Small business growth pilot program

(a)

Establishment

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall establish a small business growth pilot program (in this section referred to as the program). (b)

Restricted competition for certain contracts

Under the program, a contracting officer for the General Services Administration may award a contract on the basis of competition restricted to program participants determined eligible under subsection (c) if— (1)the anticipated award price of the contract (including options) is reasonably expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold; (2)the Administrator determines that, if the contract were not awarded under the program, the contract would likely be awarded to an entity other than a small business concern; (3)there is a reasonable expectation that at least 2 program participants determined eligible under subsection (c) will submit offers with respect to the contract; and (4)the contract award can be made at a fair market price. (c)

Program participant eligibility

The Administrator shall determine an entity to be a participant in the program and eligible to be awarded a contract under subsection (b) if the entity— (1)is enrolling as a mentor in or is participating as a mentor in the Mentor-Protege Program of the Administration related to contracting; (2)if participating as a mentor in the Mentor-Protege Program, has at least one protege that is a small business concern under that program; (3)has fewer than 1,500 employees; and (4)is not a small business concern. (d)

Consideration required

(1)

In general

A contracting officer for the Administration shall consider awarding a contract under subsection (b) before awarding that contract on the basis of full and open competition. (2)

Report to Administrator

At the request of the Administrator, a contracting officer shall submit to the Administrator a report on the reasons a contract was or was not awarded on the basis of competition restricted to program participants determined eligible under subsection (c). (e)

Notice to the public

With respect to a contract opportunity determined to meet the criteria specified in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (b), a contracting officer for the Administration may provide notice of the contract opportunity on the Web site of the Administration and on any other appropriate Federal Web site relating to contracting. The contracting officer shall ensure that the notice includes the eligibility requirements specified in subsection (c). (f)

Report to Congress

Not later than one year after the date on which the program is established, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the program, which shall include the number of contracts awarded in the prior year on the basis of competition restricted to program participants determined eligible under subsection (c), the value of the contracts, a description of the work carried out under the contracts, and the number of program participants determined eligible under subsection (c). (g)

Termination

The program shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date on which the program is established. (h)

Definitions

In this section, the following definitions apply: (1)

Contracting officer

The term contracting officer has the meaning given that term in section 2101(1) of title 41, United States Code. (2)

Full and open competition

The term full and open competition has the meaning given that term in section 107 of title 41, United States Code. (3)

Simplified acquisition threshold

The term simplified acquisition threshold has the meaning given that term in section 134 of title 41, United States Code. (4)

Small business concern

The term small business concern has the meaning given that term in section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)).