New Defenses to the Ostensible Subcontractor Rule are Coming

You may have noticed that SBA issued a final rule last week that created sweeping changes to the SBA’s 8(a) Program regulations, but along with that, SBA made sure to slip in a change to the ostensible subcontractor rule that has been a sticking point for many contractors when facing affiliation concerns. With this final […]

Biden-Harris Administration to Launch New Initiative to Increase Federal Contracting with Small Disadvantaged Businesses

WASHINGTON – Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and Administrator Robin Carnahan, head of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), announced a joint effort, known as the 8(a) MAS Pool Initiative, to help small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) participating in the 8(a) Business Development Program gain access to more federal contracts in GSA’s Multiple Award […]

Get Ready! Enhanced Cybersecurity Standards for Federal Contractors Coming Soon

For years, the federal contracting community has closely monitored the oft-delayed Department of Defense’s (DOD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program—now on iteration 2.0—as the forefront of cybersecurity obligations. That focus may soon be expanding. Contractors outside of DOD’s orbit may soon be subject to similar requirements. Civilian agency contractors should start preparing now for an enhanced […]

High-Speed Rail Authority Receives Excellence Award for Advancing Diversity and Social Change

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The California High-Speed Rail Authority has been recognized by the American Planning Association’s California – Northern Section with the 2023 Excellence Award for Advancing Diversity and Social Change in Honor of Paul Davidoff, an urban planner who pioneered inclusionary zoning. The recognition is for high-speed rail’s San Jose to Merced Project […]

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for California

WASHINGTON — FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of California to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides beginning on Feb. 21, 2023, and continuing.  More

Board OKs $2B Cost Increase for California High-Speed Rail Project

Inflation, added scope of work and the need for additional contingency funds have added just over $2 billion to the price of an ongoing high-speed rail line project in California, according to the agency that oversees it, and questions remain over funding for future planned segments.  More:

IIJA money starting to flow to projects

Funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is finally making it to projects, according to the CEOs of several major public construction companies. Additional federal money from the Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act is also boosting the civil construction outlook, they said.  More

Billions are needed to repair, renovate and maintain Cal State’s buildings

Billions of dollars are needed to fully repair, maintain and renovate academic buildings and facilities across the 23 campuses in the California State University system, according to a legislative report. But that is money that the system, and the state, don’t have readily available. Meanwhile, some students have complained about unbearable heat waves in classrooms […]

Skanska offering free, small business training in Western region

Skanska’s Western Region is hosting its first Construction Management Building Blocks (CMBB) training program for small construction businesses and is now accepting applications for the free 10-week course, which starts March 7, 2023. Organizing the course to include the entire western region will give participants “access to the pool of personnel that we have across […]