Corporate Transparency Act, Part 2: Exempt Status, Physical Office, Dissolved and Tribal Entities, and Beneficial Ownership Information

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which came into effect on January 1, 2024, has significant implications for government contractors, tribal entities, and commercial businesses. If you formed an entity before January 1, 2024, and are not subject to one of the exemptions, you must file your initial Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOIR) no later than January 1, 2025.  If you formed an entity on or after January 1, 2024, and are not subject to one of the exemptions, you must . . . Read More

Florida Federal Court Strikes Major Blow to FCA Whistleblowers: Key Takeaways for FCA Defendants

In a prior blog , PilieroMazza discussed the Supreme Court’s decision in United States ex rel. Polansky v. Executive Health Resources, Inc. In that case, in his dissenting opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas referred to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act (FCA) as operating in “something of a constitutional twilight zone” and called into question whether relators have standing to pursue qui tam actions where the government declines to intervene in the litigation. Specifically, Justice Thomas opined that “Congress . . . Read More

Discretionary Discussions: Federal Circuit Undercuts DFARS Presumption of Discussions and Maybe More

PilieroMazza’s Eric Valle was a guest author for The Nash & Cibinic Report where he published the article “Discretionary Discussions: Federal Circuit Undercuts DFARS Presumption of Discussions and Maybe More.” This article is focused on one important aspect of the Oak Grove decision—the ability to protest an agency’s decision to forgo discussions in a high-value Department of Defense procurement—and the implications for the procurement system. Visit this link to access the full article. Eric previously clerked for the Honorable Matthew H. . . . Read More

SBA Proposes Substantive Changes to Negative Control and Unconditional Ownership and Control Considerations Across Socioeconomic Programs: Key Considerations and Takeaways

As PilieroMazza noted recently  here , the Small Business Administration (SBA) released a proposed rulemaking that will impact government contractors. This client alert discusses a major proposed change that would significantly impact any small business that has a minority shareholder or investor. While the proposed rule also aims to create uniformity across SBA’s socioeconomic programs—including the 8(a) Business Development, Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)—the proposed rule looks to undo years of case law and seriously impacts what it . . . Read More

SBA Proposed Material Changes to HUBZone Program Impacts Eligibility

As PilieroMazza noted recently  here , the Small Business Administration (SBA) released a major proposed rulemaking that will impact government contractors, including those that are participants in or seeking to be admitted to the Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) Program. PilieroMazza is posting a series of client alerts regarding SBA’s proposed rulemaking. This alert highlights some of the proposed changes pertaining specifically to the HUBZone Program that will impact small business government contractors and their contracting partners. A. Overview The HUBZone Program was established . . . Read More

SBA Proposed Rule’s Potential Adverse Impacts on Small Business IT Value-Added Resellers

In August, SBA proposed new rules on a wide range of topics. Some of the proposed rules, like the significant changes to the recertification rules that we blogged about here , have been getting most of the headlines so far. The purpose of this client alert is to put the spotlight on one of the less talked about proposals, a seemingly minor proposed change to how SBA calculates annual receipts. SBA’s proposal may seem like a small change, but it has . . . Read More

SBA Proposed Changes to 8(a) Program Impacts Applicants and Participants

As PilieroMazza noted recently here , the Small Business Administration (SBA) released a major proposed rulemaking that will impact government contractors, including those that are participants in or seeking to be admitted to the 8(a) Business Development Program (8(a) Program). PilieroMazza is posting a series of client alerts regarding SBA’s proposed rulemaking. This alert highlights some of the proposed changes pertaining specifically to the 8(a) Program that will impact both applicants and participants. 8(a) Application SBA is proposing certain revisions that . . . Read More

SBA Proposed Rule Significantly Changes Effect of Size/Status Recertifications and Alters M&A for Government Contractors

The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently issued a proposed rule ( Rule ) that would significantly change a government contractor’s obligations to recertify its size and socioeconomic status under set-aside contracts and the effect of such recertifications. The Rule impacts eligibility for set-aside contracts, significantly alters the landscape for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the government contracts industry, and could have other unintended downstream consequences. Historically, size and socioeconomic program status recertification have been addressed in separate parts of SBA’s regulations . . . Read More