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Here are the headlines for the January 23rd edition of Set-Aside Alert: 

Column: GovCon M&A and Recertification: What Small Business Contractors, Investors, and Private Equity Firms Need to Know by PilieroMazza Partner Samuel S. Finnerty

News:
-- Congress drops 1,059-page bill to avert government shutdown

-- DoD puts 8(a) program under fire

-- Small firms losing access as DoD grows

-- Primes cutting slow suppliers

-- FY26 NDAA may scrap old PRC rule tied to GSA MAS contracts

-- SBA’s surety bonds supported 2,200 small firms

-- Massive SBIC reform unlocking private capital for small firms

-- Supreme Court shuts out subcontractors from protesting post-award

-- Pentagon appoints Owen West as DIU Director

-- SCR reporting closes Jan. 31 for service firms

Business Intelligence:
-- Procurement Watch
-- Event Calendar through March 2026
-- Small Business Defense Contract Opportunities
-- Small Business Contract Awards
-- Recently Certified 8(a) & HUBZone Firms
-- Recently Certified 8(a) Firms

January 23

If you’re a small GovCon firm still cold-calling COs, this interview explains exactly what to do instead. Former Navy Small Business Director Leslie Faircloth lays out the mistakes quietly killing small firms right now.

GovCon Expert Leslie Faircloth talks about...

Interview With Leslie Faircloth

GovCon Conversations

-- how small federal contractors can STOP wasting time on unwinnable proposals and START building a disciplined, repeatable system for winning federal contracts.
-- a full, step-by-step bid/no-bid checklist that shows small firms how to quickly determine if they have a shot, or if they should walk away from a proposal.
-- the "spray and pray" myth.
-- Why blind bids almost never work (5% chance at best.)
-- Why FAR 15.201 should be expanded.
-- and MORE! 

Federal Sales Guide Eileen Kent talks about...

Interview With Eileen Kent

-- What changes small federal contractors can expect in the procurement process if SBA revives its 2024 proposals to limit large mentor-participation?
-- What are the biggest concerns facing small businesses in the mentor-protege program?
-- How are joint ventures influencing the mentor-protege program?
-- Is SBA’s 40% workshare requirement for protégés realistic? How will SBA enforce it?


GovCon Laywer Sam Le talks about...

Interview With Sam Le

-- What will actually happen for veteran-owned small businesses if the Van Orden amendment becomes law.
-- The FAR 19 rewrite has kept the small business ‘Rule of Two’ for now. How would its removal reshape the competitive landscape for small businesses?
-- The future of small businesses being able to compete for more than just subcontracting opportunities in the federal market moving forward.
-- How the HUBZone program’s 35% residency rule sets small businesses up to fail? Is there a possible and realistic fix?

GovCon Expert Steve Koprince talks about...

Interview With Steve Koprince

Set-Aside Archive

Here are the headlines for the January 9th edition of Set-Aside Alert: 

Interview With GovCon Expert Leslie Faircloth

Column: Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA Signed into Law: 6 Key Takeaways for Defense Contractors by PilieroMazza Partner Jacqueline K. Unger

News:
-- Small business leaders face major crossroads
-- SBA extends 8(a) financial deadline to Jan. 19th
-- Temporary federal workforce to rewrite AI procurement rules
-- FedRAMP Phase 2 sets the bar
-- GAO warns the protest window is closing fast
-- $65B contracts won as APEX shifts priorities
-- Small firms get rare chance at MAPS contract
-- OPM HR overhaul signals major small biz shift
-- Pentagon’s $25.3B microelectronics contract signals time is almost up


Business Intelligence:
-- Procurement Watch
-- Event Calendar through March 2026
-- Small Business Defense Contract Opportunities
-- Small Business Contract Awards
-- Recently Certified 8(a) & HUBZone Firms
-- Recently Certified 8(a) Firms

January 9

Here are the headlines for the December 19th edition of Set-Aside Alert: 

