Back in April, the President asked me along with Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and the Office of Management and Budget to lead the newly created Task Force on Federal Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses. We were charged with working on behalf of the entire Administration to create more opportunities for small businesses to compete for and win contracts. Today – as a result of extensive collaboration, focus and commitment throughout the federal government – we are offering 13 actionable recommendations (pdf) to ensure that all federal agencies continue to make progress in getting more contracts into the hands of American’s small businesses. These recommendations fall into three categories:
- Clearer, stronger policies at federal agencies, including better guidance on how to do small business set-asides and implement effective mentor-protégé programs;
- A better-trained federal workforce, with stronger certification and training requirements, coupled with meaningful incentives to help agencies reach their goals; and,
- More user-friendly tools and technologies, such as improving FedBizOpps to be a one-stop resource for small businesses looking for matchmaking events, subcontracting opportunities, agency contact information, and more.
Why is small business contracting so important?
Fonte: White House