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Posts Tagged ‘SBA’

CEO to CEO Roundtable with Andrea Stone, CEO, DPI, Inc. SBA Small Business Person of the Year
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CEO to CEO Roundtable with Andrea Stone, CEO, DPI, Inc. SBA Small Business Person of the Year

Join us for this special CEO to CEO Roundtable with our honored guest

Andrea Stone, CEO, DPI, Inc.

Andrea Stone
CEO of DynamicPro, Inc.

June 14, 2018 | Falls Church, VA
7:30 am – 9:00 am

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Recently named Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration, and an incredibly active leader at the Government Technology & Services Coalition that won GTSC’s Small Business of the Year for 2016, Andrea Stone founded DPI in 2006 as a management consulting and technology firm to provide collaborative consulting services in both the public and private sector. She is an expert in performance management, team decision support, and collaborative change management. She has consulted extensively and led projects related to large-scale technology implementation, strategic planning, change management, knowledge management, and technology acquisition. Before founding DPI, Andrea supported multiple engagements in the DHS and Transportation spaces at Booz Allen and Hamilton. She is a founding member of the Government Technology and Services Coalition and has served as president of the Washington DC chapter of Women in Transportation. She is a member of Women in Homeland Security (WHS), the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Organization (AFCEA), and the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). She received a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

Benda, McNamara & Wilkinson join GTSC as Strategic Advisors
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Benda, McNamara & Wilkinson join GTSC as Strategic Advisors

Washington, D.C. – October 31, 2013 – The Government Technology & Services Coalition (GTSC) announced today the addition of Paul Benda, former director of the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and partner and chief technology officer at GSIS; Jason McNamara, former chief of staff, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and vice president of Obsidian Analysis, Inc.; and Molly Wilkinson, former general counsel to the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in the United States Senate and senior vice president at Regions Financial Corporation, to its prestigious panel of Strategic Advisors.

“GTSC is honored to attract the support and intellectual capital of such distinguished and accomplished leaders in our community. Their advice, counsel and understanding of our federal partners’ missions contributes to a better working relationship between the public and private sector by increasing our mutual understanding,” said Kristina Tanasichuk, CEO of GTSC.

“After years at HSARPA, I am excited to join GTSC to help small, innovative firms understand the federal process, the keys to a successful strategy and why many firms with great ideas fail,” said Benda. As director of HSARPA, Benda managed a budget of nearly $450 million within the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of DHS. As chief of staff for S&T, Benda oversaw staffing, organizational plans, budget execution, and strategic plan development and implementation. Previously at the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, Benda oversaw the design, implementation, testing and commissioning of all security systems on the Pentagon Reservation and started his federal civilian career as a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

“At FEMA we worked with numerous small businesses on response and recovery efforts and to improve communications, alert systems and other vital FEMA missions; I look forward to continuing to improve their success and increase their understanding of how the public and private sector can work together to further advance our nation’s preparedness, response and recovery,” said McNamara.

McNamara directly impacted FEMA’s transition toward emphasizing survivor outcomes and incorporation of the Whole Community in delivering response and recovery solutions while serving as administrator Craig Fugate’s chief of staff. His successes include developing the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act and the five-year reauthorization of the national flood insurance program. McNamara now directs the disaster recovery program area as well as services for state and local clients for Obsidian.

“I am excited and energized to re-engage with the small business community-particularly on behalf of the homeland and national security mission. I learned from years on the Hill and in the SBA that small companies really do provide a fresh take on age-old problems and that their insights can lead to tremendous cost savings and efficiencies,” said Wilkinson.

During her time on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in the United States Senate, Wilkinson played a critical role in getting the Federal Acquisition Institute Improvement Act through the committee. Before working on Capitol Hill, she spent time as chief of staff at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), chief acquisition officer at the U.S. General Services Administration and associate deputy secretary for management at the U.S. Department of Labor. Her broad range of experience includes homeland security legislation, acquisition management and government relations. In 2009, she was awarded as a Federal 100 winner for improving SBA’s efficiency, including the Business Development Management Information System that allows small businesses to file online applications for 8(a) status.

A full list of GTSC’s board of strategic advisors, members and mentors is available at www.GTSCoalition.com.