Exclusive Interview With Federal Sales Guide Eileen Kent 

Column: SBA's 8(a) Program Audit Starts — PilieroMazza Launches “8(a) Audit Response Task Force”

News:
-- Small firms race clock after SBA 8(a) audit order
-- FY2026 NDAA signals change for small firms
-- GSA expands OASIS+ Phase II
-- CISA unveils new Industry Engagement Platform
-- MDA flooding Golden Dome pool as task orders loom for contractors
-- Velázquez (D-NY) warns VOSB support won’t ensure contract awards
-- Pentagon rolls out Gemini AI platform, raises bar for small businesses

Business Intelligence:
-- Procurement Watch
-- Event Calendar through Feb. 2026
-- Small Business Defense Contract Opportunities
-- Small Business Contract Awards
-- Recently Certified 8(a) & HUBZone Firms
-- Recently Certified 8(a) Firms

December 19

Here are the headlines for the December 5th edition of Set-Aside Alert: 

Column: What the Prompt Payment Act Means for Contractors After a Government Shutdown - By Stephanie Hagan, Training 

News:
-- PSC: Agencies go dark, budgets tighten, small firms left exposed
-- Tariffs cutting into small biz 2026 margins
-- OPM: 317k feds out; major contractor cuts loom
-- Native-owned firms pushing to secure equal seat at SBA table
-- Workforce gaps trigger crisis at Space Force
-- Navy kills frigates as Golden Fleet idea emerges
-- New eSRS portal shutdown moved to early 2026
-- Judge protects 4 agencies; small biz work safe
-- Congress fast-tracking AI tools for small firms
-- SBIR/STTR programs still in grave danger; small firms brace for worst

Business Intelligence:
-- Procurement Watch
-- Event Calendar through Feb. 2026
-- Small Business Defense Contract Opportunities
-- Small Business Contract Awards
-- Recently Certified 8(a) & HUBZone Firms
-- Recently Certified 8(a) Firms

December 5

Here are the headlines for the November 21st edition of Set-Aside Alert: 

Column: Five Steps to Stronger CPARS Ratings Today by Red Team Consulting

News:
-- Shutdown aftershock slams federal contracting
-- Pentagon overhaul unlocks rare small biz edge
-- Workshare trouble for small biz
-- Treasury launches $9B audit of set-asides; small firms on alert
-- AI bubble may burst on small businesses
-- SBA clears VetCert backlog for VOSBs; Admin. Loeffler sets the pace
-- OHA ruling exposes small biz JVs to huge risk
-- SubNet offline; small biz forced to improvise

Business Intelligence:
-- Procurement Watch
-- Event Calendar through Feb. 2026
-- Small Business Defense Contract Opportunities
-- Small Business Contract Awards
-- Recently Certified HUBZone Firms
-- Recently Certified 8(a) Firms

November 21

Here are the headlines for the November 7th edition of Set-Aside Alert: 

News:
-- Shutdown stalls SBA loans, small firms hit hard
-- Interview With GovCon Expert Steve Koprince
-- SBA fires warning shot at 8(a) contractors to follow 50% rule
-- DOT rule threatens to decertify thousands of DBE contractors
-- Federal funding anchors public construction
-- New bill aims to equip small firms with AI
-- CMMC rollout begins Monday: small contractors face new cyber rules
-- PSC urges caution on SBA’s size rule changes
-- DNI enforces FASCSA order 
-- DoD cracking down on foreign consulting ties

Business Intelligence:
-- Procurement Watch
-- Event Calendar through Jan. 2026
-- Small Business Defense Contract Opportunities
-- Small Business Contract Awards
-- Recently Certified HUBZone Firms
-- Recently Certified 8(a) Firms

November 7

Here are the headlines for the October 17th edition of Set-Aside Alert: 

