CONTRACTING GOALS

The policy of the United States, as stated in the Small Business Act 15(g)(1), is that each agency shall have an annual goal that represents, for that agency, the maximum practicable opportunity for small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, qualified HUBZone, small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, small business concerns owned and controlled by women, and small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans to participate in the performance of contracts let by that agency.

The goals for USDA-Rural Development for Fiscal Year 2003 were as follows:

Small Business Concerns 50%

8(a)Concerns 6.5%

Small Disadvantaged Businesses 6%

Women-Owned Small Business Concerns 5%

HUBZone Small Business Concerns 3%

Service-Disabled veterans 3%

JWOD 1%

Definitions on the above classifications can be accessed through SBA’s Procurement Marketing and Access Network (Pro-Net). Pro-Net is an electronic gateway of procurement information – for and about small businesses. It is a search engine for contracting officers, a marketing tool for small firms and a "link" to procurement opportunities and important information. It is designed to be a "virtual" one-stop-procurement shop. Information on SBA programs, including Pro-Net, is available at http://www.sba.gov.

All contracts under $100,000 are set aside for small business concerns, unless specific legislation dictates that certain business classifications will receive full and open competition.

If Rural Development encounters difficulty obtaining Contractors to meet its procurement goals, there are numerous Federal, State and Local organizations to contact for assistance.