Federal Contracting Goals to be Addressed

–  White House Establishes VOB/Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) Task Force

SBA Leads – SDVOSB Federal Contracting Goals to be Addressed

The White House on April 26 issued a pair of Executive Orders (EO) that established two interagency task forces (TF) to award more federal contracts to small businesses. The first task force will focus on improving procurement opportunities for all small businesses and help agencies meet statutory contracting goals for all contract set-asides.

The second EO establishes a TF to focus exclusively on improving federal contracting opportunities for small businesses owned by veterans and service-disabled veterans.

SDVOSBs receive the lowest percentage of all contracting set-asides. Public Law 106-50, the “Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999” mandates all that federal agencies award 3% of its total contract expenditures to qualified SDVOSB. Despite several legislative attempts to encourage federal agencies to meet mandated contracting goals for SDVOSB, few agencies have complied with the law. In fiscal year 2008, four of 24 federal agencies met the 3% minimum.

Karen Mills, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), is pegged to chair the task force. A top procurement official from the Departments of Defense (FY 2008 percent of mandated 3% goal, 1.0476%), Commerce (1.91%), Treasury (2.03), the General Services Administration (3.93), Veterans Affairs (11.76%), and the Office of Management and Budget (unavailable). A top procurement official from SBA (.85%) is assigned to the TF in addition to the SBA Administrator. Four representatives of veterans service organizations or associations will also be on the TF.

The SBA will provide funding for the TF under existing appropriations, meaning no federal funding will supplement SBA’s budget for the TF. Highlights of the EO include:

(a) consult regularly with veterans service and military organizations in performing the duties of the
Task Force;
(b) coordinate administrative and regulatory activities and develop proposals relating to:
(i) improving capital access and capacity of small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans through loans, surety bonding, and franchising; (ii) ensure achievement of the pre-established federal contracting goals for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and service disabled veterans through expanded mentor-protégé assistance and matching such small business concerns with contracting opportunities; (iii) increasing the integrity of certifications of status as a small business concern owned and controlled by a veteran or service-disabled veteran; (iv) reducing paperwork and administrative burdens on veterans in accessing business development; and (v) increasing and improving training and counseling services provided to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. ~~

Hardy Stone

Hardy Stone is the editor/publisher of VetLikeMe, the nation’s only publication devoted to service disabled veteran owned business.