The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship has long promoted small business participation in the federal contracting arena. Small businesses are our nation’s most dynamic job generators and provide the benefits of competition, including lower prices, better services and products, to the federal government, the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world. In fact, the U.S. government procures around $500 billion annually in products and services. Ranking Member Snowe has produced a guide for small businesses interested in accessing Federal contracting opportunities, which may be accessed here.
The Committee has long advocated for small business, including service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, HUBZone firms, and minority and women-owned businesses, to have increased opportunities to participate in the Federal marketplace. The Committee takes very seriously its oversight role in ensuring that the Federal government meets its 23 percent goaling requirement for small business.
Over the years, various laws have been enacted to provide tools and incentives to aid small businesses in competing for these contracts. For instance:
In recognition of the various programs’ value, Ranking Member Snowe, in the 111th Congress, introduced S. 1489, the Small Business Contracting Programs Parity Act to ensure that the various contracting programs are placed on an equal footing. Chair Landrieu and Ranking Member Snowe also worked together to ensure that key provision of the legislation were included as part of an amendment to S. 1390, the Defense Authorization Act.
Small Business Goaling Summary Report
|
|
2007 |
2007 |
2008 |
2008 |
Category |
Goal |
% |
$ |
% |
$ |
Small Businesses |
23% |
22% |
$83.2 billion |
21.50% |
$93.2 billion |
Small Disadvantaged Businesses |
5% |
6.6% |
$24.9 billion |
6.76% |
$29.3 billion |
Women |
5% |
3.4% |
$13 billion |
3.40% |
$14.7 billion |
Service-disabled Vets |
3% |
1.01% |
$3.8 billion |
1.49% |
$6.4 billion |
HUBZone |
3% |
2.2% |
$8.5 billion |
2.34% |
$10.1 billion |
Small Business Innovation and Research and Technology Transfer Programs—See Innovation
For additional information, please visit: www.business.gov and www.sba.gov