SBA pushing 15% goal for Small Disadvantaged

      SBA officials are working to make President Joe Biden’s previously-announced 15% goal for the government’s prime contracts with Small Disadvantaged Businesses into a reality.

      Bibi Hidalgo, the associate administrator of SBA’s Office of Government Contracting and Business Development, said in a recent interview she and her staff are coordinating with the House and Senate small business committees to introduce legislation to officially raise the SDB goal to 15%, up from 5% currently.

      The government consistently has achieved about 10% in SDB procurements in recent fiscal years. In 2020, SDB prime acquisitions were 10.5%; in 2019, they were 10.3%; in 2018, 9.7%.

      Hidalgo made the remarks to a reporter at Federal News Network.

Read more:
Federal News Network story: https://bit.ly/3DTq8Vq

New proposed rules on Buy American

      The FAR Councils and the DOD have proposed new rules in recent weeks to raise the percentage of American-made materials, products and goods bought by the government.

      The FAR Council proposal was issued on July 30. It has a Sept. 28 deadline for comments.

      Its goal is to amend FAR part 25 to increase the domestic content threshold for non-steel and iron products to 60%, up from 55%, then to 65% in two years, and to 75% five years after that.

      The DOD proposal, issued on Aug. 30, is intended to align DOD regulations with the FAR. It has an Oct. 29 deadline for comments.

Read more at:
FAR Council proposal: https://bit.ly/38Mu0Jt
DoD proposal: (https://bit.ly/2VniG3z)
PilieroMazza PLLC’s analysis: https://bit.ly/3ySbdHs

ASTRO contract awards announced

      The GSA recently announced 377 awards--including 48 for small businesses-- for its ASTRO multiple-award contract for manned and unmanned platforms and services, according to an analysis by the Coalition for Government Procurement.

      Calling ASTRO a “game-changer,” the coalition said ASTRO’s evaluation methodology is the first to use Section 876 authorities to make awards based on technology ratings and experience, without consideration of price or cost.

      Price and cost evaluations are performed at the task order level.

     About 600 offers reportedly were received, and no protests had been filed by the deadline.

Read more at:
Coalition for Government Procurement analysis: https://bit.ly/3CTmg6q
GSA’s list of ASTRO awardees: https://bit.ly/3BRNhpE

Inside this edition:

SBA suspends business location rule for 8(a) construction companies

GOP holds up SBA post

House, Senate panels OK 2022 NDAA bills

15%-20% of the year’s contract dollars awarded in September

Per diems for 2022 are set

SBA names key staffers

Column: Column: Yes, You Have a Role in Disaster and Emergency Response!

Washington Insider:

Coronavirus Update