1. Department of the Army Office of Small Business Programs Mentor Protege Program (MPP) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
   1. Link to announcement open until November 2023  SAM.gov
   2. Link to complete program information and instructions FY23+MPP_BAA+Soliciation+W91CRB-12-R-MPP2.pdf
2. PTAC is now Apex Accelerators!  

   1. On October 1, 2022, the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) and Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) transitioned from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to DoD OSBP. This move will allow the Department to integrate these centers into our broader industry engagement activities and leverage them to provide support to our suppliers looking to do business with the Department and other federal agencies.

      Recently, DoD OSBP rebranded these centers to APEX Accelerators and established a new leadership team under Mr. Khalil Mack who is now the Director of the Department’s APEX Accelerators. The PTAC moniker will sunset over the course of this fiscal year.

      The Department’s APEX Accelerators are located in fifty states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands and have ninety-six locations. These Accelerators will keep helping American businesses pursue contracts with federal, state, and local governments by assisting with various registration and eligibility requirements, identification of contract opportunities, preparation for applications and submission of bids. They will also support the Department in targeted market research and other efforts to support specific acquisitions pursuant to the action plan developed in response to President Biden’s Executive Order (EO) 14017 on “America’s Supply Chains”, EO 14036 on “Promoting Competition in the American Economy”, and EO 13985 on “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”.

      The Department’s APEX Accelerators will serve as critical enablers to opening the defense industrial base to small, medium, large, and new entrant companies that are on the forefront of innovation. For more information on the APEX Accelerators visit www.apexaccelerators.us

3. ​Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) is now integrated with sam.gov

   1. ​On December 12, 2022, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS.gov) integrated with System for Award Management (SAM.gov) as part the ongoing Integrated Award Environment modernization, managed by the General Services Administration.  For more information and guidance on the recent integration, see the memorandum and DPC webpage at the links below.   

      Memorandum:

      https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/policy/policyvault/USA002342-22-DPC.pdf

      DPC SAM Guidance:

      https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/dpc/ce/cap/sam.html

4. ​Small Businesses can request past performance ratings for work performed as part of a J/V or First Tier Subcontractor
   1. ​
   2. Small Businesses can request past performance ratings for work they performed as part of a Joint Venture or First-Tier Subcontractor beginning 22 August 2022!  https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/07/22/2022-15622/past-performance-ratings-for-small-business-joint-venture-members-and-small-business-first-tier   Some key points from the final rule specifically for first-tier subcontractors:
      • This is limited to past performance as a first tier contractor on a prime contract with a subcontracting plan, however at their discretion a prime contractor can a performance rating, even if the contract did not include a subcontracting plan.
      • The small business will have 30 days after the completion of the period of performance to request the performance rating, and the prime contractor will have 15 days to provide the response.
      • Responding to SB requests for ratings will be included in all other subcontracting plan requirements (FAR 19.704) and there are potential consequences for failing to comply. 
        • Subcontractors may notify a contracting officer of the prime’s failure to provide required ratings.
      • The past performance evaluation factors are the same as the current CPARS evaluation factors, and prime contractors should use the rating system already laid out at FAR 42.1503 table 42-1 for rating the contractors.
        • Factors:  Technical, Cost Control, Schedule/timelines, Management or business relations, small business subcontracting, other.
      • There is no minimum dollar threshold of the subcontract to allow a request for rating.
      • There is no separate system for prime contractors to input this information and no formal reporting mechanism- Past performance ratings will be submitted to the agency in accordance with the solicitation.
5. SBA Updated Table of Size Standards  https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards
6. Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Information and Resources​
   1. The Department of Defense is in the process of requiring ALL contractors and their subcontractors and suppliers to have the appropriate level of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification to be eligible for an award.  There are multiple levels of certification, some certification levels require an accredited third party to certify.  The level of certification necessary can take months or years to obtain to be able to meet future Government requirements.  The full implementation of the CMMC requirement is quickly approaching, 2026 is the deadline for certification.  If your company or subcontractors are not currently certified, a simple internet search will locate several firms that are available to help you start the certification process now.  The government is not advocating the use of any particular vendor for certification preparation.  The government is not advocating the use of any particular vendor for certification preparation. 
   2. https://cmmcab.org/marketplace/?search_category=headline&q=&search_method=contains&cat=3
   3. Project Spectrum: Project Spectrum
   4. Additional resources for contractors: Chief Information Officer > CMMC (defense.gov)

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