Companies within 50 miles of the White House won nearly one-third of small business contract dollars over the past four years, according to an Associated Press analysis of government procurement data.

There was wide variation among different agencies. EPA, which spends heavily on cleaning up Superfund sites around the country, was among the most geographically diverse in its spending. The National Science Foundation, on the other hand, awarded more than 80% of its dollars in the Washington region.

“This story underscores the importance of understanding the contracting environment,” said Jeremy Potter, a market analyst for the research firm Input. “Like most businesses, government contracting remains a relationship business where knowing the customer and the customer's business remain paramount. What's more, being located in the DC metro area also provides easier access to all-important teaming relationships (there's that word again) and even event attendance.”

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to add $107 million to President Bush’s proposed budget for the Small Business Administration. The increase, to $766 million, will raise funding for the agency’s core programs by 45%, according to Senate Small Business Committee Chairman John Kerry, D-MA, and the committee’s ranking Republican, Olympia Snowe, R-ME.

The Indian Health Service can’t find $16 million worth of equipment, including everything from computers to trucks, according to a harsh report by the Government Accountability Office.

GAO said the Health Service fabricated documents in an attempt to cover up the losses. Auditors accused agency leaders of “gross mismanagement.”

They said more than one-third of IT equipment at IHS headquarters in Rockville, MD, was lost, stolen or not accounted for. Some of the computers contained personal information.

IHS’s parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, said GAO overstated the losses.

SBA is changing the size standards for heating oil dealers, NAICS code 454311, and liquefied petroleum gas (bottled gas) dealers, NAICS code 454312, to 50 employees. The previous size standards for both industries were measured in dollars.

SBA said more than 90% of fuel oil dealers will qualify as small under the new standard. The change is effective Aug. 21.

Lesley Field has been named deputy administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, replacing the retired Robert Burton. She previously served as a policy analyst at OFPP and with the Department of Transportation.