SBA Issues Sweeping Regulatory Changes In Response To Presidential Initiative

The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently published a much-anticipated final rule on a series of important regulatory amendments, including the:

• Consolidation of the 8(a) Business Development (BD) Mentor-Protégé Program and the All Small Mentor-Protégé Program;
• Elimination of the requirement that 8(a) participants seeking to be awarded an 8(a) contract as a joint venture (JV) submit the JV agreement to the SBA for review and approval prior to contract award;
• Elimination of the so-called "three in two rule;" and
• Requirement that a business concern recertify its size and/or socioeconomic status for all set-aside orders under unrestricted multiple award contracts.