    Science and Technology: Information on Federal Programs and
    Interagency Efforts That Support Small Businesses Engaged in
    Manufacturing (18-MAY-07, GAO-07-714).

    Small businesses engaged in manufacturing, typically those with
    500 or fewer employees, comprise about 90 percent of all U.S.
    manufacturers and employ 6 million workers. Recent studies have
    shown that small manufacturing businesses face a number of
    challenges in their efforts to remain competitive, including the
    inability to obtain operating and investment capital, a lack of
    familiarity with new business practices, and difficulty in
    finding independent advice and skilled employees. To help these
    businesses overcome such challenges, many federal agencies
    provide financial and nonfinancial technical services through
    targeted or general programs or create interagency work groups to
    better coordinate their efforts and more effectively support
    these businesses. In this context, GAO identified (1) federal
    programs that provide services to support small businesses
    engaged in manufacturing and (2) federal interagency efforts that
    focus on issues of concern to small manufacturing businesses. To
    identify these programs and efforts, GAO obtained documentation
    from 19 federal agencies. In commenting on a draft of this
    report, 18 of the 19 agencies made technical comments that we
    have incorporated as appropriate. GAO is not making
    recommendations in this report.
    -------------------------Indexing Terms-------------------------
    REPORTNUM:   GAO-07-714
        ACCNO:   A69768
      TITLE:     Science and Technology: Information on Federal Programs
    and Interagency Efforts That Support Small Businesses Engaged in
    Manufacturing
         DATE:   05/18/2007
      SUBJECT:   Federal aid programs
    	     Interagency relations
    	     Manufacturing industry
    	     Program evaluation
    	     Small business
    	     Small business assistance
    	     Strategic planning
    	     Technical assistance
    	     Business planning
    	     Government/business relations
    	     Program coordination
    	     Small Business Innovation Research
    	     Program

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    GAO-07-714

         * [1]Results in Brief
         * [2]Background
         * [3]Few Federal Programs Target Small Businesses Engaged in Manu

              * [4]Five Federal Programs Target Small Manufacturers
              * [5]Small Manufacturers May Obtain Services from 15 Federal Prog
              * [6]Small Manufacturers Can Also Access Services Offered by Many
              * [7]Small Manufacturers May Also Benefit from Many Federal Progr

         * [8]Six Interagency Efforts Support Manufacturing, and 14 Suppor
         * [9]Agency Comments
         * [10]Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology
         * [11]Appendix II: Department of Agriculture - Programs that Offer
         * [12]Appendix III: Department of Commerce - Programs that Offer S
         * [13]Appendix IV: Department of Defense - Programs that Offer Ser
         * [14]Appendix V: Department of Education - Programs that Offer Se
         * [15]Appendix VI: Department of Energy - Programs that Offer Serv
         * [16]Appendix VII: Department of Health and Human Services - Prog
         * [17]Appendix VIII: Department of Homeland Security - Programs th
         * [18]Appendix IX: Housing and Urban Development - Programs that O
         * [19]Appendix X: Department of the Interior - Programs that Offer
         * [20]Appendix XI: Department of Labor - Programs that Offer Servi
         * [21]Appendix XII: Department of Transportation- Programs that Of
         * [22]Appendix XIII: Department of Veterans Affairs - Programs tha
         * [23]Appendix XIV: Environmental Protection Agency - Programs tha
         * [24]Appendix XV: Export-Import Bank - Programs that Offer Servic
         * [25]Appendix XVI: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
         * [26]Appendix XVII: National Science Foundation - Programs that O
         * [27]Appendix XVIII: Small Business Administration - Programs tha
         * [28]Appendix XIX: Appalachian Regional Commission - Programs tha
         * [29]Appendix XX: Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Cen
         * [30]Appendix XXI: Interagency Efforts that Address Concerns of S
         * [31]Appendix XXII: Studies of Programs that Support Small Busine

              * [32]List of Studies

                   * [33]Studies on Programs at the Department of Commerce
                   * [34]Studies on Programs at the Department of Defense
                   * [35]Studies on Programs at the Department of Energy
                   * [36]Study on Programs at the Department of Health and Human
                     Serv
                   * [37]Study on Programs at the Department of Transportation
                   * [38]Studies on Programs at the Appalachian Regional
                     Commission
                   * [39]Study on Programs at the Export-Import Bank
                   * [40]Studies on Programs at the National Aeronautics and
                     Space Ad
                   * [41]Studies on Programs at the Small Business Administration
                   * [42]Studies on Programs at Multiple Agencies

         * [43]Appendix XXIII: GAO Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments

              * [44]GAO Contact
              * [45]Staff Acknowledgments

                   * [46]Order by Mail or Phone

    Report to Congressional Requesters

    United States Government Accountability Office

    GAO

    May 2007

    SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    Information on Federal Programs and Interagency Efforts That Support Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing

    GAO-07-714

    Contents

    Letter 1

    Results in Brief 3
    Background 5
    Few Federal Programs Target Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing, but
    Services Are Available through over 200 Federal Programs That Broadly
    Support the U.S. Business Sector 8
    Six Interagency Efforts Support Manufacturing, and 14 Support All
    Businesses, Including Manufacturers 19
    Agency Comments 22
    Appendix I Objectives, Scope, and Methodology 24
    Appendix II Department of Agriculture - Programs that Offer Services to
    Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 27
    Appendix III Department of Commerce - Programs that Offer Services to
    Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 33
    Appendix IV Department of Defense - Programs that Offer Services to Small
    Manufacturers and Types of Services 44
    Appendix V Department of Education - Programs that Offer Services to Small
    Manufacturers and Types of Services 54
    Appendix VI Department of Energy - Programs that Offer Services to Small
    Manufacturers and Types of Services 55
    Appendix VII Department of Health and Human Services - Programs that Offer
    Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 58
    Appendix VIII Department of Homeland Security - Programs that Offer
    Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 65
    Appendix IX Housing and Urban Development - Programs that Offer Services
    to Small Manufacturers and Types of Service 67
    Appendix X Department of the Interior - Programs that Offer Services to
    Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 70
    Appendix XI Department of Labor - Programs that Offer Services to Small
    Manufacturers and Types of Services 72
    Appendix XII Department of Transportation- Programs that Offer Services to
    Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 76
    Appendix XIII Department of Veterans Affairs - Programs that Offer
    Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 80
    Appendix XIV Environmental Protection Agency - Programs that Offer
    Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 83
    Appendix XV Export-Import Bank - Programs that Offer Services to Small
    Manufacturers and Types of Services 87
    Appendix XVI National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Programs that
    Offer Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 88
    Appendix XVII National Science Foundation - Programs that Offer Services
    to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 91
    Appendix XVIII Small Business Administration - Programs that Offer
    Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 93
    Appendix XIX Appalachian Regional Commission - Programs that Offer
    Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 101
    Appendix XX Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center - Programs
    that Offer Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services 103
    Appendix XXI Interagency Efforts that Address Concerns of Small Businesses
    and Businesses Regardless of Size and Type 104
    Appendix XXII Studies of Programs that Support Small Businesses Engaged in
    Manufacturing 110
    List of Studies 110
    Appendix XXIII GAO Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments 116

    Tables

    Table 1: Funding and Participation for 3 Programs That Serve Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing, Fiscal Years 2004-2006 11
    Table 2: Funding or Participation or Both for 7 Federal Programs That
    Provided Services to Manufacturers, Regardless of Size, Fiscal Years
    2004-2006 14
    Table 3: Funding and Participation by Small Businesses in Federal Programs
    That Serve Small Businesses, Regardless of Type, Fiscal Years 2004-2006 17
    Table 4: Services Provided by 107 Federal Programs to Businesses,
    Regardless of Size and Type 19
    Table 5: Four Interagency Efforts Address Concerns of Small Businesses
    Engaged in Manufacturing 20
    Table 6: Two Interagency Efforts Address the Concerns of Manufacturers,
    Regardless of Size 21
    Table 7: Department of Agriculture Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturers by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose 27
    Table 8: Services Provided by Department of Agriculture Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services 31
    Table 9: Department of Commerce Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturers by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose 33
    Table 10: Services Provided by Department of Commerce Programs by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Type of Services 40
    Table 11: Department of Defense Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose 44
    Table 12: Services Provided by Department of Defense Programs by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Type of Services 51
    Table 13: Department of Education Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose 54
    Table14: Services Provided by Department of Education Programs by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Type of Services 54
    Table 15: Department of Energy Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose 55
    Table 16: Services Provided by Department of Energy Programs by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Type of Services 57
    Table 17: Department of Health and Human Services Programs That Offer
    Services to Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target
    Businesses, and Agency Description of Purpose 58
    Table 18: Services Provided by Department of Health and Human Services
    Programs by Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services 62
    Table 19: Department of Homeland Security Programs That Offer Services to
    Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses,
    and Agency Description of Purpose 65
    Table 20: Services Provided by Department of Homeland Security Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services 66
    Table 21: Department of Housing and Urban Development Programs That Offer
    Services to Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target
    Businesses and Agency Description of Purpose 67
    Table 22: Services Provided by Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Programs by Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services 69
    Table 23: Department of the Interior Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose 70
    Table 24: Services Provided by Department of the Interior Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services 71
    Table 25: Department of Labor Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose 72
    Table 26: Services Provided by Department of Labor Programs by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Type of Services 74
    Table 27: Department of Transportation Programs That Offer Services to
    Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses,
    and Agency Description of Purpose 76
    Table 28: Services Provided by Department of Transportation Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services 78
    Table 29: Department of Veterans Affairs Programs That Offer Services to
    Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses,
    and Agency Description of Purpose 80
    Table 30: Services Provided by Department of Veterans Affairs Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services 81
    Table 31: Environmental Protection Agency Programs That Offer Services to
    Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses,
    and Agency Description of Purpose 83
    Table 32: Services Provided by Environmental Protection Agency Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services 85
    Table 33: Export-Import Bank Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose 87
    Table 34: Services Provided by Export-Import Bank Programs by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Type of Services 87
    Table 35: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs That
    Offer Services to Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Agency Description of Purpose 88
    Table 36: Services Provided by National Aeronautics and Space
    Administration Programs by Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services
    89
    Table 37: National Science Foundation Programs That Offer Services to
    Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses,
    and Agency Description of Purpose 91
    Table 38: Services Provided by National Science Foundation Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services 92
    Table 39: Small Business Administration Programs That Offer Services to
    Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses,
    and Purpose 93
    Table 40: Services Provided by Small Business Administration Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services 98
    Table 41: Appalachian Regional Commission Programs That Offer Services to
    Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses,
    and Agency Description of Purpose 101
    Table 42: Services Provided by Appalachian Regional Commission Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services 102
    Table 43: Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center Programs That
    Offer Services to Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Agency Description of Purpose 103
    Table 44: Services Provided by the Robert C. Byrd National Technology
    Transfer Center Programs by Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of
    Services 103
    Table 45: Five Interagency Efforts Address the Concerns of Small
    Businesses, Regardless of Type 104
    Table 46: Nine Interagency Efforts Address the Concerns of All Businesses,
    Regardless of Size or Type 106

    Abbreviations

    DSTARR Defense Small Business Technology and Readiness Resources Program
    EPA Environmental Protection Agency
    FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service
    ITA International Trade Administration
    MEP Manufacturing Extension Partnership
    MTAPP Manufacturing Technical Assistance Production Program
    NAICS North American Industry Classification System
    NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology
    R&D Research and development
    SBA Small Business Administration
    SBIR Small Business Innovation Research Program
    TAA Trade Adjustment Assistance
    TIDE Technology Insertion, Demonstration, and Evaluation

    This is a work of the U.S. government and is not subject to copyright
    protection in the United States. It may be reproduced and distributed in
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    separately.

