Set-Aside Alert exclusive:

Q&A with Robb Wong of SBA - II

      In March 2017, President Trump named Robb Wong to the top position at the Small Business Administration overseeing small business federal contracting.

      Here is Part II of Set-Aside Alert’s exclusive interview with Robb Wong, SBA’s associate administrator for government contracting and business development.

Set-Aside Alert: You mentioned that you want to improve the certification programs at the SBA.

Robb Wong: Changes and improvements for 8(a)/HubZone/WOSB and SDVOSB are necessary, in my opinion, because of the shift in government contracting to category management/strategic sourcing/consolidation.

      I hope to offer a business response by suggesting updates and improvements to each of our programs that would help government contractors get more use out of the certifications, and also allow the government more freedom and capability to get the best possible solutions from small businesses.

      I have some specific ideas in terms of process, policy and advocacy that I am vetting with SBA Administrator Linda McMahon, and hope to be able to be more specific in the very near future.

Set-Aside Alert: Can you give us any specifics on your plans for 8(a)? Also, has anyone been named to replace (SBA’s former deputy associate administrator) Jackie Robinson-Burnette?

Robb Wong: There is no replacement yet for Jackie Robinson-Burnette. We are still defining the requirements.

      Jackie did a great job of streamlining the 8(a) program and reducing waiting times. We are trying to put some refinements on what she did, with quality assurance and better quality companies.

      There was a decrease in the number of 8(a) companies over the years because it was taking too long to process applications, and some people didn’t find the program useful.

      Very frankly, I’ve been involved with 8(a) since the 1980s. Back in those days, if you got into 8(a), the government just awarded you contracts.

      Now getting an 8(a) certification is like getting a hunting license to the federal contract hunting grounds.

      Remember when Gerald Ford used to go to Vail and it was pristine? And then all the tourists came to Vail? That’s what happened to 8(a). It hasn’t been that useful recently. The field is crowded and it’s hard to find contracts. I have some ideas to address some of the challenges to make it more useful.

Set-Aside Alert: What are your ideas for the HUBZone program?

Robb Wong: The HUBZone program is very well intentioned, but it has the effect of penalizing a business for being successful. It is so restrictive that it reduces the willingness of companies to invest in the business. It’s challenging, but I believe it could be equally effective as the 8(a) program.

Set-Aside Alert: Did the NDAA go far enough in addressing the problems in the HUBZone program?

Robb Wong: It didn’t go far enough. In general, I’ve been talking to business owners and government, and listening to them, and I’ve identified four things we could try, but at this moment we’re not ready to announce anything.

Set-Aside Alert: What about the Senate provision (not included in the final NDAA) to reduce the HUBZone employee residency requirement to 33%? Do you support that?

Robb Wong: I’d like to try to remove some of those restrictions in order to attract better small businesses to make the investment into HUBZone areas and employees, while also addressing the concerns of government agencies who hire those companies. Recent proposed changes in employee residency, from 35% to 33%, ostensibly would reduce some of those restrictions, so in theory that is a good thing and I would support that.

Set-Aside Alert: People are eagerly awaiting the WOSB certification program. Do you have any comments on when the SBA might issue the proposed rule on that?

Robb Wong: We hope to publish a proposed rule this fiscal year.

Set-Aside Alert: What about the proposed rule on certification of SDVOSBs?

Robb Wong: We hope to issue that in the next few weeks.

Set-Aside Alert: President Trump has promoted the idea that government regulations need to be cut. What regulations do you think should be cut at the SBA?

Robb Wong: The agency is reviewing all of our regulations.

Set-Aside Alert: At this juncture, with the Trump administration in its second year and plans of increasing defense spending and reducing civilian spending, what is your advice to small business federal contractors in the market and to small business owners considering getting into the federal market?

Robb Wong: My advice would be it is not enough for a small business to say to a contracting officer: I have a certification, you are missing your goals, so give me a contract. You would be surprised how many small business owners don’t get that. The small business owners need to know, in what world does someone want to buy their product?

Set-Aside Alert: Is it a good time to get into the federal market, especially for minority owners, given that the President Trump so far has had a controversial record on civil rights.

Robb Wong: The answer is yes. My last name is Wong. I am a minority owner. I support the administration and I am a minority. If anything, they (minority small business owners) will feel better. I am here as an advocate. I am not interested in the status quo. I love the agency. I love the constituency. I am energized every day.

      My job is putting people to work. It is a non-partisan issue. We have people of all different ethnicities and persuasions in this institution and we work together as a team.

Set-Aside Alert: You mentioned in your speech last April that you started your first business at age 11. What was that business?

Robb Wong: Stringing tennis rackets. My Mom would drive me around. We had 9 pro shops. We would pick up armfuls of rackets and restring them for $2.50 each. I liked it. Work made me feel useful and part of the world. My father used to say to me: When you go outside into the world, be happy and be helpful.

Set-Aside Alert: Is there anything you would like to add?

Robb Wong: I feel extraordinarily blessed to be in this position. ..There is a lot to do, and I feel that I might not have time to do all that I want to do.

      The SBA’s Government Contracting and Business Development office is probably one of most important offices. The things we do have a direct effect on government and on small businesses. We want to make sure the people getting certifications are quality corporations with quality solutions.

      Everywhere I go, I’m asking people to tell me: What are the three things SBA does well? What are the three things SBA does that I don’t like?

      I hope to get some legislative and regulatory changes to improve usefulness.

More Information: See Part I of the Q&A with Robb Wong in the Jan. 19, 2018 edition of Set-Aside Alert: /01-19-18/story1.htm

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