SBA OIG questions $714K in SCORE spending

      The SBA’s inspector general is questioning $713,986 in expenses from the SCORE national volunteer group that receives SBA funding to provide free mentoring to small business owners.

      The IG says SCORE commingled federal and private funds and spent money on unallowable items such as alcoholic drinks. SCORE gets about $11 million a year from SBA. The IG made 11 recommendations.

      Senate Small Business panel chair Marco Rubio, R-FL, called the report “shocking and troubling” and hosted a hearing about it on May 1.

Read more at:
SBA OIG report: https://bit.ly/2Lqf3Ek

GAO recommends more oversight for WOSBs

      The GAO is recommending closer oversight of WOSBs until the SBA sets up its long-awaited WOSB certification program. Since the SBA has not implemented previous GAO recommendations regarding the WOSB program, the GAO now wants additional scrutiny of WOSBs. SBA agreed. Venable LLP is advising that “stricter review protocols will likely soon be enforced.”

Read more at:
GAO report: https://bit.ly/2KJ9mAZ

Performance pay

      DOD published a proposed rule to remove the restrictions limiting performance-based payments to amounts "not greater than costs incurred up to the time of payment." Contractors must still report costs when requesting such payments.

      Comments are due by July 1.

Read more at:
DoD proposed rule: https://bit.ly/2GFh4Xi

SC fraud gets prison

      Thomas Brock, 62, of Camden, SC was sentenced to four years in prison for a scheme involving people posing as black, female and disabled veteran small business owners to win $160 million in military construction set-asides.

Read more at:
US Attorney's Office release: https://bit.ly/2YcjVy3
The State newspaper story: https://bit.ly/2YaPEzW

Compliance checks for construction firms

      DOL is asking OMB for permission to conduct compliance checks for construction contractors to make sure they are complying with anti-discrimination programs including affirmative action and protections for disabled people and veterans. The compliance checks are narrower in scope and less burdensome than the current compliance reviews, DOL said in its letter to OMB.

Read more at:
DoL OFCCP policy statement: https://bit.ly/2vFwCFB

Inside this Edition:

HUBZone fraud, errors continue while participation expands

Bill to clarify Runway Extension Act

Size standard methods shift

E-Commerce portal worries

Poorest miss HUBZone benefits

OASIS SB RFPs are out

Column: South Dakota v Wayfair - Supreme Court Complicates Your State Tax Situation

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