How your past performance follows you: CPARS, explained.
- What CPARS is — the federal report card that outlasts the contract
- How the evaluation works, and the five ratings from Exceptional to Unsatisfactory
- The 14-day window to respond — and how to protect your record
SBA wants to redraw the line on “small.” Here's what to check.
- SBA proposes raising small business size standards — adding 110,000+ firms, comments due September 21
- How to check whether the change touches your NAICS code — and when to weigh in
The new SBA 8(a) rule: what changes, and what to document now.
- SBA finalizes its 8(a) social-disadvantage rule — effective September 10, 2026
- What individually-owned applicants now have to prove, and the evidence to start gathering
How to write a capability statement for government contracting.
- What buyers actually want on the page — and the one-page rule
- The four blocks: core competencies, past performance, differentiators, and your codes
- Why one statement isn't enough — tailor it and keep your codes current
2 things NYC and New York small business owners can act on this week.
- New York State launches the Empire State MWBE Hub — a new home for certification, recertification and appeals
- NYC's “OPEN for Small Business”: 50-plus reforms cut fees and paperwork for 180,000 small businesses
2 things NYC minority- and women-owned firms can act on this week.
- NY State's M/WBE Regional Opportunities Expo hits the Javits Center — Thursday, July 23
- The SAM.gov Unique Entity ID, explained — and why it isn't the same as being registered
How to get into PASSPort, NYC's procurement portal.
- PASSPort is where you bid — and it starts with an NYC.ID
- Certification is a different portal: SBS Connect, not PASSPort
- You need both — and neither one does the other's job
2 federal items NYC small business owners can act on this week.
- SBA proposes removing the 8(a) social-disadvantage presumption — comments due July 13
- WOSB / EDWOSB audit-readiness: what to keep on file before SBA asks
How M/WBE recertification works in NYC and New York State.
- NYC: five-year certification, but a confirmation form is due every year
- NY State: your recertification window opens 90 days before expiration
- Two separate clocks — renewing one does nothing for the other
5 things NYC small business owners can act on this week.
- NYC Small Business Month Expo — Tomorrow, Thursday May 28
- Mid-year subcontracting reports due June 14 — file in SAM.gov, not eSRS
- SBA doubles cumulative 7(a)/504 loan cap to $10M — effective July 4
Earlier digests will appear here as they publish. The cadence is intentional: only Mon/Wed/Fri, only when something is worth your time.