Set-asides are a double-edged sword

Small government contractors are frequently afforded the opportunity to bid on set-aside contracts. This allows for a faster growth curve and in some cases may be the only way to enter a market dominated by larger, entrenched competitors.

SBA launches contracting course

The Small Business Administration has added an online tutorial on winning federal contracts to its educational offerings for small businesses.

Obama pledges small business reform

Sen. Barack Obama wants to ensure that federal contracting dollars intended for small businesses go to those businesses, according to a statement the candidate posted on his Web site.

Multiple factors influence the timing of M&A deals

The traditional adage that timing is everything is equally applicable to an owner's decision to sell or exit from his or her business.

Army issues two RFIs, more to come

The Army's Program Executive Officer, Enterprise Information Systems is ramping up to award as many as five contracts this year and has already issued two requests for information.

Sweet smell of success

Small businesses win through skilled planning, leadership and luck.

Helping small businesses reach for the stars

A common business strategy in the federal market is tostart as a small business, taking advantage of the socioeconomicpolicy that requires large businesses to subcontractto small, disadvantaged businesses andagencies to award 23 percent of their prime contracts to them.

Court ruling puts ethics on the front burner

A recent court decision highlights the risks that a governmentcontractor faces when the government believes that thecompany has made false statements in proposals, or otherdocuments, that it has submitted to the government.

Army taps MTS for support services

MTS Technologies Inc. will help the Army with engineering, logistics, technical and program support under a $175 million contract.

SBA proposal has some lawmakers in an uproar

The proposed rule would limit set-asides for women-owned small businesses to four industries.

Power up your GSA schedule for 2008

Let's face it: GSA got rocked in 2007. ... Yet ... I predict this year will be different.

Know your strengths

Vangent supplies systems integration and other services to defense and civilian agencies with a focus on health care, and now the company is looking for partners with the right skills and location.

Welcome to the bipolar M&A market

The government services mergers and acquisition market has been consistently active since 2001. But today it's more of a bipolar M&A market driven by the small-business recertification requirements that took effect July 1.

Business ethics the latest addition to FAR

A new subpart to the Federal Acquisition Regulation took effect that requires contractors to establish a code of business ethics and conduct and to take steps to promote ethics and early discovery of improper conduct.

Advocacy group sues SBA

A small-business advocacy group has sued the Small Business Administration, claiming the agency is withholding information on contracting abuses.

BCPI to assist Army security cooperation program

BCP International Ltd. won a $6.6 million contract for technical and analytical support for the Army Security Cooperation Program.

SiloSmashers lands USCIS work

SiloSmashers Inc. will help U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services with a major transformation of its business processes under a new award.

Citizant to tackle EA for FTC

Citizant Inc. will provide enterprise architecture consulting and management services to the Federal Trade Commission under a new contract.

Forecast 2008: Small business under the microscope

Small and woman-owned businesses will face more scrutiny this year and perhaps fewer awards, largely due to the new recertification rule introduced by the SBA and a proposed SBA rule change to the women's contracting program.

DOD issues new contractor rulings

DOD has issued several new contracting rules, including one that restricts lead systems integrators with a financial interest in an acquisition from working on it.