|  | | Federal government exceeds its 23 percent small business contracting goal
Matt Varilek, Region VIII Administrator |
Recently, SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet announced that for the first time since 2005, the federal government has met and exceeded its goal of awarding 23 percent of its prime contracting dollars to small businesses. During fiscal year 2013, the federal government awarded 23.39 percent of contracts to small businesses, which represents $83.1 billion of eligible contracting dollars, according to the SBA's Small Business Procurement Scorecard. When small businesses earn federal contracts, it's a 'win-win' for entrepreneurs and their local communities. Throughout Region VIII, thousands of small businesses have benefited from such contracts. Companies like J.G. Management Systems in Grand Junction, CO, Woodbury Technologies in Clearfield, UT, and Abatement Contractors of Montana, LLC located in Missoula, MT have all utilized federal contracts to grow their businesses and increase employment in their local communities. The SBA has increased its collaboration with all federal agencies to broaden opportunities for small businesses to better compete and qualify for federal contracts. Furthermore, the Obama Administration has accelerated payments to small businesses through QuickPay (http://www.sba.gov/content/quickpay-background), a program that helps small business owners better manage cash flow and grow their companies. Additionally, the private sector's equivalent, SupplierPay (http://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba_initiatives/supplierpay_initiative) will support private-sector contracting for small businesses. As Regional Administrator, my goal is to ensure that all of our eligible small businesses have the opportunity to compete for federal contracts to expand their revenue base and local employment. What can your small business do to earn a share of federal contracts? One of the first steps in becoming a federal contractor is to determine if your small business qualifies for government contracts. Our web page Understanding the Federal Marketplace (http://www.sba.gov/content/federal-contracting-resources-small-businesses) can assist you in determining your eligibility. If your small business qualifies, you will need to register your business on the System of Award Management (SAM) (https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1), the primary database for vendors doing business with the federal government. Additional support programs include:
By using these tools, you can successfully navigate the federal contracting marketplace and propel your business into new markets. The SBA is here to help, and we encourage you to contact your local SBA office or go to www.sba.gov for more information.
(Matt Varilek serves as the SBA's Region VIII Administrator and is based in Denver. He oversees the agency's programs and services in Colorado, Montana, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.)
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