Small Business Opportunities Transparency

Full Title:
Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act

Summary#

This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to issue rules within 180 days about certain cancelled federal procurement solicitations. For a cancelled solicitation that was open to two or more small businesses, agencies must disclose: (A) a justification for the cancellation; (B) any available information about plans to reissue the solicitation and associated timeframes; and (C) any available information about plans to include the solicitation requirements in another contract or task order. The disclosure must be posted on the single, Government-wide point of entry described in 41 U.S.C. 1708. The bill also requires agencies to establish procedures to refer a small business that prepared a bid for a cancelled solicitation to the agency’s Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) for help finding similar contracting opportunities when the agency does not intend to reissue the solicitation. The bill amends section 15(k) of the Small Business Act to add a duty for OSDBU directors to assist such small businesses. The bill states that no additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry it out.

What it means for you#

  • If you are a small business that prepared a bid for a cancelled solicitation that will not be reissued, you may receive a referral to the agency’s OSDBU for help finding similar opportunities.
  • You will be able to see public information about why a covered solicitation was cancelled and whether it may be reissued or moved into another contract, on the Government-wide point of entry (41 U.S.C. 1708).
  • The SBA must publish rules to make these disclosures and referrals, and must do so within 180 days of the bill’s enactment.

Expenses#

The bill states: "No additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act." No publicly available information on formal cost estimates or budget effects is included in the bill text or metadata provided.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.