Procurement Assistance to Small Businesses
The Small Business Administration maintains and strengthens the nation's economy by aiding, counseling, assisting and protecting the interests of small businesses and by helping families and businesses recover from national disasters.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2004, $11.2 billion in government prime contracts was set-aside for procurement limited to small businesses.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Assistance includes: (1) Application of small business set-asides (restriction of bidding/award to small business only) to increase the Federal procurement and disposal requirements awarded to small business; (2) consultation with procuring activities on structuring of procurement and sales planning to optimize small business participation; (3) review and analysis of small firms capacity, credit, integrity, perseverance, and tenacity when challenged by contracting officers and certifying competence of such firms to perform as prime contractors, as appropriate, and monitoring performance of certificate of competency holders throughout contract life; (4) review of subcontracting plans and programs of large prime contractors to determine the extent that they are providing subcontracting opportunities to small, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone, small disadvantaged, and women-owned small businesses; (5) consultation and advice for small firms requesting assistance on government procurement or property sales matters; (6) assistance in specific contract administration problems; (7) determination of small business eligibility for SBA's procurement and financial programs; (8) advocate breakout of items from sole source for procurement through full and open competition in order to achieve savings; (9) review small business program at Federal procuring activities to evaluate effect on small business participation and recommend changes; and (10) management of the Central Contractor Registration's Dynamic Small Business Search, a nationwide Internet database of information on small business, a marketing tool for small firms and a "link" to procurement opportunities.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Existing and potential small businesses are eligible to apply.
A small business is a business entity organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States and which makes a significant contribution to the U.S.
economy through payment of taxes and/or use of American Products, materials and/or labor.
Generally, an employee based size standard not in excess of 500 employees is used for manufacturers for wholesalers, average employment not in excess of 500 is used; for general construction, a revenue based size standard not over $28,500,000 is used; for specialty trade construction, revenues not over $12,000,000 is used; for retail and services contracts, revenues not over $6,000,000 is used; and for agricultural enterprises, gross annual sales not over $750,000 is used.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Existing and potential small businesses will benefit.
Credentials/Documentation
Self-certification of documentation is sufficient for representation as a small business, women-owned small business, veteran-owned small business and service-disabled veteran-owned small business. SBA certification is required for status as a HUBZone small business, 8(a) small business, and Small Disadvantaged Business.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Forms to obtain necessary assistance are provided by SBA field offices.
Award Procedures
None.
Deadlines
None.
Authorization
Small Business Act of 1953, Sections 2, 8, 9, and 15, Public Law 85-536, as amended, 15 U.S.C. 631, 637, 698 and 640; Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, Sections 401, 402, 406 and 407, Public Law 88-452, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2901, 2902, 2906b, and 2906c; Section 501, Public Law 95-89; Section 502, 15 U.S.C. 644; Public Law 95-507, Section 221; Public Laws 98-577, 98-369, 100-590, 100-656, 101-515, 101- 574, 103-355, 103-403, 106-50, 106-554, and 108-183.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
The range is about 15 days for certificate of competency; no approval is required on other programs.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
There is no time restriction for small businesses.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
None.
Audits
None.
Records
None.
Financial Information
Account Identification
73-0100-0-1-376.
Obigations
Administrative Expenses: FY 07 $28,148,000; FY 08 $32,924,000; and FY 09 $31,784,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
None.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 125; "Government Contracting Programs;" Government Contracting home page on the Internet at http://www.sba.gov/gc and information from SBA offices. (See listing of field offices in Appendix IV of the Catalog.)
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Initial contact should be made with the field offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Associate Administrator for Government Contracting, Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20416. Telephone: (202) 205-6460.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
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