The recently-enacted National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2015 (NDAA-15) includes two important changes for Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs).  First, the Act authorizes certain sole source awards to WOSBs, ending a long effort to bring the WOSB program …

A recent survey commissioned by the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation reveals businesses have less confidence in the area’s economy than in previous years.  In general, business confidence is down to levels reported in 2010, with fewer than 37% of businesses …

The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation recently released its 2015 economic forecast for the Anchorage area, revealing expectations for limited growth and a flattened economy.  The projections are based on anticipated job losses in both the public and private sectors.  The …

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is proposing several changes to the rules governing the joint venturing process for set-aside contracts.  One of the proposed changes creates a “universal” mentor-protégé program that would be available to all small businesses, improving the …

SBA Guest Blogger Barbara Weltman has an excellent article for those concerned they may have made errors in their quarterly tax submissions.  The article asserts there is no need to panic, simply verify and fix the errors as soon as discovered in …

Construction spending in Alaska will be an estimated $8.5 billion in 2015, down about 3 percent from spending in 2014. That’s according to the 2015 construction-spending forecast by Scott Goldsmith and Pamela Cravez of ISER. That forecast is done annually …

As a step toward category management, the U.S. government is focusing on 10 “super categories” that cost agencies $277 billion in fiscal 2013, about two-thirds of total federal spending on goods and services, Anne Rung, administrator, Office of Federal Procurement …

With little fanfare, Congress just passed legislation eliminating the ability of WOSBs to self-certify for purposes of WOSB set-aside contracts. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act rewrites the portion of the Small Business Act governing WOSB set-asides, deleting what I …

The Small Business Administration proposed several changes to its regulations on Dec. 29 to implement provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2013.  The changes apply to limitations on subcontacting and joint ventures, among other programs. The subcontracting …

The Contracting Education Academy’s popular GSA Schedule Proposal Preparation Workshop will be conducted in the Seattle, Washington area on Feb. 17 and 18, 2015.  Georgia Tech’s hands-on workshop helps businesses prepare – in as little as two days – a …

After nearly a year of planning, GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service is ready to begin consolidating its Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) process.  MAS awards are indefinite quantity, indefinite delivery contracts linked to Federal Supply Schedules (more commonly known as General Schedules). …

A newly released report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) identifies the most critical risks facing the SBA, including several items related to government procurement. The report includes an overview of …

By Jeff Cuskey, Monterey Bay Procurement Technical Assistance Center Read your solicitation carefully and don’t assume that your SAM registration is enough Many Small Businesses complete their required Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Representations …

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is looking to grow its vendor lists by using more small businesses.  Visit the agency’s website to see a list of items sought by the agency, sorted by the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code, Federal Supply Class, and National Item Identification Number …

The State of Alaska is implementing a new financial management and payment system that will have an impact on all vendors and contractors doing business with the state.  On July 1, 2015 the State of Alaska will implement IRIS – …

In honor and celebration of Veterans Day, join SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet as she engages women veteran entrepreneurs during a live Google Hangout-On-Air on November 11 at 1pm ET. The Hangout can be viewed on SBA’s Google+ page and YouTube channel. You can RSVP …

Supporting veteran entrepreneurs isn’t just the right thing to do for our vets – it’s the right thing to do for our nation.   The military trains soldiers with the skills, discipline and leadership necessary to kick start and operate a …

Defense Department contract spending fell sharply by 16% as a result of sequestration in 2013, according to an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies obtained by Federal News Radio.  While sequestration reduced the DOD budget by $56 …

Government contractors who have attempted to recently register or re-register in the SAM database have seen a new question asking about an “immediate owner” and a “higher-level owner.”  These new SAM questions have caused some confusion about what information, if …