Advancing Opportunities for Small Business Engagement

In this edition of the DoD Small Business Digest, our longer form newsletter published on the last Friday of the month, we bring you news about how the Department of Defense (DoD) is collaborating with other federal government agencies to advance economic?competition and implement its Small Business Strategy – a critical element to fostering supply chain resiliency, and our nation’s economic and national security priorities. To support these key priorities, the Defense Logistics Agency is developing a new strategy to protect the DoD supply chain and news about those efforts also follows. As with every edition, we curate relevant information, training, and contracting opportunities for small business to work with the DoD and federal government. Of note this month is a funding opportunity with the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to accelerate the development of 20 Tech Hubs.??

The summer is also an active time for legislative and policy activities related to our work to fulfill the strategic goals and mission of the DoD Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). The annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is always a significant focus before the August recess. In fact, yesterday the U.S. Senate passed its version of the NDAA and recessed early.

The NDAA is a crucial piece of legislation that authorizes funding and sets policies for DoD and the various branches of the military. It is passed annually by Congress to provide a blueprint for national defense and security.?

For small business owners and acquisition professionals, the NDAA holds significant importance as it includes provisions that can directly impact opportunities for growth and engagement with the defense sector. The Act often includes provisions related to contracting opportunities, subcontracting goals for small businesses, and measures to promote innovation and technological advancements.?

Being informed about the NDAA, and other key policymaking actions, is essential for small business owners who wish to participate in government contracting or provide goods and services to the military and national security sector. Understanding the Act's provisions and changes can help small business navigate the complex landscape of defense-related business opportunities and enhance chances of success in this critical sector.?

Check the Policy and Legislative Affairs Update section later in the newsletter for more information about the NDAA what to expect when Congress returns from recess.

We are also tracking and involved in about twenty other pieces of legislation affecting small business, acquisition, and contracting issues that have introduced in the current session of Congress.??

Each month, the OSBP Small Business Policy, Legislative Affairs and Workforce Development team is pleased to contribute to the Small Business Digest to bring you the latest developments from this arena. Thank you for partnering with us in the mission.?

V/R,

Dr. Jacqueline Charles

Associate Director, Small Business Policy, Legislative Affairs and Workforce Development

Office of Small Business Programs

U.S. Department of Defense

DoD Leaders Participate in White House Competition Council Principals Meeting

Last week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment, Dr. William LaPlante, briefed President Biden and other agency principals on the work the DoD is doing to promote competition in the American economy and progress implementing its Small Business Strategy during a meeting of the White House Competition Council.?This included communicating DoD’s focus on leveraging small business programs to provide opportunities for new entrants and companies that do not traditionally do business with the Department.?Learn More>>

About the DoD Small Business Strategy: The DoD Small Business Strategy promotes competition and innovation to drive economic growth and better serve our warfighters. View the Strategy>>

FY2022 Scorecard: Increased Investments Expanded Small Business Participation

The Federal Government’s Small Business Procurement Scorecard for FY2022 was released and the DoD Office of Small Business Programs is pleased to report an increased $2.7 billion investment to expand small business participation in Defense Department contracting, the most significant investment to-date. Other significant results include:

• ?Increased Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) by $900M
• ?Increased Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) by $5.0B
• ?Increased HUBZone by over $800M
• ?Increased Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) by over $600M
• ?Additional $55.5B was subcontracted to small business from DoD's large prime suppliers

Support for Small Businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones

The U.S. Small Business Administration's HUBZone program fuels small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least 3% of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year.

To qualify for the HUBZone program, your business must:

• Be a small business according to SBA size standards
• Be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, an Alaska Native corporation, a Native Hawaiian organization, or an Indian tribe
• Have its principal office located in a HUBZone
• Have at least 35% of its employees living in a HUBZone

Full qualification criteria is in Title 13 Part 126 Subpart B of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).?

The HUBZone map changed on July 1, 2023. Check the new HUBZone map now to determine whether your principal office and employees are located in a HUBZone. Your firm’s eligibility to participate in the program might be impacted if your principal office is located, or your employees reside, in an area that no longer qualifies as a HUBZone. Learn More>>

Hyperspace Challenge Announced

The U.S. Space Force’s Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) is looking for companies with proven track records and mature technologies to help protect space assets from threats by participating in the 2023 Hyperspace Challenge. Specifically, Space RCO is pursuing products that:

• Increase Space Visibility and Awareness using threat and hazard awareness capabilities that can quickly and accurately detect and prioritize threats either from the ground or space.?
• Advance Space Analysis and Vehicle Autonomy using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and/or autonomous technologies that reduce ground-based vehicle operator workload, inform intelligent vehicle response decisions, and decrease vehicle response time.
• Increase Space Vehicle Lifespan and Maneuverability using advanced propulsion, refueling capabilities, and/or other fuel conservation innovations that allow space assets to maneuver freely without future negative consequences.

Companies interested in learning the details behind government needs and building relationships with potential government partners are invited to register for the upcoming Ask Me Anything (AMA) session. Learn More>>

Strategy to Protect DoD Supply Chains

The Defense Logistics Agency is drafting a new strategy to protect the security of the Defense Department supply chain that serves troops and federal partners around the world. Peter Battaglia, director of DLA Logistics Operations’ Mission Assurance Directorate, said “How do we protect against disruptions? And are we doing the right things to make sure our supply chains will continue to produce what’s needed? Those are some of the things we’re addressing as we build our framework." Learn More>>

Public Input Sought on Payment Timeliness

The DoD?is seeking public input on improving the timeliness of payments to defense subcontractors. The request for feedback published Friday, July 14 in the Federal Register and stems from the Defense Contract Finance Study, which found that defense subcontractors and suppliers generally do not receive favorable cash flow benefits as consistently or to the same extent enjoyed by defense prime contractors. Input on this matter is solicited from interested parties, including current prime contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, or vendors, and potential new entrants. This is a great opportunity for small businesses to have their voice heard. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their comments by Sept. 12 via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Learn More>>

