GSA Unveils Apparent OASIS+ Rolling Awardees Under Unrestricted; 5 Small-Business Tracks
GSA continued its rolling announcements for OASIS+, naming additional “apparently successful” awardees under the Unrestricted track and five small-business set-aside tracks (Total SB, 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB). Formal awards and NTPs for these groups were timed around late September and into October per GSA and SAM notices.
Key Details:
- Rolling status updates: GSA’s PSHC office flagged new batches of apparent awardees and targeted NTPs around Sept. 23 for certain groups, with additional actions into October.
- Scale; momentum: Press coverage tracks hundreds of primes across Unrestricted and thousands across SB pools as lists evolve (post-challenge/protest adjustments).
Takeaway: Validate your pool status and teaming strategy now. Monitor protest dockets and size/status challenges before committing BD resources to early task orders.
2025 8(a) Application Updates (Part I): New Application Countdown Timer
SBA’s 8(a) application portal has introduced a countdown timer designed to help applicants track submission progress and timing. The SmallGovCon analysis explains how the timer works and what applicants can expect as the SBA continues to update its process this year.
Key Details
- Visibility for applicants: The timer shows remaining time to complete and file the application, helping firms avoid timeouts or incomplete submissions.
- Context: The update comes amid broader scrutiny and process changes to the 8(a) program.
Takeaway: If you’re preparing an 8(a) bid, align your document checklist and internal reviews to the portal’s timing—don’t risk resets; treat the timer as a gating control.
Agencies’ Shutdown Contingency Plans, Where to Find Them; What They Cover
As the shutdown risk rose at the end of September, Federal News Network compiled a list of where to access each agency’s current contingency (lapse) plan, while OMB guidance indicated that plans would be posted agency-by-agency rather than centrally. Plans describe excepted vs. non-excepted work, staffing levels, and communications.
Key Details
- Plan contents: Employee furlough estimates, who is “excepted,” and how essential operations continue.
- Access: Plans are published on each agency’s website per OMB messaging.
Takeaway: Bookmark your customer agency’s plan; confirm in writing with your CO whether your tasks are excepted. Use the plan as your starting point, not a substitute for written CO direction.
How Long Do Shutdowns Usually Last? A Quick Look at History
If a shutdown occurs, duration matters for staffing and cash-flow decisions. Historical references from CRS and the House’s History site show a wide range, from brief funding gaps to the 35-day 2018–2019 shutdown (the longest on record).
Key Details
- Longest on record: 35 days (Dec. 2018–Jan 2019).
- Other notable durations: 21 days (1995–1996) and 16 days (2013).
Takeaway: Scenario-plan for 1 week, 2–3 weeks, and 30+ days. Stage communications with subs, segregate shutdown-related costs, and plan billing for completed and funded work.
GSA MAS Refresh #30—What’s Changing and When
GSA issued an advance notice that MAS Refresh #30 is slated for November 2025, with a Mass Modification that contractors must accept within 90 days. The refresh aligns the MAS Solicitation with the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO)—updating, adding, and removing clauses to streamline commercial buying. Draft “Significant Changes” and clause/provision attachments are available on buy.gsa.gov.
Key Details
- Scope: Aligns MAS with RFO; replaces a large set of clauses, adds a handful, and eliminates others to reduce complexity.
- Timing: Refresh #30 expected November 2025; accept Mass Mod within 90 days of issuance.
- Context: Ties to the FAR Companion and model deviation text published by the FAR Council to guide streamlined buying.
Takeaway: MAS holders should review the attachments now, prepare internal checklists for clause deltas, and plan an acceptance window to avoid order interruptions after the Mass Mod is implemented.
Administrator Loeffler Orders Full-Scale Audit of the 8(a) Contracting Program
On June 27, 2025, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler directed a full-scale audit of the 8(a) Business Development Program, citing the need to evaluate compliance, eligibility, and oversight. Expect follow-on guidance and potential impacts on certifications and awards as the review progresses.
Key Details
- Scope: Program-wide audit to assess integrity and compliance.
- Implications: Possible adjustments to the process and increased documentation requirements for applicants and participants.
Takeaway: Current and aspiring 8(a) firms should maintain thorough and accurate eligibility files and track SBA communications—application timing and documentation standards may become stricter during/after the audit.