    United States Government Accountability Office
    Washington, DC 20548

    May 18, 2007

    The Honorable Steve Chabot
    Ranking Member
    Committee on Small Business
    House of Representatives

    The Honorable Donald A. Manzullo
    House of Representatives

    The ability of U.S. manufacturers to successfully compete in the global
    economy is essential to the nation's continued economic growth and
    standard of living. Small businesses engaged in manufacturing (referred to
    as "small manufacturers" in this report), typically those with 500 or
    fewer employees, comprise over 90 percent of all U.S. manufacturers and
    employ 6 million workers.1 Recent studies have shown that these small
    manufacturers were particularly hard hit during the recession that began
    in 2001 and the subsequent slow economic recovery, and that these
    manufacturers continue to face serious challenges to their efforts to
    remain competitive. These challenges include difficulties in obtaining
    operating capital and investment funds to modernize their operations;
    their relative lack of familiarity with changing technology, production
    techniques, and business management practices; difficulties in finding
    high-quality, independent advice and assistance; and difficulties in
    obtaining skilled employees. While the federal government has devoted
    considerable resources to programs that can help small businesses,
    including manufacturers, to more effectively address these types of
    challenges and compete in today's global market, industry analysts believe
    that many small manufacturers may be unaware of this assistance.

    Federal programs that support manufacturing and other businesses offer
    services designed to help businesses improve their operations in a range
    of areas. For example, programs may offer financial services in the form
    of loans or loan guarantees to help businesses obtain funds for daily or
    export operations or to acquire needed buildings or equipment. Federal
    programs also may offer nonfinancial services, such as consulting or
    assessments, to help businesses improve their efficiency, adopt modern
    technologies, export their products, or train their workers.

    1Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses
    - 2004.

    In addition to programs that help individual businesses, federal support
    for small businesses engaged in manufacturing may take the form of
    interagency efforts that bring together officials from several federal
    agencies to focus on specific challenges that businesses face. For
    example, interagency efforts may focus on ensuring consistency in how a
    program is implemented by more than one agency or in how a program might
    better meet the needs of the businesses it serves. In other cases,
    interagency efforts may address a specific task, such as coordinating
    research programs across several agencies. These types of interagency
    efforts may disband once their task is complete.

    In this context we identified (1) those programs that provide services to
    support manufacturing by U.S. small businesses and, for fiscal years 2004
    through 2006, the services and funds these programs provided and their
    levels of participation and (2) current federal interagency efforts that
    support manufacturing by U.S. small businesses. In addition, we compiled a
    list of studies that focused on federal programs that support small
    businesses engaged in manufacturing. See appendix XXII.

    To identify agencies and programs that provide services to support
    manufacturing by small businesses, we obtained documentation and
    interviewed officials at 17 executive departments, independent agencies,
    and a government corporation, including the Departments of Agriculture,
    Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland
    Security, Housing and Urban Development, the Interior, Labor,
    Transportation, and Veterans Affairs; Environmental Protection Agency;
    Export-Import Bank; National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
    National Science Foundation; and Small Business Administration. Throughout
    this report we refer collectively to these executive departments,
    independent agencies, and the government corporation as "agencies". We
    also searched the agencies' Web sites and the Catalog of Federal Domestic
    Assistance and interviewed officials representing state governments and
    trade associations. Through these efforts, we also identified relevant
    federal efforts at the National Technology Transfer Center and the
    Appalachian Regional Commission, bringing the total to 19 federal entities
    that administer programs offering services to businesses, including small
    manufacturers. We included assistance provided by federal entities and
    through contracts or other agreements with state governments as well as
    private and nonprofit entities that operate on the federal government's
    behalf. We focused our work on federal programs that support businesses by
    addressing challenges in the following five areas: obtaining capital;
    developing or deploying new technologies; applying improved technology,
    business, and management practices; exporting goods; and training workers.
    Because agencies may not track funding and participation in a consistent
    manner, the information they reported to us is an estimate of the minimum
    funding provided and businesses served. We excluded federal research
    programs that focus on advancing manufacturing-related knowledge and
    tools, but that do not offer operational services or financing to
    manufacturers. Because no comprehensive list of federal programs that
    provide services to manufacturers or other businesses exists, we cannot
    guarantee that we identified all such programs. However, we attempted to
    verify the accuracy and completeness of the information we gathered with
    relevant agency officials. Officials reviewed and verified information on
    over 70 percent of the programs that we identified. The information we
    included that was not reviewed by agency officials was obtained from
    agency documents and information contained in agency Web sites. The
    program descriptions included in this report, including the appendix
    descriptions, were derived from agency materials and do not reflect
    independent GAO legal analysis of any relevant program statutes,
    regulations, or administrative guidance.

    To identify interagency efforts to support small businesses, we searched
    the agencies' Web sites; obtained documentation; and interviewed officials
    at federal agencies and at organizations that represent state government
    officials and trade associations. We included both ongoing interagency
    efforts that coordinate the activities of programs that operate in
    multiple agencies and task-specific interagency efforts that may disband
    upon completion of an assigned task. We attempted to verify the
    information we gathered on these interagency efforts with relevant agency
    officials and reviewed available documentation on the mission, goals, and
    accomplishments of each effort. We consulted GAO technical experts and
    determined that the information and data were sufficiently reliable for
    this report. See appendix I for more details on the objectives, scope, and
    methodology. We conducted our work from May 2006 to April 2007 in
    accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.

    Results in Brief

    Of the 254 federal programs we identified that provide services that small
    businesses engaged in manufacturing can avail themselves of, only 5
    programs specifically target this class of businesses and 15 programs
    target all manufacturers regardless of their size. Over $35 million was
    provided from fiscal years 2004 to 2006, by 7 of the 20 programs that had
    funding data on the services they provided to small businesses engaged in
    manufacturing. The number of small manufacturing firms that received
    services from these 7 programs ranged from about 8,000 in 2004 to over
    9,000 in 2006. Regarding the types of services provided, we found that all
    5 programs that specifically serve small businesses engaged in
    manufacturing provide nonfinancial technical assistance to help
    participants solve specific manufacturing problems or improve the
    efficiency of their manufacturing operations and quality control
    processes, and 1 program offers financial services. The 15 programs that
    provide services to manufacturers, regardless of their size, offer similar
    kinds of nonfinancial services, and 6 programs also offer financial
    services. Small businesses engaged in manufacturing also can obtain
    support from 127 other federal programs that assist small businesses
    regardless of the type of business. About 60 percent of these 127 programs
    provide only nonfinancial services, such as general business, management,
    and export assistance; about 5 percent offer only financial services, such
    as loans, grants, and access to contracting opportunities or export
    assistance; and the remainder offer both financial and nonfinancial
    services. Together, these 127 programs devoted an average of $90 billion
    each year from 2004 to 2006 to provide services to about 1.6 million small
    businesses, including manufacturers. Small businesses engaged in
    manufacturing also may obtain general business, export, and financial
    services from an additional 107 federal programs designed to support all
    businesses, regardless of their size or type. However, it is unclear how
    many small manufacturing firms received services from these general
    assistance programs because not all of the participating agencies track
    this information.

    We identified 20 federal interagency efforts that were created to support
    the U.S. business sector, 4 of these efforts focused on the challenges
    faced by small businesses engaged in manufacturing, and 2 efforts focused
    on the challenges faced by manufacturers, regardless of their size. For
    example, in 3 of the 4 interagency efforts that focus on addressing the
    challenges faced by small businesses engaged in manufacturing federal
    agencies collaborate to expand and coordinate the services they offer to
    these kinds of firms through nationwide networks of service centers.
    Through the 4th interagency effort, federal agencies help small businesses
    engaged in manufacturing use energy more efficiently and reduce the amount
    of left over materials (waste) that result from their manufacturing
    processes. Of the 2 interagency efforts that assist manufacturers,
    regardless of their size, the 1st focuses on developing strategies to
    improve the competitiveness of manufacturers and the 2nd focuses on
    resolving issues associated with manufacturing-related research and
    development policies, programs, and budgets. The remaining 14 interagency
    efforts that we identified focus on the concerns of small businesses or of
    all businesses in general and may address some issues that also are
    relevant to small businesses engaged in manufacturing. In commenting on a
    draft of this report, 18 of the 19 agencies provided technical comments
    that we have incorporated, as appropriate.

    Background

    Manufacturing generally involves the mechanical, physical, or chemical
    transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products,
    including the production of food, automobiles, and clothing, among many
    other things. The materials that manufacturers transform into new products
    include raw materials from agricultural, forestry, fishing, mining, or
    quarrying businesses as well as component items produced by other
    manufacturers. Manufacturing also includes the assembly of components into
    manufactured products. Businesses engaged in manufacturing often are
    referred to as plants, factories, or mills, and most use power-driven
    machines and materials-handling equipment. However, products that are made
    by hand, or in a worker's home, and businesses that both make and sell
    products at the same location, such as bakeries, also qualify as
    manufacturers.

    In its narrowest sense, manufacturing consists of "factory floor"
    activities that contribute directly to the production of goods, such as
    cutting, grinding, and assembly. More broadly, manufacturing can include a
    range of activities that both precede and follow factory floor activities.
    Some activities, such as product design, process improvements, and quality
    management, are more specific to the manufacturing enterprise. Other
    activities are common to many types of businesses, such as the effective
    use of information technology, strategic planning, and administrative
    operations.

    Although no standard definition for small manufacturing businesses exists,
    two systems that are widely used to classify businesses by type and size
    can be used to define small businesses engaged in manufacturing (referred
    to in this report as "small manufacturers"). Specifically, the North
    American Industry Classification System (NAICS), which categorizes
    businesses according to the principal activity in which they engage, has
    three general classifications for businesses engaged in manufacturing. In
    addition, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has size standards that
    define small businesses on the basis of average annual revenue or number
    of employees (typically, 500 or fewer).2 For this report, we define small
    manufacturers as those businesses that have a NAICS manufacturing
    classification and meet SBA's criteria for small businesses.

    Small manufacturers are an important component of the manufacturing
    sector. These businesses numbered over 300,000 in 2004 and accounted for
    almost 45 percent of all U.S. manufacturing jobs. Many small manufacturers
    also export their goods directly or indirectly as suppliers or contractors
    for larger companies. In addition, small manufacturers are a significant
    source of innovation in the U.S. economy. On average, small manufacturers
    produce patents that are more frequently cited as important contributors
    to new patents than do large manufacturers.

    Over the past 14 years, studies have reported that small manufacturers
    possess many strengths due to their size, such as the ability to respond
    quickly to market changes. On the other hand, small manufacturers, like
    small businesses in general, lack the staff, resources, and expertise of
    their larger competitors and consequently face numerous challenges,
    including (1) finding sources of operating capital and investment funds
    (financial assistance); (2) bringing new products to market or finding new
    uses for existing technology (technology development and deployment
    assistance); (3) becoming familiar with new technologies, production
    techniques, and business management practices (technology, business, and
    management assistance); (4) competing in overseas markets (export
    assistance); and (5) obtaining skilled employees (worker training
    assistance).3

    2Specific size standards are published by SBA for each NAICS industry
    classification at 13 C.F.R. S 121.201. For manufacturing classifications
    (sectors 31-33), these standards range from 500 to 1,500 employees.

