FOR RELEASE: July 11, 2001

EVANS QUESTIONS AGENCY COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL PROCUREMENT LAW; 
Asks Small Business Administration For Facts 

Washington, DC – Congressman Lane Evans (D-IL) has requested information from the Small Business Administration (SBA), which will show if federal agencies are complying with Public Law 106-50.  The federal law requires agencies to establish goals for contracting from small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans and other specified small business concerns.  Evans is concerned because, nearly two years after the requirement for agency procurement goals became law, very little progress is apparent.  The Illinois Congressman has asked SBA’s Acting Administrator to report on the contracting goals established by all Federal agencies for each priority small business type specified in law (title 15 U.S.C.) and to report agency progress to date on achieving those goals.  

“The stated agency goals will be useful to determine if executive agencies are fully complying with this law.  The statute sets minimum goals under several different categories for Government-wide results,” said Evans.  In fiscal year 2001, federal agencies are expected to issue a minimum of 5% of their contracts to small business concerns owned by women; 5% to socially and economically-disadvantaged small businesses; 3% to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses; and 2% to HUBZone businesses.  Evans also asked for individual agency progress in achieving contracting goals.

“Everybody understands that the new service-disabled veteran provision may take a little time to fully implement.  But almost two years have elapsed and I find it hard to understand why some agencies are reportedly establishing goals well-below the Government-wide goals,” questioned Evans.  “If you set a goal at one-third of the national rate, you just aren’t taking the program seriously!”  Evans awaits the official SBA data on the program. 

Evans joined a bipartisan group of House and Senate members in requesting a GAO study on the issue shortly after the provision was signed into law.  The report has not yet been issued.

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