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GTSC is a nonprofit, non-partisan 501(c)(6) association of companies that create, develop and implement solutions for the federal homeland and national security sector. Our mission is two-fold: first, to provide exceptional advocacy, capacity building, partnership opportunities and marketing in the Federal security space for small and mid-sized companies. Second, to support and assist our government partners achieve their critical missions with the highest integrity; best and most innovative technologies; and results-based, quality products and services to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from any terrorist attack or natural disaster. For more information on these mentors and the Government Technology & Services Coalition, please visit www.GTSCoalition.com.

For more information, please contact Kristina Tanasichuk, CEO, by phone or email: 703-201-7198 or [email protected].

Download this and other press releases here.

Deciding to Pursue 8(a) Certification
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Deciding to Pursue 8(a) Certification

As part of the strategic planning process at PReSafe Technologies, we regularly consider market opportunities and industry sectors that present sound, viable avenues for sustained revenue and growth that are aligned with our aim of protecting global digital assets. With the Federal government’s mission to protect the people, infrastructure and economy of our nation; its increasing emphasis on cyber security; and its position as one of the largest purchasers of goods and services in our economy, our decision to enter the Federal marketplace was clear.

PreSafe Tech LogoEntering a new market is a formidable and demanding endeavor, particularly for an emerging business in a recovering economy. It includes building new relationships and alliances and fundamentally understanding how business is conducted in order to be competitive and win business.  As an emerging business, it is crucial to remain efficient and effective during each step.  Our due diligence led us to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) program as an efficient and effective approach for entering the Federal marketplace.

PReSafe Technologies became aware of the SBA 8(a) program through online research, dialogue with colleagues and participation at meetings hosted by the Government Technology & Services Coalition (GTSC). The SBA 8(a) program is well suited for emerging businesses, particularly socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs that aspire to gain a foothold in government contracting.

The SBA 8(a) application process is much more comprehensive (and lengthy) than most state programs with a similar focus on emerging, disadvantaged businesses. PReSafe Technologies found it was well worth the effort because of the significantly greater market opportunity, structured business development (annual reviews, business planning, systematic, evaluations) and executive leadership development opportunities.  Moreover, we believe that demonstrating success in the Federal marketplace may readily lead to increased opportunities in other private sector marketplaces.

PReSafe Technologies recently initiated the SBA 8(a) application process, and we expect that it will take some time before the anticipated successful outcome.  Our aim is to protect global digital assets and support the Federal government’s mission of securing the U.S. homeland. We seek to collaborate and remain optimistic about the opportunity to bring additional innovation, agility and high-quality solutions to the Federal marketplace through the SBA 8(a) certification process.

Learn more about the SBA 8(a) application process here.

Robert V. Jones President & CEO PReSafe Technologies LLC

Robert V. Jones
President & CEO
PReSafe Technologies LLC

Robert V. Jones is the President & CEO of PReSafe Technologies LLC. PReSafe Technologies LLC is a professional consulting, advisory and solution delivery company dedicated to protecting global digital information assets by identifying and eradicating cybersecurity threats thus enabling companies to do business with confidence in today’s global interconnected electronic marketplace. 

 

 

Certify Your Small Business as a Federal Contractor
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Certify Your Small Business as a Federal Contractor

The Small Business Administration (SBA) shared these resources for how to certify your small business as a federal contractor. It can be a complicated road, but this is a great place to start!

SBA logoIf you’re a small business owner interested in making the federal government one of your next customers, you can benefit greatly from certifying your business first. Many government agencies require that a certain percentage of its work is set aside for small businesses (and woman-owned, veteran-owned and more), so certifying your business can help you successfully compete for government contracts. These resources can help:

You can also read up on additional certifications that can give your small business a competitive edge when pursuing government work. These include programs designed to help small businesses in historically underutilized rural and urban areas (HUBZone Program), socially and economically disadvantaged businesses (8(a) Business Development Program), as well as Woman-Owned or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned businesses. Learn more here.

New SBA Regulations Focus on Penalties & Liabilities of Size Misrepresentation
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New SBA Regulations Focus on Penalties & Liabilities of Size Misrepresentation