    3The Manufacturing Institute, The Future Success of Small and Medium
    Manufacturers: Challenges and Policy Issues, 2006; U.S. Department of
    Commerce, Manufacturing in America: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address
    the Challenges to U.S. Manufacturers, January 2004; National Academy of
    Public Administration, The National Institute of Standards and
    Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Report I, September
    2003; Northeast-Midwest Institute, Advancing U.S. Manufacturing:
    Challenges Facing Small Manufacturers, 2004; Manufacturing Studies Board,
    Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research
    Council, Learning to Change: Opportunities to Improve the Performance of
    Smaller Manufacturers, National Academy Press, 1993; and Northeast-Midwest
    Institute, Advancing Manufacturing Competitiveness: A Practitioners' Guide
    to Federal Assistance, 1995.

    Federal programs offer a wide range of services to help businesses of all
    sizes and types address these challenges. For example, federal programs
    may offer financial services, such as grants, loans, loan guarantees, or
    insurance. These financial services may be for general business purposes,
    such as providing working capital or acquiring new equipment, or targeted
    to a specific need, such as covering the expenses necessary to export
    goods. Programs that offer nonfinancial services may include those that
    help businesses acquire the various types of specialized knowledge and
    skills they need to begin, operate, and expand their businesses;
    commercialize the results of their research projects; export their goods;
    or appropriately train their workforce. Federal programs also may provide
    financial and nonfinancial services using federal employees or through
    agreements with state governments, private entities, and nonprofit
    organizations that act on behalf of the federal government.

    Some federal programs are targeted to the needs of businesses of a
    specific size, regardless of type, such as the assistance SBA offers to
    small businesses. In other cases, federal programs target services to any
    size business but of a specific type, such as the assistance that the Farm
    Service Agency offers to food processors regardless of their size.
    Assistance also may be targeted to businesses adversely affected by trade
    policies or local disasters. Federal attention to the needs of
    manufacturers increased following the economic recession that began in
    2001 when manufacturing job losses were substantial and recovery in the
    manufacturing sector lagged behind other sectors.

    The extent to which agencies track program funding, the number of
    businesses they assist, and the type of businesses they assist varies.
    Agencies tend to track the financial services they provide in the form of
    grants, loans, loan guarantees, letters of credit, or insurance, in terms
    of both the value and the number of financial services. In addition,
    agencies may track financial data according to the source of their funds.
    For example, agencies may track the funds by their annual appropriations,
    the obligations to which they dedicate the appropriated funds, or the
    amount of dollars they expended in financial assistance. Agencies less
    often track the funding for and participation in nonfinancial service
    programs. Such services may be offered in single- or multipurpose "service
    centers" that offer assistance on a range of issues, and may involve the
    specialized expertise of staff from multiple agencies. Service centers may
    track the number of individuals or firms they serve but not the specific
    type of service provided to each business. Moreover, agencies may not
    gather NAICS codes or other information on the type of businesses they
    serve. Because of these differences, agencies may not track funding and
    participation data in a consistent manner.

    Federal agencies also may form interagency groups to coordinate the
    operations of their programs and help ensure that resources are used
    efficiently. These interagency efforts may focus on a specific program;
    for example, multiple federal agencies share responsibility for
    administering the Small Business Innovation Research Program and have
    created an interagency group to help ensure that the program is being
    implemented consistently across all of the agencies. Similarly, agencies
    may form an interagency effort to address specific activities, such as
    ensuring that small businesses have access to federal procurement
    opportunities. In addition, multiple agencies may be tasked by the
    President to focus their efforts on a specific topic of relevance to the
    business community. These agencies may create interagency groups
    consisting of representatives from multiple federal agencies to better
    coordinate their individual programs and crosscutting activities. For
    example, Commerce created an interagency group to implement its 2003
    Manufacturing Initiative, which called for a comprehensive review of
    issues affecting manufacturers' competitiveness and a strategy to foster
    competition. Interagency groups that are set up to coordinate
    task-specific efforts may disband upon completion of the assigned task.

    Few Federal Programs Target Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing, but
    Services Are Available through over 200 Federal Programs That Broadly Support
    the U.S. Business Sector

    Of the 254 federal programs we identified that provide financial or
    nonfinancial services or both to support the U.S. business sector, 5
    programs provide services specifically to small businesses engaged in
    manufacturing, while an additional 15 programs target manufacturers,
    regardless of their size. In addition, we identified 127 programs that
    offer financial or nonfinancial assistance or both to small businesses,
    regardless of type, and 107 other federal programs designed to support all
    types of businesses, regardless of their size or type. Appendixes II
    through XX provide detailed information on all 254 programs, by agency.

    Five Federal Programs Target Small Manufacturers

    We identified 5 federal programs that specifically provide services to
    support small manufacturers. Each of the 5 programs offers various types
    of nonfinancial business, management, and technical assistance that are
    specifically related to manufacturing operations, processes, and problems.
    Only 1 of the 5 programs offered financial assistance in addition to its
    nonfinancial services. The types of services provided by the 5 programs
    were generally aligned with the mission of the administering agency and
    included the following:

               o The Outreach to Small and Very Small Plants program is
               administered by Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service
               (FSIS), which regulates manufacturers of meat, poultry, and egg
               products of all sizes, and helps small meat and poultry processors
               comply with food safety regulations. FSIS delivers information
               through partnerships with colleges, universities, and other
               Agriculture agencies. Its services to small manufacturers include
               informational materials about regulatory compliance; referrals to
               other sources of information; funding for university workshops;
               and training materials such as videos. FSIS also offers education
               sessions to small and very small plant owners and operators on how
               to improve their food safety and food defense systems, and
               provides guidance regarding federal inspection of their products
               to small and very small plant owners who want to start operations.

               o MilTech, administered in the Office of the Secretary, is a
               partnership between Defense's TechLink Program and the Montana
               Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center. MilTech provides
               companies with engineering, manufacturing, and business
               development assistance to help accelerate the transition of new
               technology to the U.S. warfighter, lower the cost and cycle time
               of technology acquisition, and help Defense more fully benefit
               from its small business research and development investment.

               o The Defense Small Business Technology and Readiness Resources
               Program (DSTARR), is administered by the Navy. DSTARR provides
               assessments of participating small manufacturers' operational
               processes at their places of business, and develops detailed
               continuous improvement plans to help participants implement
               industry best practices, gain knowledge, and improve operations.
               In addition, DSTARR offers online access to information and
               training, and access to technical experts who provide both on-site
               and remote technical assistance and training in manufacturing and
               business processes. The goal of DSTARR is to develop a national
               network of small manufacturers and specialized information
               technology companies to meet Defense's needs. Prior to December
               2006, DSTARR was known as the Manufacturing Technical Assistance
               Partnership Program, The Next Generation.
               o The Manufacturing Technical Assistance Production Program
               (MTAPP) is administered by the Air Force. MTAPP provides technical
               and managerial assistance to enhance the capabilities of small
               manufacturers and increase their ability to deliver high-quality
               products to the Air Force, as well as to Defense, and its major
               contractors. Each participant receives an in-depth assessment of
               its operations and a continuous improvement plan. In addition,
               MTAPP provides hands on assistance with quality assurance,
               improving the efficiency of manufacturing operations, sales and
               marketing, information technology, and business planning.

               o The Technology Insertion, Demonstration, and Evaluation (TIDE)
               Program is also administered by the Air Force and is a federally
               funded research and development center that operates through
               Carnegie Mellon University with funding from Defense. TIDE
               encourages and assists small manufacturers--specifically, those
               that supply goods and services important to national defense--to
               adopt commercially available software and information technology.
               The program demonstrates to these firms the advantages of using
               advanced software and information technology in their operations
               and adapts existing commercial software and information technology
               for small manufacturers' use. TIDE also offers workshops,
               conferences, and courses that provide some of the training small
               manufacturers need to successfully adopt new technology.
               Specifically, TIDE has addressed product data management,
               electronic data distribution, data security, flexible scheduling
               of manufacturing operations, and computer simulation of
               manufacturing processes.

               Only the Defense agencies that administer 3 of the 5 programs that
               target small manufacturers tracked detailed information on annual
               funding and participation levels for their programs. As shown in
               table 1, these 3 programs provided $3.8 million and served 95
               small manufacturers on average each year from fiscal years 2004
               through 2006. For more information on these programs, see
               appendixes II and IV.

    Table 1: Funding and Participation for 3 Programs That Serve Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing, Fiscal Years 2004-2006

    Dollars in
    millions
                                  Funding and participation, by fiscal year
                     2004                           2005                    2006
    Department,
    agency, and
    program        Funding   Participation  Funding Participation  Funding   Participation
    Department of  $2.1      69 services    $2.2    862 services   Not       Not available
    Defense,                                                       available
    Navy, Defense
    Small
    Business
    Technology
    and Readiness
    Resources
    Programab
    Department of  Not       54 firms       1.5     79 firms       1.2       92 firms
    Defense, Air   available
    Force,
    Manufacturing
    Technical
    Assistance
    Production
    Programc
    Department of  1.5       10 firms       0.5     21 firms       2.3       30 firms
    Defense,
    Office of the
    Secretary,
    MilTechd
    Total          $3.6      64 firms 69    $4.2    100 firms 862  $3.5      122 firms
                             services               services

    Source: GAO data.

    Notes: Because a single business may receive more than one type of
    financial or nonfinancial assistance, such as more than one loan or
    assessment, participation data may overstate the number of unique
    businesses that were helped.

    All funding and participation data in the table above were reviewed and
    verified by agency officials.

    aThese figures reflect funding and participation prior to December 2006
    when the program name was changed and the scope of services expanded to
    include specialized information technology companies.

    bThese figures are appropriations.

    cThese figures are obligations.

    dThese figures are technology transfer funding for small manufacturers.

