AI, Cybersecurity, and Federal Buying: Where Small Contractors Can Still Break In

AI, Cybersecurity, and Federal Buying: Where Small Contractors Can Still Break In

AI is no longer sitting politely in the “innovation” corner of federal contracting, waiting for agencies to figure out whether it matters. It matters now. It is showing up in acquisition planning, modernization projects, cybersecurity…
CMMC Level 1 Compliance Guide

Why CMMC Level 1 Matters for Small Business DoD Contractors

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern for government contractors. For companies that want to do business with the Department of Defense, it is becoming a contract readiness issue. That is where CMMC comes in. CMMC, short for Cybersecurity…
SBA 8(a) changes

SBA’s Proposed 8(a) Rule Change: Why Documentation Just Became More Important Than Ever

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If you’re thinking about 8(a) certification, documentation just became more important than ever. That is the practical takeaway from SBA’s proposed 8(a) rule change published on June 11, 2026. The proposed rule would remove the rebuttable…
Made in America Is Now a GSA Advantage Compliance Issue

Made in America Is Now a GSA Advantage Compliance Issue

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Made in America is no longer just a marketing claim. It is a compliance issue. For years, product suppliers and manufacturers have treated domestic sourcing language as a competitive advantage, especially when selling to federal buyers who…
Simplified Acquisition Threshold $350K Small Business

The $350K Sweet Spot: Why Small Contractors Should Rethink Simplified Acquisitions in 2026

There is a quiet shift happening in federal contracting that small businesses should not ignore. The Simplified Acquisition Threshold has moved from $250,000 to $350,000, and while that may sound like a dry regulatory update, it changes…
How to find SLED government contracts

The Hidden Pipeline: How Smart Contractors Find Opportunities Before They Go Live

Most government contractors are looking in the same place. They search public portals. They check SAM.gov. They scan state procurement sites. They wait for opportunities to be posted, then rush to decide whether to bid. That is the "normal"…
How to Partner with Primes Without Triggering Affiliation Risk

Teaming Without Trouble: How to Partner with Primes Without Triggering Affiliation Risk

Teaming can be one of the smartest ways for a small business to grow in government contracting. A good teaming relationship can help you break into a new agency, strengthen your proposal, cover gaps in your past performance, add technical…
What the 2026 NDAA Threshold Changes Mean for Small Businesses

The June 30 Defense Contracting Line: What the 2026 NDAA Threshold Changes Mean for Small Businesses

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June 30, 2026 is not just another date on the procurement calendar. For defense contractors, it is the line where several long-standing compliance thresholds change at once. The FY 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense and…
NAICS Codes and Size Standards for Federal Contracting

NAICS Codes and Size Standards for Federal Contracting: How to Stay Eligible (and Avoid Disqualification)

For a lot of small business government contractors, NAICS codes feel like one of those administrative details you set up once in SAM.gov and then forget about. That is a mistake. Your NAICS codes do more than describe what your company…
House Committee Advances Bill to Make the Small Business “Rule of Two” Permanent Above the SAT

House Committee Advances Bill to Make the Small Business “Rule of Two” Permanent Above the SAT

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Small business contractors just got a very important piece of good news. On May 21, 2026, the House Committee on Small Business announced that it had reported nine bills favorably to the full House. One of those bills, H.R. 2804, the “Protecting…