U.S. government spent $1.4T on COVID relief payments

      The U.S. government spent $1.36 trillion on coronavirus relief payments as of June 30, mostly in loans and economic relief, according to the GAO. The total included:

• $522 billion for business loans (SBA); --$297 billion for unemployment insurance payments (DOL);
• $274 billion for direct payments to individuals;
• $150 billion for payments to states, cities, counties, tribes, etc. (Treas.)
• $96 billion for payments to hospitals for COVID care and lost revenues (HHS); and
• $19 billion in payments to loan facilities (Treas.)

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

Moratorium on FAS minimum sales extended

      The GSA has extended several temporary conditions due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic:

• Temporary Moratorium on the Enforcement of FAS Minimum Sales Requirements is extended to March 31, 2021 (https://bit.ly/2ZCk15d);
• Purchase Exceptions for AbilityOne Products in Response to COVID-19, is extended to Dec. 31, 2020 (https://bit.ly/33yGuRY); and the
• Exception to Trade Agreements and Buy American for FSCs Due to COVID-19 is extended to Dec. 31, 2020 (https://bit.ly/2ZH5oOi).

Minimum wage for contractors rising Jan. 1

      The Executive Order minimum wage rate for workers on covered government contracts is rising to $10.95 per hour on Jan. 1, 2021. Tipped employees’ wages will be $7.65 per hour.

Read more at:
Federal Register notice: https://bit.ly/32D0pQJ

Inside this edition:

Competed 8(a) set-asides fell by more than half in two years

On Oct. 1, CR or shutdown?

Trump orders cancellation of federal anti-racism trainings

Sect. 3610 fate uncertain

'Double dip' contractors

Few minorities at top vendors

Column: Are NAICS Codes a Nemesis?

Washington Insider:

Coronavirus Update