[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 82 (Thursday, April 29, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 22499-22501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10174]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 82 / Thursday, April 29, 2010 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 22499]]
Memorandum of April 26, 2010
Establishing an Interagency Task Force on Federal
Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and
Agencies
The Federal Government is the world's largest purchaser
of goods and services, with purchases totaling over
$500 billion per year. The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and other
national investments are providing new opportunities
for small businesses to compete for Federal contracts,
and it is critical that these investments tap into the
talents and skills of a broad cross-section of American
business and industry. Small businesses must be able to
participate in the Nation's economic recovery,
including businesses owned by women, minorities,
socially and economically disadvantaged individuals,
and service-disabled veterans of our Armed Forces.
These businesses should be able to compete and
participate effectively in Federal contracts.
The Congress has established a number of statutory
goals designed to help small businesses compete for
Federal contracts. In addition to the goal of awarding
at least 23 percent of all Federal prime contracting
dollars to small businesses, the Congress also
established Government-wide contracting goals for
participation by small businesses that are located in
Historically Underutilized Business Zones (at least 3
percent) or that are owned by women (at least 5
percent), socially and economically disadvantaged
individuals (at least 5 percent), and service-disabled
veterans (at least 3 percent). These aspirational goals
help ensure that all Americans share in the jobs and
opportunities created by Federal procurement.
In recent years, the Federal Government has not
consistently reached its small business contracting
goals. Although we have made some progress--
particularly with respect to Recovery Act contracts--
more work can and should be done. I am committed to
ensuring that small businesses, including firms owned
by women, minorities, socially and economically
disadvantaged individuals, and service-disabled
veterans, have fair access to Federal Government
contracting. Indeed, where small businesses have the
capacity to do more, we should strive to exceed the
statutory goals. While Chief Acquisition Officers and
Senior Procurement Executives have many priorities,
small business contracting should always be a high
priority in the procurement process.
Obtaining tangible results will require an honest and
accurate accounting of our progress so that we can have
transparency and accountability through Federal small
business procurement data. Additionally, we must expand
outreach strategies to alert small firms to Federal
contracting opportunities.
In order to coordinate executive departments' and
agencies' efforts towards ensuring that all small
businesses have a fair chance to participate in Federal
contracting opportunities, it is hereby ordered as
follows:
Section 1. Establishment. There is established an
Interagency Task Force on Federal Contracting
Opportunities for Small Businesses (Task Force). The
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget (Director), and the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration
(Administrator) shall serve as Co-Chairs of the Task
Force and shall direct its work.
[[Page 22500]]
Sec. 2. Membership. In addition to the Secretary, the
Director, and the Administrator, the Task Force shall
consist of the following members:
(i) the Secretary of the Treasury;
(ii) the Secretary of Defense;
(iii) the Attorney General;
(iv) the Secretary of Labor;
(v) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
(vi) the Secretary of Transportation;
(vii) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
(viii) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(ix) the Administrator of General Services;
(x) the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
(xi) the Director of the Minority Business Development Agency;
(xii) the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
(xiii) the Director of the Domestic Policy Council;
(xiv) the Director of the National Economic Council;
(xv) the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers; and
(xvi) the heads of such other executive departments, agencies, and offices
as the President may, from time to time, designate.
A member of the Task Force may designate, to perform
the Task Force functions of the member, one or more
senior officials who are part of the member's
department, agency, or office, and who are full-time
officers or employees of the Federal Government.
Sec. 3. Functions. The Task Force shall provide to the
President, not later than 120 days after the date of
this memorandum, proposals and recommendations for:
(i) using innovative strategies, such as teaming, to increase opportunities
for small business contractors and utilizing and expanding mentorship
programs, such as the mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] program;
(ii) removing barriers to participation by small businesses in the Federal
marketplace by unbundling large projects, improving training of Federal
acquisition officials with respect to strategies for increasing small
business contracting opportunities, and utilizing new technologies to
enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Federal program managers,
acquisition officials, and the Directors of Offices of Small Business
Programs and Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, their
managers, and procurement center representatives in identifying and
providing access to these opportunities;
(iii) expanding outreach strategies to match small businesses, including
firms located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones and firms owned
and controlled by women, minorities, socially and economically
disadvantaged individuals, and service-disabled veterans of our Armed
Forces, with contracting and subcontracting opportunities; and
(iv) establishing policies, including revision or clarification of existing
legislation, regulations, or policies, that are necessary or appropriate to
effectuate the objectives of this memorandum.
Sec. 4. Using Technology to Improve Transparency and
Accountability. Within 90 days of the date of this
memorandum, the Assistant to the President and Chief
Technology Officer and the Federal Chief Information
Officer, in coordination with the Task Force, shall
develop a website that illustrates the participation of
small businesses, including those owned by women,
minorities, socially and economically disadvantaged
individuals, and service-
[[Page 22501]]
disabled veterans of our Armed Forces, in Federal
contracting. To foster greater accountability and
transparency in, and allow oversight of, the Federal
Government's progress, this website shall be designed
to encourage improved collection, verification, and
availability of Federal procurement data and provide
accurate data on the Federal Government's progress in
ensuring that all small businesses have a fair chance
to participate in Federal contracting opportunities.
Sec. 5. Outreach. In developing its recommendations,
the Task Force shall conduct outreach with
representatives of small businesses and small business
associations.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) This memorandum shall
be implemented consistent with applicable law and
subject to the availability of any necessary
appropriations.
(b) This memorandum does not create any right or
benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law
or in equity by any party against the United States,
its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers,
employees, or agents, or any other person.
(c) The heads of executive departments and agencies
shall assist and provide information to the Task Force,
consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary to
carry out the functions of the Task Force. Each
executive department and agency shall bear its own
expenses of participating in the Task Force.
(d) The Director is hereby authorized and directed
to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
(Presidential Sig.)
The White House,
Washington, April 26, 2010
[FR Doc. 2010-10174
Filed 4-28-10; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3110-01-P