Increasing Opportunities and Access for Disadvantaged Businesses
Agencies Ordered to Expand Contracting for Disadvantaged Businesses
What it does
Agencies must increase contracting and subcontracting with small disadvantaged firms, firms in the 8(a) program, and minority-owned businesses through outreach, goals, and enforcement.
Real-world impact
- Increases federal contracting awards to small disadvantaged and minority-owned firms.
- Requires agencies to set and report participation goals, including a 5% SDB target.
- Creates new outreach, training, mentoring, and enforcement steps for prime contractors.
Topics
Summary
This order directs all federal agencies that buy goods and services to increase contracting opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses, firms in the 8(a) program, and minority-owned businesses. Agencies must do outreach, set participation goals (including a 5% target for disadvantaged businesses), enforce subcontracting commitments, offer training and mentoring, and use procurement tools to expand access. The Small Business Administration must evaluate awards, publish agency procurement goals, and report results, while agencies must develop and report implementation plans.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”