Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Representatives Latimer, Alford, and Mfume, for their work on this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, prior to this administration, government contracts provided small businesses with stability and predictability. The government was considered a reliable partner that could be trusted to keep its word and pay its bills.

Yet even before the chaos of the Trump administration, there were times when requirements legitimately changed and something the government intended to buy or do was no longer necessary.

In those previously rare instances, the government then canceled the solicitation. Unfortunately, any small business working on a bid lost all the time and money they had invested in the proposal.

Last year, a small business owner testified that it cost him an average of $10,000 per proposal. If that solicitation was later canceled, the government did not have to provide him with any assistance or even any information.

This bill will change that. While we cannot make small businesses whole, we can make sure they are given additional information and assistance to help them adjust their operations and plans moving forward and hopefully to continue their participation in the Federal market.
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Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, in closing, we know that providing a little more predictability and stability can help reduce the barriers that keep small businesses from bidding on and winning government projects. That is what this bill will do.

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Mr. Latimer and Mr. Alford for their work to bring this to the floor today and to increase transparency and accountability for our small business government contractors. I urge my colleagues to support it, as well, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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