Learn more about the Turner School's upcoming training program.

Contact Connie May or Michelle Ballard

714.940.9000

Clark Strategic Partnership Program

Visit the Clark Construction web site to learn more...

CalCon Expo

CalCon Expo August 22, 2013 Long Beach Convention Center

To learn more or register, visit: CalCon 2013 Meet the Design-Build Primes Matchmaking August 21, 2013 To register, visit: CalCon Mathchmaking (Registration closes 8/9/2013)

Small Business to Benefit From New Federal Rules

Agencies and Prime Contractors to pay more attention to Small Business Subcontractors.

The U. S, Small Business Administration (SBA) is amending its regulations governing small business subcontracting to implement provisions of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. The new rules include: Prime Contractors are required to issue notices to contracting officers specifically when they are late in making payments to small business sub-contractors; Prime Contractors must notify contracting officers in writing if they do not use the contractor originally referenced in the submitted bid or proposal; Agency Contracting Officers must monitor the small business sub-contractors' plan performance more closely; Clarifications as to which subcontracts should be included or excluded in data reporting (specifically, Prime Contractors record should be limited to awards made to immediate next-tier subcontractors; credit cannot be taken for awards made beyond the immediate next-tier); Changes subcontracting plan thresholds and updates to the use of the electronic subcontracting reporting system (eSRS); The new rule will be effective August 15, 2013.

CALTRANS Proposes 2014-2016 DBE Goals

Comment Period is open.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is seeking public input for proposed three year Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals for the period covering Federal Fiscal 2014 through 2016. As the recipient of funding from the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA), Caltrans is required to establish goals for the inclusion of DBEs. Caltrans has proposed a goal of 4 percent achieved exclusively through race-neutral means. This means that Caltrans expects to meet the goal without the use of DBE participation goals on individual projects. In the past, Caltrans has used various methods to achieve DBE goals. This includes business outreach to existing DBEs, technical assistance and training, improving the contract process, and data collection, monitoring, and reporting of DBEs. In addition to continuing to use the methods outlined above, Caltrans plans to: Expand the web site for easier access to information needed by SB and DBE firms and links to other supportive services, local agencies, and technical assistance; Establishing relationships with financial institutions, surety companies and insurance companies to market Caltrans opportunities in conjunction with SB and DBEs; Look for opportunities to package smaller contracts; Increase the number of certified DBE firms; The comment period is currently open. All comments should be e-mailed to michael.lange@dot.ca.gov or mailed to: Michael LangePO Box 942874 M.S. 39 Sacramento, CA 94274-0001 To read the methodology for the Triennial DBE Goal click here...

SBA Increases Size Standards for 70 Additional NAICS Sectors

More small businesses will have access to SBA's small business programs and government contracts.

The U. S, Small Business Administration (SBA) recently released the latest changes to small business size standards. Under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, SBA is conducting a comprehensive review of all size standards, a process that will continue for the next several years. In the lastest review, SBA has issued four final rules in the Federal Registry increasing size standards for firms in four North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sectors and one Subsector: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (Sector 11) Finance an dInsurance (Sector 52) Management of Companies and Enterprises (Sector 55) Arts, Entertainment, and Recreations (Sector 71) Support Services for Mining (Subsector 213) Size standards define the maximum size a firm can be and still be considered a small business. The new size standards will enable more businesses to retain small business status allowing them to bid on more federal contracts and make them eligible for small business loans through the SBA loan programs and to receive technical assistance from SBA resource partners, such as the Orange County Small Business Development Center. SBA increased size standards for businesses in 11 industries in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Sector. More than 7,800 additional firms will qualify as small under these new size standards. SBA also increased size standards for 36 industries for firms in the Finance and Insurance Sector and two industries in the Management of Companies and Enterprises Sector. SBA changed the basis for measuring size from assets to annual revenues for the International Trade Financing industry and deleted the Real Estate Investment Trusts from its table of size standards. More than 7,400 additional businesses will qualify as small under the new size standards. . Size standards for 17 industries were also increased for firms in the Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Sector. More than 1,450 additional firms will qualify as small under these new size standards. SBA also increased size standards for three of the four industries for firms in the Support Activities for Mining Subsector within the Mining, Quarrying and Oil and Gas Extraction Sector (Sector 21). Subsector 213 is the only subsector within Sector 21 which has revenues-based size standards. The remaining industries within Sector 21 have employee-based size standards, which SBA will review in the near future. More than 475 additional firms will qualify as small under the new size standards. The four final rules will be effective July 22, 2013. To review the rules and public comments, go to visit.... Each sector has a separate RIN number: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting - (RIN 3245-AG43). Finance and Insurance & Management of Companies and Enterprises - (RIN 3245-AG45). Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation - (RIN 3245-AG36). Support Activities for Mining - (RIN 3245-AG44). The SBA is reviewing all size standards, and takes into account the structural characteristics of individual industries, including average firm size, the degree of competition, and federal government contracting trends. This ensures that small business size definitions reflect current economic conditions in those industries.

Useful Resource for Small Businesses

Small Business Exchange connects small businesses with contracting opportunities.

For over 29 years, Small Business Exchange Inc. has been connecting small, minority-, woman-, disadvantaged- and disabled veteran-owned, businesses with buyers of their goods and services. The Small Business Exchange recently ran an article in their newsletter that we published in last month's Contract Central on how to write a capabilities statement. Their web site and newsletters offers this type of helpful information for small businesses looking for contracting opportunities. It is also a resource for agencies and prime contractors that are looking for small businesses as sub-contractors. If you haven't visited their web site, take a minute to explore: http://www.sbeinc.com/index.cfm.