Annual size recertification may become part of SBA regs

Large federal businesses preying on weaknesses in the Small Business Administration's contracting programs to win work intended for small companies could face more robust requirements intended to aid small businesses.

Dems charge feds again fall short on small-biz contracting

For the sixth year in a row, the federal government failed to meet its goal of awarding 23 percent of all federal prime contracts to small businesses, according to House Democrats.

Infotech and the Law: It's not easy staying small

A familiar regulation of the Small Business Administration allows a contractor that qualified as a small business at the time it won a contract to be considered small for the life of the contract. More than three years after SBA proposed to amend it, that regulation remains in force.

Smoke and mirrors at SBA

Assertions by the Small Business Administration's former adminstrator that the government surpassed its congressionally mandated goal of awarding 23 percent of federal prime contracts to small companies have come under sharp attack from congressional leaders, the SBA's inspector general and Government Accountability Office.

Merlin's new name reflects global quest

With an eye on establishing a global footprint, Merlin Technical Solutions Inc. has changed its name to Merlin International.

Preston named SBA administrator

Steven Preston, a financial management expert, was sworn in Monday as the new administrator of the Small Business Administration.

Small business | In brief

The Homeland Security Department anticipates announcing in July the winners of FirstSource, a $3 billion small-business IT contract to help the department integrate and standardize its IT systems and tools.

'We want them to approach us'

If RS Information Systems Inc.'s federal contracts were a remake of the movie "A Star Is Born," 1 Source Consulting Inc. would play the title role: the character who starts out in a supporting part but quickly is tapped to headline the show.

MicroTech wins $365M Veterans Affairs' contract

As the Veteran's Affairs Department undergoes a major process and systems transformation, the agency will buy up to $365 million worth of Microsoft software and services from MicroTech LLC.

SBA proposes women-owned small-biz assistance

The Small Business Administration is proposing to implement a new regulation aimed at providing more contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses.

Guident wins Energy lab integration work

Guident Technologies Inc. won a five-year, $4.9 million task order from the Energy Department's Los Alamos Laboratory to deliver service support for Oracle solutions.

Past is prologue for GD partners

Lynwood Owens is deep in discussions with a woman-owned 8(a) business that for the past seven years has worked with the U.S. Agency for International Development. The contract is coming up for recompete at year's end, and Owens, a program manager at General Dynamics Network Systems, sees a change in how the smaller company handles the contract: It would become the prime contractor to USAID, and the General Dynamics unit would be its subcontractor.

Small business: In brief

The rhetoric between congressional leaders and the Small Business Administration continues, with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) firing the latest shot.

Sigma Space Partners docks with NASA for support work

Sigma Space Partners will provide services and support to NASA under a five-year contract worth up to $14.4 million.

Kerry blasts closure of Veteran's Contracting Office

The closure of the Veteran's Contracting Office at the Small Business Administration and the planned cancellation of the Veterans Advisory Committee in September have drawn the ire of Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).

Small business: In brief

Logistics Applications Inc. finally won a facilities management services contract with the Energy Department, after the company's initial 2005 win of the deal was protested by the National Treasury Employees Union.

Women in Technology honors IT leaders

Mentoring was the dominate theme Thursday night as industry group Women in Technology recognized five leaders in the IT community.

Small companies build market muscle

The Top 100 isn't exclusively the land of giants. Many small and midsized businesses elbow their way onto the list each year.

House Democrats introduce SBA reform bill

The Democrats on the House Small Business Committee proposed reauthorization legislation today that would overhaul the Small Business Administration. The bill would increase the federal government's small-business prime contracting goal from 23 percent to 30 percent.

Logistics Applications prevails in DOE bid protest

The second time around might be the charm for Logistics Applications Inc., which has had to wait more than a year to take over its largest contract win ever.