Federal Independent Agencies
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from federal independent agencies.
Featured Stories
SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Texas Businesses and Residents Affected by the Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail and Straight-Line Winds
SACRAMENTO, California, May 1 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release on April 30, 2024:
Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Texas businesses and residents affected by severe storms, flooding, hail and straight-line winds that occurred April 8 - 26 announced Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to a request SBA received from Gov. Greg Abbott on April 29.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available
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SACRAMENTO, California, May 1 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release on April 30, 2024:
Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Texas businesses and residents affected by severe storms, flooding, hail and straight-line winds that occurred April 8 - 26 announced Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to a request SBA received from Gov. Greg Abbott on April 29.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance availablein Angelina, Hardin, Jasper, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine and Tyler counties in Texas.
"SBA's mission-driven team stands ready to help Texas's small businesses and residents impacted by severe storms, flooding, hail, and straight-line winds," said Administrator Guzman. "We're committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild."
The SBA Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center will provide personalized assistance to business owners, homeowners and renters. SBA customer service representatives will be available to business owners and individuals to answer questions about SBA's disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each person complete their electronic loan application. Applicants may call or email as indicated below.
Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Monday - Friday (5 days/week)
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
FOCWAssistance@sba.gov
(916) 735-1531
"SBA will announce the locations of Disaster Loan Outreach Centers that will open throughout the affected areas soon. SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the centers to answer questions about SBA's disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their application," said Francisco Sanchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration.
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.
Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.
Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to apply for property damage is July 1, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Jan. 30, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2024/04/30/sba-offers-disaster-assistance-texas-businesses-residents-affected-severe-storms-flooding-hail
Readout of White House Roundtable on SBA Federal Procurement Scorecard to Mark National Small Business Week
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
On Monday, April 29, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman kicked off 2024 National Small Business Week (NSBW) with a roundtable at the White House to announce the release of the SBA's Fiscal Year 2023 Procurement Scorecard and highlight the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to build on the Small Business Boom since the President took office.
Administrator Guzman moderated the roundtable, which started with remarks from National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard
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WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
On Monday, April 29, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman kicked off 2024 National Small Business Week (NSBW) with a roundtable at the White House to announce the release of the SBA's Fiscal Year 2023 Procurement Scorecard and highlight the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to build on the Small Business Boom since the President took office.
Administrator Guzman moderated the roundtable, which started with remarks from National Economic Council Director Lael Brainardand White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden. They then heard from procurement officials at the General Services Administration, Department of Commerce, and Department of the Interior, all of which received A+ grades in the SBA's FY23 Scorecard. Roundtable participants included small business owners who contract with the federal government and won NSBW 2024 awards.
In the procurement scorecard released today, the SBA announced that the Biden-Harris Administration exceeded its FY23 small business contracting goal of 23%, awarding an all-time high 28.4% of federal contract dollars to small businesses. This historic level amounts to a record-breaking $178.6 billion investment in the small business economy and supports more than one million good-paying jobs in manufacturing, construction, research & development, technology, defense, and other vital industries. Minority-owned businesses across nearly all demographic categories also saw increased contracting dollars, underscoring the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to equity while growing the pie for all small business owners.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2024/04/30/readout-white-house-roundtable-sba-federal-procurement-scorecard-mark-national-small-business-week
NTSB Determines Probable Cause of a Tank Vessel Striking a Pier in South Carolina
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release on April 30, 2024:
A pilot maneuvering a vessel too close to a bank, before a turn on the Cooper River led to the collapse of a 300-foot section of pier at Joint Base Charleston's Naval Weapons Station in South Carolina, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday.
The 600-foot-long tanker Bow Triumph struck Naval Weapons Station Pier B while transiting the Joint Base Charleston Channel on Sept. 5, 2022, A Charleston Branch Pilots Association pilot was navigating the vessel, which sustained
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WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release on April 30, 2024:
A pilot maneuvering a vessel too close to a bank, before a turn on the Cooper River led to the collapse of a 300-foot section of pier at Joint Base Charleston's Naval Weapons Station in South Carolina, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday.
