|
Federal Market Intelligence for Small Business |
|
|
|
|
Infrastructure plans put focus on DBEsPresident Joe Biden’s $1.7 trillion infrastructure rebuilding plan--if passed in his desired form or somewhat close to it--is likely to bring major benefits to small business federal contractors. Since much of the work will be on transportation infrastructure, it will bring renewed focus to the Transportation Dept.’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, through which many of the small business contracts are likely to flow, according to testimony at a House Small Business Committee subcommittee hearing on June 10. The majority of projected work related to roads, bridges, airports, ports, and rail “presumably will be implemented through DOT financial assistance, hence the importance of the DBE program,” stated Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-MD, who chaired the hearing. Under the DBE program, federal transportation financial assistance is passed on to state and local governments, which award contracts. While Congress has set a 10% goal for DBE participation in these contracts, the localities set their own goals. There are generally no DBE set-asides. Hearing witnesses said small firms are likely to reap substantial benefits from new infrastructure funding. “The $621 billion that the Administration presently anticipates spending on roads, bridges, public transit, rail, ports, waterways, airports, are all areas that DBE’s are currently performing in, and the new infusion of federal spending will be more than welcome,” Ralph C. Thomas III, community engagement executive director for the National Association of Minority Contractors, said at the hearing. Annie Mecias-Murphy, speaking on behalf of the Associated Builders and Contractors, said small firms would appreciate infrastructure funding, but the benefits would be “limited” if Congress approves Biden’s labor provisions.
More information:
|
Washington Insider:
|
Copyright © 2021 Business Research Services Inc. All rights reserved.