FSSI bid protests

      There have been 24 bid protests filed to date on three recent General Services Administration strategic sourcing vehicles--Office Supplies 3 (OS3), “OASIS-SB” small business track and “MRO” (Maintenance, Repair and Operations).

      There are 14 bid protests on OS3, nine on OASIS-SB and one on MRO, filed with the Government Accountability Office, Federal News Radio reported on March 14.

      Each of the OS3 protests challenges the solicitation requirements, alleging a violation of rules that prohibit contract bundling, the newspaper said.

More information: Federal News Radio article: http://goo.gl/yvSc3F

Still no SBA chief

      With President Obama’s nominee Maria Contreras-Sweet still unconfirmed by the Senate, some small businesses are urging an end to the delay.

      The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee approved Contreras-Sweet on March 5, but no full Senate vote has taken place to date. The Small Business Majority and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recently called upon senators to vote as soon as possible to approve the nominee.

      The SBA’s current acting administrator is Marianne Markowitz.

      At any agency, a prolonged delay without permanent executive leadership may tend to hinder the ability to undertake major policy, program and regulatory initiatives.

More information: http://goo.gl/yeFGld

DOD #1 user of GWACs

      Defense Department agencies and services account for nearly half of the spending across the General Services Administration’s five governmentwide acquisition vehicles (GWACs), Federal Times reported.

      The five GWACs counted are “8(a) STARS,” “8(a) STARS II,” “Alliant,” “Alliant Small Business” and “VETS.”

More information: Federal Times article http://goo.gl/qAd4Ig

SBA $93M sequester cut

      The Small Business Administration’s budget was reduced by $93 million due to sequestration in fiscal 2013, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. About $40 million of that was taken from disaster loan funding.

      The SBA said sequestration caused SBA to reduce funding to partners that provide support for small businesses. As a result, the number of businesses served was decreased.

      The SBA’s “SCORE” program served 25% fewer clients in fiscal 2013 vs. the year before; Small Business Development Centers, 4.2% fewer, and Women’s Business Centers, 2.3% fewer.

      The GAO report details, agency by agency, sequestration’s impacts on programs, investments and personnel support.

More information: GAO report http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/661444.pdf