For the eighth consecutive year, the Department of Defense achieved an “A” rating for performance against its small business procurement objectives. Released July 26, the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) annual scorecard puts into context the critical role small businesses play in fulfilling the department’s mission.
During a virtual press event announcing the release of the scorecard, Dr. William A. LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, highlighted the contributions of the American workforce and small businesses throughout fiscal year 2021 along with agency heads from the Departments of Transportation and Homeland. Security as well as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
“Small businesses play a vital role in the American economy and they are essential to the mission of the Department of Defense, enabling us to develop, deliver and sustain critical capabilities for our Warfighter,” said LaPlante. “DoD achieved our top small business contracting goal for eight consecutive years. This demonstrates our commitment to maximizing opportunities for small businesses, which increases competitiveness and strengthens our national and economic security.”
With more than $83 billion in obligations directly to small businesses, as well as another $50 billion subcontracted to small businesses by key DoD suppliers, the department continues its commitment to the small business defense industrial base.
Specifically, the department’s Mentor Protégé Program (MPP), which partners small business with larger companies – provides a powerful platform for small businesses to grow as potential contributors to the defense industrial base. In the past five years, MPP has successfully helped hundreds of small businesses fill unique niches and become part of the military’s supply chain.
The Department also prioritizes the use of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) to increase the number of small businesses throughout the industrial base. Administered by the department’s Office of Small Business Programs, in cooperation with state and local governments and nonprofit organizations, the PTAC program helps businesses track and perform under contracts with DoD, other federal agencies, and prime government contractors.
In conjunction with the release of the scorecards, the SBA announced that the Biden-Harris Administration exceeded its federal small business contracting goal, awarding more than a quarter—or $154.2 billion—of total federal contracting funds to small businesses. small. Combined with $72 billion in subprime contracting targets, this historic spending has supported over a million jobs in the US economy.
To view the department’s scorecard, visit https://www.sba.gov/agency-scorecards/scorecard.html.
