Madison Services Group, Inc.

🚨 NEW: H.R. 9596, the Value Over Cost Act of 2024 PASSES in the House this week! Earlier this week, #Congress passed this #bipartisan #legislation which specifies that contracts and orders under the multiple award schedule program of the GSA may be evaluated on best value, rather than lowest overall cost, if the GSA determines that to be in the best interests of the federal government. Best value allows consideration of non-cost factors when evaluating contract proposals to determine the offer that provides the greatest overall benefit. The GSA's multiple award schedules provide federal agencies with a simplified process for obtaining commercial supplies and commercial services at prices associated with volume buying. You can read the full version of the bill below ⤵️

🌟 Celebrating National Entrepreneurship Month! 🌟 November is National Entrepreneurship Month, and there's so much to celebrate about the innovative spirit driving our economy. Did you know: 🚀 Nearly 20 million new business applications have been filed since 2021, marking an 85% increase in monthly averages compared to the previous decade. 📈 Over 5 million applications for likely employer businesses were recorded, pointing to significant future job creation. 💼 Small business ownership has hit new highs for Black and Hispanic families, doubling and reaching a 30-year peak, respectively. Entrepreneurs don’t just create businesses—they build communities, fuel innovation, and inspire change. This month, let’s support, celebrate, and uplift the dreamers and doers shaping our future. #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #SmallBusiness

🚨 URGENT ACTION NEEDED! 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤. Despite an agreement among the #smallbusiness leadership in the House and Senate, a new hurdle has emerged that will jeopardize passage of this much needed change for small contractors. It is imperative that you take a minute to contact your Congressional Representative and ask that they express their support for this provision to the House Armed Services Committee Members. We suggest that you also copy HASC Majority Staff Director Chris Vieson at chris.vieson@mail.house.gov if you communicate with your Member of Congress. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐎𝐃 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰, so it is imperative that the community come together and take action now. The sole source threshold increase to $8 million/$10 million (manufacturing) for HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB and individual 8(a)s is included as an amendment to the FY2025 National Authorization Act (NDAA), which is expected to pass the Congress by the end of this calendar year. We have received information that despite countless letters, emails and phone calls by small businesses and their advocates, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) is considering eliminating this increase in small business sole source thresholds. Essentially doubling the amount of work the federal government can sole source to small businesses is imperative to providing the government with innovative solutions governmentwide. DoD officials have testified time and time again that they need expedited procurement procedures to respond quickly to the needs of the war fighter. Small businesses have proven to fill that need.   Our advocates within Congress will be carrying on this fight, however, we need your advocacy to get this over the finish line. Please share with your networks and contact me with any questions at esullivan@madisonservicesgroup.com. #govcon #WOSB #SDVOSB #HUBZone #NDAA

🚨 URGENT ACTION NEEDED! 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤. Despite an agreement among the #smallbusiness leadership in the House and Senate, a new hurdle has emerged that will jeopardize passage of this much needed change for small contractors. It is imperative that you take a minute to contact your Congressional Representative and ask that they express their support for this provision to the House Armed Services Committee Members. We suggest that you also copy HASC Majority Staff Director Chris Vieson at chris.vieson@mail.house.gov if you communicate with your Member of Congress. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐎𝐃 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰, so it is imperative that the community come together and take action now. The sole source threshold increase to $8 million/$10 million (manufacturing) for HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB and individual 8(a)s is included as an amendment to the FY2025 National Authorization Act (NDAA), which is expected to pass the Congress by the end of this calendar year. We have received information that despite countless letters, emails and phone calls by small businesses and their advocates, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) is considering eliminating this increase in small business sole source thresholds. Essentially doubling the amount of work the federal government can sole source to small businesses is imperative to providing the government with innovative solutions governmentwide. DoD officials have testified time and time again that they need expedited procurement procedures to respond quickly to the needs of the war fighter. Small businesses have proven to fill that need.   Our advocates within Congress will be carrying on this fight, however, we need your advocacy to get this over the finish line. Please share with your networks and contact me with any questions at esullivan@madisonservicesgroup.com. #govcon #WOSB #SDVOSB #HUBZone #NDAA

