WASHINGTON, DC — According to Congressional Quarterly, the Bush administration has unveiled new rules that are intended to improve the ability of small businesses to compete for federal contracts.
Current law allows federal agencies to consolidate contracts for products and services to improve efficiency. However, says Congressional Quarterly, critics say that small businesses often have been unable to compete for bundled contracts because they are considered to be too small or too specialized. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has reported that small businesses are being awarded less than half as many federal contracts as they received 10 years ago.