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FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Review of SBA Contracting Programs

Original title: SBA MANAGEMENT REVIEW: OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

January 1, 2022

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing addresses the oversight of federal programs that determine which small businesses receive government contracts, directly impacting the ability of disadvantaged and specialized small firms to compete for federal funding.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Small business owners

These businesses are the primary participants in federal procurement programs and are subject to the contracting policies and goals discussed.

SBA Office of Government Contracting and Business Development

The office is under congressional review regarding its effectiveness in managing federal contracting programs.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2022.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Committee on Small Business held a hearing to evaluate the performance of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Government Contracting and Business Development. The committee examined why small business participation in federal contracts is declining despite the government meeting overall spending goals, and addressed persistent failures to meet specific targets for women-owned and businesses.

Key Facts

  • The federal government has a goal of awarding 23% of eligible federal contracting dollars to small businesses.
  • Small business participation in federal contracting has been steadily declining despite the government meeting the 23% overall goal.
  • The federal government has never met its specific contracting goal for the HUBZone program.
  • The federal government has only met its specific contracting goal for the Women-Owned Contracting Program twice.
  • The Office of Government Contracting and Business Development oversees the 8(a) program, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business program, Women-Owned Small Business program, and the HUBZone program.
  • The hearing took place on June 23, 2022, in the Rayburn House Office Building.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of the SBA's Office of Government Contracting?
The office is responsible for supervising government-wide contracting goals and administering programs like the , Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business program, Women-Owned Small Business program, and the program.
Why is Congress concerned about small business contracting?
While the government meets its overall 23% contracting goal, participation by small firms is declining, and specific programs for women-owned businesses and businesses consistently fail to meet their individual targets.

Why It Matters

This hearing addresses the oversight of federal programs that determine which small businesses receive government contracts, directly impacting the ability of disadvantaged and specialized small firms to compete for federal funding.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Contracting Goal Discrepancy

The document highlights a persistent gap between meeting overall small business contracting goals and failing to meet specific targets for specialized programs like HUBZone and Women-Owned businesses.

Connected Entities

organizationSmall Business AdministrationFederal agency responsible for small business support and contracting oversightMap →
organizationHouse Committee on Small BusinessCongressional committee conducting the oversight hearingMap →
personNydia VelazquezChairwoman of the House Committee on Small BusinessMap →
personBibi HidalgoAssociate Administrator, Office of Government Contracting & Business DevelopmentMap →
personBlaine LuetkemeyerRanking Member of the House Committee on Small BusinessMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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