    Small Manufacturers May Obtain Services from 15 Federal Programs That Target
    Manufacturers, Regardless of Size

    Agencies within Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human
    Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Labor administered 15
    programs that provided services specifically to manufacturers, regardless
    of their size. As with federal programs designed to support small
    manufacturers, the programs that target the needs of manufacturers in
    general offer services aligned with the mission of the administering
    agency. We identified 9 programs that offer only nonfinancial assistance
    and 6 programs that offer both financial and nonfinancial assistance.
    These programs include the following:

               o The Domestic Food Distribution Procurements and the
               International Food Aid Procurements, administered by Agriculture's
               Farm Service Agency, provide financial services, in the form of
               direct purchases, to processors of foods used for domestic food
               assistance, export, and foreign aid programs. Specifically, dairy,
               vegetable oil, and other processed commodities are purchased for
               various domestic and international food aid programs from food
               manufacturers, regardless of their size.
               o The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
               administered by Commerce's National Institute of Standards and
               Technology, supports a nationwide network of not-for-profit
               centers in nearly 350 locations. The centers, funded by federal,
               state, local, and private resources, provide manufacturers with
               access to the expertise of knowledgeable manufacturing and
               business specialists all over the country. Each center works
               directly with area manufacturers to provide expertise and services
               tailored to their most critical needs, ranging from process
               improvements and worker training to business practices and
               applications of information technology. Solutions are offered
               through a combination of direct assistance from center staff and
               outside consultants. According to an agency official, 92 percent
               of the manufacturing businesses that the program serves are small
               manufacturing businesses.

               o The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Firms Program,
               administered by Commerce's Economic Development Administration,
               offers only nonfinancial services to manufacturers that have
               experienced declines in sales or employment due to competition
               from imports in the preceding 2 years. TAA for Firms is a
               cost-sharing program that provides funds to pay one-half the cost
               of consultants or industry-specific experts for projects that
               improve a manufacturer's competitiveness.

               o The Textiles and Apparel Program, administered by Commerce's
               International Trade Administration, offers nonfinancial export
               assistance to textile manufacturers, such as oversight of
               strategies and programs to improve the domestic and international
               competitiveness of the U.S. fiber, textile, and apparel industries
               as well as industries that manufacture a wide range of consumer
               products. Among other things, the program performs research and
               analysis, compiles industry data, and promotes U.S. trade events
               for a whole spectrum of textiles and apparel.

               o The Manufacturing Technology (ManTech), the Next Generation
               Manufacturing Technology Initiative, and the Best Manufacturing
               Practices Programs, administered by the Office of the Secretary of
               Defense and the Navy, provide nonfinancial technical and business
               assistance to help large and small manufacturers, including ones
               that supply parts and equipment to Defense. These 3 programs help
               firms modernize their operations, apply information technology, or
               network with other businesses. In addition, ManTech provides
               financial assistance to manufacturers.

               o The Industrial Technologies Program, administered by Energy,
               works with manufacturers to improve industrial energy efficiency
               and environmental performance. The program, which offers both
               financial and nonfinancial assistance, invests in high-risk,
               high-value research and development to reduce industrial energy
               use while stimulating productivity and growth.

               o The Manufacturers' Assistance, Investigational New Drug
               Application, and Prescription Drug User Fee Act and Reductions for
               Small Business Programs, administered by Health and Human
               Services' Food and Drug Administration, offer nonfinancial
               services, such as training, and information to industry and trade
               associations on the policies and procedures relevant to those
               products that are regulated by the agency, such as vaccines.

               o The Research Program for the Manufacturing Sector, administered
               by Health and Human Services' National Institute for Occupational
               Safety and Health, offers nonfinancial services by partnering with
               manufacturers to develop practices and products for the workplace
               that can help prevent occupational diseases and injuries.
               o The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing Initiative,
               administered by Housing and Urban Development, is a public/private
               partnership that brings together key federal agencies with leaders
               of the home building, product manufacturing, insurance, and
               financial industries to develop and deploy innovative building
               technologies for the next generation of housing. The goal of this
               initiative is to identify techniques for building more affordable,
               durable, disaster-resistant, safe, and energy-efficient housing.
               o Dream It. Do It, a campaign launched by the Manufacturing
               Institute of the National Association of Manufacturers that is
               partially funded by Labor, provides nonfinancial assistance to
               develop tools and partnerships to help inform young people, their
               parents, and educators of career opportunities in advanced
               manufacturing. The initiative develops tools and partnerships
               among employers, training providers, and local Workforce
               Investment Boards in Kansas City and Washington State as well as
               in parts of Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and the Dallas-Fort Worth
               metropolitan area.

               Only 7 of the 15 programs that we identified that target
               manufacturers, regardless of their size, had funding or
               participation data or both for fiscal years 2004 through 2006.
               This information is provided in table 2. Because not all of these
               programs gather data on the size of the manufacturing businesses
               they serve, we could not determine the extent to which small
               manufacturers avail themselves of the services that each of these
               programs offer. For more information on these programs, see
               appendixes II, III, IV, VI, VII, IX and XI.

    Table 2: Funding or Participation or Both for 7 Federal Programs That
    Provided Services to Manufacturers, Regardless of Size, Fiscal Years
    2004-2006

    Dollars in
    millions
                                   Funding and Participation, by fiscal year
                            2004                     2005                     2006
    Department,
    agency, and
    program        Funding   Participation  Funding   Participation  Funding   Participation
    Data for Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing
    Commerce, International Trade Administration
    Textiles and   Not       60 firms       Not       72 firms       Not       103 firms
    Apparel        available                available                available
    Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Hollings       Not       7,910 firms    Not       8,247 firms    Not       9,154 firms
    Manufacturing  available                available                available
    Extension
    Partnership
    Defense, Office of the Secretary
    Next           $1.9      3 firms        Not       Not available  $2.6      9 firms
    Generation                              available
    Manufacturing
    Technology
    Initiativea
    Housing and Urban Development
    Partnership    7.5       Not available  7.5       Not available  5.0       Not available
    for Advancing
    Technology in
    Housing
    Initiativeb
    Subtotal for   $ 9.4     7,973 firms    $7.5      8,319 firms    $7.6      9,266 firms
    small
    businesses
    engaged in
    manufacturing
    Data for Manufacturers, Regardless of Size
    Commerce, Economic Development Administration
    Trade          $11.9     177 firms      $12.0     133 firms      $14.3     137 firms
    Adjustment
    Assistance
    for Firmsa
    Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Hollings       38.6      736 firms      107.5     748 firms      104.6     803 firms
    Manufacturing
    Extension
    Partnershipb
    Defense, Office of the Secretary
    Manufacturing  255.6     Not available  175.7     Not available  185.6     Not available
    Technology
    (ManTech)c
    Defense, Navy
    Best           2.0       10,800         2.0       4,187          2.0       5,673
    Manufacturing            services                 services                 services
    Practicesd
    Subtotal for   $308.1    913 firms      $297.3    881 firms      $306.5    940 firms
    manufacturers
    regardless of
    size
    Total          $317.5    8,886 firms    $304.8    9,200 firms    $314.1    10,206 firms

                             10,800                   4,187                    5,673
                             services                 services                 services

    Source: GAO data.

    Notes: Because a single business may receive more than one type of
    financial or nonfinancial service, such as more than one grant or
    consultation, participation data may overstate the number of unique
    businesses that were helped. In addition, not all agencies reported data
    for each year.

    All funding and participation data in the table above were reviewed and
    verified by agency officials.

    Funding data may not add because of rounding.

    aThese figures are obligations.

    bThese figures are appropriations.

    cThese figures represent the funding provided by participating Defense
    components, not the Office of the Secretary.

    dThese figures are outlays.

    Small Manufacturers Can Also Access Services Offered by Many Programs That
    Target Small Businesses, Regardless of Type

    We identified 127 federal programs administered by 18 agencies that target
    small businesses regardless of type. Five agencies account for over
    one-half of these small business programs: SBA has 35 programs, Veterans
    Affairs has 10, Defense has 9, and Health and Human Services and
    Transportation each have 8. Of the 127 programs, 7 offer only financial
    services, such as loans or loan guarantees; 73 offer only nonfinancial
    services, such as technical, business, and management assistance; 46 offer
    both financial and nonfinancial services; and 1 did not specify the type
    of services it offered. For example, of the 35 programs administered by
    SBA, 16 offer both financial and nonfinancial services, and 19 offer only
    nonfinancial services. In addition to administering these programs, SBA
    helps coordinate and manage two multiagency programs: the Small and
    Disadvantaged Business Utilization4 program and the Small Business
    Innovation Research program. Fourteen agencies included in our review have
    an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, these offices
    conduct outreach and provide consulting or other nonfinancial services to
    help small socially or economically disadvantaged businesses more
    effectively compete for federal contracting opportunities. Similarly, 11
    agencies included in our review administer Small Business Innovation
    Research (SBIR) programs. SBIR provides funding for innovative research
    projects. In 2004 and 2005, the most recent data available, almost 20
    percent of SBIR awards, valued at about $360 million, funded
    manufacturing-related research.5 For more information on all 127 programs,
    see appendixes II through XIX.

    Of the 18 administering agencies, only 14 collected data on the types of
    businesses that their small business programs served or the funding
    devoted to provide services through these programs. Table 3 shows the
    number of small business programs administered by each of the 18 agencies
    and the funding and participation data for the 14 agencies that tracked
    these data.

    4The Small Business Act, as amended (Pub. L. No. 85-536, 72 Stat. 384
    (July 18, 1958), amended by Pub. L. No. 95-507, 92 Stat. 1757 (Oct. 24,
    1978)), established an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
    Utilization for each federal agency with procurement authority. See 15
    U.S.C. S 644(k).

    5Executive Order No. 13,329, 69 Fed. Reg. 9181 (Feb. 24, 2004) encourages
    innovation in manufacturing by directing SBIR programs to give high
    priority to manufacturing-related research and development projects,
    whenever feasible.

    Table 3: Funding and Participation by Small Businesses in Federal Programs
    That Serve Small Businesses, Regardless of Type, Fiscal Years 2004-2006

    Dollars in
    millions
                                              Funding and participation, by fiscal year
                                        2004                      2005                     2006
                      Number
    Department or         of
    agency          programs     Funding Participation     Funding Participation   Funding Participation
    Appalachian
    Regional
    Commissiona            4        $1.7            85        $0.5           106      $0.7           367
    Agricultureb           6       128.6        10,564       126.8        11,296     106.7        10,442
    Commercec              7       164.2            91       205.2         1,150     212.0           614
    Defensed               9    96,580.5         3,849   118,843.4         4,014   1,316.6         3,755
    Educatione             2         8.9            53         8.4            36       8.7            58
    Energyf                6       119.0           421       118.8           412     120.4           429
    Health and
    Human Servicesg        8       633.8        33,502       645.8        32,783     648.1        36,968
    Homeland
    Securitye              6        19.6           131        23.0            90      30.6           N/A
    Housing and
    Urban
    Development            1         N/A           N/A         N/A           N/A       N/A           N/A
    Interior               6         N/A           N/A         N/A           N/A       N/A           N/A
    Labor                  7         N/A           N/A         N/A           N/A       N/A           N/A
    Transportationh        8        13.8            27        11.3            17       4.6             6
    Veterans
    Affairs               10         N/A           N/A         N/A           N/A       N/A           N/A
    Environmental
    Protection
    Agencye                5         6.7            57         6.6            52       5.0            56
    Export-Import
    Banki                  1     2,257.3         2,572     2,660.3         2,617   3,184.7         2,253
    National
    Aeronautics and
    Space
    Administratione        4       131.5           533       136.8           497     126.9           497
    National
    Science
    Foundatione            2       100.4           558        89.9           320      98.4           406
    Small Business
    Administrationj       35    20,459.7     1,468,211    19,496.8     1,756,842     175.3     1,431,011
    Totall               127  $120,625.8     1,520,654  $142,373.6     1,810,232  $6,038.7     1,486,862

    Source: GAO data.

    Note: Because a single business may receive more than one type of
    financial or nonfinancial service, such as more than one grant or
    consultation, participation data may overstate the number of unique
    businesses that were helped.

    Agency officials reviewed and verified information on 92 of the 127
    programs in the table above.

    Funding or participation data were available for 53 of the 127 programs in
    the table above. Agency officials reviewed and verified these data for 42
    of these 53 programs.