The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) much anticipated new regulations on small business size and status integrity implement key provisions of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Jobs Act).  Most notably (and as anticipated), the regulations implement the strict liability provisions of the Jobs Act by imposing penalties on businesses that willfully misrepresent their small business size or status in order to obtain contracts, subcontracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or research and development cooperative agreements.  The regulations also require signed size and status certifications from company officials as well as annual size and status certifications in the System for Award Management (SAM).  As a result of these new regulations, small businesses must be vigilant in accurately calculating and representing their size and status.  Otherwise such companies risk ruinous contractual, civil, and criminal penalties that can far exceed even the value of the contract, regardless of whether the government receives the actual product or service sought under the contract.
Penalties for “Willful” Misrepresentation of Small Business Size and Status
The SBA’s new regulations impose penalties on any business that “willfully” seeks and receives a contract award by misrepresentation of its small business size and status.  Three actions are generally deemed to be willful certifications under the regulations:
  1. Submitting a response to a solicitation (for a contract, subcontract, grant, or cooperative agreement) specifically intended for award to a small business;
  2. Submitting a response to a solicitation (for a contract, subcontract, grant, or cooperative agreement) that, if successful in obtaining an award, would encourage the government to classify the award as being made to a small business; and
  3. Registering on a government contracting database, such as SAM, as a small business concern.
Thus, if a concern holds itself out to be a small business in any of these three ways and is later found not to satisfy the applicable small business requirements, it is deemed to have willfully misrepresented its small business size and status, and is subject to penalties unless certain exceptions apply.
The new regulations create a presumption that the government’s loss caused by a small business status misrepresentation is equal to the amount expended by the government – be it on a contract, subcontract, grant, or cooperative agreement – thereby potentially requiring a contractor to return all money paid under the contract.  The new regulations also explicitly discuss civil penalties under the False Claims Act and the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act, as well as criminal penalties under the Small Business Act.  This suggests that agencies may not limit their damages to contract expenditures.  Furthermore, a contractor misrepresenting its small business status is subject to suspension and debarment under these regulations.
Annual Small Business Certification on SAM
From a practical standpoint, the new regulations’ most noteworthy requirement is that small businesses must certify their status in SAM at least annually.  If a business fails to make an annual certification, it will not be listed as a small business in SAM until it recertifies its status.  Such a loss of status obviously impacts a contractor’s ability to obtain contract awards.  In the comments accompanying the regulations, SBA clarified that annual recertification on SAM is meant only for purposes of future awards, not continuing eligibility for previously awarded long-term contracts.
Given the myriad problems SAM has faced since it went online last year, only time will tell whether this process will be a simple administrative function for small businesses.
Requirement for Signed Certification of Size Status
The new regulations contain a similar requirement that a small business responding to a solicitation must include in its response a certification of its small business size and status, signed by an authorized official of the business on the same page as the claimed size status.
The regulations also make slight changes to the timing of a small business size determination for participants in the 8(a) Business Development program.  Where such a determination previously was made as of the date of the business’s application and the date of certification by the SBA, under the new regulations, a determination is made as of the application date and, where applicable, the date the SBA program office requests a formal size determination.
Exceptions and Safe Harbors
The new regulations are intended to impose penalties only on those contractors that willfully misrepresent their small business size and status.  The regulations therefore include limitations of liability in the event of:
  • “Unintentional errors;”
  • Technical malfunctions; and
  • “Other similar situations” showing that any misrepresentation was not affirmative, intentional, willful, or actionable under the False Claims Act. The regulations further state that a prime contractor relying in good faith on a subcontractor’s representation regarding small business status will not be held liable for any misrepresentation by the subcontractor about its size.  The new regulations also exempt contractors from liability in cases where government personnel have erroneously identified a contractor as a small business if the contractor has made no such representation and had no knowledge of the erroneous identification.
How Small Businesses Can Avoid Liability
When these new regulations go into effect on August 27, 2013, the burden will be on small businesses to certify their small business size and status in SAM annually, as well as in every response to a government procurement solicitation.  To avoid the heavy penalties called for in the regulations, it is paramount that small business contractors be careful and thorough in assessing their size and status.
Some steps small businesses can take to limit potential liability include the following:
  • Assign one primary, and a secondary, individual for ensuring the representations in SAM are always accurate and are updated once annually;
  • Clarify who will be the authorized official responsible for signing the small business size and status certification;
  • Establish and maintain internal management procedures governing size representation or certifications;
  • Ensure all representations and certifications are clear and unambiguous; and
  • Make efforts to correct an incorrect or invalid representation or certification in a timely manner.
Rob Burton

Robert A. Burton Partner, Venable
Robert Burton of Venable is a GTSC Strategic Advisor and a thirty-year veteran of procurement law and policy development. He served in the Executive Office of the President as Deputy Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP).  This piece was written by Dismas Locaria, Keir Bancroft and Nathaniel Canfield of Venable.
 
For more information on how these regulations might impact your business, or to better understand the requirements regarding small business, click here.