WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12853) on Feb. 20, 2026, by R. Corinne Blackford, small business and economic development policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Sole-Source Contracts for Small Businesses Introduction Provisions of the Small Business Act authorize (and, in some cases, require) federal agencies to provide small businesses a preference when making a contract award. Preferences for small busi  more