Difficulties of UBM, Inc., in Obtaining Government Contracts

UBM, Inc., a minority-owned small business, has experienced difficulties in its attempts to obtain government contracts and to promote the interests of minority firms in the construction management, construction consultant, and value engineering fields, areas in which UBM claims expertise.

A review of four contract awards files at the Veterans' Administration (VA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) showed that UBM scored relatively low as to its qualifications to perform the work involved. VA and GSA small and minority business representatives advised that they have no formal programs for set-asides or section 8(a) assistance to small and minority firms in these fields. UBM identified the VA as the worst offender in terms of being nonresponsive to UBM attempts to obtain a contract. UBM was not one of the more qualified firms responding to the VA solicitation. However, the VA Architect-Engineer Selection Board indicated a willingness to discuss with UBM the strengths and weaknesses of its qualifications. VA is developing plans to put into effect a policy encouraging joint ventures with minority firms. This policy will probably include a scoring adjustment factor in the evaluation for such joint ventures. UBM had been ranked 8 out of a field of 13 in the GSA contract file reviewed and had failed to take advantage of available debriefings at which the strengths and weaknesses of their proposal could have been discussed.