News:
-- Small business squeezed as shutdown rages on
-- Funding freeze drives GovCon to private lenders
-- $915M DHS contract sparks big concerns for small businesses
-- CMMC final rule exposes major risks for defense contractors
-- DOJ issues $4.6M warning to contractors
-- Column: FAR Part 19 Overhaul: What It Means for the 8(a) Program
-- Velázquez accuses SBA of violating Hatch Act for political messaging
-- MDA closes $151B SHIELD bidding window; next moves for small biz
-- GSA announces deals with OpenAI, Meta, Grok to boost AI adoption

Business Intelligence:
-- Procurement Watch
-- Event Calendar through Nov. 2025
-- Teaming Opportunities
-- Small Business Defense Contract Opportunities
-- Small Business Contract Awards
-- Recently Certified HUBZone Firms
-- Recently Certified 8(a) Firms

October 17

Here are the headlines for the October 3rd edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- Column: CMMC Is Here—What It Means for
Defense Contractors from PilieroMazza

News: 
-- Gov't shutdown puts small business in hot seat
-- FAR Part 19 rewrite preserves the Rule of Two
-- HUBZone firms wasting huge 10% advantage
-- Air Force axes small biz office
-- New bill targets price gouging
-- 8(a) approvals hurting native small businesses
-- SBA revamps SUBNet for small biz contractors
-- GSA adds 53 new awardees to OASIS+ 8(a)

Business Intelligence: 
-- Procurement Watch
-- Event Calendar through Nov. 2025
-- Teaming Opportunities
-- Small Business Defense Contract Opportunities
-- Small Business Contract Awards 
-- Recently Certified HUBZone Firms
-- Recently Certified 8(a) Firms


October 3

Here are the headlines for the September 19th edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- GovCon Lawyer Sam Le talks mentor-protege program issues
-- Column: The End of Set-Asides? Strategies in the Trump 2.0 Era (Part 2)
-- Gov’t shutdown inching closer
-- House passes SBIR/STTR extension
-- FAR threshold hikes challenge small businesses
-- SBA reinstates 8(a) office rule
-- Golden Dome’s $151B SHIELD opens doors for small business
-- OHA decision redefines negative control rules
-- CMMC 2.0 mandate officially starts on Nov. 10
-- SBA to launch manufacturing loan program

September 19

Here are the headlines for the September 5th edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- Interview With Ed Tuorinsky, Founder and CEO of DTS
-- Column: The End of Set-Asides? Strategies in the Trump 2.0 Era (Part 1) 
-- House/Senate return from hiatus; Congress has until Sept. 30th to avoid gov't shudown
-- FAR overhaul imposes bold BIC mandate
-- Trump axes wind, solar power funds; $22B cut in clean energy
-- SBIR/STTR to expire Sept. 30th
-- FedRAMP launches new AI pilot that will box out small business
-- SBA proposed rule set to raise size standards

September 5

Here are the headlines for the August 22nd edition of Set-Aside Alert: 

-- DOE launches small business roadmap to 2030
-- Congress wants 'negative-only' CPARS system
-- SBA removes VOSB, SDVOSB JV designations from SBS
-- Trump signs EO to strengthen commercial space competition
-- House & Senate works to reform DoD acquisition
-- FedRAMP cloud approvals more than double
-- Tribal-owned firms dominate mentor-protege program

August 22

Here are the headlines for the August 8th edition of Set-Aside Alert: 

-- Interview with Mike Shanley, CEO of GovDiscoveryAI
-- WOSBs fighting for ground in AI
-- HUBZone 3% target missed again in FY24
-- USAID stripped of 8(a) authority after $550M bribery scandal
-- Nydia Velázquez protects Rule of Two with new bipartisan bill
-- Agency awards in FY24 break small biz record
-- Michael Rigas becomes new acting GSA head
-- GSA announces new centralized travel service
-- SBA quietly replaces DSBS search system

August 8

Here are the headlines for the July 18th edition of Set-Aside Alert:        

-- Interview with Scott Jensen
-- SBA orders full-scale 8(a) audit
-- Congress eyes CPARS rule changes
-- DHS cancels two major contracts for small biz
-- DoL increases health & welfare rates for SCA-covered contracts

