They offer a free monthly webinar designed to support small businesses interested in obtaining a GSA Multiple Award Schedules contract. To attend you will simply need to register.

If you have questions regarding these webinars or would like to register, please visit the GSA Events page: GSA Events

Webinars available on:
2/22
3/15
4/26
5/17
6/14
7/19
8/16
9/20
10/18
11/15

The CVC is looking for products that are made in the U.S. and manufactured with U.S.-made materials such as educational toys, jewelry, and souvenir apparel whose product themes are focused on the Capitol for its two Gift Shops.

The AOC is looking for goods and services required to maintain its buildings, such as elevators, escalators, air handling units and electrical systems as well as products and services needed to maintain the landscaping around the Capitol complex and conserve and repair historical objects and artwork.

Why you should attend: You will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from the AOC and the CVC who are responsible for procuring materials for the agency and its divisions.

When: Thursday, February 18, 2010; 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.)

Where: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (the main entrance to the U.S. Capitol, is located below the East Plaza of the Capitol between Constitution and Independence Avenues. For directions and other logistical information, go to www.visitthecapitol.gov.)

Cost: Free – Advance registration is required as seating is limited.

To register online, go to www.aoc.gov. For questions, email SBIndustryDay@aoc.gov or call 202-226-2734.

The VOS site can be found by going to http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0524.xml

The DHS organization chart below is linked to a complete version on the GovExec Website. DHS is massive and we believe this one-on-one session provides as good a starting point as any.

The ASBL requested the specific names of the firms that were coded as small businesses for FY 2005 and 2006 and the specific dollar amounts that were awarded to those firms from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The request was made under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The SBA refused to comply with the ASBL’s request for the data. During litigation, the SBA claimed that it had no information in its possession
regarding the specific names of firms that had received federal small business contracts.

Judge Marilyn H. Patel

In the court’s ruling, United States District Judge Marilyn H. Patel stated, “The court finds it curious the SBA’s argument that it does not ‘control’ the very information it needs to carry out its duties and functions.”
(www.asbl.com/documents/26-2.pdf)

As a result of Patel’s ruling, the SBA was ordered to turn over the requested information and pay all of the legal fees incurred by the ASBL during the initial litigation process. The information the ASBL finally obtained indicated that the SBA, the General Services Administration (GSA) and virtually every other federal agency diverted billions of dollars in federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms and dozens of large businesses in Europe and Asia.
(http://www.asbl.com/documents/20090825TopSmallBusinessContractors2008.pdf)

Some of the firms that received federal small business contracts included Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, General Dynamics, GTSI, Rolls-Royce, Dell Computer, Thales Communications, and British Aerospace (BAE).

The ASBL has estimated that legitimate small businesses are losing over $100 billion a year in federal small business contracts to corporate giants.

For the full press release: DOJ Backs Off

For more information about ASBL: American Small Business League

When I first read about this new bill, H.R. 3558 – Small Business Fair Competition Act, it seemed reasonable that the government client would benefit from being able to continue contracting with a company they were satisfied with. But, too many of these contracts won by “small businesses” were actually won by businesses that are not at all small (see Stop Fraud). Large corporations have setup small businesses as subsidiaries to take advantage of loose laws and regulations that are needed badly to ensure the intent of the reams of legislation designed to help small businesses compete more effectively for government contracts.

The 5 minute video below by small business activist Lloyd Chapman offers an overview of what the bill would do and why he opposes H.R. 3558:

Click here to view the embedded video.

For more information on the larger issue of large businesses posing as small to out muscle truly small businesses visit Lloyd’s YouTube channel at: Lloyd Chapman ASBL

The National Association of Small Business Contractors (NASBC), which represents over 300,000 small businesses, recently went to bat for it’s members and small government contractors. They pointed out that while the 21.5% that was awarded to small businesses doesn’t appear to deserve a failing grade, it actually represents over $30 billion worth of business that would have gone to their constituents if the goal had been met. They stress that small businesses are suffering far worse than large businesses during this recession and that the federal government can provide badly needed sales to small businesses by not only meeting their commitments, but by exceeding them.

Of the many changes the NASBC is proposing we believe the two most potent changes are likely to be,  1) penalyzing agencies that fall short of their requirement and 2) enforcing fines on large contractors that misrepresent themselves as being “small” or minority-owned businesses. Both are a result of individuals in the supply chain looking the other way when they know the intent of the law is being violated. Penalties might help them become more “diligent” in their contracting process.

In the press release SBA Administrator Karen Mills reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to ensure the feds award over 23% of federal contract dollars to small businesses. Mills said, “This record $93.3 billion in contracts to small businesses is significant, however, across the federal government we are committed to ensuring that the 23 percent goal is met and even exceeded going forward”.

This comes at the end of a week in which the Obama Administration reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that minority-owned businesses, small businesses, including women and veteran-owned businesses have greater access to federal government contracting opportunities. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and SBA Administrator Karen Mills announced a plan to have more than 200 events in the next 90 days to expose as many small businesses as possible to government contracting opportunities, including those created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The effort will be supported by federal procurement professionals from agencies throughout the government.

The annual scorecard measures results by type of small business (small disadvantaged, service-disabled veteran, HUBZone, etc…), as well as, by each agency so those agencies falling short of their goals can receive the necessary attention and resources to meet their goals going forward.

Here are the goals and results for the five areas measured:

1. Small Businesses – The goal was to have 23% of federal procurement dollars go to small businesses. While the total dollar amount did increase 12% to $93.2 billion this only represented a 21.5% share.
2. Small Disadvantaged Businesses – This was the only one of five goals that was exceeded with 6.76% ($29.3 billion) of the federal dollars going to this group of businesses versus a goal of 5%.
3. Women – The goal of 5% fell far short with only 3.4% ($14.7 billion) going to woman-owned businesses.
4. Service-disabled Vets – While the totals rose from $$3.8 billion in 2007 to $6.4 billion last year this group’s goal was missed badly. The 1.49% share was one-half of the widely touted goal of 3%.
5. HUBZone – The 2.34% ($10.1 billion) share going to HUBZone certified businesses likewise fell far short of their goal which was 3%.

The 13 agencies below deserve credit for meeting their small business contracting goals:

• Agriculture
• Education
• Energy
• Environmental Protection Agency
• General Services Administration
• Health and Human Services
• Homeland Security
• Interior
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Transportation
• SBA
• Veterans Affairs

One agency – GSA – deserves special recognition for meeting or surpassing all of its goals in all five areas measured (small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned businesses, HUBZone, service-disabled veterans).

Two agencies – OPM and USAID – earned their place at the bottom of the list by failing to meet any of the five goals established for them.

For all of the results you can review the actual SBA goaling reports here:
http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/goals/index.html

For more information you can read the SBA’s press release: Small Businesses Won Record $93.3 Billion in Federal Contracts