Expanding Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 190, the Expanding Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses Act of 2019.

Small business sole source contracting can be a valuable tool for both Federal agencies and small businesses. However, our Federal procurement processes are rapidly changing, and the sole source authority provided by the Small Business Act has not kept up with these changes. By adjusting the dollar amount thresholds for these contracts, this bill will increase the opportunities available to certain small businesses utilizing the Federal procurement process.

While it is critical that agencies maximize opportunities to small businesses, it is equally important that they have clear guidelines to guarantee only eligible and qualified firms receive the awards. This bill will apply new oversight procedure that requires agencies to coordinate with the SBA to ensure only eligible candidates are awarded a sole source contract.

I am proud of this legislation and its mission to promote small business growth, strengthen oversight, and incentivize Federal agencies to work with small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank my colleague Congressman Schneider for teaming up with us on this bill, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill as well.

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