Back on August 19, 2026, SBA issued proposed rules–one covering what would change and one covering the underlying methodology. This would, in most cases, monumentally increase the size standards for the various industries that perform federal contracts, along with simplifying how industries are categorized and switching several industries from receipts-based to employee-based size standards. Indeed, we had two separate posts on these changes, one exploring the actual size standard increases and the other exploring the recategorization and switch to employee-based size standards. SBA initially set a deadline of September 21, 2026, for comments on these changes. Now, it is extending that date, as we’ll explore briefly below.
Continue reading…SmallGovCon Week in Review: September 14-18, 2026
Happy Friday! Another week in the books and it sure was a busy one! For small business owners, that means celebrating the wins, learning from the challenges, and giving yourself a little credit for everything you managed to get done. This weekend we hope you can take a breath, step away from the emails for a bit, and enjoy some time off.
This week in federal government contracting news, stories include a CIO-SP4 post-mortem and new RFO parts being published for comments.
Continue reading…Govology Webinar! Communicating with Government Contracting Officials: What Can (and Should) Contractors Really Say and Do? (2026 Update)–September 29, 2026
Clear communication with contracting officers and agency officials can help contractors resolve performance issues, negotiate contract changes, and protect valuable business relationships. But missteps can lead to unauthorized commitments, violations of gratuities and conflict-of-interest rules, contract disputes, or protests.
In this webinar, government contracts attorneys Nicole Pottroff and John Holtz will debunk common myths about contractor communications, including who has authority to modify a contract, how to respond to unauthorized instructions, when one-on-one communications are appropriate, and how government gratuities rules differ from commercial practices. Register here.
Let’s Clarify and Discuss: GAO Explains the Difference Between Clarifications and Discussions
When do an agency’s communications with an offeror amount to a clarification, and when do they cross the line into a discussion? That’s exactly what this post will discuss and, hopefully, clarify for you. Understanding the distinction between clarifications and discussions is important because the type of communication an agency has with an offeror can affect an offeror’s ability to address issues or make changes to their proposal. A recent GAO decision explores the difference between clarifications and discussions and offers insight into when each type of communication may be appropriate.
Continue reading…SmallGovCon Week in Review: September 7-11, 2026
Happy Friday! It’s sunflower season here in Kansas—our state flower—and the sunflowers were at peak bloom over Labor Day weekend. The hot weather didn’t seem to bother them, and it certainly didn’t keep people from coming out to enjoy the beautiful fields this year. It’s a great place to remember how beautiful the world can be. If you have a sunflower field near you, I encourage you to take some time to go see them.
As you head into the weekend, here is our roundup of the latest in federal contracting news.
This week in federal government contracting included stories about the savings from contract cancellations and a continued push for AI use by the federal government.
Continue reading…Breaking: SBA Issues New FAQ & Returns Pending Individual-Owned 8(a) Applications for Social Disadvantage Revisions with 45-Day Deadline
SBA has apparently (at least to some extent) followed through on its promise to “return” pending individual-owned 8(a) applications for further applicant revisions to demonstrate social disadvantage. Indeed, we now know at least some (if not all) individual-owned 8(a) applicants got such notification and direction from SBA today. And along with it, they all apparently got a 45-day deadline! Fortunately, along with this action, SBA also provided Volume II FAQs about its social disadvantage updates–which appear to answer at least some of our remaining questions.
Continue reading…8(a) Program Impacts of SBA’s Final Rule on Social Disadvantage
Our readers already know that SBA finally updated its 8(a) Program social disadvantage regulation to reflect SBA’s current policies and application review standards and procedures. And that new rule takes effect today! We previously blogged on this regulatory update here. We also blogged on the corresponding guidance issued by SBA here. In this article, we will take a more in-depth look at the new final rule, its potential implications, and some of the remaining questions it leaves unanswered.
Continue reading…