I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2921 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 14, 2011 Ms. Clarke of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business A BILL To amend the Small Business Act with respect to assistance under section 8(a) of that Act and goals for procurement contracts, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Expanding Opportunities for Small Businesses Act of 2011.

2.

8(a) assistance

(a)

Duration of eligibility

Section 7(j)(15) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(j)(15)) is amended— (1)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking nine years and inserting 12 years; (2)in subparagraph (A) by striking four years and inserting 4 years; and (3)in subparagraph (B) by striking five years and inserting 8 years. (b)

Technical assistance for business concerns no longer eligible

(1)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall establish a program to provide to a covered business concern, during the 2-year period following the expiration of the concern’s eligibility to receive contracts under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)), technical assistance with respect to business activities. (2)

Covered business concern defined

In this subsection, the term covered business concern means a business concern that had been, but is no longer, eligible to receive contracts under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)).

3.

Goals for procurement contracts

(a)

Small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals

Section 15(g)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)(1)) is amended by striking economically disadvantaged individuals shall be established at not less than 5 percent and inserting economically disadvantaged individuals shall be established at not less than 8 percent. (b)

GAO study and report

(1)

Study

The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the activities of the 5 most and the 5 least successful Federal agencies with respect to meeting goals for procurement contracts established under section 15(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)). (2)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1), which shall include recommendations for improving the 5 Federal agencies determined to be least successful for purposes of that paragraph.