    N/A = Not available

    aThese figures are primarily obligations. Figures for 1 program were
    reported in outlays. Participation figures represent firms and
    individuals.

    bFunding figures are primarily in obligations, although figures for 1
    program were reported in appropriations. Participation figures represent a
    combination of awards, loans, firms and small emerging firms.

    cFunding figures are primarily obligations, although figures for 2
    programs were reported as outlays. Participation figures represent awards
    and firms.

    dThese figures were largely reported without specifying the type of funds,
    although figures for 1 program were reported as obligations. Participation
    data were reported in awards but were not reported for fiscal year 2006.

    eThese figures are in obligations. Participation figures represent awards.

    fThese figures are primarily in obligations, although figures for 1
    program were reported in appropriations. Participation figures represent
    awards.

    gThese figures are in appropriations. Participation figures are largely
    awards although figures for 2 programs were reported in firms.

    hThese figures are in obligations. Participation figures represent loans.

    iThese figures are in authorizations. Participation figures represent
    transactions.

    jThese figures are largely obligations, although figures for 1 program
    were reported in guarantee authority, figures for 4 programs were reported
    in appropriations, and figures for another program did not specify the
    type of funding. Participation figures are largely reported as firms,
    although figures for 1 program were reported as surety bonds, figures for
    2 programs were reported as individuals, figures for 1 program were
    reported as certifications, and figures for 2 programs were reported as
    loans.

    lData for fiscal year 2006 are incomplete.

    Small Manufacturers May Also Benefit from Many Federal Programs That Target
    Businesses, Regardless of Size or Type

    We identified an additional 107 programs administered by 15 agencies
    included in our review that offer financial or nonfinancial services or
    both to businesses, regardless of the size or type of business. Over 60
    percent of these programs are administered by agencies within Agriculture,
    Commerce, Defense, and Health and Human Services. As with the
    manufacturing-related and small business programs previously described,
    the services these general business programs offer are aligned with the
    mission of the administering agency. Specifically, we found that 7
    programs in 3 agencies offer only financial services to businesses, 66
    programs in 13 agencies offer only nonfinancial services, and 32 programs
    provide both financial and nonfinancial services. Technical, business, or
    management assistance was the most commonly offered nonfinancial service,
    and worker training was the least commonly offered service. Information on
    the services offered by these 107 programs by each of the 15 administering
    agencies is shown in table 4. For more details on these 107 programs, see
    appendixes II through XX.

    Table 4: Services Provided by 107 Federal Programs to Businesses,
    Regardless of Size and Type

                                                 Type of service
                                            Technology Technical,
                         Number            development  business,
    Department or         of                     or         or          Worker
    agency          programs  Financial  deployment management Export training
    Agriculture           13         11           0          2      8        1
    Commerce              27          3           3         18     13        1
    Defense               14          6           5          9      1        1
    Energy                 2          0           2          1      0        0
    Health and            14          4           5          9      0        1
    Human Services
    Housing and            6          5           1          5      1        2
    Urban
    Development
    Interior               1          0           0          0      0        1
    Labor                  6          2           3          5      0        6
    Transportation         3          0           2          1      1        0
    Appalachian            1          1           0          1      0        1
    Regional
    Commission
    Environmental          8          2           3          8      2        1
    Protection
    Agency
    National               8          4           6          4      1        1
    Aeronautics and
    Space
    Administration
    National               2          0           1          0      0        1
    Science
    Foundation
    National               1          0           1          1      0        0
    Technology
    Transfer Center
    Small Business         1          1           0          0      0        1
    Administration
    Total                107         39          32         64     27       18

    Source: GAO data.

    Note: Totals for individual types of services may not sum to the total
    number of programs because individual programs may offer more than one
    type of service.

    Agency officials reviewed and verified information on 73 of the 107
    programs in the table above.

    Six Interagency Efforts Support Manufacturing, and 14 Support All Businesses,
    Including Manufacturers

    Of the 20 federal interagency efforts we identified that address the
    concerns of the business sector, 4 specifically focus on the challenges
    faced by small manufacturers, 2 focus on issues faced by manufacturers in
    general, and the remaining 14 focus on issues of concern to small
    businesses or businesses in general. Tables 5 and 6 provide detailed
    information on each of the interagency efforts that we identified on the
    basis of the primary focus of the effort.

    Table 5: Four Interagency Efforts Address Concerns of Small Businesses
    Engaged in Manufacturing

    Focus of interagency Participating        Description of interagency
    effort               agencies             effort
    Help small           The Environmental    Since 2001, EPA and NIST's
    manufacturers        Protection Agency    Hollings Manufacturing Extension
    operate more         (EPA), the National  Partnership (MEP) have
    efficiently          Institute of         collaborated with state
                            Standards and        pollution agencies and various
                            Technology (NIST)    industries in the Green
                            within the           Suppliers Network. The network
                            Department of        provides assessments of work
                            Commerce, and        processes on the premises of
                            private sector       participating small
                            firms.               manufacturers, and also provides
                                                 information to help these firms
                                                 improve their operations and
                                                 minimize the amount of waste
                                                 material generated by their
                                                 operations. The network also
                                                 works with large manufacturers
                                                 in the automotive, aerospace,
                                                 and other industries to engage
                                                 their small and medium-sized
                                                 suppliers in the program.
    Expand scope of      The National         Beginning in early 2006, the
    services offered to  Institute of         Hollings Manufacturing Extension
    small manufacturers  Standards and        Partnership (MEP), administered
    through Hollings     Technology (NIST)    by Commerce's National Institute
    Manufacturing        and the              of Standards and Technology and
    Extension            International Trade  International Trade
    Partnership and      Administration (ITA) Administration (ITA), began
    International Trade  both within the      collaborating to connect small
    Administration       Department of        manufacturers with trade
    service centers      Commerce             promotion specialists in ITA.
                                                 This partnership allows MEP
                                                 staff and manufacturing clients
                                                 to benefit from the expertise of
                                                 staff at ITA export assistance
                                                 centers in specific industry
                                                 sectors, such as machinery and
                                                 microelectronics. The
                                                 collaboration helps improve the
                                                 competitiveness of the small
                                                 manufacturers that MEP serves.
    Expand scope of      The Department of    In 2006, the National Institute
    services offered to  Commerce's National  of Standards and Technology's
    small manufacturers  Institute of         Hollings Manufacturing Extension
    through Hollings     Standards and        Partnership signed a memorandum
    Manufacturing        Technology (NIST),   of understanding with the
    Extension            the Department of    Association of Procurement
    Partnership and      Defense, and         Technical Assistance Centers.
    Procurement          interested public or Under this agreement, the
    Technical Assistance private sector       agencies take advantage of
    service centers      entities.            opportunities for complementary
                                                 training on Defense Radio
                                                 Frequency Identification
                                                 requirements and in-depth,
                                                 industry-related technical
                                                 assistance. In addition, the
                                                 service networks provide
                                                 training and counseling to
                                                 business and industries
                                                 concerning how to do business
                                                 with the federal government, and
                                                 document and share complementary
                                                 assistance best practices to
                                                 facilitate dissemination of new
                                                 manufacturing funding
                                                 initiatives, opportunities, and
                                                 implementation services
                                                 available to manufacturers.
    Expand scope of      Department of        In 2004, the Under Secretary of
    services offered to  Commerce's National  Commerce for Technology and
    small manufacturers  Institute of         Deputy Under-Secretary for
    through Hollings     Standards and        Defense for Advanced Systems and
    Manufacturing        Technology (NIST)    Concepts signed a memorandum of
    Extension            and the Department   understanding to help small
    Partnership service  of Defense.          manufacturers tap into Defense
    centers                                   technologies. The two agencies
                                                 facilitate the transfer of
                                                 Defense-developed technology to
                                                 the private sector while
                                                 simultaneously enhancing and
                                                 improving the productivity of
                                                 the manufacturing base that
                                                 provides parts and equipment to
                                                 Defense. Under the agreement,
                                                 Defense makes the expertise of
                                                 its technology transfer
                                                 partnership intermediaries
                                                 available to collaborate with
                                                 the Manufacturing Extension
                                                 Partnership (MEP) and its
                                                 centers in collaboration with
                                                 the Defense network of
                                                 Procurement Technical Assistance
                                                 Centers to educate small
                                                 manufacturers about requirements
                                                 Defense has established for its
                                                 suppliers, such as the use of
                                                 radio frequency identification
                                                 for parts and equipment. The
                                                 collaboration is modeled on the
                                                 success of two Defense programs
                                                 (TechLink and MilTech) in
                                                 helping small manufacturers
                                                 respond to Defense needs.

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 6: Two Interagency Efforts Address the Concerns of Manufacturers,
    Regardless of Size

    Focus of interagency                             Description of
    effort                   Participating agencies  interagency effort
    Promote the              Seventeen participating In 2006, Commerce
    competitiveness of U.S.  federal agencies: the   convened the Interagency
    manufacturers            Departments of          Working Group on
                                Agriculture, Commerce,  Manufacturing
                                Defense, Education,     Competitiveness to
                                Energy, Health and      develop new ways to
                                Human Services,         implement its 2003
                                Homeland Security,      Manufacturing Initiative,
                                Justice, Labor, State,  which is designed to help
                                Transportation, and the improve the
                                Treasury; and the       competitiveness of all
                                Environmental           manufacturers. The
                                Protection Agency,      interagency group
                                Export-Import Bank,     established three project
                                Small Business          teams to focus on key
                                Administration, Office  manufacturing issues:
                                of Management and       improvements to the
                                Budget, and U.S. Trade  analysis of the economic
                                Representative.         impact of federal
                                                        regulations, workforce
                                                        development, and
                                                        strengthening the
                                                        transfer of federally
                                                        developed technologies to
                                                        the private sector.
    Coordinate federal       Fifteen participating   The Interagency Working
    manufacturing-related    federal agencies: the   Group on Manufacturing
    research and development Departments of          Research and Development
    (R&D) efforts            Agriculture, Commerce,  (R&D) was established as
                                Defense, Education,     part of the National
                                Energy, Health and      Science and Technology
                                Human Services,         Council in 2004 to help
                                Homeland Security,      develop consensus and
                                Labor, and              resolve issues associated
                                Transportation; and the with manufacturing R&D
                                Environmental           policies, programs, and
                                Protection Agency,      budgets. The group
                                National Aeronautics    identifies and integrates
                                and Space               requirements, conducts
                                Administration,         joint program planning,
                                National Science        and develops joint
                                Foundation, Office of   strategies for the
                                Management and Budget,  manufacturing R&D
                                Office of Science and   programs conducted by the
                                Technology Policy, and  federal government.
                                Small Business
                                Administration.

    Source: GAO data.

    Of the remaining 14 interagency efforts that we identified, 5 focus on the
    concerns of small businesses and 9 focus on the concerns of all businesses
    in general, both of which may address some issues that are also relevant
    to small businesses engaged in manufacturing. For example, these efforts
    focus on such issues as ensuring access to federal contracting
    opportunities, expanding services available to small businesses through
    networks of service centers, streamlining electronic access to federal
    business opportunities, and expanding export opportunities. For more
    details on these 14 interagency efforts, see appendix XXI.

    Agency Comments

    We sent a draft of this report to the Departments of Agriculture,
    Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland
    Security, Housing and Urban Development, the Interior, Labor,
    Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Environmental
    Protection Agency, Export-Import Bank, National Aeronautics and Space
    Administration, National Science Foundation, Small Business
    Administration, Appalachian Regional Commission, and National Technology
    Transfer Center. All of the agencies except for the Appalachian Regional
    Commission provided technical comments that we have incorporated as
    appropriate.