July 18

Here are the headlines for the July 4th edition of Set-Aside Alert: 

-- Q4 uncertainty for small firms as DSBS phasing out within weeks
-- Rule of 2 on task orders withdrawn
-- Trump’s Executive Orders that affectt small biz contractors
-- FEMA signups
-- 8(a) place-of-biz rule is back
-- DHS Sec must OK contracts over $100K
-- Column: New DOD Policy Memo Imposes Sweeping Restrictions By PilieroMazza
-- House OKs small biz bills, but not Williams’ bill
-- Markey seeks MBDA probe
-- ‘Never seen anything like what’s going on!’:
-- DOD memo on consulting contract reviews
-- Model deviation for FAR Part 6 filed
-- Senators ask IG to review AI-based VA cuts
-- House GOP to cut GAO budget by 50%

July 4

Here are the headlines for the June 20th edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- Trump to cut 107k jobs in FY26
-- SBA claims $630M saved
-- VA’s ‘wholesale slashing’ AI tool undercuts SDVOSBs most
-- GSA negotiating takeover of SEWP VI, CIO-SP4
-- Federal VARs on high alert
-- Column: Raytheon’s $8.4M FCA Settlement and What It Means for Defense Contractors
-- House bill driving SBA out of ‘Sanctuary Cities’
-- VA Whistleblower case spurs $4.3M settlement

June 20

Here are the headlines for the June 6th edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- DOJ to sue contractors under new Civil Rights Fraud Initiative
-- GSA explains FAR rewrite
-- SBA cuts
-- DOJ asks court to rule DOT’s DBE program unconstitutional
-- Final BA list
-- Anti-DEI not for tribes: SBA
-- Rule of two bill
-- Column: Contract Terminated for Convenience? Here is What You Need to Know
-- GSA, NASA & NIH to meet on GWACs
-- 8(a) bill submitted
-- DOD limits consulting
-- SBA OIG report
-- DOL won’t enforce indie contractor rule

June 6

Here are the headlines for the May 23rd edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- Federal consolidation redefining government procurement
-- Major cuts hit Native firms
-- Sen. Ernst proposes SBIR/STTR reform to counter foreign threats
-- OIG: SBA forgave $343M in PPP loans without properly verifying
-- “Wired RFPs” pushing small contractors out of competition
-- SBA removes HUBZone PEP
-- DoD publishes IP Guidebook
-- Column: Restrictions on Hiring Former Government Employees for Government Contractors
-- SBA announces Hartley Caldwell as new CIO



May 23

Here are the headlines for the May 9th edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- SBA’s FY2026 budget plan ends 15 entrepreneur dev’t programs
-- HSBC OKs GOP-led bills
-- Set-Aside Alert news analysis: Good-Bye, Rule of Two?
-- First 100 days at the SBA
-- Column: OMB Memo on AI for Federal Agencies by PilieroMazza
-- Winners, losers in budget plan
-- GovCon layoffs rising in MD
-- CGP name
-- US economy shrank in the first quarter of 2025
-- Pre-Biden min wage in effect
-- Federal consultants offer GSA a 30% price cut
-- GSA cancels FAR’s ban on segregated contractor facilities

May 9 Edition

May 9

Here are the headlines for the April 18th edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- $5.1B in DoD contracts canceled
-- OMB rewriting outdated FAR
-- Agencies in debt to contractors
-- DoD reforming outdated acquisition processes
-- OMB releases new AI policies
-- Column: Recompete Wars: How to Stay Indispensable to Customers
-- DOGE dismantles HHS Small Business Office
-- Opinion: Are You a SelfCertified SDB?
-- GSA overhauling MAS program, axing 31 SINs
-- Nydia Velázquez scorns “chainsaw approach”

