The Mandatory Small Business Subcontracting Test

A review was conducted of the Mandatory Small Business Subcontracting Test and new legislation which established a new small business and small disadvantaged business contracting program. Basic similarities between the test and the new legislation include the intent to increase small business subcontracting, the use of goals for small business subcontracting, and the use of incentives in negotiating procurements to increase small business subcontracting.

The way in which the test was conducted prevented an evaluation of mandatory small business subcontracting. Useful information for test purposes was not provided and some contracts were not completed sufficiently to evaluate the results. Procedural defects in the test may be avoided in implementing P.L. 95-507 subcontracting program because of the establishment of an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization in federal agencies which have procurement authority. Several problems identified in the test procurements require consideration during the implementation of the subcontracting program. There is a lack of a clear and consistent definition for the term subcontract in solicitations and contracts. Difficulties exist with using incentives to increase small business subcontracting. Procuring activities lack adequate data and methodology to prepare goals for inclusion in solicitations which would increase small business subcontracting.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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