OSBP Leaders to Speak at Florida Small Business Success Summit

Mr. Farooq Mitha, OSBP Director, and Mr. Khalil Mack, APEX Accelerators Director, are featured speakers at the Small Business Success Summit hosted by the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Aug. 2-3 in Fort Lauderdale. This annual event provides small businesses with resources needed to reach new limits and to encourage success and growth. The summit includes breakout sessions and networking opportunities that help small business gain strategies and connections to help further their business. Learn More>>

New Funding Opportunity to Support Tech Hubs

The U.S Economic Development Administration recently announced a new funding opportunity for consortia to apply for approximately $15 million in strategy development grants to accelerate the development of at least 20 Tech Hubs across the country. This program will bring together a wide array of public, private, and academic partners into a collaborative consortium focused on regional economic development needs and unique growth opportunities. By growing these new centers of innovation throughout America, the Tech Hubs Program will help strengthen U.S. economic and national security.?

The Phase I deadline is Aug. 15. Learn More>>

Opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

The U.S. government has a goal of awarding at least 3% of all federal contracts to small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.?

Joining the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) program allows these small businesses to compete for certain federal contracts which can expand their operations. Watch this video to learn how a New Mexico business owned by a service-disabled veteran increased its annual contracting revenue from $80,000 to $25 million thanks to contracts awarded through the SDVOSB program.

Participating small businesses must be certified through the U.S. Small Business Administration's VetCert program. Read here for more information about SDVOSB program and its eligibility criteria.

DoD College Acquisition Internship Program

The DoD College Acquisition Internship Program (DCAIP) provides a unique opportunity for college students pursuing relevant undergraduate degrees to gain real-world experience in various acquisition career fields within the DoD. The goal is to actively recruit college students and graduate students into the DoD Acquisition Workforce and compete with industry on campuses. The application period for DCAIP 2024 opens Sept. 13 and closes Oct.11, 2023. Learn More>>

National Defense Authorization Act Update

Each year, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes funding levels and provides authorities for the U.S. military and other critical defense priorities, ensuring America’s forces have the training, equipment, and resources they need to carry out their missions.

Consideration of the 63rd annual NDAA for FY24 is underway, and yesterday the U.S. Senate passed S. 2226, the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act with bipartisan support (86-11). The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act, H.R. 2670 on July 14. The Congress is now in recess until Sept. 5, and when they return,?a conference committee will iron out differences between the two chambers’ bills.

Of particular interest to this community is Subtitle D “Small Business Matters” (page 354) which includes the following provisions:

• Rapid Innovation Fund (Sec. 841)
• Mentor-Protégé Program (Sec. 842)
• Past Performance (Sec. 843)
• Timely Payments (Sec. 844)
• 5-year extension of the pilot program for streamlined technology transition from SBIR and STTR (Sec. 845)
• Annual SBIR Reports (Sec. 846)
• APEX Accelerators (Sec. 847)
• 3-year extension of the pilot program to incentivize contracting with employee-owned businesses (Sec. 848)

New Bills of Note

• H.R. 4671 – Amend the Small Business Act to standardize reporting on procurement goals for small business concerns. Introduced by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-3).
• H.R. 4670 - Amend the Small Business Act to require reporting on additional information with respect to small business concerns owned and controlled by women, qualified HUBZone small business concerns, and small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. Introduced by Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6).?

• The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is holding a sam.gov virtual deep dive on Aug. 1 to learn about the great resources in the new and improved government-wide registry for doing business with the Federal government. Register>>
• Small Business Works 2023: Navigating Equity in Procurement is a hybrid training and matchmaking event on Aug. 3 in Washington, D.C. for small businesses to learn about upcoming federal contracting opportunities and doing business with GSA. The hybrid event will provide information and resources to help small businesses navigate and thrive in the federal government marketplace and expand their network with industry experts through the matchmaking sessions. Register>>

• Naval Research Laboratory Virtual Small Business Industry Day is Aug. 7. Small businesses that are also certified as Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Historically Under-utilized Zone, Women-Owned, and/or Disadvantaged Small Businesses are encouraged to attend this event sponsored by the Virginia PTAC, an APEX Accelerator. Register>>
• NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition will be held Aug. 28–30 at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C. The theme for the 2023 Conference is “Delivering New Capabilities to the Warfighter at Speed and Scale.” Attendees will explore and learn about the new emerging technologies and programming will focus on several of the DoD’s highest priority joint mission areas and highlight emerging technologies that are shaping the future of national defense. Register>>
• The Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University is hosting a series of events over the next several months of interest to our community: “Second Sourcing in Defense Acquisitions,” “How Prototypes Are Enabling Innovation for Future Battles,” “Optimizing Incentives for Acquisition Innovation and Agility,” and “Government Contracting Small Business Summit.” Learn More>>

• Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) posted several August events. Up next is “Space Resiliency: Leveraging Commercial Innovation to Advance the Mission” on Aug. 8. Learn More>>

• Department of Commerce and Department of Defense Sign Memorandum of Agreement to Strengthen U.S. Defense Industrial Base
• FY23Q4 Acquisition Opportunities with the Defense Information Services Agency (DISA)
• SAM.gov Entity Validation Timing
• Establishing a Culture of Cybersecurity in Your Organization
• Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s Stay in Touch

We are a network of small business professionals with common values, shared knowledge and regular communication who partner with acquisition professionals seeking small businesses to fulfill DoD procurement requirements and give our Service Members the competitive advantage.

Follow us on social media,?visit our website, or send us an email. We look forward to staying connected.

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