In Episode 12, co-hosts Patrick Burns and Quyen Dang examine three timely developments impacting federal contractors:
SBA’s 8(a) Program Under Audit
The Small Business Administration has launched a comprehensive audit of the 8(a) Business Development Program following a Department of Justice investigation into a $550 million fraud and bribery scheme. We explain the scope of the audit, discuss record retention limitations, and review how recent policy changes reflect increasing scrutiny of the program.
GAO Sustains Protest Over OCI in Cyber Contract
The GAO sustained a protest by DirectViz Solutions, finding the Army failed to reasonably assess an organizational conflict of interest in awarding a cyber support contract to Peraton. We break down what an “impaired objectivity” OCI looks like, what agencies must evaluate, and what contractors should consider when bidding for related work.
Court Blocks AmeriCorps Grant Terminations
We conclude with a federal court’s decision halting AmeriCorps’ abrupt termination of more than 1,000 grant-funded programs. The ruling faults the agency for bypassing notice-and-comment rulemaking and raises questions about executive authority and the use of congressionally appropriated funds.