Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and a member of President Biden’s Cabinet, convened a hearing with federal leaders and small business owners. The focus was on enhancing small businesses' ability to compete for federal contracts, particularly regarding the impact of joint ventures (JV) on small business participation in Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOCs).
“Today’s convening of federal leaders and Regulatory Fairness Board members to hear directly from small business owners is part of our ongoing work to expand access to federal contracting opportunities by leveling the playing field for competition,” said Administrator Guzman. She emphasized the goal of balancing benefits for those finding success through the Mentor-Protégé Program JVs while also retaining viable opportunities for non-JV small businesses to win prime contracts. “The SBA will continue striving to recruit new entrants and reverse the decline in small business participation so that we can build a strong, diverse, and resilient small business industrial base.”
Organized by the SBA’s Office of the National Ombudsman (ONO) and Office of Government Contracting and Business Development (GCBD), this National Hearing on Joint Ventures was open to the public. It took place during the annual meeting of the SBA Regional Regulatory Fairness Boards. Leaders from various Offices of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) across federal agencies and 33 Regulatory Fairness Board Members joined Administrator Guzman in listening to testimony from small businesses.
Participants provided input on potential program changes, including:
- Eliminating the exception to affiliation between SBA-approved mentors and protégés.
- Allowing an exclusion from affiliation only for contracts or orders five years or less.
- Clarifying the applicability of HUBZone price evaluation preferences to HUBZone joint ventures formed under the Mentor-Protégé Program.
“Together with the Regulatory Fairness Board members, it was powerful and persuasive to hear directly from these small businesses on their experience competing for federal contracts. This hearing underscored the SBA and other federal agencies’ commitment to promote a level playing field,” said National Ombudsman Michele Schimpp.
“This hearing offered a forum for a powerful exchange of ideas and feedback as we heard directly from small businesses on their experiences in federal contracting and discussed several strategies to maintain a level playing field for all small businesses. We look forward to continuing this important conversation among entrepreneurs and federal leaders,” said Jaqueline Robinson-Burnette, Associate Administrator for SBA’s Office of Government Contracting & Business Development.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power American business ownership dreams. As a key resource backed by federal government strength, it empowers entrepreneurs with support needed to start, grow, expand their businesses or recover from declared disasters through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.