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Agencies set records for small business contracting in 2023: The Small Business Administration says agencies awarded an all-time high of 28.4% of all eligible prime contracts to small businesses last fiscal year. The post Agencies set records for small business contracting in 2023 first appeared on Federal News Network. #FedearlNewsRadio #News

@smallbiz #govcon This is a big deal! Contract task orders that were going to large businesses will soon be for small businesses only. What's Happening: * On January 25, 2024, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) put out this memo on increasing small business participation in multiple award contracts https://lnkd.in/gyrhRirG * The memo talks about applying the "rule of two" to contract task orders (meaning if there are 2 or more small businesses that can do it, it SHOULD be set aside for small business). * The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the FAR Council are working to amend the FAR, but OFPP encourages early adoption by federal agencies. Brief Background: * Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 said contracting officers "may" set aside task orders; not shall. * November 2, 2011 FAR Council issued interim rule, and we submitted public comments saying make sure it's clear that the small business set aside is mandatory for simplified acquisition purchase task orders as it is for other contracts. * We (Aldevra) filed a protest against the Army National Guard saying they should buy an ice machine from a small business and not a large business. The Army refused. SBA sided with us. On October 16, 2015, GAO sided with the Army and said the government could buy ice machines from a large business even if there were 2 or more small businesses selling ice machines. * A fellow SDVOSB, Tolliver, took the issue to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC), and COFC took our side saying small businesses first. There have been other cases, rules, comments, bills and decisions, but this has been going on for YEARS, and now, finally, the federal government has to give small businesses a chance first for contracts AND TASK ORDERS between $10,000.01-$250,000. Thank you to the SBA for having our back! And thank you to all the other small businesses, advocates and attorneys (you know who you are!) who have been on this journey with us since 2010. #SmallBiz #Tenacity #GameChanger Just a few months ago, I said I couldn't retire until this was fixed....where's the beach and my margarita?!

Agencies set records for small business contracting in 2023: The Small Business Administration says agencies awarded an all-time high of 28.4% of all eligible prime contracts to small businesses last fiscal year. The post Agencies set records for small business contracting in 2023 first appeared on Federal News Network. #FederalNewsRadio #Contracting

3 Steps to Grow Your #VetBiz Through Government Contracting Did you know that the United States government buys goods and services from businesses all over the United States? In fact, it is the largest consumer of goods and services in the world, which means your business has abundant opportunities to sell to the government. However, the government does not just buy from large businesses. By law, the federal government is required to offer 23% of federal contracts to small businesses. The government also sets aside contracts for veteran-owned businesses, including at least 5% of contracts for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Below are three steps veteran business owners can take to enter the world of contracting: Learn about the benefits of contracting: Supplying goods and services to the federal government is a terrific way for veteran-owned small businesses to diversify their revenue streams. This enables the business to generate additional revenue and increase profits by entering a previously untapped market. Additionally, the federal government wants to help these businesses succeed. By buying from small businesses, the federal government helps them gain a footing in their market and ensures that large businesses don’t outmuscle and overtake them. Small businesses also create jobs. By securing contracts, these businesses can increase production and hire more local workers, thereby enriching communities and providing opportunities for socio-economically disadvantaged groups to advance. 2. Find local assistance to answer questions: After learning about the benefits of contracting you may still have questions about the process and how to set your business up for success. Veteran business owners can find these answers through several local assistance resource partners, including Veterans Business Outreach Centers. VBOCs are staffed by veteran business experts who can answer contracting questions and set your veteran-owned small business up with other programs in your area to help you excel in the contracting process. These programs include SBA’s 8(a) Development program or the SBA Mentor Protégé program. 3. Get certified: During conversations with VBOC staff members, they will recommend that veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses get certified via SBA’s VetCert program. Certification is needed for veteran-owned businesses to compete for and win sole-source and set-aside contracts from the federal government. To apply, a business should be classified as a small business and have at least 51% ownership by veterans or service-disabled veterans. Learn more about the certification process here. Certified veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses can also apply for SBA’s Surplus Property program once certified through VetCert. This means they can obtain land that the government no longer needs to house their business as it grows.

Agencies set records for small business contracting in 2023: The Small Business Administration says agencies awarded an all-time high of 28.4% of all eligible prime contracts to small businesses last fiscal year. The post Agencies set records for small business contracting in 2023 first appeared on Federal News Network. @Poseidon-US #FederalNewsRadio #Contracting

The Small Business Administration says agencies awarded an all-time high of 28.4% of all eligible prime contracts to small businesses last fiscal year. Read or listen about it here: https://loom.ly/IPELt3U #smallbusinesscontracting #governmentcontractor #federalcontracts #smallbusinessowner

The US government spends billions yearly, providing huge contract opportunities for small businesses. Yet too many businesses are shut out of the process. Our new report has 12 solutions for small business success in federal contracting. 1. Establish a benchmark for first-time awardees and recent entrants. 2. Count online retail purchases toward contracting goals. 3. Prioritize small businesses in micropurchase orders. 4. Ensure contract solicitations are written in plain language. 5. Cut back on contract bundling. 6. Allow subcontractors to evaluate primes. 7. Lower the Miller Act threshold to encourage prompt pay. 8. Improve subcontracting data collection. 9. Streamline WOSB certifications through one portal. 10. Improve training for acquisition workforce. 11. Eliminate artificial inflation and “double counting” of businesses toward agency goals. 12. Revise and enhance SBA’s scorecard system to ensure accountability. Learn more ⬇ https://lnkd.in/eg2iRy54

Did you know small businesses are offered exclusive incentives when applying for government grants? Learn more about leveraging small business set-asides in our continuing guide to RFP response. #rfps #grants #proposalwriting #smallbusiness

https://lnkd.in/gkbdUQXQ It is a great time to be a small business as the push to support them is really paying off. Big thanks to all the work being put in by the U.S. Small Business Administration and other advocates in achieving a record 28.4% awarding of prime contracts to small businesses. Has your small business benefited?

Big news for small businesses: In FY23, the federal government exceeded its Small Disadvantaged Business contracting goal for the second consecutive year, awarding these businesses 12.1% of federal contracts, totaling a record-breaking $76.2 billion! Learn about recent reforms to level the playing field for all contracting entrepreneurs through a more equitable federal procurement system and buying strategy: https://lnkd.in/eTPmsdvE