Agencies need to do more to assist small businesses. In a recent procurement “report card,” the federal government received an overall B grade for its efforts to spend money with small businesses in 2011-12. But when it came to awarding prime contracts, the report reveals, federal agencies achieved their goals in only two of the five categories: Small Disadvantaged Business and Service Disabled Veteran programs. In the subcontracting arena, goals…

Have you taken a look lately to see if federal contracting is right for your small company? Many small business owners are reexamining the certification criteria for the federal 8(a) program. But even if you qualify, is the program right for your industry and your business? For some businesses in certain industries, 8(a) continues to make sense. While statistics from FY 2011 revealed a drop in 8(a) awards, agencies still…