The SBA offers numerous seminars for WOB, 8a, and Hub Zone set-asides, but never addresses the needs of SDVOSB firms. Why are veterans neglected in this way by the SBA? This is especially puzzling because the government contracting compliance is worse (50% of goal) than that for these other set-aside categories.
Answers
James, thank you for your informative response. The sources that you mention are new to me. I appreciate your advice and will try my best to follow it.
Your perceived neglect of training for SDVOSB is understandable. However, there are many serious government employees who attempt to help SDVOSB every day. Unfortunately, each agency is different both in procurement needs and goals with respect to all vendors. I would suggest you focus on just a couple agencies to determine their processes and more importantly form relationships for both training and leads to potential partners. Contact any/all of the following OSDBU offices to inquire about training:
http://www.osdbu.gov/members.html
SBA keeps the annual scorecard for SDVOSB contacts goals at all Agencies. If you’re interested in following this factor, you might want to join Vet-Force at (vet-force.org) It’s free and they have a meeting at all major agencies (one each month) and accessible by phone.
If you’re new to the OSDBU process, plan on investing a lot of time over several years.
Does anyone know how well various government agencies are performing against the contracting target of 3% for SDVOSB firms? Also, what is the actual extent of fraud?
It is my understanding that support for the SDVOSB program is voluntary, not required. If true, would that not explain the lack of compliance.
Richard, as a follow-up, if not connected on LinkedIn you should be; there's a SDVOB group and a Small Business group posting good info. We also belong to the American Small Business Coaltion run by Guy & Maggie Timberlake w/ multiple opportunities.
Richard, while my SDVOB is an engineering company in the architectural building field, a good place to look is the agency "small disadvantaged buisness utilization" SDBU office for any business. As an example, we do a lot of work for the State Department Overseas Building Operations. The SDBU office has annual networking events with large contractors including one primarily for IT. SDBU offices will also provide names of prime contractors that have small buisness plans. Make sure also that your are registered on the contractors central registration (CCR) managed by DOD but used by other agencies and vendors.
Compliance is an entirely different issue.
My specific complaint is that the workshops on "How to Do Business With the Government" explicitly EXCLUDE any mention of the SDVOSB program. The seminars talk extensively about WOB, 8a, minorities, and Hub Zones, but they totally ignore veterans and SDV.
As a verified SDVOSB firm I am interested in knowing how to do business with the government. Also, how to approach prime contractors who are also expected to provide 3% of their sub-contracts to SDVOSB firms.
Also, I would like to know what is the level of compliance (the last I heard the government was meeting only HALF of its goal). Worse yet, most (75%) of the awards were to fraudulent SDVOSB firms. This is a national disgace in the way service disabled veterans are neglected.
Richard,
That's a very good question. However, I'm not sure what do you mean "SDVOSB Program"? Are you referring to seminars/workshops on how to apply for this program? Or, are you referring training to know about SDVOSB Programs? There are numerous federal agencies, my former agency, General Services Administration (GSA), that conducts workshops on how to do business with the federal government. Since my retirement from GSA, I've conducted numerous "How to Do Business with the Federal Government Workshops" basically in the Atlanta, GA metro area.
Your Answer
Please log in to answer this question.