David vs. Goliath: Opportunities and Strategies for Small Business Contractors
The process for small businesses seeking to contract or already contracting with the federal government is complicated, expensive and often an uphill battle. The federal government recognizes this fact and has created a variety of mechanisms to make it easier for small businesses to succeed as federal contractors. In particular, set-aside programs and protests can be useful tools for small business contractors to win or maintain contract awards.
In this 90-minute webinar, government contracts attorney Sarah Graves of Husch Blackwell LLP will discuss available set-aside programs for small business contractors, explain the evaluation preferences available for certain small businesses and provide an overview of the protest process with an eye towards small business contractors.
Specifically, the webinar will examine protest issues small business contractors may not be aware of, such as protective orders and protection of proprietary information belonging to the contractor. Additionally, the webinar will examine that concept of challenging an agency’s decision not to set-aside work and how to handle a challenge to your award. Ms. Graves will also discuss both sides of SBA size protests in detail so that contractors are equipped to challenge a set-aside award they feel has been wrongfully awarded to a large business or effectively respond to a challenge of their own status as a small business.
Learning Objectives
- Identify set-aside programs that could yield your company more procurement awards
- Learn about evaluation preferences that give small businesses an advantage in the procurement process, including the HUBZone Price Evaluation Preference at FAR 52.219-4
- Strategies for approaching agencies about procurements that should have been set-aside for small businesses
- Discover how to respond if an award to your company is challenged by a protest
- How to protect your company’s proprietary information during the protest process
- Develop an understanding of size protests and how they can be used to assure that set-aside awards are properly awarded to small businesses
- Discover how to respond to a size protest challenging your company’s size status
- And much, much more!
Who Will Benefit?
This webinar is a must for SDVOSB’s, Women Owned Small Businesses, 8(a)’s, HUBZONE and minority owned small business contractors, their executives, legal counsel, contract administrators, business managers, and others seeking a greater understanding of tools small business contractors have at their disposal to win more business from the federal government. Get ahead of the curve — register your team today!
Meet Your Presenters
Sarah M. Graves is an Associate with Husch Blackwell LLP in Washington, D.C. As a member of their government contracts practice, she advises government contractors in the litigation of contract claims and bid protests before the Government Accountability Office, Boards of Contract Appeals and the Court of Federal Claims, and in civil False Claims Act and qui tam matters during both the initial investigation and litigation stages. Sarah also counsels government contractors on regulatory compliance, including conflicts of interest, GSA schedule contracting, subcontracting and flow-down issues under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the Buy American Act and the Trade Agreements Act.
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits
CLE requirements vary by state. If you would like to receive CLE credits for this webinar please contact customer service at (202) 238-9597.
Policy on Refunds and Cancellations
Your satisfaction with this training program is guaranteed. If you encounter difficulties prior to or during a course, please contact customer service at (202) 238-9596. If you are dissatisfied with a course for any reason, you may receive credit toward a future course or a full refund. In the event that this course is cancelled, participants are notified immediately via email and offered a full refund. If the course is rescheduled, participants have a choice of a full refund or having their registration transferred to the new date.
