As a small business, the US Federal Government gives you an advantage over larger contractors through various ways including set-asides. However, you need to prove you are a small business.  The SBA defines a small business through size standards either by dollars or number of employees as found in the Code of Federal Regulations (13 CFR § 121.201).   

Whether you are a small, medium or even a large contractor seeking to team with small businesses, this course will discuss the different regulations you must follow, the different small business programs set up by the SBA, the advantages and disadvantages of the JV & Mentor Protégé programs, plus other topics of interest. 

Our instructors have years of experience working with organizations that have started out small and grown.  They also have experience with various programs including teaming agreements, joint ventures, and assisting with navigating through the contract process.

Who Should Attend:
Small and Medium organizations should attend this program.  Business Operations, Compliance, Legal professionals, finance and accounting professionals would all benefit.  If you are an owner, principal, or executive seeking answers on how to be more effective in acquiring and managing federal contracts, this is for you.  If you sell any product or service to the government through any channel or contract vehicle this program is for you.

Learning Objectives:

• Ability to define the various SBA classifications
• Determine the best course for your organization
• How to approach and engage other entities through a JV or Mentor Protégé program
• Gain better knowledge on contracting opportunities for your organization

AGENDA:
Overview of the current federal market/climate

• Market size and trends
• Current views on small business participation
• What might change/is changing under the Biden Administration?
• Compliance basics that every contractor or sub needs to know about
  • CMMC
  • Prohibitions on using certain covered IT and telecom. equipment
  • Pricing
  • Trade Agreements, Buy American, and Berry Amendment
  • False Claims Act
  • Service Contract Act/Davis-Bacon Act

 
Essential small business programs everyone wants to know about

• Small business set-asides
• 8(a)
• Minority/Disadvantaged businesses
• HUBZone
• SDVOSB/VOSB
• Women-Owned businesses/EDWOSB
• Indian tribes/NHOs/Alaska Native programs

 
How do I know if my business is small?

• NAICS codes and size standards
• Calculating size under revenue based NAICS codes
• Calculating size under employee based NAICS codes
• Basics of SBA affiliation rules

 
What if I am no longer small?

• Trouble companies get into when irrationally clinging to their size status and why it is NOT worth it!

 
JV & Mentor Protégé Programs

• What do new rules mean for small businesses?
• JVs vs. prime/subcontractor teams
• What mentors are looking for from proteges
• How to participate in the All-Small Mentor Protégé program
• Other agency mentor-protégé programs (e.g., DoD)

 
Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity vs. Open Market Contracting

• A quick look at the GSA Schedules Program, STARS III, Polaris, and NIH/NITAAC Contracts
• Open Market Sales Up to the Simplified Acquisition Threshold
• Rule of Two
• Should you prime, sub, JV, or something else?

 
Other Business Methods to Consider

• SBIR/STTR program
• Other Transaction Authority/Commercial Solutions Opening

 
Small Business Subcontracting Basics

• Earn while you learn
• Prime contractor sub-k goals and you
• Fewer compliance requirements do not equal no compliance requirements
• Commercial item contract flow-downs
• Flow-downs in non-commercial contracts
• Unique subcontracting terms in government contracts (e.g., pass-through dispute resolution)

 
Traits of Successful Small Business Contractors

• Learning from those who’ve gone before
• Market the company first, then the certification
• Understand the rules & comply with them
• Recognize that contracting, like any business, often is about relationships
• Finding the right partners