The 600-foot-long tanker Bow Triumph struck Naval Weapons Station Pier B while transiting the Joint Base Charleston Channel on Sept. 5, 2022, A Charleston Branch Pilots Association pilot was navigating the vessel, which sustainedsignificant damage to the bow. The contact resulted in $29.5 million in damages. No pollution or injuries were reported.
After making a right turn onto Range D of the channel, the pilot maneuvered the vessel closer to the left bank as he approached the next turn, a left turn around a bend. The maneuver caused the vessel to experience bank effect--when a ship's bow is pushed away from the bank and the stern is pulled toward the bank while transiting in confined waters. The pilot's subsequent rudder and engine orders could not overcome the bank effect, and the tanker struck the pier, which was on the opposite side of the river.
"Hydrodynamic forces reduce rudder effectiveness (squat and shallow water effect) and yaw the bow away from the closest bank and pull the stern in (bank effect)," the report said. "When maneuvering in shallow waters such as channels, shoaling can reduce the water depth below charted or expected, and therefore exacerbate the forces on a vessel. Bank effect can have an undesired effect on vessels, even for the most experienced shiphandlers. Pilots, masters, and other vessel operators should consider the risks in areas known for shoaling when planning transits."
The NTSB also is investigating a Jan. 14 contact between the tanker Hafnia Amessi and Pier B after the tanker attempted the same turn at the bend. The investigation is ongoing.
Marine Investigation Report 24-09 is available online (https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2409.pdf).
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To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7).
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Original text here: https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20240430.aspx
NTSB Chair Praises NHTSA Action on Automatic Emergency Braking Final Rule
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following statement on April 30, 2024:
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NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy released the following statement in response to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's announcement on Monday of a new federal motor vehicle safety standard requiring all new passenger cars and light trucks to have automatic emergency braking (AEB) and pedestrian AEB (PAEB) systems: "This new vehicle safety standard is a critical moment in highway safety, and we commend NHTSA on this important step forward. Countless NTSB research studies
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WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following statement on April 30, 2024:
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NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy released the following statement in response to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's announcement on Monday of a new federal motor vehicle safety standard requiring all new passenger cars and light trucks to have automatic emergency braking (AEB) and pedestrian AEB (PAEB) systems: "This new vehicle safety standard is a critical moment in highway safety, and we commend NHTSA on this important step forward. Countless NTSB research studiesand crash investigations show that automatic emergency braking can save lives," Homendy said. "That's why, for nearly three decades, the NTSB has advocated for collision avoidance technologies to be mandatory in all vehicles."
"While this new standard will not go into effect until 2029, we encourage manufacturers not to wait; they should meet these life-saving requirements now."
"We will continue to advocate for the expansion of AEB capability requirements to also detect and respond to motorcyclists, bicyclists and roadside hazards, and for NHTSA to finalize their rule with FMCSA on AEB in commercial vehicles," Homendy said. "Without these steps, we cannot keep all road users safe from harm."
The NTSB is evaluating NHTSA's final rule to determine which of its recommendations might be satisfied by this action. The NTSB first recommended collision avoidance technology--specifically forward collision warning systems--as a possible solution to rear-end crashes in 1995. The NTSB also published two special investigative reports on rear-end crashes in 2001 and in 2015.
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To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7).
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Original text here: https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20240430A.aspx
Export-Import Bank of the U.S. Chair Lewis Deepens Export Finance Partnerships at Berne Union Spring Meetings in Oslo
OSLO, Norway, May 1 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release on April 30, 2024:
Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis traveled to Oslo, Norway last week to attend the Berne Union annual Spring meetings. While in Oslo, Chair Lewis took part in a series of discussions with Norwegian government representatives and export credit agency partners on EXIM's ongoing work to support U.S. exporters and financing exports.
"EXIM is committed to deepening partnerships with our export finance partners to meet our mission and support
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OSLO, Norway, May 1 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release on April 30, 2024:
Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis traveled to Oslo, Norway last week to attend the Berne Union annual Spring meetings. While in Oslo, Chair Lewis took part in a series of discussions with Norwegian government representatives and export credit agency partners on EXIM's ongoing work to support U.S. exporters and financing exports.