April 18

Here are the headlines for the April 4th edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- SBA Upheaval: Loeffler: I’m cutting 43% of SBA staff; Trump: SBA to take over $1.6T in student loans from Education Dept.
-- Loeffler shuts SBA offices in 6 major cities
-- Trump gives GSA authority over federal agency ‘common spend’
-- Anti-DEI EO reinstated
-- EO on govcon minimum wage
-- Column: GSA to Oversee Federal Purchasing
-- Federal contract cancellations
-- What’s next for FEMA? 
-- Vendors wait for pay
-- 20,000 HHS jobs cut; $12B cut to states

April 4

Here are the headlines for the March 21st edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- Trump signs EO, cites government entities as unnecessary
-- CR funds govt until Sept. 30
-- Agencies set spending limits on purchase cards, halt travel
-- 40% of DOGE cancellations won’t save money
-- Column: Three and a Half Ways to Prepare for Termination for Convenience By Marsha Lindquist
-- House passes SPUR Act to assist smaller firms
-- SBA launches new initiative
-- US Army drops third draft for MAPS contract
-- New cyber bill mandates VDPs

March 21

Here are the headlines for the March 7th edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- Over ten thousand contract cancellations hit vendors hard
-- Ernst: Move SBA staff to rural areas
-- Loeffler shuts down SBA’s DEIA office; pauses DEIA grants
-- Q1 downturn in US econ
-- Sen. Markey questions SBA cuts, layoffs
-- Column: Order Blocks Trump’s Blanket Freeze on Funding By PilieroMazza
-- New EO on “DOGE” plans
-- Court pauses DEI cutbacks
-- 7 small biz bills OK’d

March 7

Here are the headlines for the February 21st edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- SBA cuts small disadvantaged business goal from 15% to 5%
-- FAR proposal to alter OCIs
-- Stop-work orders, terminations & addressing funding freezes
-- Bipartisan bill mandating DoD, OMB to implement cyber VDPs
-- DOGE pushing AI-first ethos
-- Column: Timely Delivery of SBA’s Required Financial Statements for 8(a) Government Contractors By Steve Lyons of GRF CPAs & Advisors
-- COVID fraud legislation aims to recover $200B
-- $500M invoices remain unpaid for contractors

February 21

Here are the headlines for the February 7th edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- Trump hits DEI with orders to cancel programs and contracts
-- DOGE access to SBA’s IT
-- Set-Aside Alert analysis: Which small biz programs are at risk?
-- Loeffler gets a hearing
-- Proposals on MAC set-asides, COIs, protests & more
-- Column: Trump’s Executive Order Shuts Down Federal DEI Programs By PilieroMazza
-- New GSA execs 
-- Larry Allen at GSA
-- DOGE has access to SSNs, Treasury payments
-- Update: Latest final rules for small biz vendors

February 7

Here are the headlines for the January 24th edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- BREAKING: Trump signs EO, possibly impacting set-asides
-- DOGE cutting DEI programs
-- Tech leaders want government collaboration to drive innovation
-- Workforce hiring freeze
-- $183B in fed contracts awarded to small biz in fiscal year 2024
-- Cyber EO sets high standards
-- Column: DoD Amends DFARS Implementing SBIR/STTR Data Rights, What it Means for Small Business
-- How contractors can apply for LA wildfire relief
-- SBA funds 13 new women’s business centers
-- DIB urges DoD to cut red-tape

January 24

Here are the headlines for the January 10th edition of Set-Aside Alert:

-- NDAA passes with requirement to pay for failed bid protests
-- Set-Aside Alert analysis: Late FY2025 budget likely
-- Which small business items were left out of the NDAA?
-- Final rule a boon for 8(a)s
-- Recerts rule to hit biz values
-- CTA blocked again
-- Column: SBA Update: Final Rule Makes Investing in 8(a) Firms Easier Than Ever!
-- R.I.P. Bob Antonio, founder of WIFCON.com
-- OASIS+ awardees
-- Proposed rule for streamlined payments
-- Ernst to chair Senate small biz panel
-- NDAA’s DEI hiring freeze

Next Edition on Feb. 6th

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