Last month, the SBA issued major proposed rule changes to the HUBZone program. This is the first comprehensive revision to the HUBZone rules since the program’s implementation nearly 20 years ago, and the changes are intended to improve the predictability and stability …

Thank you everyone for attending the Wainwright/Eielson Industry day event at both the Fairbanks and Anchorage locations!  It was a wonderful exchange of information between contracting staff and business owners.  The event even made the news station in Fairbanks.  To …

The Veterans Affairs Dept. and Small Business Administration put into effect final rules that modify how veteran-owned small businesses are defined and verified.  Under the VA and SBA final rules, which went into effect on Oct. 1, the VA agreed to …

The House of Representatives recently passed a number of bills last week that will impact women-owned firms doing business with the federal government: Expanding Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses Act (H.R. 6369) Small Business Runway Extension Act (H.R. 6330) Clarity on Small …

The Department of Defense (DoD) is hosting a public meeting on October 10, 2018, to obtain views of experts and interested parties in Government and the private sector regarding revising policies and procedures relating to customary progress payment rates and …

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 …

Small contractors need to think seriously about marketing in fiscal 2019 and beyond, about how to integrate it into the corporate culture and use customer touch points and social activity as opportunities to market the company, to tell their story …

The 673d Contracting Squadron Construction Team would like Alaskan construction companies to know there are multiple upcoming projects and bid opportunities on JBER. Most of these contracts will be less than 60 days and are under $25K. Interested contractors should regularly check FBO.gov and …

The number of contractors excluded from government work decreased for the third year in a row, with experts citing increased federal experience in targeting bad players. In fiscal 2017, federal agencies issued 3,640 suspensions, debarments, and proposals for debarment — …

Davis is currently accepting subcontractor and supplier bids for FTG218D MF4 CP#04 which includes all of the Infrastructure associated with Missile Field 4 (excluding MEB 4) to include; SILO liners, SILO foundations, SIV foundations, utilidors and associated piping, A and …

We’re halfway through the government’s fourth quarter, and experienced contractors know what that means–lots of awards on the horizon. According to a fascinating new analysis from USASpending.gov, the fourth quarter spike in contract awards is quite real, and quite significant: the value …

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in coordination with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), will host a Workshop providing an overview of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) on October 18, 2018. The agenda for the Workshop …

For government contractors, staying ahead of the curve is critical for success. Knowing about a new law, policy, or program can provide you with a competitive advantage. There are three current trends in federal procurement that are significantly affecting the …

The Army, Navy and Air Force are are reported to have agreed to follow reinterpreted guidelines in implementing a law that is believed to have hindered sole-source contracts above $22 million to Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) in the 8(a) Business …

Entities logging in to SAM.gov will now have to create a Login.gov user account. Current SAM.gov usernames and passwords will no longer work. When creating the Login.gov account, it is recommended that users use the email address that had been associated with …

The Alaska Small Business Development Center and UAA’s Center for Economic Development are partnering to host Vitalize Alaska, Alaska’s premier business conference. This engaging, one-day event will be held on June 27, 2018, at Anchorage’s Hotel Captain Cook, and will feature …

Please note the following changes: Effective Immediately: Entities that ONLY apply for federal assistance (grants, loans, etc.) no longer need to have an approved notarized letter on file before their registration is activated. They must still mail the original signed …

According to a press release, SBA announced that the federal government met its small business federal contracting goal for the fifth consecutive year, awarding 23.88 percent in federal contract dollars to small businesses totaling $105.7 billion, an increase of $5 billion.  …

The Defense Innovation Board (DIB) unveiled an initial version of its “Ten Commandments of Software” at a public meeting last month in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “The Department of Defense (DOD) must be able to develop and deploy software as fast or faster than …

An agency may modify a contract without running afoul of the Competition in Contracting Act, so long as the the modification is deemed “in scope.” An “out of scope” modification, on the other hand, is improper–and may be protested at …