🇺🇸 Honoring #NationalVeteransSmallBusinessWeek 🇺🇸 This week, we celebrate the resilience, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit of our veteran-owned small businesses 💼🛠️ These leaders bring discipline, innovation, and a commitment to service that strengthens our communities and economy. Whether you're a veteran business owner or someone who supports these incredible entrepreneurs, let’s make this week all about showing appreciation! Check out local veteran-owned businesses, share their stories, or simply say thank you for their continued service. #Veterans #SupportSmallBusiness #VeteranOwned #NVSBC #SmallBusiness

SBA Makes Proposal to Increase Federal Agency Contracts with Small Businesses By Office Of Advocacy On Nov 4, 2024 SBA Headquarters Building On October 25, 2024, the U.S. Small Business Administration proposed a rule titled “Increasing Small Business Participation on Multiple Award Contracts.” The rule proposed to expand the use of the “Rule of Two” in multiple-award contracts (MAC). The proposal stems from the Office of Federal Procurement Policy memo on January 25, 2024 that directed an increase in small business participation in MAC. A definition of MACs may be found in the Federal Acquisition Regulation FAR Part 2.101. The Rule of Two is more than 40 years old and it is the foundation for the Federal Government’s support for small businesses as prime contractors. The Rule of Two sets asides contracts for small businesses when the federal agency has a reasonable expectation that offers will be obtained from at least two responsible small business concerns that are competitive in terms of fair market prices, quality, and delivery. SBA intends to expand the use of the Rule of Two by Agency Contracting Officers to be required whenever MACs can be reasonably met by small businesses. This requirement would apply to all new MACs and new orders on existing contracts. Advocacy is seeking comments for small businesses on several questions.: First, notwithstanding the success of the Federal Schedule (FSS) in contracts awarded to small businesses, should FSS contracts be exempted from this proposed statutory and regulatory requirement? Second, Procurement Center Representatives (PCR) currently have authority to appeal an agency’s acquisition strategy by placing a hold on the contracting process, should PCRs be given more authority to ensure this regulation is used to the maximum extent possible? If so, what should be that additional authority? Third, by law, FAR 19.502-2 each acquisition of supplies or services that has an anticipated dollar value above the micro-purchase threshold but not over the simplified acquisition threshold shall be set aside for small businesses unless there is not a reasonable expectation of obtaining offers from two or more small businesses. This provision is not fully maximized by federal agencies, how can this proposed regulation be strengthened to increase these contract awards to small businesses? Comments are due on December 24, 2024. Please submit comment comments to Regulation. Gov identified by RIN 3245-AH95. Or Docket Number SBA-2024-0002. If you have further questions, please contact the Office of Advocacy at Major.Clark@sba.gov or David.Mullis@sba.gov.

On JD Supra:

🚀 October is Women’s Small Business Month! Women entrepreneurs are driving unprecedented growth: 🌟 Historic Milestone: 440,000 new monthly business applications between 2021-2023—up 45% over the previous four years 💼 Funding Boost: U.S. Small Business Administration loans to women-owned businesses increased by 70% since 2020, topping $5 billion in 2023 📈 Support Network: Nearly 150 Women’s Business Centers nationwide offer crucial resources Women in business are changing the landscape 💪 #WomensSmallBusinessMonth #SmallBusiness

Great explanation of the #CMMC 2.0 rule and history behind it by Stuart Itkin. #govcon

In our latest Spilling the Tea episode, Teresa Moon connects with Elizabeth Sullivan, President of Madison Services Group, Inc., which focuses on federal procurement and shaping acquisition policy for small and midsize contractors on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies. Elizabeth shares the top five things Congress and Federal agencies could do to increase contract awards to small businesses and the role contractors have in advocating for changes.