As part of the jobs package that he presented to Congress earlier this month, President Obama announced a new “QuickPay” initiative that would reduce the deadline for federal government payments to small business prime contractors from 30 days to 14 days. Many such contractors are often plagued by cash flow problems, even though they have...
Month: September 2011
New Rule Makes Matters Thorny for HUBZone Contractors
As a result of a new Labor Department rule, HUBZone contractors will need to brace themselves for possible new changes to their hiring practices that may prove difficult and cumbersome. Since 1998, Congress has provided for preferential treatment to HUBZone contractors — those firms servicing Historically Underutilized Business Zones — in competitions for federal government...
Executive Order Aims at Opening Doors to All in Federal Work
While we wait for Congress and the private sector to sort out a solution to our struggling economy and spark much needed job growth, President Obama took a promising step last month in signing Executive Order #13583. The purpose of the order is to promote the equal opportunity and inclusion of qualified minorities by America’s...
Finding One’s Way Globally — Some Current Examples
In previous blog posts, we discussed some of the challenges and opportunities that often face U.S. companies that are considering doing business abroad. Here are some examples that we are familiar with and that can illuminate the complex decision-making process that these companies can encounter. First, a West Coast contractor was experienced in working with...
What Small Businesses Need to Succeed Beyond Our Shores
Because of the lower value of the dollar and increased demand abroad, American companies have sought new markets overseas. This includes small companies as well as large. U.S. exports rose to more than $170 billion in June 2011 from $151 billion a year earlier and $128 billion in June 2009, the Commerce Department reported this...
Is SEC Rewriting Insider Trading Law?
As we and others have noted lately, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department have taken a new and aggressive attitude towards insider trading. Both in high-profile prosecutions like that of the leaders and employees of the Galleon Group LLC hedge fund, and in more routine civil enforcement actions, it looks to a lot...