U.S. Department of Labor: Final Rule on Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards

Source: federalregister.gov

On January 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor finalized its rule concerning the classification of workers as employees or independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which is scheduled to be published on January 7, 2021. This rule will be effective 60 days after the publication, on March 8, 2021.

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SBA and Treasury Announce PPP Re-Opening

Source: treasury.gov

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially, only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, January 11, and Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, January 13.

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Vendors, consultants describe an increase in ‘bullying’ tactics by GSA to get lower schedule prices

Source: federalnewsnetwork.com

The General Services Administration’s schedules program brings in more than $38 billion in revenue each year. It’s one of the most well-known acquisition programs in the country with a reach across more than 100 agencies, state and local governments and the private sector companies. If a company wants to play in the federal market, usually their first step is to get on the schedule.

This is why recent actions by some GSA contracting officers trying to drive down prices, particularly for services, that some say to an unreasonable level is causing so much concern and eliciting words like “bullying” and “holding hostage” from those vendors facing this pressure that has re-emerged over the last four to six months.

Multiple vendors as well as consultants, lawyers and a major GSA-focused trade association representing hundreds of schedule holders say the pendulum has swung too far in how the Federal Acquisition Service is requiring vendors to renegotiate prices, with some being reduced by as much as 40%.

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