It appears the federal government has fulfilled its annual contracting promise to small businesses for the first time in seven years — and perhaps just in the nick of time, as lawmakers are looking to raise the bar going forward.
Government data available online currently show that federal agencies spent $83.2 billion at small companies last fiscal year, representing slightly more than 23 percent of the $355 billion in prime federal contracts officials consider viable for small firms. If so, it will mark the first time since 2006 that the government has met its statutory goal of spending at least 23 percent of all federal contracting dollars at small businesses.
More than a quarter of the contracts were awarded by the Defense Department, while the SBA, Federal Communications Commission and Interior Department each spent most of their contracting dollars at small businesses, according to the federal government’s online small business dashboard, which tracks government spending by agency.
SBA officials, who compile the data, declined to comment on the current numbers, saying they could change and the agency will issue an official tally later this year.
Keep reading this article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/government-on-pace-to-meet-small-business-contracting-goal–but-will-the-bar-get-higher/2014/02/26/d3ba6e98-9ef5-11e3-9ba6-800d1192d08b_story.html
Also see: Small business contracting numbers inflated by errors and exclusions, data show – http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/small-business-contracting-numbers-inflated-by-errors-and-exclusions-data-show/2013/07/28/7fa2a4fc-f2f6-11e2-8505-bf6f231e77b4_story.html
