HUBZones popular despite 3% goal not being met: Spampinato

      The Small Business Administration’s top official for contracting said the HUBZone program is attracting more applicants even though the government has never met its 3% goal for HUBZone procurement.

      Francis Spampinato, appointed as the SBA's associate administrator for government contracting and business development, testified on Sept. 15 to a House Small Business subcommittee. He started in the new post in June.

      From his point of view, HUBZones are thriving: "We’ve already seen a 33% increase in applications, reduction in processing times, and an 11% increase in FY2019 Scorecard results from FY2018—which demonstrates that we are moving in the right direction," Spampinato testified. Clarification was not immediately available on what time period he was referring to for the 33% increase in applications.

      Asked at the hearing why the 3% goal for HUBZone procurement hasn't been met, he said the HUBZone program imposes "lots of small peculiarities’" on firms and the SBA is trying to "make it easier" for the firms.

      The SBA is doing targeted outreach and may pursue changes in law, he said. While a few agencies are doing very well with HUBZones, most are falling short. "Most of the time the answer is focus," Spampinato said.

More information:
Hearing website: https://bit.ly/3j7owg4

(URLs in Set-Aside Alert have been shortened by the bit.ly and tinyurl URL shorteners)

HUBZone firms rise in number but HUBZone set-asides slump

Executive order on race hits contractors

Continuing Resolution & Sect. 3610

HUBZones popular despite 3% goal not being met: Spampinato

SBA coping with COVID

'Significant inaccuracies' in FAS data: IG

SBA comment on set-asides

Column: The Contract Waterfall

Washington Insider:

Correction

Coronavirus Update