"EXIM is committed to deepening partnerships with our export finance partners to meet our mission and supportU.S. exporters as they compete in a changing global marketplace," said Chair Lewis. "It was a pleasure to travel to Norway to attend this year's Berne Union Spring meetings and also hold important conversations on ways EXIM financing can support U.S. exporters doing business in Norway."
Chair Lewis signed a historic Memorandum of Cooperation alongside Atsuo Kuroda, Chairman and CEO of Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), Sristiraj Ambastha, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of ECGC India (ECGC), and Manny Arabatzis, Chief Risk Officer of Export Finance Australia (EFA) on the sidelines of the Berne Union. The Memorandum of Cooperation underscores the export credit agency's commitment to advancing mutual priorities among the QUAD countries (Australia, India, Japan and United States).
On Tuesday, Chair Lewis began the day by meeting with Charge d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Norway, Sharon Hudson-Dean, where they discussed ways to support U.S. exports to Norway and foster economic cooperation between two countries. Chair Lewis then met with Norges Bank Investment Management's Deputy Governor of the Central Bank 0ystein Borsum, where they discussed how EXIM financing can support advance renewable energy projects.
Later, Chair Lewis held a series of meetings with United Arab Emirates ECA, Ethiad Credit Insurance (ECI) CEO Raja Al Mazrouei, Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC) of South Africa Acting CEO Ntshengedzeni Gilbert Maphula, and Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE) Chairman and President Youngjin Jang. She also met with members of the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service in Oslo to discuss how EXIM financing can support U.S. companies looking to export to Norway and Norwegian companies looking to invest in the U.S.
On Wednesday, Chair Lewis ended her visit by meeting with representatives from the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority, where she highlighted EXIM's commitment to supporting U.S. exports to Norway.
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About EXIM:
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is the nation's official export credit agency with the mission of supporting American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. To advance American competitiveness and assist U.S. businesses as they compete for global sales, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. As an independent federal agency, EXIM contributes to U.S. economic growth by supporting tens of thousands of jobs in exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States.
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Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/export-import-bank-chair-lewis-deepens-export-finance-partnerships-berne-union-spring-meetings
EXIM Signs Two Memoranda of Understanding With Mastercard and Nigeria's Bank of Industry at Inaugural Global Business Development Summit
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release on April 30, 2024:
Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis today signed two new Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) during EXM's inaugural Global Business Development Summit in Washington D.C. The summit, which takes place on the sidelines of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meetings, aims to foster connections, explore solutions and enhance access to finance for businesses worldwide.
The first MOU Chair Lewis signed was with Nigeria's Bank of
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release on April 30, 2024:
Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis today signed two new Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) during EXM's inaugural Global Business Development Summit in Washington D.C. The summit, which takes place on the sidelines of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meetings, aims to foster connections, explore solutions and enhance access to finance for businesses worldwide.
The first MOU Chair Lewis signed was with Nigeria's Bank ofIndustry, alongside Bank of Industry CEO Dr. Olasupo Olusi, to encourage collaboration and identify projects that enhance economic prosperity between Nigeria and the United States. The MOU will focus on mutual collaboration to discover new projects in Nigeria that involve the procurement of U.S. goods and services in several sectors, including climate and sustainability, creative arts and entertainment, infrastructure, technology, and opportunities for small businesses and women-owned businesses.
"This MOU is a symbol of EXIM's commitment to deepening relationships with partners in Nigeria to strengthen the U.S.- Nigeria commercial relationship and bolster the economies of and support jobs in both of our nations," said Chair Lewis. "Supporting U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa is one of our agency's central mandates, and we are excited to see the new opportunities that may result from this MOU."
The second MOU Chair Lewis signed today was with Mastercard, alongside Shamina Singh, Founder & President, Center for Inclusive Growth and EVP, Sustainability at Mastercard, to encourage collaboration opportunities in support of small businesses. The MOU will focus on identifying opportunities for EXIM and Mastercard to collaborate in several areas, including financial support and education programs for small business owners; promotion of EXIM programs; collaborative initiatives and joint engagements; customized solutions for small businesses; and networking and partnerships facilitated by both parties.
