Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act
Summary
HB789, the “Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act,” would direct the Small Business Administration to issue rules within 180 days governing federal procurement solicitations that are issued and later cancelled when at least two small businesses were eligible to bid. The bill requires agencies to disclose the reason for cancellation, whether the solicitation will be reissued, expected timing for any reissuance, and whether the requirements will be folded into another contract or task order. It also requires that this information be posted on the government-wide procurement portal.
The bill further amends the Small Business Act to require federal Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization to assist a small business that prepared a bid for a cancelled solicitation, if the agency does not plan to reissue it, by helping identify similar contracting opportunities. The measure states that no additional funds are authorized to implement these requirements.
Impact
HB789 would add new transparency and assistance requirements to federal procurement procedures affecting cancelled solicitations involving eligible small businesses. It would amend section 15(k) of the Small Business Act to impose a new duty on Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and would require SBA rulemaking and public disclosure through the federal single point of entry for procurement information. The bill does not create new spending authority, so implementation would be expected within existing agency resources.
Sentiment
The available record suggests generally positive, pro-small-business sentiment. The bill passed the House and was then received in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, with no recorded votes against it or committee transcript opposition in the provided materials. Its title and provisions indicate a bipartisan-sounding emphasis on predictability, transparency, and support for small business bidders.
Contention
No specific objections are documented in the provided transcripts or vote history, so there is no recorded substantive contention in the available materials. Potential areas of debate, however, could include whether the disclosure requirements impose additional administrative burden on federal agencies, whether the assistance mandate is sufficiently specific, and whether the no-additional-funds provision is realistic for agencies expected to implement the new duties.
DOE and SBA Research ActThis bill requires the Department of Energy and the Small Business Administration to enter into an agreement to collaborate on research and development activities. These activities must include, as appropriate, small businesses.The agencies must report on any collaborative research achievements and potential opportunities to expand the technical capabilities of the agencies.
Enacts the "small business health plan act" which provides small businesses opportunities to provide health insurance to owners and employees by exempting such insurance from certain requirements.