    As agreed with your offices, unless you publicly announce its contents
    earlier, we plan no further distribution of this report for 30 days after
    the date of this letter. At that time, copies of this report will be sent
    to interested congressional committees; the Secretaries of Agriculture,
    Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland
    Security, Housing and Urban Development, the Interior, Labor,
    Transportation, and Veterans Affairs; the Administrators of the
    Environmental Protection Agency, Export-Import Bank, National Aeronautics
    and Space Administration, and Small Business Administration; the Director
    of the National Science Foundation; the Chairman and President of the
    Export-Import Bank; the Executive Director of the Appalachian Regional
    Commission; and the Vice-President of the National Technology Transfer
    Center. We will also make copies available to others upon request. In
    addition, this report will be available at no charge on GAO's Web site at
    http://www.gao.gov .

    If you or your staffs have any questions about matters contained in this
    report, please contact me at (202) 512-3841 or mittala@gao.gov .
    Contact points for our Offices of Congressional Relations and Public
    Affairs may be found on the last page of this report. Key contributors to
    this report are listed in appendix XXIII.

    Anu K. Mittal
    Director, Natural Resources and Environment

    Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

    We identified (1) those programs that provide services to support
    manufacturing by U.S. small businesses and, for fiscal years 2004 through
    2006, the services and funds these programs provided and their levels of
    participation and (2) current federal interagency efforts that support
    manufacturing by U.S. small businesses. In addition, we compiled a list of
    studies that focuses on federal programs that support small businesses
    engaged in manufacturing.

    To identify agencies and programs that provide services to support
    manufacturing by small businesses, we obtained documentation and
    interviewed officials at 17 executive departments, independent agencies,
    and a government corporation, including the Departments of Agriculture,
    Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland
    Security, Housing and Urban Development, the Interior, Labor,
    Transportation, and Veterans Affairs; the Environmental Protection Agency;
    Export-Import Bank; National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
    National Science Foundation; and Small Business Administration (SBA).
    Throughout this report we refer collectively to these executive
    departments, independent agencies, and the government corporation as
    "agencies".

    We selected these 17 agencies because each had participated in efforts by
    Commerce to foster, serve, and promote the nation's economic development
    and technological advancement and in the efforts of SBA to promote small
    business development and entrepreneurship. We also searched the agencies'
    Web sites and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and interviewed
    officials representing state governments and trade associations. Through
    these efforts, we also identified relevant federal efforts at the National
    Technology Transfer Center and the Appalachian Regional Commission,
    bringing the total to 19 federal entities that administer programs
    offering services to support businesses, including small manufacturers. We
    included assistance provided by federal entities and through contracts or
    other agreements with state governments as well as private and nonprofit
    entities that operate on the federal government's behalf.

    We focused our work on federal programs that support businesses by
    addressing challenges in the following five areas: obtaining capital;
    developing or deploying new technologies; applying improved technology,
    business, and management practices; exporting goods; and training workers.
    Because agencies may not track funding and participation in a consistent
    manner, the information they reported to us is an estimate of the minimum
    funding provided and businesses served. We excluded federal research
    programs that focus on advancing manufacturing-related knowledge and tools
    but that do not offer operational services or financing to manufacturers.
    Because no comprehensive list of federal programs that provide direct
    services to manufacturers or other businesses exists, we cannot guarantee
    that we identified all such programs. However, we attempted to verify the
    accuracy and completeness of the information we gathered with relevant
    agency officials. Officials reviewed and verified information on over 70
    percent of the programs that we identified. The information we included
    that was not reviewed by agency officials was obtained from agency
    documents and information contained in agency Web sites. The program
    descriptions included in this report, including the appendix descriptions,
    were derived from agency materials and do not reflect independent GAO
    legal analysis of any relevant program statutes, regulation, or
    administrative guidance.

    To identify interagency efforts to support manufacturing by small
    businesses, we searched the agencies' Web sites; obtained documentation;
    and interviewed officials at federal agencies and organizations that
    represent state governments and trade associations. We included both
    ongoing interagency efforts that coordinate the activities of programs
    that operate in multiple agencies and task-specific interagency efforts
    that may disband upon completion of an assigned task. We attempted to
    verify information on these interagency efforts with relevant agency
    officials and reviewed available documentation on the mission, goals, and
    accomplishments of each effort. We consulted GAO technical experts and
    determined that the information and data were sufficiently reliable for
    this report. We conducted our work from May 2006 to April 2007 in
    accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.

    To identify studies focused on federal programs that support domestic
    manufacturing by small businesses, and other relevant studies, we
    identified the following criteria for including a study in this report:
    (1) only those studies about federal programs--specifically, those that
    target small businesses engaged in manufacturing; any small businesses,
    regardless of type; or any businesses engaged in manufacturing, regardless
    of size; (2) only programs administered by the following agencies and
    departments: the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education,
    Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban
    Development, Labor, and Transportation and the Appalachian Regional
    Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Export-Import Bank, National
    Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, and
    SBA; (3) only those studies that were published after October 1, 2000; and
    (4) only those studies that included original research. We searched the
    following databases in addition to GAO's reports database: ProQuest,
    Nexis.com, EconLit, Tax & Accounting, WorldCat, DIALOG, Sociological
    Abstracted, Cited References, Expanded Academic, the Congressional Budget
    Office, the Congressional Research Service, the Defense Technical
    Information Center, the Inspectors General's offices at each of the 16
    agencies, the National Association of Public Administration, the National
    Academies Press, PolicyFile, and the RAND Corporation. We used such search
    terms as manufacture(s), manufacturing, manufacturer(s), industry, small
    business(es), federal, and each of the agency names. We found 66 studies
    that fit our criteria and completed a fatal flaw review for the 23 studies
    that were not completed by GAO to ensure that each was conducted with
    reasonable methodological soundness. Based on this review, we found that 4
    of these 23 studies were outside of our scope or without a sound
    methodology. We combined the 19 studies that met our criteria with 43
    studies completed by GAO and then organized these 62 studies by the agency
    that administers them and placed them in a bibliographic format.

