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Changes in Control or Ownership Could Silently Sink Many Veteran-Owned Businesses

Business Law

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Veteran-Owned Businesses

Background

Did you know that if you are a qualifying small business you can be eligible for substantial economic benefits? The federal government and many state governments – including New York – have programs that provide preferences, a leg up so to speak, to small businesses on the hundreds of millions of contracts that they hand out on a regular basis. Small businesses, in order to qualify, have to meet certain criteria. Qualification is based on several socioeconomic factors that include how big your business is and who owns and controls it. One of the groups that is particularly targeted for this assistance is Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVO) businesses. As set forth below, it is important to understand what the government is looking for so that you can not only qualify for their help, but maintain it.

Federal and state governments, in fact, incentivize agencies to set aside certain contracts for socioeconomic groups by setting annual, government-wide contracting goals (e.g., 23 percent of all federal contracts to small businesses; 3 percent of all federal contracts to SDVO small businesses; 5 percent of all federal contracts to Women-Owned small businesses). The government also creates incentives to large prime contractors to do the same, providing favorable ratings for prime contractors who target and hire small businesses that qualify to assist them in the contracts that they obtain.

Small businesses vying for these preferences must be alert, because federal and state governments work diligently to prevent unqualified large or other businesses from improperly seeking to take advantage of these programs. Indeed, some seek to purposefully masquerade as preferred socioeconomic classes to get certified for these types of benefits. There is a cost for falsely seeking to qualify. For example, an Albany government contractor was recently sentenced to three-and-a-half to 12 years in prison for, among other things, using two Minority-Owned small businesses to defraud New York State on public contracts set aside and meant specifically for Minority-Owned businesses. In this instance, the fraudulent government contractor took control of the small businesses’ day-to-day operations and long-term decision-making and falsely certified them as Minority-Owned small businesses.

 

Requirements for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

Control and ownership are two vital requirements, which are often overlooked as part of this process, particularly with respect to SDVOBs. Failure to properly monitor either criterion could sink your business and even destroy any subcontracting relationships you have worked hard to establish. These types of mistakes can require years to rebuild and reobtain the certified status that was lost. Unfortunately, the terrain often changes through new laws and new regulations, and small businesses must not only adapt but diligently keep apprised of any new conditions as they arise.

In October 2018, the terrain changed for SDVO small businesses in federal contracting. But, many of them have not adapted, letting water silently seep into the hull.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) have, historically, reviewed federal SDVO status in tandem, applying their own requirements for control and ownership. However, in 2017, Congress directed SBA and VA to consolidate their SDVO certification programs, and, in October 2018, SBA and VA issued new regulations creating a new regime for SDVO certifications. Specifically, the VA retains the Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) and continues certifying SDVO small businesses for VA contracts. But, VA’s CVE must apply SBA’s control and ownership requirements, which SBA applies in reviewing SDVO certifications for all other federal contracts. This unification is a huge boost to SDVO small businesses in federal contracting, creating one set of requirements for control and ownership.

 

Ownership

Ownership, often, is a fairly simple obstacle to overcome. SBA regulations, like many state requirements, focus on the individuals or entities that have ownership interests in the company under review and look to make sure that majority ownership is indeed with a service-disabled veteran or veterans. In particular, SBA requires that “a concern must be at least 51 percent unconditionally and directly owned by one or more service-disabled veterans” to qualify as a SDVO small business. 13 C.F.R. § 125.12. “Unconditionally” means that the service-disabled veteran’s ownership cannot be subject to any contingencies, assignments, or other restrictions. 13 C.F.R. § 125.11. “Directly” means that a service-disabled veteran must own the company under review, not a parent, affiliate, or a subsidiary; socioeconomic status does not “trickle down” corporate structures. 13 C.F.R. § 125.11. Outside of these nuances, one or more service-disabled veterans must own at least 51 percent of the company (i.e., 51 percent of aggregate voting interest for partnerships; 51 percent of member interest for limited-liability companies; 51 percent of each voting stock for corporations) to attain SDVO status.

 

Control

Control, however, is a more treacherous terrain. When reviewing a company for federal SDVO status, SBA and VA attempt to discern who, or what, has the power to control the company’s long-term decision-making, day-to-day management, and administration of the business. See 13 C.F.R. § 125.13. These corporate powers are the heart of “control” in federal contracting.

At the time of consolidation, SBA codified many instances where it has historically concluded control by a service-disabled veteran is unlikely or simply presumed a non-service-disabled veteran controlled the SDVO small business under the circumstances.

SBA and VA often rely on rebuttable presumptions when considering who or what controls. Rebuttable presumptions are, more simply, conclusions made based on the circumstances that the company can disprove with evidence to the contrary, like affidavits or corporate documents (e.g., operating agreements, bylaws). Here are some of the rebuttable presumptions that a business could face during a review:

 

Recommendations

SDVO small businesses, and other government contractors, need to closely monitor their ownership, management, and daily operations to ensure that their business does not absently fall under one the above-mentioned scenarios. Service-disabled veterans must also pay close attention to operating agreements, bylaws, shareholder agreements, vendor arrangements, loan agreements, and other corporate documents to guarantee a non-service-disabled veteran or non-SDVO business is not given so much authority. Contractors should also pay special attention to proposed regulations from SBA and VA, as both may attempt to expand or modify the above-mentioned scenarios, either creating leniencies or further restrictions.

Startups and small businesses looking for clarification or assistance in complying with veteran-owned business regulations should contact an attorney who is knowledgeable about federal and state laws, regulations and programs.


Daniel T. Kane, Esq. of Tully Rinckey PLLC, is Director and Lead Counsel of the TR Business Navigator, an affordable, dynamic legal service and guidance program for startups and small businesses. He has extensive experience in federal and state government contracting, including SDVO certifications and other socioeconomic programs.

 

Editor’s Note:

On February 21, 2019, Daniel T. Kane will be hosting a discussion on “Operating Agreements & By-Laws” where he’ll speak with attendees about establishing corporate procedures, management structures, mission statements, and emergency mechanisms in case things go horribly wrong. He will also discuss how operating agreements and bylaws can affect your business’s socioeconomic certifications (i.e., SDVO, WOSB) and what to avoid when granting powers to members, managers, and other interested parties.

Contact us today to schedule your consultation.

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