Follow @Setasidealert on Twitter for the latest news & tips Profits down, risks rising Survey shows tough times for federal contractors OMB expands call for bulk buys Strategic sourcing may become mandatory; small firms at risk? Contractors asked to work “out of scope” New federal rules allowing setasides on multiple award contracts are starting to demonstrate an impact. Senate boost for women-owned firms The chairman of the House Small Business Committee is worried that the new “demand-based model” being applied by the General Services Administration to schedules contracts could hurt small businesses. Getting the most out of LinkedIn Tips for boosting your profile & network, from Mark Amtower Fiscal Cliff - What it means to you The Government Accountability Office is asking Congress for permission to charge a fee for filing a bid protest, according to an article by Bloomberg Business Week. Washington Insider: President Barack Obama and House Republican leader John Boehner each put a proposal on the table to avert the so-called fiscal cliff.... The Small Business Administration is proposing more changes to size standards... Federal agencies were to begin providing written justifications for all 8(a) sole-source contracts over $20 million.... The SBA’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program provided more than $3 billion in growth capital to more than 1,000 small businesses in fiscal 2012.... A recent audit by the Defense Department’s Inspector General reviewed 20 direct interagency acquisitions, valued at $13.7 million, to determine whether DoD and Veterans Affairs improved their interagency procurements.... Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-MO, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security subcommittee on contracting oversight, thinks the government is missing out on discounts and rebates in their cafeteria contracts.... U.S. Border Patrol agents will stop being interpreters for local police agencies....