Graves Introduces Legislation To Create More Opportunities For Small Businesses

Press Release

House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) today introduced legislation that will help create jobs by providing more contracting opportunities for small businesses and reforming federal contracting policy that often marginalizes small contractors.

The Greater Opportunities for Small Business Act of 2014 will increase the federal government goal for small business contracting percentage from 23 percent to 25 percent, and the Contracting Data and Bundling Accountability Act of 2014 will bring more transparency to data reported on bundled and consolidated contracts. When many small contracts are combined into one large contract, many small businesses are left at a disadvantage when bidding. Both bills will work to create a more even playing field for small contractors.

"These two pieces of legislation will go a long way towards increasing opportunities for small companies who want to grow and create jobs by doing business with the federal government," said Chairman Graves. "By increasing the federal-wide goal for contracts to small businesses, and requiring greater accuracy, transparency and accountability in contract bundling and consolidation, we make it easier for small businesses to enter this marketplace and compete for contracts. The federal government spends nearly half a trillion dollars on contracted goods and services, therefore, we must ensure that the money is being spent efficiently, and small businesses have proven that they can do quality work cheaper and often faster."

During Chairman Graves' leadership, the Committee has successfully spearheaded small business contracting legislation that has become law. The National Defense Authorization Acts of 2013 and 2014 incorporated several Committee-sponsored contracting provisions, including making the small business goals part of senior agency employee reviews and bonus discussions, preventing contracting fraud by penalizing companies that front for large businesses, and changing limitations on subcontracting to make it easier for small companies to team on larger contracts.

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