The The Committee has issued a progress report which sets forth recommendations that are intended to give further constructive steps to aid small business. recommendations encompass financial assistance; tax benefits; technical services and advice; help in obtaining procurement contracts; discontinuance of Government owned and operated commercial, industrial type facilities; and the preservation of competition. One of the recommendations of this Committee, in its progress report submitted to the President in August 1956, was that "the President arrange for a comprehensive review of procurement policies and procedures of all Departments and agencies, including the legislation pertaining thereto, with a view to facilitating and extending the participation of small businesses in work on Government contracts." The responsibility for carrying out this recommendation was assigned to the General Services Administration. This agency has established a task force composed of representatives of the principal procurement agencies, including the Department of Defense, Atomic Energy Commission, Veterans' Administration, Post Office Department, Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, and the General Services Administration. Other procurement agencies also are consulted. A representative of the General Services Administration is chairman of this task force. The task force defines problem areas, to plan corrective action. The Small Business Administration, the Bureau of the Budget, and the General Accounting Office participate in this program as members of the special advisory group. At the invitation of the General Services Administration, the Small Business Administration has also assigned a full-time representative to work with the GSA and the task force in order that SBA procurement assistance programs and related policies, plans, and requirements would be appropriately reflected in task force activities and related recommendations. In addition, SBA staff members serve on subcommittees of the task force, one serving as Chairman of the Program Study Group No. 2, Set-Aside Procedures; another as a member of Group No. 5, Implementation of the New Definition of Small Business; one with Group No. 6, Small Business Participation in Government-Sponsored Research and Development Programs, and another subcommittee concerned with the drafting proposed legislation. With respect to the work of this task force, the Small Business Administration has recommended a standardized procurement policy and implementing instructions for the establishment of the small business set-aside program in all Government procurement agencies. The Small Business Administration has also made available its vast background of experience, in connection with the work of the task force in eliminating inequities, inconsistences, and complexities from Government procurement, by having its field offices prepare factual information on cases which illustrate the difficulties of small firms in selling to the Government: These cases, in turn, are submitted to the task force. As of the end of December, the agency had submitted 73 specific cases covering such areas of Government procurement as (1) need for specifications and standards, (2) standardization of items, (3) specifying a brand name or equal, (4) inadequate or inaccurate prints, (5) inspection or testing of the product, (6) delay in payment and (7) delay in settlement of claims. EXHIBITS EXHIBIT A.-Procurement and technical assistance activities (for the period Aug. 1, 1953, through December 1956, unless otherwise indicated) 4 Higher priority programs have caused a decrease in the staff time available for this activity. Covers only period July 1, 1954, through June 1956. EXHIBIT B.-Joint set-asides-Comparison of 6-month periods from July 1953 through December 1956 Includes 1 month of operation under the Small Defense Plants Administration. |