Transportation Security Agency Pledges Support for Small Firms The Transportation Security Administration plans to set aside contracts worth up to $200,000 for small businesses, twice as much as the requirement for most federal agencies. TSA has posted a draft small business policy pledging to “follow the spirit and intent” of governmentwide small business procurement preferences, even though it is not subject to the Small Business Act. The policy sets these priorities for all the agency’s procurements: “First, consider small business prime contracts; “Second, if the first option has been ruled out based on market research, consider small business teams or joint ventures; and “Third, if the first and second options have been ruled out based on market research, turn to full and open competition where large businesses are expected to serve as prime contractors. In these cases, subcontracting with small businesses and the use of the DHS Mentor-Protégé Program will be critical.” For contracts above $200,000, TSA plans to employ a rule of three rather than the customary rule of two; the policy says those contracts should also be set aside for small businesses whenever three or more small firms offer competitive prices, quality, and delivery. A written justification is required anytime a requirement is removed from the small business program. TSA will also award sole-source contracts to small disadvantaged businesses, HUBZone businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned firms. TSA is part of the Homeland Security Department but it, like the Federal Aviation Administration, is exempt by law from procurement provisions of the Small Business Act. The proposed policy is posted at http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Final_SBPolicy.pdf. Comments are due by August 11 and should be sent to Ramona Jones, director of TSA’s small business office, at ramona.jones@tsa.gov, with copies to anthony.bell@dhs.gov and yolanda.chambers@dhs.gov.