SBA Holds National Hearing on Promoting Level Playing Field in Government Contracting

WASHINGTON - Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden's Cabinet for America's more than 34 million small businesses, convened a hearing with federal leaders and small business owners to discuss the SBA's efforts to enhance small businesses' ability to compete successfully for federal contracts, specifically how joint ventures (JV) impact small business participation in Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOCs).

"Today's convening of federal leaders and Regulatory Fairness Board members to hear directly from small business owners is part of our ongoing work to expand access to federal contracting opportunities by leveling the playing field for competition," saidAdministrator Guzman, "with the goal of balancing the benefits for those finding success through the Mentor-Protégé Program JVs while also retaining viable opportunities for non-JV small businesses to win prime contracts. The SBA will continue striving to recruit new entrants and reverse the decline in small business participation so that we can build a strong, diverse, and resilient small business industrial base."

Organized by the SBA's Office of the National Ombudsman (ONO) and Office of Government Contracting and Business Development (GCBD), this National Hearing on Joint Ventures was open to the public and took place during the annual meeting of the SBA Regional Regulatory Fairness Boards. Leaders from the Offices of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) across federal agencies and 33 Regulatory Fairness Board Members joined Administrator Guzman in hearing the testimony of small businesses.

The SBA heard input from participants on potential changes to programs, including whether to:

• Eliminate the exception to affiliation between the SBA-approved mentor and protégé.
• Allow an exclusion from affiliation only for contracts or orders five years or less.
• Clarify the applicability of the HUBZone price evaluation preference to HUBZone joint ventures formed under the Mentor-Protégé Program.

"Together with the Regulatory Fairness Board members, it was powerful and persuasive to hear directly from these small businesses on their experience competing for federal contracts. This hearing underscored the SBA and other federal agencies' commitment to promote a level playing field," said National Ombudsman Michele Schimpp.

"This hearing offered a forum for a powerful exchange of ideas and feedback, as we heard directly from small businesses on their experiences in federal contracting and discussed several strategies to maintain a level playing field for all small businesses. We look forward to continuing this important conversation among entrepreneurs and federal leaders," said Jaqueline Robinson-Burnette, Associate Administrator for SBA's Office of Government Contracting & Business Development.

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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, and 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. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

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