

FOIA.gov gets a redesign

Focus on OTA

Column: Impact of Recent OHA decision on Size and Status Recertifications

Washington Insider:

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