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Federal Market Intelligence for Small Business |
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Set-Aside Alert exclusive survey:Surveys show COVID-19 pain, worry for small biz contractorsThe majority of small business federal contractors in a new Set-Aside Alert survey reported they are “very concerned” about continuing work or already “shut down” as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Most of the 360 small business respondents said that large portions of their workforces were continuing to work, mostly by teleworking, but some were not sure how their workers would be paid. They also reported worries about getting infected with COVID-19. The Set-Aside Alert survey was conducted from March 31 to April 6, with 372 respondents in all, including 360 respondents that identified themselves as small businesses. About 65% of them currently are performing on one or more federal contracts. It is one of several recent surveys that show deep anxiety among small government vendors. “Ninety-nine percent of our normal sales have dropped off completely,” wrote one respondent. “One contract is all that is left.” “We have been feeling the impact from the virus since the beginning,” wrote another respondent. “We have not been able to obtain payment on previous contracts.” The online survey of 360 small businesses in the federal market found that the majority--51%--are feeling the pain of the coronavirus emergency. A total of 156 respondents, or 42%, said they are “very concerned” about maintaining federal contracting operations during the pandemic, and 33, or 9%, said they were “shut down already.” Only 83 of the 360 respondents said they have received “stop-work orders” from the government, and many respondents --43% of the total-- said their employees all are working, either with substantial telework, in some cases reduced hours or pay, and with some difficulties obtaining supplies. “We are in a very stressful situation,” a respondent wrote. “ A substantial part of our business was building trade show exhibits, which was hit hard and early,” wrote another. Another point of tension was regarding fears of contracting coronavirus. Employers and their workers alike are feeling anxiety about their risk. A respondent wrote: “We work in hospitals as tradesmen, but we cannot purchase N95 masks, hand sanitizers and Personal Protective Equipment because the items are all set aside for first responders. This is not fair to us and something needs to change ASAP!” A separate survey of small business contractors by the National Defense Industry Association found that 62% have had a disruption in cash flow, and 54% have had a disruption in their ability to perform on a contract, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Survey details: Click for data and charts
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