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SBA OHA Case: No Economic Dependence Affiliation for ANC Subsidiary and Large Business

8/31/2015

On July 10, 2015, the SBA's Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) issued a decision in the matter of Size Appeal of: Olgoonik Solutions, LLC, SBA No. SIZ-5669. This appeal resulted from a size determination issued by the SBA Area Office as part of Olgoonik Solutions, LLC's (Olgoonik Solutions) 8(a) Business Development Program application that Olgoonik Solutions was other than small due to affiliation with Stanley Convergent Security Solutions, Inc. (Stanley)

Reminder: EEO-1 and VETS-4212 Filing Period Now Open

8/29/2015

Although many of you out there should already have received your notification letters from the EEOC and/or the OFCCP, respectively, this is a secondary reminder for those federal contractors that are required to file one or both of these, that your 2015 EEO-1 and VETS-4212 filings are due by September 30, 2015.

Prime contractors should also keep in mind that their subcontractors (with covered subcontracts) may be required to comply with these filings as well and so it might not be a bad idea to send a friendly reminder or to check with them to ensure they are complying.

HUBZones - A Program Overview

8/29/2015

Simply put, the Federal government wants to do business with small businesses. The government encourages this through small business contracting programs, which are largely administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and by establishing government-wide agency-specific small business goals.

Event Spotlight: CNHA's 14th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention

8/22/2015

On September 22-24, 2015, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) will be holding its 14th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention at the Hawaii Convention Center. This conference, which has been held annually since 2001, brings together key decision makers, community organizations, businesses, government agencies, and cultural practitioners.

Federal Contractors Ask White House To Stop Issuance of Executive Orders

8/15/2015

As we discussed in our August 9 blog post "Executive Order Requiring Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors In the Works," the New York times broke the news that the White House had drafted and the President plans to issue an Executive Order which would require federal contractors to provide their employees with paid sick leave.

NHOA First Annual Business Summit a Success

8/11/2015

The Native Hawaiian Organizations Association's (NHOA) 1st Annual Business Summit Conference took place on August 5 and 6 at the Pacific Beach Hotel in Waikiki. The theme of this year's conference was "Kina'ole - doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, in the right place, to the right person, for the right reason, with the right feeling...the first time!"

Executive Order Requiring Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors In The Works

8/9/2015

As some of you may know, paid sick leave laws have been all the rage, as more and more jurisdictions have been either passing laws or at the very least introducing bills which would require employers to provide employees with paid sick leave days. Just last month, California's Healthy Workplace Healthy Family Act took effect, which guarantees up to three (3) days paid sick leave to CA workers that work for thirty (30) or more days within a year of becoming employed.

DOL and FAR Council Extend Comment Period for Second Time for Guidance and Regulations Implementing Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order

8/9/2015

In July 2014, President Obama signed the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order ("Executive Order"), which "seeks to increase efficiency and cost savings in the work performed by parties who contract with the Federal Government by ensuring that they understand and comply with labor laws. In particular, the Executive Order applies to contracts in excess of $500,000 and requires contractors to disclose labor violations within the past three (3) years. In addition, procuring agencies will need to take violations into consideration in determining whether to award a contract.

Former 8(a) Business Owner Sentenced to 21 Months for Fraudulent Pass-Through Arrangement

8/9/2015

According to an August 3, 2015 Department of Justice Press Release, U.S. District Court Judge Deborah Chasanow sentenced Yogesh Patel, age 48, to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for "conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $2.6 million in federal government contracts through a Small Business Administration (SBA) program designed to assist disadvantaged businesses." Patel was also ordered to forfeit $554,541.07.

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