United States Department of the Interior
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
Washington, D.C. 20240
Washington, D.C. 20240
December 9, 1998
To: Heads of Bureaus and Offices
Attn: Procurement Chiefs
From: Ralph W. Rausch, Director /s/
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Subject: Business and Economic Development Program Goals--Inclusion of Federal Supply Schedule Procurements in the Goaling Process
The Small Business Administration, in providing direction to agencies for formulating FY 99 goals, has determined that Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) awards are to be included in the total procurement base (i.e., total procurement dollars) and has asked for separate estimates of agencies' FSS awards for FY 99.
In the past contracting officials choosing the FSS program for its ease of use may not have considered small businesses at all because: (1) they believed it was GSA's role to manage and administer the program, including channeling awards to small business, and (2) FSS dollars were not included in the total procurement base for goaling purposes. Certainly that is not the case now. Since our procurement base for goaling will be larger because of these additional dollars in 1999, we must award significant dollars to small, small disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses via the FSS program if we are to maintain our traditional levels of excellence in these goaling categories.
As yet there have been no changes to the FSS program or procedures to help contracting officials seek out small businesses when using the program. Further, there is no means of awarding an "8(a) contract" via the program. You must seek out small businesses using the existing FSS research tools. The SBA has assured us they are working with GSA to effect changes to the program. Nevertheless, it is incumbent on you this year to actively seek out small, small disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses each and every time you use the FSS program to fulfill a contracting requirement.
Your usual fine cooperation will be appreciated.
cc: Director, PAM
Headquarters BUDS
Rausch/PSD Sub & Rdg.