On September 21, 2026, the Small Business Administration announced an extension of the comment period for two previously proposed rules that, as currently constructed, would significantly expand the pool of entities eligible to qualify for small business set-aside procurements. The extension is slated to be formally published on September 24, 2026. While the comment period
The General Services Administration (GSA) has begun sending out email notifications of a “known glitch” affecting certain System for Award Management (SAM) registrations as far back as spring 2026.
Continue Reading GSA Issues Notice of “Glitch” and Recommends Contractors Validate Small Business Status Representations on SAM.gov
On August 20, 2026, the Small Business Administration (SBA) proposed to materially amend the way it establishes size standards for purposes of federal procurement.
Continue Reading SBA Proposal to Overhaul Size Standards Would Transform Federal Government Contracting
On April 8, 2026, the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) denied an appeal arguing that a concern’s early submission of its proposal with pricing was an attempt to “end-run the regulations” for when size is determined. In Size Appeal of DecisionPoint Corporation, SBA No. SIZ-6379, OHA confirmed that a company’s size is determined on the date it submits its initial offer which includes price, even if the proposal is submitted in advance of the proposal submission deadline and the offeror becomes large before the provided deadline.
Continue Reading SBA OHA Confirms That the Submission Date for a Proposal with Pricing Controls Size Determination
On April 13, 2026, President Trump signed into law the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, which reauthorized the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs are Small Business Administration-sponsored initiatives intended to encourage small business contractors to conduct early-stage research and development (R&D) and help foster technological innovation related to U.S. government needs across several federal agencies, including the Department of War, Department of Energy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and National Institutes of Health. SBIR/STTR are sometimes referred to as “America’s Seed Fund.” Consistent with that characterization, SBIR contractors performing in the defense and technology space are often the focus of venture capital and private equity interest and investment.
Continue Reading Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 101: Following Re-Authorization, What Contractors (and Their Investors) Need to Know
On April 13, 2026, President Trump signed the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act of 2026 (S. 3971) (the Act), extending the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through September 30, 2031. The legislation cleared the U.S. Senate on March 3, 2026 and then was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 17, 2026 after a six-month interruption in program authority that halted the issuance of new awards across federal agencies. The programs’ previous authorization expired on September 30, 2025.
Continue Reading SBIR/STTR Programs Reauthorized After Six-Month Lapse
As we previously reported, on January 16, 2026, the Department of War (DoW) announced an audit of 8(a) sole source awards over $20 million, joining the previously-announced audits by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and U.S. Treasury Department (discussed here and here). A DoW memorandum also dated January 16, 2026 but only recently made public reveals that this audit is much broader in than originally announced. Any active 8(a) sole source contract, 8(a) set-aside contract, or small business set-aside contract over $20 million is under scrutiny.
Continue Reading DoW’s Previously Announced 8(a) Audit Expanded to Include All Small Business Set-Aside Awards over $20 Million
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has rolled out changes to its 8(a) Program even as it suspends 8(a) participants for failure to respond to the SBA’s December 5, 2025 8(a) audit letters.
Continue Reading 8(a) Participants – and the 8(a) Program – Under the Microscope or on the Chopping Block
On December 5, 2025, the Small Business Administration (SBA) sent letters to 4,300 current and recent participants in the 8(a) Business Development Program requiring production by January 5, 2026, of financial records, contracting and subcontracting agreements, and employee records. Below we discuss the genesis of the U.S. Government’s focus on fraud in small business programs, the new SBA request for documents, the coming Treasury audit of preference-based contracts, and more.
Continue Reading SBA Office of General Counsel Audit of Participants in the 8(a) Program and Beyond