NEWSRELEASE
For Release: June 29, 2004
Contact: John McDowell (202) 205-6941
john.mcdowell@sba.gov
SBA Number: 04-22 ADVO
Small Firms Take Advantage Of E-Procurement Tools
Study Indicates Small Firms May Be More Reliant On E-Procurement
WASHINGTON, D.C. A new study indicates that small firms may rely more on e-procurement tools for obtaining federal contracts than do their larger counterparts. Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the Office of Advocacy released those findings today at the Business Matchmaking Workshop Plus+++ session in Detroit, co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and HP.
"Small businesses are clearly taking advantage of the federal governments newer e-procurement tools and simplified acquisition procedures," SBA Administrator Hector V. Barreto said.
"These e-tools and the SBAs Business Matchmaking sessions are helping fulfill President Bushs commitment to saving taxpayers dollars by ensuring full and open competition to government contracts."
Among their findings, the reports authors noted that certain barriers appear to prevent small businesses from more effective use of e-procurement. These include shifts in the governments e-procurement system, the expense of monitoring procurement offerings, and confusion over multiple points of entry to procurement systems.
The Office of Advocacy funded the report, Trends in Electronic Procurement and Electronic Commerce and Their Impact on Small Business, which was written by Innovation & Information Consultants.
The largest small business initiative in SBA history, Business Matchmaking is a public/private partnership between the SBA and HP that provides a major economic stimulus to small businesses by decentralizing the procurement process and taking contract opportunities to the streets of America.
The Office of Advocacy, the "small business watchdog" of the government, examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently represents the views of small business to federal agencies, Congress, and the President. It is the source for small business statistics presented in user-friendly formats and it funds research into small business issues.
For more information, visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo.
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Created by Congress in 1976, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy directs the office. The Chief Counsel advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. Economic research, policy analyses, and small business outreach help identify issues of concern. Regional Advocates and an office in Washington, DC, support the Chief Counsels efforts. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, visit www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.