Recently in the Procurement Category

Numbers Are Up, But Data Shows Need for Women's Procurement Program

1:09 PM September 1, 2010

The SBA has released the FY2009 Small Business Procurement Scorecard, and the results are surprising, and disappointing. The Scorecard is an assessment tool used by the federal government to measure how well federal agencies have reached their small business goals. I'm happy to see that the numbers for women-owned businesses are up from FY 2008, and that the subcontracting goal has been exceeded (5.44%). However, the 23% small business goal fell short at 21.89%, and the number for prime contracts for women-owned small business remains well below the 5% goal (3.68%).

To read WIPP's press release on the Scorecard results, please click here.   


Despite the increase in women contractors, the over half of the top six federal agencies suffered decreases in their women-owned numbers for prime contracts, and only two met their self-imposed goals (Department of Homeland Security met its 5% goal, DoE met its 0.71% goal). The following is a breakdown of their numbers.

• Department of Defense (DoD): 3.37%, up from 2.95%
• Department of Energy (DoE): 0.89%, down from 0.97%
• Health and Human Services (HHS): 4.51%, down from 5.55%
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): 2.37%, down from 2.51%
• Department of Veterans: 3.40%, down from 4.02%
• Department of Homeland Security: 7.86%, up from 6.55%

These results indicate the need for the enactment of the Women's Procurement Program. SBA Administrator Karen Mills has spoken openly the implementation of the Women's Procurement Program later this year (click here to read my previous blog post on this announcement). These numbers will surely rise if contracting officers have the ability to restrict competition to only women-owned small businesses. Until this program is enacted, I fear that the federal government will never meet its 5% goal.

Click here to read the full results of the FY2009 Scorecard. 
Click here to read Senator Mary L. Landrieu's press release on the Scorecard results.

 

Posted in Procurement ,   Small Business by Barbara | | Comments (0)

 

 

 

Small Business Bill Cannot Wait - Voice Your Support, This Bill MUST Pass!

1:59 PM August 27, 2010

Before Congress went on August recess, important small business legislation was left unresolved. Despite WIPP's efforts to rally support for the bill, Democrats and Republicans were unable to agree on the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5297) before the break.


Although I am disappointed this bill did not pass before the August recess, I continue to remain optimistic. This bill contains a number of provisions that have far-reaching effects on small businesses, and mirror the struggles our members have identified in our Annual Survey. The small business provisions in the bill include (full summary available by clicking here):

- Major - and critically important changes - to the Small Business Administration's (SBA) federal procurement programs (including Parity legislation, which I blogged about earlier this week)
- A number of tax incentives for small businesses
- The establishment of a $30 billion loan fund for community banks 

Small Businesses are struggling to survive this current economic recession. I continue to call on members of the small business community to voice their support for this bill. Click here for information and instructions on how to contact your local Congressional Delegation. 

 

Posted in Access to Capital ,   Action Alert ,   Economy ,   Healthcare ,   Procurement ,   Small Business ,   Taxes ,   Women Impacting Public Policy by Barbara | | Comments (0)

 

 

 

We need your help to urge Congress to restore parity

4:38 PM August 24, 2010

If you are or want to be a federal contractor, parity drastically affects your ability to compete for federal contracts. Before recent court cases decided otherwise, the SBA and the Administration viewed the SBA's small business contracting programs as equals (they are in "parity" with one another). The GAO and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims both ruled that HUBZone has preference over the other programs, dooming the soon-to-be-implemented women's procurement program. (Click here to read previous blog post and WIPP letters about parity.)


Legislation to restore parity awaits the Senate when they return from the August recess. The Small Business Jobs Bill (H.R. 5297) contains a provision that will restore parity to the SBA's small business contracting programs. Despite WIPP's efforts urging the Senate to pass this legislation, it came up short by 1 vote. 

This bill will not pass unless the public, especially federal contractors, voices their support for this bill. We continue to urge our members to call their Senators and voice their support for the Small Business Jobs Bill (H.R. 5297). You can write to your elected official by clicking here. At a time when most small businesses are struggling to stay afloat, legislative action is needed to ensure that all small business participants in the SBA's small business contracting programs receive their fair share of contracting dollars. 

If you would like more information, or some tips on how to voice your concern to your elected official, please do not hesitate to contact Angelin Barrios, Small Business Policy Analyst at abarrios@wipp.org. 

 

Posted in Procurement ,   Small Business by Barbara | | Comments (0)

 

 

 

Women's Procurement Program to be Implemented Later this Year

7:31 PM August 2, 2010

Karen Mills, Administrator for the Small Business Administration (SBA) testified in front of members of the House Committee on Small Business last week. In response to a question regarding the poposed women's procurement program, she stated that the program will start before the end of 2010. 


In response to the over 1000 comments that were received in response to the proposed program, Administrator Mills stated that, "Some were extremely helpful and valuable to rewrite the rule." In the coming months, the SBA will issue a final rule before full implementation. 

Since the program's inception, WIPP has long advocated for a women's procurement program, and has been instrumental in moving the program forward. We are thrilled with the SBA's decision to implement the program before year's end. We stand ready to work with the SBA in ensuring this program is truly a success. 

 

Posted in Procurement ,   SBA by Barbara | | Comments (0)

 

 

 

Small Business Football

12:17 PM August 2, 2010

The back and forth debate between the small business jobs bill (H.R.5297) reminds me of classic Charlie Brown gag between him and Lucy. The story goes something like this; Lucy invites Charlie Brown to kick the football while she holds it. As soon as Charlie is about to kick it, Lucy pulls the football away from Charlie, knocking him straight to the ground.

This classic scenario between Charlie Brown and Lucy is exactly what is playing out in the Senate right now. Last week, Democrats and Republicans argued back and forth about how many amendments to offer.  Democrats threw in some of their other pet programs which had nothing to do with small business and Republicans tried to act like they were interested in moving the bill forward, but just as it looked like an agreement was in the works, they pulled the football out from under the Democrats. This has been going on for three weeks. The Senate has pulled the bill off the floor at least three times to consider other, more pressing legislation.  In the meanwhile, small businesses wait for tax incentives, increased lending and contracting reform--all of which they need immediately.

This week is the last attempt to pass the bill before Congress goes home for the rest of August and part of September.  Now is the time to show leadership and pass a much needed bill.  We need a touchdown.

 

Posted in Access to Capital ,   Economy ,   Healthcare ,   Jobs ,   Procurement ,   Public Policy ,   Small Business ,   Taxes ,   WIPP ,   Women Impacting Public Policy by Barbara | | Comments (0)

 

 

 

 

Search

 

Subscribe Subscribe to this feed

 

Blog Categories

 

Recent Posts

 

Calendar

 

Contact Us >