Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Conn.) have introduced the bipartisan Small Business Contracting Transparency Act, a bill designed to enhance opportunities for small businesses participating in Small Business Administration (SBA) programs to secure contracts with federal agencies.
“Louisiana’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they deserve a fair shot at working with the federal government. The Small Business Contracting Transparency Act would require the SBA to tell the public about the contracts it grants so that job creators can take advantage of every opportunity that’s open to them,” highlighted Sen. Kennedy.
The proposed legislation seeks to address existing challenges faced by small businesses in winning government contracts by enhancing transparency and oversight within federal contracting processes.
“When small businesses are able to fulfill federal contracts, everyone wins. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation is a key step toward ensuring the federal government keeps its promises to women, veterans, and underserved communities when awarding federal contracts,” emphasized Sen. Coons.
Under the Small Business Contracting Transparency Act, the SBA would be mandated to provide detailed reports on several key aspects:
- Small Business Participation: The number of small businesses certified to participate in essential SBA programs such as the Women-Owned Small Business program (WOSB), the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) initiative, and the Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) program.
- Contract Awards: The total dollar amount and percentage of federal contracts awarded to qualifying small businesses in each SBA program, ensuring greater visibility into the distribution of contracts across various small business categories.
- Ineligible Businesses: The number of ineligible businesses in each SBA program that agencies mistakenly awarded contracts to, aiming to improve accuracy and prevent the inadvertent allocation of contracts to ineligible entities.
Small businesses are a vital engine of economic growth and job creation, and facilitating their access to government contracts can significantly contribute to their success and sustainability.
The Small Business Contracting Transparency Act underscores bipartisan efforts to support small businesses and promote fair and equitable access to government contracting opportunities.
