Ernst Provides Small Businesses Opportunity to Compete in Federal Marketplace

Releases new survey to identify hurdles for small businesses.

 

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is building on her work to boost small business involvement and provide greater opportunity in the federal marketplace by identifying the challenges they face in doing business with the government.

Ernst is rolling out a survey to examine the relationship between prime contractors and small subcontractors, and how red tape and hurdles prevent small contractors from competing.

“Small businesses have been getting squeezed out of the federal marketplace for the last fifteen years,” said Ernst. “I am continuing my work to reverse this troubling trend and expand opportunities. This survey will provide critical data to identify obstacles and red tape that are standing in the way of small contractors.”

Background:
Ernst hosts an annual expo in Iowa for small businesses to hear from speakers, join breakout sessions with federal agencies, network with agency officials, and learn about getting involved in federal contracting and innovation programs.

Last year, Ernst released a report detailing the troubling trend of a nearly 50% decrease since 2008 in small business vendors in the federal marketplace.