Can small biz capitalize fed pacts?

Early in then-President Obama's second term he signed the annual FY 2014 Defense Authorization Act setting in motion a process changing the government’s small business contracting programs. 

In the same year (2013), the Defense Contract Audit Agency made small business a focal point implementing a small business outreach program. 

Even with programs like these designed to support small business in government contracting, the U.S. has lost 30% of its defense industrial base over the last decade, according to Isabell Guzman, administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration. Fewer SMBs are doing business with the government.  

In spite of this, FY-22 was good for SMBs in contract dollars with a record $158.7B in contracts. On the flip side, the number of small businesses getting fed contracts is less than half what it was in 2010. 

Realized the negative impact, fed agencies are moving to reverse those trends. 

The SBA finalized a rule to allow SMBs previously doing business with the government to use that experience to demonstrate past performance, helping win new contracts. In January, the Pentagon unveiled a strategy to get more SMBs involved in its contracting and research work. 

Initiatives like this signal a coming new wave of contracting opportunities for SMBs into the future. 

How, then, can small and midsized government contracting businesses put themselves in a strong position to capitalize on the new opportunities? (Gov Wire 07/11/23) GovCon Expert Kim Koster: How Improved Long-Term Planning Can Unlock Huge Contracting Opportunities for SMBs - GovCon Wire