Small Business Administration Program Attorneys in Washington, D.C.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) overseas and maintains a wide-ranging program to ensure that small businesses have access to and compete for government contracts.
An attorney knowledgeable in the SBA’s government contracting programs can help your company gain access to billions of federal contracting dollars that go to small businesses every year. At Ward & Berry we assist clients with structuring their businesses to obtain and maintain access to the SBA’s government contracting programs (i.e., 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone) and litigate size protests and status protests and appeals before SBA’s Office of Hearing and Appeals (“OHA”).
Why You Need an SBA Attorney
At Ward & Berry PLLC, we can provide an attorney to advise you on any SBA matter or provide a range of other SBA legal services. Navigating through the changing legal and regulatory landscape of the small business government contracting programs can be difficult and tricks of the trade are not evident from the regulations or other resources. An experienced attorney is necessary.
SBA Compliance
Once your company is participating in the SBA’s government contracting programs compliance becomes critical. Constant vigilance is necessary to ensure that your company maintains eligibility for these programs and avoids running afoul of rules which can carry serious consequences. The rules are constantly evolving. Ward & Berry’s attorneys stay up to date on all new SBA rules and OHA decisions in order to provide the most up-to-date advice.
As your company grows and new owners or executives are added, it is vital that your company update its corporate documents including the operating agreement or bylaws in a way that is compliant with maintain your company’s eligibility for the SBA’s programs.
The attorneys at Ward & Berry PLLC will ensure your business is following proper compliance with all guidelines and regulations, including:
- FAR Part 19 which governs the set-aside of federal contracts which reserves a total acquisition or a portion of an acquisition solely for small businesses.
- 13 CFR Part 121 which establishes the size standards and rules on affiliation for small businesses.
Why Hire Ward & Berry PLLC
Ward & Berry’s attorneys have helped dozens of companies establish and maintain eligibility for the 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, and HUBZone programs. We have litigated dozens of size and status appeals at OHA. Further, we have successfully developed creative alternatives to litigation by developing relationships with SBA officials.
If your company becomes the subject of an investigation related to your participation in the SBA’s government contracting programs, Ward & Berry’s attorneys have extensive experience leading an investigation and ensuring that your company is able to preserve its ability to participate in government contracts.
SBA Protests and Appeals
It is almost certain that at some point your small business will face a size protest challenging its eligibility for a contract set-aside for small businesses. Size protests can be based on any number of factors including issues related to ownership and control, affiliation, the ostensible subcontractor rule, and the non-manufacturer rule.
When your business faces a size protest, it is critical that you have an experienced attorney involved from the very beginning. Any inaccuracies that are included on the SBA Form 355 (the basic form under which a company responds to a size protest) can stay with you throughout the course of the protest and prejudice your ability to maintain eligibility.
If the SBA has made an adverse size or status determination against you, we have years of experience handling OHA appeals and have participated in some of the most consequential OHA cases which created new and far-reaching precedents.
Additionally, we are well-versed in offensive size protests. When your company loses a set-aside contract to a competitor that is not eligible it is important that you exercise your right to protest the award.
Contact Us Today
Contact our SBA attorneys in Washington, D.C., or Tysons, Virginia. If you need help with the small business administration program it is critical to contact an experienced attorney at Ward & Berry PLLC as soon as possible. We are here to help you. Call us today at (202) 331-8160 or click here for our contact page.