    Appendix II: Department of Agriculture - Programs that Offer Services to
    Small Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 7: Department of Agriculture Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturers by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office,                       Agency description of program
    and program       Target businesses   purpose
    Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
    Small Business     Small businesses,  The Small Business Innovation
    Innovation         regardless of type Research (SBIR) program makes
    Research Program                      competitively awarded grants to
                                             qualified small businesses for the
                                             purpose of supporting high quality
                                             research proposals containing
                                             advanced concepts related to
                                             important scientific problems and
                                             opportunities in agriculture that
                                             could lead to significant public
                                             benefit if the research is
                                             successful. The objectives of the
                                             SBIR program are to stimulate
                                             technological innovations in the
                                             private sector, strengthen the role
                                             of small businesses in meeting
                                             federal research and development
                                             needs, increase private sector
                                             commercialization of innovations
                                             derived from Agriculture-supported
                                             research and development efforts,
                                             and foster and encourage
                                             participation by women-owned and
                                             socially and economically
                                             disadvantaged small business firms
                                             in technological innovations. Eight
                                             Agriculture agencies participate in
                                             SBIR including the Cooperative State
                                             Research, Education and Extension
                                             Service, Agricultural Research
                                             Service, and the Forest Service.
    Farm Service Agency
    Domestic Food Aid  Any business       The Domestic Food Aid Procurements
    Procurements       engaged in         are purchases of dairy and processed
                          manufacturing,     commodities for domestic food
                          regardless of size assistance programs, administered by
                                             Agriculture's Food and Nutrition
                                             Service, such as the National School
                                             Lunch Program, the Commodity
                                             Supplemental Food Program, the
                                             Emergency Food Assistance Program,
                                             and the Food Distribution Programs
                                             on Indian Reservations. The Domestic
                                             Procurement Division also purchases
                                             butter, cheese and nonfat dry milk
                                             at announced prices under the Milk
                                             Price Support Program administered
                                             by Commodity Operations.
    International Food Any business       International Food Aid Procurements
    Aid Procurements   engaged in         are purchases of processed vegetable
                          manufacturing,     oil and other commodities that are
                          regardless of size produced and manufactured within the
                                             United States. Commodities are
                                             shipped for overseas donation
                                             through various humanitarian feeding
                                             programs administered by the United
                                             States Agency for International
                                             Development and Agriculture's,
                                             Foreign Agricultural Service.
    Food Safety and Inspection Service
    Small and Very    Small businesses    The Small and Very Small Plant
    Small Plant       engaged in          Outreach program offers a central
    Outreach          manufacturing       source for small and very small food
                                             processing plants to obtain
                                             information, technical assistance,
                                             and training to comply with food
                                             safety regulations and promote food
                                             safety. Since February 2006, an
                                             interagency council coordinates the
                                             outreach efforts across Agriculture
                                             agencies. Through the program
                                             Agriculture's Food Safety and
                                             Inspection Service (FSIS) delivers
                                             information through partnerships
                                             with colleges, universities, and
                                             other Agriculture agencies. Its
                                             services to small manufacturers
                                             include informational materials
                                             about regulatory compliance,
                                             referrals to other sources of
                                             information, funding for university
                                             workshops, and training materials
                                             such as videos. FSIS also offers
                                             education sessions to small and very
                                             small plant owners and operators on
                                             how to improve their food safety and
                                             food defense systems, and provides
                                             guidance to small and very small
                                             plant owners who want to start
                                             operations regarding federal
                                             inspection of their product.
    Foreign Agricultural Service
    Facility          Any business,       Agriculture's Facility Guarantee
    Guarantee Program regardless of size  Program is designed to expand sales
                         or type             of U.S. agricultural products to
                                             emerging markets where inadequate
                                             storage, processing or handling
                                             capacity limit trade potential. The
                                             program targets export sales of U.S.
                                             equipment or expertise to improve
                                             ports, loading/unloading capacity,
                                             refrigerated storage, warehouse and
                                             distribution systems, and other
                                             related facilities may qualify for
                                             facility guarantees, as long as
                                             these improvements are expected to
                                             increase opportunities for U.S.
                                             agricultural exports. The program
                                             provides payment guarantees to
                                             finance commercial exports of U.S.
                                             manufactured goods and services that
                                             will be used to improve
                                             agriculture-related facilities.
                                             Under the program, Agriculture's
                                             Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)
                                             guarantees payments due from
                                             approved foreign banks to exporters
                                             or financial institutions in the
                                             United States. Typically, a
                                             guarantee covers 95 percent of
                                             principal and a portion of interest.
                                             The financing must be obtained
                                             through normal commercial sources.
                                             Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural
                                             Service administers this program on
                                             behalf of the CCC.
    Market Access     Any business,       The Market Access Program (MAP) uses
    Program           regardless of size  funds from Agriculture's Commodity
                         or type             Credit Corporation (CCC) to help
                                             create, expand, and maintain foreign
                                             markets for U.S. agricultural
                                             products. MAP targets its
                                             partnerships to non-profit U.S.
                                             agricultural trade associations,
                                             U.S. agricultural cooperatives,
                                             non-profit state-regional trade
                                             groups, and small U.S. businesses.
                                             The MAP partner and CCC share the
                                             costs of approved overseas marketing
                                             and promotional activities such as
                                             consumer promotions, market
                                             research, trade shows, and trade
                                             servicing.
    Foreign Market    Any business,       The Foreign Market Development
    Development       regardless of size  program, also know as the
    Program           or type             "Cooperator Program," uses funds
                                             from the Commodity Credit
                                             Corporation (CCC) to create, expand,
                                             and maintain long-term export
                                             markets for U.S. agricultural
                                             products. Through the Cooperator
                                             program, CCC enters into trade
                                             promotion partnerships with U.S.
                                             agricultural producers and
                                             processors, who are represented by
                                             nonprofit commodity or trade
                                             associations. Under this
                                             partnership, Agriculture and the
                                             Cooperators pool their technical and
                                             financial resources to conduct
                                             approved overseas market development
                                             activities. The Cooperator Program
                                             is administrated by Agriculture's
                                             Foreign Agricultural Service.
    Emerging Markets  Any business,       The Emerging Markets Program is a
    Program           regardless of size  market access program that provides
                         or type             funding for technical assistance
                                             activities intended to promote
                                             exports of U.S. agricultural
                                             commodities and products to emerging
                                             markets in all geographic regions,
                                             consistent with U.S. foreign policy.
                                             The program specifically targets
                                             U.S. agricultural or agribusiness
                                             organizations, universities, state
                                             departments of agriculture,
                                             Agriculture agencies, and for-profit
                                             entities. Many types of technical
                                             assistance activities that promote
                                             markets for U.S. agricultural
                                             products may be eligible for
                                             funding, including feasibility
                                             studies, market research, sectorial
                                             assessments, orientation visits,
                                             specialized training, and business
                                             workshops.
    Export Credit     Any business,       Export credit guarantee programs
    Guarantee Program regardless of size  help provide commercial financing of
                         or type             U.S. agricultural exports.
                                             Agriculture's Commodity Credit
                                             Corporation (CCC) administers these
                                             programs assist U.S. exporters of
                                             agricultural products with exports
                                             to countries where credit is
                                             necessary to maintain or increase
                                             U.S. sales, but where financing may
                                             not be available without CCC
                                             guarantees.
    Dairy Export      Any business,       The Dairy Export Incentive Program
    Incentive Program regardless of size  helps exporters of U.S. dairy
                         or type             products meet prevailing world
                                             prices for targeted dairy products
                                             and destinations. Under the program,
                                             the U.S. Department of Agriculture
                                             pays cash to exporters as bonuses,
                                             allowing them to sell certain U.S.
                                             dairy products at prices lower than
                                             the exporter's costs of acquiring
                                             them. The major objective of the
                                             program is to develop export markets
                                             for dairy products where U.S.
                                             products are not competitive because
                                             of the presence of subsidized
                                             products from other countries.
    Export            Any business,       The Export Enhancement Program is
    Enhancement       regardless of size  designed to help U.S. farm products
    Program           or type             meet competition from subsidizing
                                             countries, especially the European
                                             Union. Under the program,
                                             Agriculture pays cash to exporters
                                             as bonuses, allowing them to sell
                                             U.S. agricultural products in
                                             targeted countries at prices below
                                             the exporter's costs of acquiring
                                             them. The major objectives are to
                                             expand U.S. agricultural exports and
                                             to challenge unfair trade practices.
    U.S. Exporter     Any business,       U.S. Exporter Assistance offers
    Assistance        regardless of size  on-line access to Foreign
                         or type             Agricultural Service (FAS)
                                             resources, products, and services
                                             that can help companies explore the
                                             potential for international sales.
                                             Agriculture-FAS's Exporter
                                             Assistance benefits primarily small
                                             and medium-sized companies.
    Supplier Credit   Any business,       The Supplier Credit Guarantee
    Guarantee Program regardless of size  Program (SCGP) was designed to make
                         or type             it easier for exporters to sell U.S.
                                             food products overseas by insuring
                                             short-term, open account financing.
                                             SCGP was active until late 2005, but
                                             has not been active since. Under the
                                             security of the SCGP, U.S. exporters
                                             could become more competitive by
                                             extending longer credit terms or
                                             increasing the amount of credit
                                             available to foreign buyers without
                                             increasing financial risk. SCGP
                                             targeted U.S. exporters of
                                             agricultural products, with an
                                             emphasis on high-value products and
                                             market potential.
    Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
    Small Business    Any small business, The small business programs
    Programs          regardless of type  administered by Agriculture's Office
                                             of Small and Disadvantaged Business
                                             Utilization (OSDBU) are responsible
                                             for fostering the use of small and
                                             small disadvantaged businesses as
                                             federal contractors. OSDBU's goal is
                                             to provide as much information,
                                             guidance and technical assistance as
                                             possible to assist the small
                                             business community in increasing its
                                             competitiveness through increased
                                             participation in Agriculture's
                                             procurement and program activities.
    Customer Outreach Any small business, The Customer Outreach Services
    Services          regardless of type  administered by Agriculture's Office
                                             of Small and Disadvantaged Business
                                             Utilization help foster
                                             participation by small businesses in
                                             Agriculture' s procurement and
                                             program activities. Specifically,
                                             the program identifies and
                                             eliminates barriers that prevent or
                                             restrict access to Agriculture
                                             procurements, educates small
                                             businesses, and conducts monthly
                                             vendor outreach.
    Rural Development - Business and Cooperative Programs
    Renewable Energy  Any small business, The Renewable Energy Systems and
    Systems and       regardless of type  Energy Efficiency Improvements
    Energy Efficiency                     Program funds grants, direct loans,
    Improvements                          and loan guarantees to agricultural
    Program - Section                     producers and rural small businesses
    9006 program                          that can demonstration financial
                                             need to purchase renewable energy
                                             systems and make energy efficiency
                                             improvements. To be eligible for
                                             grants, applicants must demonstrate
                                             financial need. Projects must be for
                                             the purchase of a renewable energy
                                             system or to make energy efficiency
                                             improvements. Eligible renewable
                                             energy projects include systems that
                                             generate energy from wind, solar,
                                             biomass, or geothermal sources or
                                             that produce hydrogen derived from
                                             biomass or water using a renewable
                                             energy source. Renewable energy
                                             projects can include the generation
                                             of electricity, heat, fuels, or
                                             hydrogen. Energy efficiency projects
                                             typically involve installing or
                                             upgrading equipment that results in
                                             a significant reduction in energy
                                             use from current operations.
    Rural Business    Any business,       The purpose of the Rural Business
    Opportunity       regardless of size  Opportunity Grant program is to
    Grants            or type             promote sustainable economic
                                             development in rural communities
                                             with exceptional needs by making
                                             grants to pay the costs of providing
                                             economic planning for rural
                                             communities, technical assistance
                                             for rural businesses, or training
                                             for rural entrepreneurs or economic
                                             development officials. Eligible
                                             applicants include public bodies,
                                             nonprofit corporations, Indian
                                             tribes, or cooperatives with members
                                             who are primarily rural residents.
                                             Applicants must be able to show that
                                             the funding will result in economic
                                             development of a rural area. In
                                             addition, applicants must include a
                                             basis for determining the success or
                                             failure of the project and assessing
                                             its impact.
    Rural Business    Any small business, The Rural Business Enterprise Grants
    Enterprise Grants regardless of type  program awards grants to public
                                             bodies, private nonprofit
                                             corporations, and
                                             federally-recognized Indian tribes
                                             to finance and facilitate
                                             development of small and emerging
                                             private businesses located in rural
                                             areas. Eligible small and emerging
                                             businesses must have fewer than 50
                                             new employees and less than $1
                                             million in gross annual revenues.
                                             Funds may be used to finance or
                                             develop small and emerging
                                             businesses. Eligible uses include
                                             technical assistance such as
                                             marketing and feasibility studies,
                                             business plans, and training;
                                             purchases or leases of machinery and
                                             equipment; the creation of revolving
                                             loan funds small emerging businesses
                                             may use to purchase equipment or
                                             real estate; or provide working
                                             capital or funds to construct
                                             business incubators for small and
                                             emerging businesses.
    Business and      Any business,       The Business and Industry Guaranteed
    Industry          regardless of size  Loan program helps create jobs and
    Guaranteed Loan   or type             stimulates rural economies by
                                             providing financial backing for
                                             rural businesses. This program
                                             provides guarantees up to 80 percent
                                             of loans made by commercial lenders.
                                             Loan proceeds may be used for
                                             working capital, machinery and
                                             equipment, buildings and real
                                             estate, and certain types of debt
                                             refinancing. The primary purpose is
                                             to create and maintain employment
                                             and improve the economic climate in
                                             rural communities. Authorized
                                             lenders include federal or state
                                             chartered banks, credit unions,
                                             insurance companies, savings and
                                             loan associations, Farm Credit
                                             Banks, the National Rural Utilities
                                             Finance Corporation, and other
                                             lenders approved by Business and
                                             Cooperative Programs. A borrower may
                                             be a cooperative organization,
                                             corporation, partnership, or other
                                             legal entity organized and operated
                                             on a profit or nonprofit basis; an
                                             Indian tribe on a federal or state
                                             reservation or other federally
                                             recognized tribal group; a public
                                             body; or an individual. Individual
                                             borrowers must be U.S. citizens or
                                             legal residents. Corporations or
                                             other nonpublic borrowers must be at
                                             least 51 percent owned by persons
                                             who are either U.S. citizens or
                                             legal residents. Business and
                                             Industry loans are normally
                                             available in rural areas.
    Value Added       Any business,       Value Added Producer Grants may be
    Producer Grants   regardless of size  used for planning activities and for
                         or type             working capital for marketing
                                             value-added agricultural products
                                             and for farm-based renewable energy.
                                             Eligible applicants are independent
                                             producers, farmer and rancher
                                             cooperatives, agricultural producer
                                             groups, and majority-controlled
                                             producer-based business ventures.
    Intermediary      Any small business, The purpose of the Intermediary
    Relending Program regardless of type  Relending Program is designed to
                                             alleviate poverty and increase
                                             economic activity and employment in
                                             rural communities, especially
                                             disadvantaged and remote
                                             communities, through financing
                                             targeted primarily towards smaller
                                             and emerging businesses, in
                                             partnership with other public and
                                             private resources, and in accordance
                                             with state and regional strategy
                                             based on identified community needs.
                                             This purpose is achieved through
                                             loans made to intermediaries that
                                             establish programs for the purpose
                                             of providing loans to ultimate
                                             recipients for business facilities
                                             and community developments in a
                                             rural area. The program targets
                                             small businesses in rural areas.
    Rural Economic    Any business,       The Rural Economic Development Loans
    Development Loans regardless of size  and Grants program must be used
    and Grants        or type             exclusively to promote rural
                                             economic development and/or job
                                             creation projects, including but not
                                             limited to, project feasibility
                                             studies, start-up costs, business
                                             incubator projects, and other
                                             reasonable expenses for the purpose
                                             of fostering rural economic
                                             development.