"EXIM is committed to forging new partnerships to meet our mandate and support U.S. small business exporters," said EXIM Chair Lewis. "We are proud to sign this MOU with Mastercard and are eager to see what new collaboration opportunities to help U.S. small businesses grow and expand through exporting may result from this historic partnership."
"At Mastercard, we want to elevate small businesses, as they are the engine of our nation's economy," said Shamina Singh, Founder & President, Center for Inclusive Growth and EVP, Sustainability at Mastercard. "This partnership with EXIM will allow us to support education and solutions, and further unlock financing solutions in the U.S., leading to more job creation and greater prosperity for small businesses and their communities."
"Today's signing ceremony marks the inception of a strong strategic partnership that would see EXIM Bank and BOI further the objective of facilitating the procurement of U.S. goods and services for projects in Nigeria by providing medium to long-term guarantees and/or direct loans to finance U.S. exports across various sectors," said Dr. Olasupo Olusi MD/CEO Bank of Industry. "We look forward to exploring more collaborative opportunities to catalyze sustainable industrial and entrepreneurial growth in Nigeria."
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ABOUT EXIM:
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is the nation's official export credit agency with the mission of supporting American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. To advance American competitiveness and assist U.S. businesses as they compete for global sales, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. As an independent federal agency, EXIM contributes to U.S. economic growth by supporting tens of thousands of jobs in exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States.
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Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/exim-signs-two-memoranda-understanding-mastercard-and-nigerias-bank-industry-inaugural-global
Biden-Harris Administration Awards Record-Breaking $178 Billion in Federal Procurement Opportunities to Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release on April 29, 2024:
Today, at a roundtable discussion hosted by the White House and attended by several federal agencies to mark National Small Business Week, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced the agency's Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 federal procurement "Scorecard" results, which measure how well federal agencies meet their small business contracting goals each year. The Biden-Harris Administration exceeded its FY23 small business contracting goal of 23%, awarding
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release on April 29, 2024:
Today, at a roundtable discussion hosted by the White House and attended by several federal agencies to mark National Small Business Week, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced the agency's Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 federal procurement "Scorecard" results, which measure how well federal agencies meet their small business contracting goals each year. The Biden-Harris Administration exceeded its FY23 small business contracting goal of 23%, awardingan all-time high 28.4% of federal contract dollars to small businesses.
This historic level amounts to a $178.6 billion investment in the small business economy - an increase of $15.7 billion from the previous fiscal year - and supports more than one million good-paying jobs in manufacturing, construction, research & development, technology, defense, and other vital industries. Minority-owned businesses across nearly all demographic categories also saw increased contracting dollars, underscoring the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to equity while growing the pie for all small business owners.
"Through President Biden's Investing in America agenda, we have championed initiatives to fuel the nation's economy - ensuring competition and a level playing field so that small businesses can access the historic level of investments through federal contracting," said Administrator Guzman. "The Biden-Harris Administration is proud of the federal government's record-high of $178.6 billion in contract spending with small businesses, including veteran-owned and small disadvantaged businesses, while also continuing to make significant strides in contracts to HUBZones and women-owned businesses."
Ten federal agencies received A+ grades, and an additional 12 agencies received an A grade. The federal government, overall, earned an A on this year's government-wide scorecard. This year's A+ winners are the SBA, Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Dept. of the Interior, Dept. of Homeland Security, National Science Foundation, General Services Administration, Dept. of Commerce, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Office of Personnel Management.
The SBA plays a crucial role in setting contracting goals for each agency and collaborates closely with government buyers to emphasize the prioritization of small businesses in the procurement process. Individual agency scorecards with a detailed explanation of the methodology are available at SBA.gov/scorecard.
Highlights of the overall performance of the federal government include:
* For the third consecutive year, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) spending exceeded its enhanced annual goal, set at 12% in FY23, with the federal government awarding a record-breaking $76.2 billion to SDBs. The noteworthy achievement reflects President Biden's unwavering commitment to meeting his ambitious SDB contracting goal of 15% by FY25.
* Service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) spending has exceeded its 3% goal, reaching 5%. This achievement translates to $31.9 billion in procurement, reflecting a $3.8 billion spending increase compared to the previous year.
* Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses were awarded a record-breaking $17.5 billion in federal contract awards, marking the highest amount ever awarded in this category in the program's history.
* Women-owned Small Businesses (WOSB) received $30.9 billion in federal contracting dollars in FY23, up from $28.1 billion in FY22 and accounting for nearly 5% of the FY23 total eligible dollars. This marks the highest dollar amount ever awarded to WOSBs.
* The federal government achieved its small business subcontracting goals, awarding 33.34%, or $86.4 billion, to small business subcontractors.
* The federal government increased its contract spending with all demographic groups included in SBA's disaggregated contracting data, which is available here.
Expanding Access to Federal Contracting:
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the SBA has made it a top priority to expand access to federal contracting. During Administrator Guzman's leadership, the SBA has made several strategic and targeted changes to ensure small businesses, particularly those in underserved communities, are empowered to find and take advantage of opportunities presented by President Biden's signature legislation, including the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and more. Actions include:
* Releasing new guidance, "Creating a More Diverse and Resilient Federal Marketplace through Increased Participation of New and Recent Entrants." This executive action includes several new initiatives for encouraging new entrants to the federal contracting space, including a Supplier Base Dashboard to track an agency's mix of new entrants, recent entrants, and established vendors.
* Expanding access for small businesses to multiple-award contracts, which account for over 20% of government contracts. In January, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy directed agencies to structure those contracts with small-business participation in mind and instructed agencies to apply the small-business Rule of Two--the rule that a small business must receive a purchase if two or more small businesses are able to do the work--when using those contracts.
* Launching an enhanced training program, "Empower to Grow," to strengthen Small Disadvantaged Businesses' contract readiness. This revitalization of the popular 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance program includes improved coaching, training, and technology tools to get more disadvantaged businesses contract-ready and build a diversified supplier base. In FY2023, small businesses participating in the 7(j) program saw a contract win rate of 60% and self-reported annual revenue growth of 45% on average.
* Announcing several reforms in small business contracting, including:
- Directing all agencies to track and evaluate the performance of each of the socioeconomic small business contracting goals in all performance plans for Senior Executive Service (SES) managers that oversee the acquisition workforce or agency programs supported by contractors.
- Changing the government's approach to consolidating federal contracts by reforming the Category Management program.
* Creating special contract procedures for 8(a) participants using the GSA's Multiple Award Schedule. The new procedures increase contracting opportunities for 8(a)-certified SDBs to ensure more equitable access to federal contracting dollars.
* Reviewing and revising size standards to allow 78,000 additional small businesses to qualify for SBA's programs.
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Table 1: FY23 Prime Contracting by Dollars and Percentages for All Categories*:
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* In accordance with federal law, SBA provided double credit for prime contract awards in disaster areas that were awarded as a local area set aside. SBA also included in the calculation of government-wide achievements Department of Energy first-tier subcontracts required to be included by section 318 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 ("CAA"), Public Law 113-76.
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Table 2: FY23 Federal Contracting Dollars to Minority-Owned Small Businesses:
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Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard Overview:
The annual Procurement Scorecard serves as a vital assessment tool, gauging the effectiveness of federal agencies in meeting their small business and socioeconomic prime contracting and subcontracting goals. This comprehensive Scorecard not only offers accurate and transparent contracting data, but also provides detailed reports on agency-specific progress.
Working in collaboration with federal agencies, the Small Business Administration annually assists in establishing individual prime and subcontracting goals. Moreover, the SBA ensures that the federal government, as a whole, meets or surpasses the government-wide statutory goals mandated in 15(g)(1) of the Small Business Act for each category.
To maintain the quality and accuracy of contracting data, every federal agency takes responsibility for its own data. Simultaneously, the SBA conducts supplementary analyses to identify potential data anomalies. Working alongside federal agency procurement staff, the SBA provides crucial analyses and tools to facilitate data review, enhance procurement systems, and conduct training to improve accuracy. This collaborative effort ultimately strengthens the federal government's commitment to small business participation and success in government contracts.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2024/04/29/biden-harris-administration-awards-record-breaking-178-billion-federal-procurement-opportunities
