Contracting
Contracting
Each year, the government dedicates nearly half a trillion dollars to the purchase of goods through federal contracts. Because this is a significant amount of federal dollars, we owe it to the taxpayers to make sure that we are using them wisely and efficiently.
End Contract Bundling:
To start, we should reduce the flawed practice of contract bundling, which occurs when the government consolidates smaller contracts into very large contracts for the sake of convenience. This process can virtually shut small businesses out of contracting opportunities because they simply lack the capacity or resources to fulfill the requirements of the bundled contract.
Improve Enforcement:
Additionally, we must work to strengthen the enforcement mechanisms built into the federal contracting system. Managers and senior executive service personnel should be held accountable for not reaching outlined small business goals or for failing to properly enforce subcontracting plans. All federal agencies need to make this a priority, which may require a reallocation of resources in order to ensure that no one is able to gain an unfair advantage of the contracting process.
Increase Small Business Set-Aside:
In coordination with limiting contract bundling and strengthening enforcement mechanisms, we should increase the percentage of federal contracting funds that are set aside for small businesses. This is an easy step that would provide smaller firms with more opportunities to do business with the government and expand their operations and job force.
By addressing these problems, we can help small businesses compete in the national marketplace, foster job growth in our communities, and ensure that we are stretching the taxpayers’ dollars further.
Related Documents:
Articles -
Washington Post: Obama signs legislation to deliver more government contracts to small businesses
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