Small Business Administration
Every GovConFeed story on Small Business Administration — contract awards, policy, enforcement, and protests, newest first.
-
Policy
OMB Proposes 2027 NAICS Overhaul That Could Reshape Small-Business Set-Asides
OMB's Economic Classification Policy Committee is taking comments through Aug. 12 on 2027 NAICS revisions that would merge computer, communications, and tire manufacturing codes and split media-streaming codes, potentially shifting SBA size-standard eligibility for contractors.
-
Policy
Pentagon Suspends CMMC Phase II Audit Mandate, Citing Assessor Shortage
DoD suspended CMMC Phase II third-party assessment requirements on July 13, citing only 100 certified assessors for 120,000+ small defense contractors. Phase 1 self-assessment stays in force while a 60-day task force reviews the program.
-
Policy
GSA Floats Two-Tiered 'Buy American' Tier for Advantage Marketplace, Opens Comment Window to July 24
GSA's June 25 RFI proposes restructuring the Advantage marketplace to spotlight American-made goods through voluntary certification or a dedicated OEM-only Special Item Number, with a 65% domestic-component test rising to 75% in 2029. Industry comments are due July 24, 2026.
-
Policy
Markey Report: Small Business Contractors Lost $47 Billion Under Trump
Sen. Ed Markey's June 2026 report documents a $47 billion drop in federal small business contracting during the first 18 months of the current administration, driven by DOGE-related contracting cuts and a collapse in the number of unique small business vendors receiving federal awards.
-
Policy
SBA Launches Program Examination of EDWOSB-Certified Firms, June 30 Deadline
The SBA launched a program examination of all EDWOSB-certified firms in June 2026, requiring submission of financial documents, ownership records, and affidavits by a June 30 deadline to verify eligibility and deter fraudulent certification in the women-owned set-aside program.
-
Policy
SBA Proposes Race-Neutral 8(a) Eligibility Standard — Comment Deadline July 13
SBA published a proposed rule on June 11 (91 Fed. Reg. 35433) eliminating the race-based presumption of social disadvantage from 8(a) eligibility, requiring all applicants to submit verifiable evidence of group discrimination and personal economic harm. Comments due July 13, 2026.
-
Policy
STARS III Ordering Period Expires July 1 — 8(a) IT Firms Have 18 Days to Place New Task Orders
GSA's 8(a) STARS III IT GWAC ($50B ceiling) reaches its ordering period deadline on July 1, 2026. GSA intends to exercise an option extending ordering through July 1, 2029, but it has not yet been formally executed. 8(a) IT firms and agency customers must act within the next 18 days.
-
Policy
Protecting Small Business Competitions Act Would Strengthen the Rule of Two
Legislation introduced in the House would codify stricter enforcement of the rule of two, requiring contracting officers to conduct market research documenting why a small business set-aside was not possible before proceeding with unrestricted competition.
-
Policy
SBA Opens $50M Grant Program for Small Manufacturer Technical Assistance
The Small Business Administration announced up to $50 million in Empower to Grow grants for organizations providing training and technical assistance to small manufacturers in aerospace, shipbuilding, medical manufacturing, and other critical industries.
-
Policy
Bill Would Eliminate 8(a) and Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Preferences
Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Glenn Grothman introduced legislation to eliminate the 8(a) program, women-owned small business contracting preferences, and the Minority Business Development Act, while retaining HUBZone and veteran-owned programs.
-
Policy
Tribal 8(a) Firms See $800M Drop in Contract Awards as Program Disruption Deepens
Awards to tribal-owned and Alaska Native Corporation 8(a) firms in Indian country fell 26 percent through April 2026, an $800 million decline from the prior year, as the SBA's enforcement actions and racial presumption changes continue to ripple through the program.
-
Policy
GAO: SBA Failed to Report AI Use Cases for Five Years While Federal AI Adoption Doubled
A May 2026 GAO report found the Small Business Administration did not publish its first AI use case inventory until March 2026, despite a requirement in effect since 2020, as federal AI use doubled from 2023 to 2024 and generative AI increased nine-fold.
