News From Congresswoman
Nydia M. Velázquez
Representing New York's 12th Congressional District - Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens
Ranking Democratic Member, House Small Business Committee

For Immediate Release
September 27, 2004

CONTACT: Kate Davis, Allyson Ivins, 202-225-4038

MEDIA ADVISORY

House Small Business Committee Democrats to Release Scorecard V
Report measures federal agencies on federal contracting goals

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, will join her Democratic colleagues and small business owners to release the annual Scorecard; this is the fifth year for the report that reviews and grades 22 federal agencies that represent over 99 percent of all government contract dollars, including the Department of Homeland Security, on attaining their mandated contracting goals with small businesses.

Current law requires that federal agencies award 23 percent of their contracts with small business; five percent of those contracts are for women business owners, and three percent are for firms in low-income areas. Over the past three years, these goals have not been achieved - last year's overall grade was a D, the lowest mark for the federal government since the Scorecard's inception. The report is being released at a time when the federal marketplace has done record volumes, reaching $285 billion. In addition, earlier this year, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that a record number of federal contracts had been awarded to small businesses, but stated three months later that the numbers had to be revised downward.

Small businesses play a vital role in today's federal marketplace. They traditionally provide quality goods and services, in addition to much needed competition that supplies the federal government the most value for the taxpayer dollar. Unfortunately due to procurement reforms, agencies have opted to pursue contracting strategies that favor mega or bundled contracts instead of embracing the benefits small businesses can provide to the federal marketplace. While these practices are convenient for the agencies, it harms small business, and fails to provide the government with a superior product and cost savings to the taxpayer.

Scorecard V evaluates the state of contract opportunities for small businesses and the effect current policies are having on opening the federal marketplace to small firms.

When and Where:

When: Thursday, September 30, 2004 at 10:00 a.m.

Where: Cannon Terrace (rain location: 311 Cannon HOB)

Who: Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez
Members of the House Small Business Committee
Small business owners

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