6 steps for agencies to aid small businesses
OFPP's new leader gives agency officials six steps to increase contracts for businesses through multiple-award contracts.
As his first official action as administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Joe Jordan released a new memo June 7 intended to improve small business contracting.
Jordan’s memo, in conjunction with the Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills, gives agency officials six steps to increase contracts for businesses through multiple-award contracts (MACs).
Jordan wrote on the OMBlog June 7 that these tactical steps include using the authorities provided by law to set aside orders under MACs, turning to small businesses for small-dollar awards, and strengthening accountability to meet annual small-business contracting goals.
Jordan and Mills ordered agency officials to:
- Encourage their acquisition workforce, in an agency memo, to consider setting aside orders for small businesses on MACs.
- Think about requiring set-asides under MACs if the agency is not currently meeting its small business goals.
- Modify MACs to provide for set-asides.
- Require that contract documents include details on how officials considered the set-aside tools.
- Give feedback to SBA officials about the agency’s set-aside rule on greater consideration of set-asides on MACs.
- Take advantage of free training from the General Services Administration.
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