Cardin, small contractors push key amendments to FY21 NDAA

Would raise sole source caps, temporarily lift Rule-of-2

      Advocates for federal small business contractors are urging Congress to approve several key amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of fiscal 2021.

      The amendments are expected to be sponsored by Sen. Ben Cardin, D-MD, the senior Democrat on the Senate Committee for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

      On June 26, members of the HUBZone Contractors National Council and the National Veteran Small Business Coalition, among other advocacy groups, were circulating a draft letter to the Senate small business panel. The letter, to be delivered within days, urged passage of these provisions:

• To increase the dollar threshold for sole source awards to $8 million, up from $4 million, for HUBZone, Women-Owned (WOSBs), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOSBs) and 8(a) small businesses. For sole-source contracts for manufacturing, the threshold for these small firms would be raised to $10 million, from $7 million currently;
• To temporarily remove the Rule of Two requirement for sole-source awards to HUBZones, WOSB's and SDVOSB's during the COVID-19 pandemic. This would bring those awards in conformity with the 8(a) program, which does not require the Rule of Two for sole-source awards;
• To extend participation in the 8(a) program for an additional year--to 10 years total--and waive 8(a) Business Activity Target requirements through FY 2023; and
• To increase appropriations for the SBA’s 7(j) Technical Assistance Program.

      As of June 29, organizers said there were 516 small business representatives and 7 organizations that had signed onto the letter to the Senate panel supporting the Cardin amendments.

      Michelle Burnett, executive director of the HUBZone Contractors National Council, told Set-Aside Alert she was pleased with the high level of support: "It really struck a nerve!" she said.

      The groups and small business owners are hopeful of adding the amendments in the fiscal 2021 NDAA, which has already been approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee.

      The small business amendments are expected to be offered on the floor of the Senate or could be included in an anticipated package of amendments that have been vetted and approved by leaders in both chambers.

      Cardin's office was not immediately available for comment.

More information:
Advocacy letter: https://bit.ly/2Vz8AcF

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