SBAIC works to augment small business utilization by increasing U.S. government agency use of small businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors as well as on Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contracts.

Advocacy

Procurement Reform Advocacy

SBAIC is focused on helping the U.S. government (USG) meet its small business targets and increase small business utilization in foreign assistance programs. SBAIC is very pleased that meeting small business targets is a topline Mission indicator for global acquisition funds and continues to support this undertaking through our advocacy efforts. We continue to urge the USG agencies to set more ambitious goals, aimed at meeting or exceeding the USG small business goal of 23.5%.

We adopt supporting policies, such as standard language in Requests for Proposals (RFPs) on small business inclusion and full implementation of the Woman-owned Small Business (WOSB) 8(M) program. We collaborate with USG partners to eliminate unintended confusion between use of small business and local entities in overseas contracting, and continue to work with partners on modifying rules with potential negative affects to small business utilization including: new SBA rules; characterization of consultants; rules specific to utilization of specific sub-categories of small businesses; and rules regarding use of direct placement of task orders under Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQs).

Increase USG agency utilization of small businesses as prime contractors:

  • Increase number of small business set-asides in Agency Forecasts
  • Increase number of RFIs and Sources Sought announcements
  • Increase number of small business set-asides in Washington and overseas
  • Increase utilization of all types of small businesses, including 8(a), Woman-owned small businesses (WOSBs), Hub Zones, Veteran-owned, etc.

Increase USG Agency utilization of small businesses as subcontractors:

  • Work with USG representatives to increase small business subcontracting by large primes (i.e., including evaluation points for small business participation on RFPs; requiring COs to report actual (versus planned) use of small business subcontractors on contract performance reviews; enforcing compliance of small business subcontracting plans)
  • Promote engagement between large business primes and small business

Increase USG Agency utilization of small businesses on IDIQs:

  • Equal number of small business set aside awards as full and open awards
  • Increase small business threshold to $4 million, under which task orders must be set aside for small business holders
  • Ensure small businesses remain eligible to compete for work above the small business threshold, and encourage task orders above $4 million threshold to be set aside for small businesses
  • Enforce directed contracting under the threshold to small businesses when there is only one small business IDIQ holder; or limited competition when there are multiple small business holders