Government agencies in the United States, both federal and state/local, spend billions of dollars buying products and services ranging in complexity—from staplers to space rovers to chocolate fountains for the next presidential gala. If you own a small business, you might think that you don't stand a chance against bigger corporations who have been prime contractors for the government for a long time. Procurement laws, however, assure you that you can still snag contracts even though your business is relatively new to government contracting. There are established goals for federal executive agencies:
- 23 percent of prime contracts for small businesses;
- 5 percent of prime and subcontracts for small disadvantaged businesses;
- 5 percent of prime and subcontracts for women-owned small businesses;
- 3 percent of prime contracts for HUBZone small businesses;
- 3 percent of prime and subcontracts for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
Furthermore, the Small Business Act 15(g)(1) also states that it is the policy of the United States, that each agency shall have an annual goal that represents, for that agency, the maximum practicable opportunity for small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by service disabled veterans, qualified HUBZone small business concerns, small business concerns owned and operated by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and small business concerns owned and controlled by women, to participate in the performance of contracts let by that agency.
SBA's role
To ensure that the Government-wide goal for participation of small business concerns be established at not less than the statutory levels annually and to report the agencies' achievements relative to the goals of the President.
by: Kyra Cerillo