[GOVCON ROUNDUP LIVE] 8(a) Overhaul, WOSB Under Threat: How Proposed Changes Could Reshape Federal Contracting
August 12, 2026 @ 1:00 PM Eastern Time
Special Guest: Nicole Pottroff (Koprince, McCall, Pottroff LLC)
Two major developments could dramatically reshape the future of federal contracting for 8(a) and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) firms — and both are moving right now.
In this episode of GovCon Roundup Live, hosts Carroll Bernard and Steven Koprince are joined by special guest Nicole Pottroff, federal contracting attorney and equity partner at Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC, to unpack a proposed SBA rule and pending legislation that could significantly change both programs.
What we’ll cover:
The SBA’s June 2026 proposed rule — eliminating the rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage for individually owned 8(a) firms and replacing it with a uniform, evidence-based standard. What evidence will SBA accept? How could it affect new applicants? And could current participants have to prove continued eligibility at their annual review?
The Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act (H.R. 8511 / S. 4390) — legislation that, if enacted, would eliminate federal contracting preferences and goals based on race, ethnicity, or sex, potentially dismantling the statutory foundations of both the 8(a) and WOSB programs.
The bigger picture — the latest developments on the 8(a) application backlog and the 8(a) & WOSB program audit, and what all of this means for certified firms, companies considering certification, and the broader small business community.
We’ll break down the legal and regulatory risks, the compliance challenges ahead, opportunities for advocacy, and the practical steps you can take now to prepare for whatever comes next.
Whether you’re 8(a)- or WOSB-certified, weighing certification, or simply trying to stay ahead of a shifting landscape, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Join us live on August 12, 2026 — free to attend. Register today to reserve your seat and bring your questions for the live Q&A.
“Ignorance isn’t bliss—it’s expensive.”
GovCon Roundup Live is your survival guide to the wild world of federal contracting, where the acronyms are endless, the rules are ever-changing, and staying competitive means being sharp and adaptable. We break down policy changes, legislative updates, and industry shifts that signal strategic opportunities to pivot, reposition, and stay one step ahead of the chaos.
Whether you’re a small business, a consultant, or someone who accidentally became a government contractor and decided to roll with it, this show helps you stay informed, make smarter decisions, and maybe even enjoy the ride.
Speakers
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Carroll BernardCARROLL BERNARD, Co-Founder & Managing Member, Waypoint America LLC dba GovologyCarroll Bernard is the Co-Founder and Managing Member of Waypoint America LLC dba Govology. He brings deep government contracting expertise from serving as a government buyer, small business contractor, and procurement advisor. His career includes acquisition roles in the U.S. Navy Supply Corps, the City of Vancouver (WA), and the Department of Veterans Affairs as a warranted Contracting Officer. He later served at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as a Business Development Specialist supporting 8(a) firms, and also as the SBA Portland District’s Veteran Business Development Officer and Primary HUBZone Liaison. After federal service, Carroll helped small businesses compete for government contracts as a Procurement Counselor with the Department of Defense APEX Accelerator program (formerly PTAP). In 2015, he and his team launched Govology’s online training platform, which has trained over 20,000 business professionals through partnerships with nonprofits, government agencies, universities, and corporations.
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Steven KoprinceFaculty Instructor and Legal Analyst, GovologySteven J. Koprince is a Faculty Instructor and Legal Analyst at Govology. Before joining Govology, Steven founded and served as the Managing Partner of Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC, a law firm devoted exclusively to providing comprehensive legal services to federal government contractors.
Steven is the author of The Small-Business Guide to Government Contracts (AMACOM Books, 2012) and co-author of three GovCon Handbooks providing in-depth information on discrete government contracting topics. Steven also founded the blog SmallGovCon (smallgovcon.com), where he has written more than 1,100 posts on government contracting legal issues. Steven has been quoted in several national news outlets and has appeared on numerous radio programs and podcasts. A frequent featured speaker at the national conferences of the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, Steven was honored as a “Friend of APTAC” at the Spring 2016 APTAC National Conference.
In addition to his work for Govology, Steven volunteers for and serves as a Director of a nonprofit organization providing wrap-around services to disadvantaged families. He is also a co-founder and Director of a nonprofit organization promoting the great sport of pickleball in Lawrence and the surrounding area.
Steven is a graduate of Duke University and the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary. Steven lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife, two children, and two cuddly cats.
Steven welcomes APEX Accelerator counselors to contact him by email at skoprince@govology.com and connect with him on LinkedIn.
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Nicole PottroffEquity partner, Koprince McCall Pottroff LLCNicole D. Pottroff is an equity partner with Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC. Nicole’s practice focuses exclusively on federal government contract law. She helps clients understand and comply with the complex regulatory provisions unique to federal contracting, including the FAR, DFARS, and SBA small business, 8(a) Program, WOSB/EDWOSB, SDVOSB/VOSB, and HUBZone regulations, among others.Nicole also assists clients by drafting, reviewing, and negotiating joint venture agreements, mentor-protégé agreements, teaming agreements, subcontracts, social disadvantage narratives, and other critical documents.
On the litigation side, Nicole has also played a key role in numerous GAO bid protests, Court of Federal Claims protests, SBA size and status protests, appeals before the SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals, matters before the Boards of Contract Appeals, and even a protest appeal at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Nicole graduated from the University of Kansas and the Washburn University School of Law. A lover of animals and all-things outdoors, Nicole lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with her husband and sons. Nicole covers government contracting legal topics regularly on SmallGovCon.com. You can contact Nicole by phone at (785) 200-8919 or by email at npottroff@koprince.com.
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