Tag Archives: federal contract

SBA Helps Veterans Start, Grow and Expand Small Businesses

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WASHINGTON – As the nation marks Veterans Day 2012, the U.S. Small Business Administration continues to build on its successful programs for America’s military veterans, helping tens of thousands of veterans each year with small business financing, comprehensive business training and counseling and access to federal contracts.

“Around Veterans Day, our thoughts turn to the men and women who are currently serving in the Armed Forces, as well as to all veterans who have made sacrifices and served our country over the years,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “When you consider the leadership and management skills our veterans develop while on active and reserve duty, it’s no wonder we see so many of them choose the path of small business ownership.”

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau veterans are successful small business owners.  Nearly one in 10 small businesses nationwide are veteran-owned.  Collectively, these 2.4 million small businesses employ almost 6 million Americans and generate more than $1 trillion in receipts.  In the private sector workforce, veterans are 45 percent more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed.  

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SBA Hosts 14-City Matchmaker Conferences for Federal Contract Opportunities

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WASHINGTON–The U.S. Small Business Administration will host the fourth of its free Mentor-Protégé Matchmaking Conference series in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 21.  The program gives small disadvantaged businesses access to guidance on federal contracting, face-to-face meetings and opportunities to team with larger businesses and graduates of the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program.

During the forums, small businesses will learn how to market themselves to the federal government and go after government contracting opportunities.  They will also get an overview of the SBA’s Mentor-Protégé program – a tool of the SBA’s 8(a) program that encourages mentors to team with a protégé or smaller firm to help them with management and technical assistance, financial assistance and access to joint ventures and federal contracting opportunities.

“Although we are encouraged by the economic indicators trending upward, we are still facing challenging economic times,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills.  “That’s why it’s important that we make sure that more federal contracts get into the hands of small businesses that drive the nation’s economy and create jobs.  These forums will go a long way in making sure that small businesses know how to leverage their companies and team with viable partners to take their businesses to the next level.”  

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Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program Request For Comments

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Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program

Interim final rule; request for comments.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is requesting comments on an interim final rule amending its Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program.  The SBA proposes to change its regulations to make them consistent with the inflationary adjustments that are already codified in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) as they relate to the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program and the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. In addition, the SBA is amending its regulations pertaining to the WOSB Program protest procedures so that they are consistent with the protest procedures for SBA’s other government contracting programs.  This rule is effective on January 12, 2012; comments must be received on or before February 13, 2012.

Interim Rule from the Federal Register – http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-01-12/html/2012-467.htm

Submit comments electronically – http://www.regulations.gov/#!home

Regulations.gov, the Federal government’s one stop site to comment on Federal regulations

For more information on Procurement Regulatory Alerts see http://www.sba.gov/content/procurement

For more information on Regulatory Alerts please see the Office of Advocacy webpage http://www.sba.gov/advocacy

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SBA Announces Contracting Program For Women-Owned Small Businesses

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First Contracts Expected to be Awarded through WOSB Program by Critical Fourth Quarter of Fiscal Year 2011 

WASHINGTON – Women-owned small businesses can begin taking steps to participate in a new federal contracting program on Friday, Feb. 4, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced today. The new Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program will be fully implemented over the next several months, with the first contracts expected to be awarded by the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011.

“Implementing the Women-Owned Small Business contracting rule has been a top priority for the Obama Administration and SBA,” said Administrator Karen Mills.  “Women-owned businesses are one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy.  As we continue to look to small businesses to grow, create jobs and lead America into the future, women-owned businesses will play a key role.  That’s why providing them with all the tools necessary to compete for and win federal contracts is so important.  Federal contracts can provide women-owned small businesses with the oxygen they need to take their business to the next level.”  

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