On May 1, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved, by voice vote, the Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act (H.R. 1873).
Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA), H.R. 1873 would increase the government’s procurement goal for small businesses from 23 to 25 percent; mandate that the Small Business Administration negotiate agency-specific procurement goals annually; and require prime contractors to report small business contracting as a percentage of the total dollar amount of the contract award.
During consideration of the bill, the committee approved, by voice vote, an amendment by Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO) to increase the procurement goal for small disadvantaged and women-owned businesses from five percent to eight percent.