Small Business Opportunities with the Federal Procurement Scorecard

On August 17th, the Small Business Administration announced the release of its new Small Business Procurement Scorecard. The scorecard rates agencies’ progress in providing small business opportunities and is part of a larger movement in new procurement regulations toward accurately tracking small business contract data.

The overall target for federal contracts awarded to small businesses is 23 percent, but each federal agency has its own goal for small business opportunities, set by the SBA. The Procurement Scorecard rates agencies’ achievement of these goals, as well as targets for small business contracting in four subcategories. An agency is rated “green” if it has met its overall goal and at least three of its four subcategory goals. Of the 24 federal agencies scored, seven had achieved current green status and twelve had achieved green status in the “progress” category.

New procurement regulations enacted in June 2007 state that contracts awarded to small businesses will not count toward federal small business procurement goals if the small business has been acquired by a larger company, even if the acquisition didn’t happen until after the contract was awarded. These new procurement regulations, combined with the removal of millions of miscoded contracts from the federal procurement database, aim to increase small business opportunities for federal contracts, as well as to highlight accountability and communication on the agencies’ part.

“These changes – increased accuracy, transparency and accountability – provide a real window of opportunity for America’s small businesses,” SBA Administrator Steve Preston said in a press release Friday. “Almost $5 billion in misreported contracts have been cleaned out of the small business database. To meet their goals in 2007 and beyond, federal agencies know they will have to place more new contracts with small businesses.”

Using the Federal Procurement Scorecard

By turning the public spotlight on federal procurement for small businesses, these new procurement regulations have increased federal agencies’ focus on their small business goals. Small businesses interested in federal contract work can use the scorecard to target agencies who are not currently reaching these goals, knowing that they will most likely have a higher interest in providing small business opportunities than agencies that are already consistently making their goals. Plus, the new procurement regulations about small businesses that have been acquired by larger companies only increase the amount of small business opportunities available.

Now that you can use the Small Business Procurement Scorecard to find agencies that need to provide more small business opportunities, you need to know whom to call at those agencies to get your company name in front of the right people. The more contacts you have built at the agency, the better chance there is that your company will have the trust and recognition of key players when it’s time to award the contract. A list of government contacts from a business intelligence company is a quick and easy way to get a detailed list of the people you should be talking to. Click here for more information on customized government contact lists.

RDF MANAGEMENT INC said,

July 29, 2009 @ 5:39 pm

RDF Mgmt Inc is a two person company that has been in the healthcare, management business since 1987. I started the company by working as a claims examiner for Maxicare Health Plan. Over the past 14 years, I have moved on to various claims and data processing opportunities in the Los Angeles, CA and Phoenix, Az. After reading through your online material, I feel that I am just not able to push through what seems to a lot of red tape in terms of doing business with the government. It seems that I would need someeone to mentor me before I could have a chance at being awarded a government contract or subcontract. Is there a simply way to winning a contract that is worth 100,000 to 200,000 or greater?

editor said,

July 30, 2009 @ 8:06 am

As a small business, your best bet for winning a government contract is to partner or subcontract with another government contractor - one who has some experience and an established network of government contacts. Another great resource for the kind of mentoring you’re talking about is your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center - they can help you get set up to do business with the government and start building some connections.

russell said,

September 18, 2009 @ 5:23 pm

We are a telecomm company that can field up to 100 good splicers on short notice. We have a license in California and are willing to get all needed insurance and such that we may need to work in any state. If it involves cable, we can do it. We are seeking a position as a prime, but would consider a subcontractor position if the pay was ok. Would like projects to be 500K or larger. Lean to the sub-contractor to avoid all the paperwork. We are working on military bases right now. Could qualify for disabled vet owned. Approved sub contractors for Mountain Ltd, volt, Blackbox and many others.

editor said,

October 23, 2009 @ 12:47 pm

Hi Russell,

I’d recommend making sure you’re registered for the CCR, and with the Small Business Administration as a Disabled Veteran Owned Business. An Onvia Contracting Expert will contact you about how Onvia can help you expand your telecom business.

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