Fed’l contractor minimum wage rises in 2019

      Another year, another minimum wage increase. On Jan. 1, the minimum wage for employees on covered federal contracts rises to $10.60 per hour, up from $10.35 per hour this year, the Labor Dept. announced.

      Covered tipped employees performing work on covered contracts must be paid at least $7.40 per hour, up from $7.25 per hour.

Read more at: Fed Register notice: https://bit.ly/2PMVIKP

GAO: DOD contract competition is decreasing

      Eleven years ago, the Acquisition Advisory Panel reported on major challenges in federal procurement.

      Giving an update on those findings, the GAO said there has been progress in some areas but challenges remain.

      While the panel recommended more competition in contracting, the governmentwide rate of competition has remained at about 66% from 2013 to 2017.

      About 80% of federal contracts at civilian agencies are awarded with competition--and the competition rate increased by 1.6% from 2013 to 2017.

      At DOD, the competition rate was about 56% in 2013 and fell by 4% between 2013 and 2017.

      The panel also advised that agency OSDBUs should report to the secretary of the agency to improve small business procurement, but that is still not the case at a number of agencies, the GAO said.

Read more at:
GAO Report 18-627: https://bit.ly/2OzNF3y
DoE Topics: https://bit.ly/2MKaC7i

NLRB proposes to replace joint employer rule

      The National Labor Relations Board has proposed to overturn and replace the Obama-era Joint Employer Standard. The controversial 2015 rule expanded the concept of joint employer to include indirect control over workers, possibly in a franchise.

Read more at: NLRB news release: https://bit.ly/2NoBJoP

Update on year-end legislation for small biz federal contractors

Survey: Gov’t contractors see ‘slightly worse’ revenues ahead

Vendors get audit notices

DISA awards

Column: The 2019 NDAA’s Impact on Small Business Procurement

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