Month: June 2024

SBA Certification Upgrade

The SBA is upgrading how our customers apply for and manage their federal contracting certifications.

SBA’s certification upgrade will start on August 1st, 2024:

  • Initial certification applications will not be accepted during the upgrade period.
  • The upgraded system is expected to be available for new applications in early September.
  • New and prospective applicants for federal small business certification are encouraged to wait until the upgrade is complete before applying.
  • Most certified firms will not be impacted by the pause in applications. Firms needing to renew during the upgrade period will receive guidance from their certification program.
  • Applications submitted before August 1 will continue to be processed during the upgrade period in the order received.
  • If your firm is facing a deadline on a proposal that will be impacted by your certification status before August 1, 2024, please contact certifications@sba.gov and provide the contract number, agency, and bid due date.

To learn more, click here.

FAR Rules are Open for Comment

FAR Case 2023-013, HUBZone Program, published on June 7, 2024.

  • DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement a final rule published by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to implement a section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.
  • For more information, click here.
  • Comments for this case are due by August 6, 2024. For information on how to comment, please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FAR-2023-0013-0001.

FAR Case 2023-001, Subcontracting to Puerto Rican and Covered Territory Small Businesses, published on June 7, 2024.

  • DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement regulatory changes made by the Small Business Administration to add incentives for certain United States territories under the Small Business Administration mentor-protégé program.
  • For more information, click here.
  • Comments for this case are due by August 6, 2024. For information on how to comment, please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FAR-2023-0001-0001.

FAR Case 2023-008, Prohibition on Certain Semiconductor Products and Services, published on May 3, 2024.

  • DoD, GSA, and NASA are considering amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement paragraphs (a), (b), and (h) in section 5949 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 that prohibits executive agencies from procuring or obtaining certain products and services that include covered semiconductor products or services effective December 23, 2027.
  • For more information, click here.
  • Comments for this case are due by July 2, 2024. For information on how to comment, please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAR-2023-0008-0001.

Request for Information: FAR Part 40, Information Security and Supply Chain Security, published on April 9, 2024.

  • DoD, GSA, and NASA recently established Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 40, Information Security and Supply Chain Security. The intent of this RFI is to solicit feedback from the general public on the scope and organization of FAR part 40.
  • For more information, click here.
  • Comments for this case are due by June 10, 2024. For information on how to comment, please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAR-2024-0054-0001.