The White House has established an “Interagency Task Force on Federal Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses” to make sure provisions are being met and opportunities are made available.
“In recent years, the Federal Government has not consistently reached its small business contracting goals, ” President Obama wrote in a memo on Monday. “Although we have made some progress — particularly with respect to Recovery Act contracts — more work can and should be done. I am committed to ensuring that small businesses, including firms owned by women, minorities, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and service-disabled veterans, have fair access to Federal Government contracting. Indeed, where small businesses have the capacity to do more, we should strive to exceed the statutory goals. While Chief Acquisition Officers and Senior Procurement Executives have many priorities, small business contracting should always be a high priority in the procurement process.”
He continued: “Obtaining tangible results will require an honest and accurate accounting of our progress so that we can have transparency and accountability through Federal small business procurement data. Additionally, we must expand outreach strategies to alert small firms to Federal contracting opportunities.”
