Q4 especially strong for small firms: report

Federal agencies are awarding more and more of their small business contracts in the fourth quarter, with 45% of small business obligations reported to have been awarded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, according to a new report by Bloomberg Government.

That percentage has been going up since fiscal 2010, when about 40% of small business obligations were in the fourth quarter.

The percentage of fourth-quarter small business obligations hit 42% in fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012, then rose to 43% in fiscal 2013 and 45% in fiscal 2014, Bloomberg reported.

“The fourth quarter is particularly vital to small businesses in the federal market,” the report said. For all U.S. contracts, the fourth-quarter average is 34%.

Bloomberg identified five federal agencies that awarded more than half of their small-business dollars in the fourth quarter in fiscal 2014: State Department awarded 61%; Interior, 55%; Health and Human Services, 55%; and EPA, 52%.

A greater percentage of small business contracts are awarded through set-asides in the fourth quarter, the report added. On average, about 54% of small business awards are set-asides. But in the fourth quarter, 63% are set-asides, Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg also noted which agencies have unobligated funds remaining for fiscal 2015, as of June 30. The Defense Department had $149 billion left for operations and maintenance; $95 billion for procurement; $62 billion, military personnel; $34 billion, research; and $18 billion, construction.

The civilian agencies with the most unobligated fiscal 2015 funds as of June 30 were: Homeland Security, $39 billion; State, $35 billion; Transportation, $20 billion; Commerce, $17 billion; Energy, $14 billion; Justice, $13 billion; Army Corps, $11 billion; Interior, $10 billion; NASA, $7 billion; and EPA, $7 billion.

Bloomberg advised ensuring that contracting offices have more than one person listed as your contact. If a contracting officer cannot reach your contact, you may lose a deal.

Also, make sure no former personnel are listed.

More Information: Law360 analysis http://goo.gl/2Wtjqx

Q4 especially strong for small firms: report

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