Next week, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) is giving SDVOSBs a rare opportunity to voice their concerns about government small business programs — publicly, and directly to the SBA itself.
Yes, you read that correctly. The SBA recently announced that it will host a meeting of the Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development (“the Task Force”). The Task Force has been charged with various responsibilities in connection with SDVOSB programs. Its most recent focus has been the coordination of administrative and regulatory activities, and the development of proposals, related to several focus areas: (1) access to training, counseling and capital; (2) effective federal contracting verification; and (3) improved federal support. The upcoming meeting is meant to address not only these topics, but also various issues relating to agency efforts to improve business development opportunities for SDVOSBs. Also on the agenda: A discussion about ways in which the government can better meet its small business contracting goals.
The SBA has stated that the meeting will be open to the public, and that time will be set aside for public comment and presentations. This meeting will give service-disabled veteran small business owners a chance to speak out publicly about issues of concern and, based upon our experience, there is plenty to talk about.
The meeting will be held on May 10, 2013, starting at 9 a.m. and running through noon. The meeting will be held at the SBA’s Washington, D.C. District Office, located at 740 15th St., NW, Suite 300. Those planning to attend should provide advance notice by emailing vetstaskforce@sba.gov.
Edward T. DeLisle is a Partner in the firm and a member of the Federal Contracting Practice Group.
Maria L. Panichelli is an Associate in the firm’s Federal Practice Group.