Presidential Task Force Seeks Contracting Ideas A presidential task force is asking for comments on how to increase contract opportunities for small firms. The interagency task force, created by President Obama in an April 26 memorandum, is due to submit recommendations by September. It is headed by the secretary of commerce, SBA administrator and director of the Office of Management and Budget. In announcing the task force, the president said it would look at familiar strategies to open opportunities for small businesses, such as teaming arrangements and unbundling contracts. In a Federal Register notice on June 14, the task force asked for comments on these questions: What steps can be taken to increase participation in contracting through teaming arrangements and mentor-protégé programs? How can subcontracting practices, such as tracking and evaluation of subcontracting plans, be improved? How can prime contractors be more effectively held responsible for their subcontracting plans? What aspects, if any, of the rules governing set-asides should be changed? What further guidance might be helpful? What strategies best mitigate the effects of contract bundling? Are there specific examples that might be shared as success stories or models for agencies to follow in mitigating contract bundling? What types of training would improve small businesses’ ability to participate in the federal marketplace and what are the best ways to deliver this training to the small business community? What federal organizations do the best job in their small business outreach strategies? What specific practices do they employ that are most helpful? What technology systems and applications are most helpful to small businesses in finding contracting opportunities? What improvements can be made to existing technologies and what new applications might be considered to make doing business with the federal government easier and more attractive? What is the best way to train federal employees in the procurement process? How can we ensure they have the skills needed to serve small businesses? Comments may be sent to SB_TaskForce_Comment@sba.gov. The task force plans a public meeting in Washington on June 28.