Senate Small Business Committee chair Mary Landrieu has written to all federal agencies urging them to immediately begin following the parity law signed by President Obama last month.

“Currently, existing statute allows contracting officers’ discretion when choosing to award a federal contract to a small business participating in these [set-aside] programs,” she wrote. Landrieu, D-LA, and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL, were co-sponsors of the parity amendment that was included in the Small Business Jobs Act.

The federal government operates more than 2,000 data centers, according to an inventory compiled by the Office of Management and Budget.

OMB plans to reduce that number dramatically to cut costs of real estate, energy and operations. In a memo reported by the Washington Post, federal CIO Vivek Kundra said, “In the coming decade, the data center consolidation initiative will play a fundamental role in our shifts to cloud computing platforms.”

Kundra said agencies have already submitted consolidation plans. The Department of Homeland Security intends to cut its 24 data centers to two within the next five years.

But the market research firm Input says lack of upfront funding will slow the consolidation. Input expects agencies will concentrate on eliminating small centers and server rooms while reconfiguring the larger ones.

SBA has increased the maximum size of its loans under provisions of the Jobs Act signed by President Obama. Limits on 7(a) and 504 loans are permanently increased from $2 million to $5 million, and for manufacturers and certain energy-related projects seeking 504 loans, to $5.5 million. The maximum for International Trade and Export Working Capital loans also has been increased from $2 million to $5 million.

SBA Express loan limits have been temporarily raised from $350,000 to $1 million for one year. These loans offer a streamlined application process and can be used as revolving lines of credit.

SBA also permanently increased microloan limits from $35,000 to $50,000.

Four representatives of veterans organizations have been named to President Obama’s Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development. The task force, made up primarily of federal officials, is to produce recommendations for the president by next spring.

The veterans representatives are John M. Garcia, cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Department of Veterans Service; Elizabeth O’Herrin, a founder of the Student Veterans of America; James F. Wilfong, representing VetForce; and Daniel M. Dellinger, representing the American Legion.

The task force held its first meeting in Washington Oct. 15.