On the recordMay 17, 2016
The amendments are amendment No. 8 and amendment No. 9. Amendment No. 8 calls for outreach for small-business concerns owned and controlled by women and minorities prior to conversion of certain functions to contract upfront performance. Amendment No. 9 requires the Government Accountability Office to include in its annual report to Congress a list of the most common grounds for sustaining protests relating to bids for contracts. These are important amendments because they help to grow small businesses owned and controlled by women and minorities before conversation of certain functions of contractor performance. This amendment seeks to provide information to businesses that may have little experience in government contracting to make them aware of new opportunities. Amendment No. 9 seeks a report to be provided to oversight committees to better understand the circumstances that impact when a company wins a Federal contract award that is challenged. These challenges often come from companies that are big, competing for the same contract, and little companies can't stand up. Successfully competing for a Federal contract can be difficult and costly, especially for new entrants into Federal contracting competition. I would ask my colleagues to support the included amendments and look forward to us working through this bill on some of the issues of concern. Mr.…