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 8: Services Provided by Department of Agriculture Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services

                                                    Type of service
                                              Technology  Technical,
                                              development business,
      Agency and    Target                      and/or        or             Worker
      program       businesses      Financial deployment  management Export training
      Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
      Small         Any small
      Business      business,
      Innovation    regardless of
      Research      type                X          X          X
      Farm Service
      Agency
      Domestic Food Any business
      Aid           engaged in
      Procurements  manufacturing,
                    regardless of
                    size                X                     X        X       X
      International Any business
      Food Aid      engaged in
      Procurements  manufacturing,
                    regardless of
                    size                X                              X       X
      Food Safety and Inspection Service
      Small and     Small
      Very Small    businesses
      Plant         engaged in
      Outreach      manufacturing                             X                X
      Foreign Agricultural Service
      Facility      Any business,
      Guarantee     regardless of
      Program       size or type        X                              X
      Market Access Any business,
      Program       regardless of
                    size or type        X                              X
      Foreign       Any business,
      Market        regardless of
      Development   size or type
      Program                           X                              X
      Emerging      Any business,
      Markets       regardless of
      Program       size or type        X                              X
      Export Credit Any business,
      Guarantee     regardless of
      Program       size or type        X                              X
      Dairy Export  Any business,
      Incentive     regardless of
      Program       size or type        X
      Export        Any business,
      Enhancement   regardless of
      Program       size or type                                       X
      U.S. Exporter Any business,
      Assistance    regardless of
                    size or type                                       X
      Supplier      Any business,
      Credit        regardless of
      Guarantee     size or type
      Program                           X                              X
      Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
      Small         Any small
      Business      business,
      Programs      regardless of
                    type                                      X
      Customer      Any small
      Outreach      business,
      Services      regardless of
                    type                                      X
      Rural Development, Business and Cooperative Programs
      Renewable     Any small
      Energy        business,
      Systems and   regardless of
      Energy        type
      Efficiency
      Improvements
      Program -
      Section 9006
      program                           X
      Rural         Any business,
      Business      regardless of
      Opportunity   size or type
      Grants                            X                     X                X
      Rural         Any small
      Business      business,
      Enterprise    regardless of
      Grants        type                X                     X                X
      Business and  Any business,
      Industry      regardless of
      Guaranteed    size or type
      Loan                              X
      Value Added   Any business,
      Producer      regardless of
      Grants        size or type        X
      Intermediary  Any small
      Relending     business,
      Program       regardless of
                    type                X
      Rural         Any business,
      Economic      regardless of
      Development   size or type
      Loans and
      Grants                            X                     X
      Renewable     Any small
      Energy        business,
      Systems and   regardless of
      Energy        type
      Efficiency
      Improvements
      Program -
      Section 9006
      program                           X

    Source: GAO data.

    X

    X

    X

    Any small business, regardless of type

    X

    Appendix III: Department of Commerce - Programs that Offer Services to
    Small Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 9: Department of Commerce Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturers by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office, and                       Agency description of program
    program              Target businesses    purpose
    Bureau of Industry and Security
    Office of Exporter   Any business,        The Office of Exporter Services
    Services Table 29:   regardless of size   is responsible for counseling
    Department of        or type Agency,      exporters of all sizes,
    Veterans Affairs     office, and program  conducting export control
    Programs That Offer  Agency, office, and  seminars and drafting and
    Services to Small    program              publishing changes to the Export
    Businesses Engaged                        Administration Regulations. It
    in Manufacturing by                       is also responsible for
    Agency, Target                            compliance actions related to
    Businesses, and                           the Special Comprehensive
    Agency Description                        Licenses and the development of
    of Purpose                                export management systems. In
                                                 addition, the office processes
                                                 license applications and
                                                 commodity classifications.
                                                 Target businesses Target
                                                 businesses
    Export Control       Any business,        A series of increasingly
    Seminar Program      regardless of size   detailed seminars led by Bureau
                            or type Office of    of Industry and Security's
                            Small and            professional counseling staff to
                            Disadvantaged        provide an in-depth examination
                            Business Utilization of the Export Administration
                                                 Regulations and to inform
                                                 exporters how to comply with
                                                 U.S. export control requirements
                                                 on commercial goods.
    Business and         Any business,        A web site to help make small
    Technology           regardless of size   and medium-sized businesses
    Enhancement          or type The Office   aware of the wide range of
    Opportunities and    of Small and         federal resources available to
    Partner Links Any    Disadvantaged        bolster their competitiveness in
    small business,      Business Utilization world markets. The Bureau of
    regardless of type   at Veterans Affairs  Industry and Security and
                            advocates to         partner agencies offer a variety
                            maximize             of innovative programs to assist
                            participation of     such firms. The web site
                            small, small         provides a brief description and
                            disadvantaged,       links to various programs, many
                            veteran-owned,       of which are defense-related.
                            women-owned, and
                            empowerment zone
                            businesses in
                            contracts awarded by
                            Veterans Affairs and
                            in subcontracts
                            which are awarded by
                            Veterans Affairs'
                            prime contractors.
    Defense Trade        Any business,        The Defense Advocacy Program
    Advocacy Program Any regardless of size   helps companies succeed in
    small business,      or type The          today's highly competitive
    regardless of type   Historically         global defense market. They
                            Underutilized        assist U.S. companies of all
                            Business Zones       sizes. Trade and industry
                            Program provides     analysts: 1) support U.S.
                            federal contracting  defense companies' products and
                            assistance for       services in international
                            qualified small      procurement competitions, 2)
                            businesses in        identify and disseminate
                            historically         information on export market
                            underutilized        opportunities, 3) provide market
                            business zones to:   intelligence and business
                            increase employment  counseling, and 4) generate
                            opportunities,       high-level,
                            stimulate capital    government-to-government
                            investment in those  advocacy on behalf of U.S. firms
                            areas, and help      competing for international
                            communities leverage defense projects.
                            and reinvest their
                            wages and taxes
                            within the
                            community.
    Defense Priorities   Any business,        The purpose of the Defense
    and Allocations      regardless of size   Priorities and Allocations
    System Program Any   or type The          System Program is to (1) assure
    small business,      Women-Owned Small    the timely availability of
    regardless of type   Business Program     industrial resources to meet
                            directs acquisition  current national defense and
                            officials to         emergency preparedness program
                            facilitate,          requirements; and (2) provide an
                            preserve, and        operating system to support
                            strengthen women's   rapid industrial response in a
                            business enterprises national emergency.
                            and to ensure full
                            participation by
                            women in the free
                            enterprise system by
                            awarding prime
                            contracts and
                            subcontracts to
                            women-owned
                            businesses and by
                            providing counseling
                            to such businesses.
                            The Office of Small
                            and Disadvantaged
                            Business Utilization
                            is responsible for
                            negotiating annual
                            goals with Veteran
                            Affairs acquisition
                            officials to
                            increase federal
                            prime contracts with
                            women-owned small
                            businesses.
    Defense Industrial   Any business,        The Bureau of Industry and
    Capability and       regardless of size   Security conducts industry
    Technology           or type The Small    analyses to assess the
    Assessments Any      Business Program     capability of the U.S.
    small business,      implements the       industrial base to support
    regardless of type   requirements to aid, national defense. The Office of
                            counsel, assist, and Technology Evaluation, an office
                            protect the          within the Bureau, uses
                            interests of small   industry-specific surveys to
                            businesses to ensure provide essential employment,
                            that they account    financial, production, research
                            for a fair           and development, and other data
                            proportion of        - information unavailable from
                            Veterans Affairs'    any other source. The final
                            total purchases,     reports provide findings and
                            contracts, and       recommendations for government
                            subcontracts for     policy-makers and industry
                            property and         leaders. These studies are
                            services.            conducted in cooperation with
                                                 experts from the private sector
                                                 and other U.S. government
                                                 agencies. The goal is to enable
                                                 the private sector and
                                                 government agencies to monitor
                                                 trends, benchmark industry
                                                 performance, and raise awareness
                                                 of diminishing manufacturing
                                                 capabilities. Customers for
                                                 these reports include the Armed
                                                 Services, Congress, and industry
                                                 associations.
    Office of National   Any business,        The Office of National Security
    Security and         regardless of size   and Technology Transfer Controls
    Technology Transfer  or type The Small    (NSTTC) and the Office of
    Controls and Office  Business Act Section Nonproliferation and Treaty
    of Nonproliferation  8(a) Business        Compliance (NPTC) are
    and Treaty           Development Program  responsible for issues related
    Compliance Any small was created to help  to export and reexport controls.
    business, regardless small disadvantaged  They implement the Export
    of type              businesses compete   Administration Regulations to
                            in the American      control the spread of
                            economy through      commodities, technologies, and
                            business development software that have both civilian
                            and access to the    and defense uses. The offices
                            federal procurement  are responsible for policy
                            market.              actions, export licenses,
                                                 commodity classifications,
                                                 license determinations, advisory
                                                 opinions for affected
                                                 commodities, and interagency
                                                 commodity jurisdiction
                                                 assessments. Part of their
                                                 missions include interacting
                                                 with businesses of all sizes to
                                                 ensure compliance with U.S.
                                                 export regulations, and
                                                 supporting BIS outreach
                                                 activities. Business and
                                                 Industry Services (BIS) does not
                                                 provide financial assistance to
                                                 any business. Specifically,
                                                 NSTTC implements multilateral
                                                 dual-use export controls for
                                                 national security reasons to
                                                 comply with the Wassenaar
                                                 Arrangement. NSTTC is also
                                                 responsible for U.S. export
                                                 control policy for high
                                                 performance computers and
                                                 encryption, and administers the
                                                 export licensing
                                                 responsibilities for foreign
                                                 nationals under the "deemed
                                                 export" technology rule It also
                                                 administers the "short supply"
                                                 provisions of the Export
                                                 Administration Regulations. NPTC
                                                 implements multilateral dual-use
                                                 export controls for
                                                 non-proliferation reasons to
                                                 comply with the Australia Group,
                                                 the Chemical Weapons Convention,
                                                 the Missile Technology Control
                                                 Regime, and the Nuclear
                                                 Suppliers Group. In addition,
                                                 NPTC is responsible for the
                                                 Inter-American Firearms
                                                 Convention, crime control, and
                                                 United Nations embargo
                                                 restrictions. Both offices
                                                 implement export controls for
                                                 anti-terrorism and regional
                                                 stability reasons. In addition,
                                                 NSTTC conducts outreach on
                                                 export controls to various
                                                 industry associations: in the
                                                 areas of night vision,
                                                 encryption and deemed exports.
    Economic Development Administration Any small business, regardless of type
    Trade Adjustment     Any business engaged The Trade Adjustment Assistance
    Assistance for Firms in manufacturing,    (TAA) for Firms program is a
                            regardless of size   matching funds program designed
                            Veteran-Owned and    for manufacturers battling
                            Operated Small       import competition. A firm may
                            Business Program     be eligible if it experienced
                                                 sales and employment declines at
                                                 least partially due to imports
                                                 over the last 2 years. One of
                                                 the 11 regional non-profit
                                                 groups that manage the program
                                                 (known as Trade Adjustment
                                                 Assistance Centers or (TAACs)
                                                 makes an initial assessment of
                                                 eligibility. TAA for Firms
                                                 provides financial assistance to
                                                 offset the cost of projects that
                                                 strengthen operations and
                                                 sharpen competitiveness for
                                                 manufacturers in many
                                                 industries. This customized
                                                 business assistance is used for
                                                 a variety of projects, including
                                                 consultant services in the areas
                                                 of marketing, information
                                                 technology, manufacturing,
                                                 engineering, and quality. Any
                                                 small business, regardless of
                                                 type
    International Trade Administration
    Petition Counseling  Any business,        The Petition Counseling and
    and Analysis Unit    regardless of size   Analysis Unit helps U.S.
    Any small business,  or type Under the    Businesses understand U.S.
    regardless of type   authority granted in unfair trade laws dealing with
                            section 308 of the   dumping and unfair foreign
                            Veterans Benefits    government subsidies, and the
                            Act of 2003, Pub. L. process of filing a petition
                            108-183, Stat. 2651, requesting the initiation of an
                            2662 (Dec. 16, 2003) investigation. It provides
                            Veterans Affairs is  guidance to potential
                            authorized to set    petitioners to assist them in
                            aside contracts      determining what types of
                            and/or award sole    information will be required in
                            source contracts for order to pursue action against
                            service-disabled     an industry suspected of unfair
                            veterans. Veterans   trade practices. The PCAU also
                            Affairs' goal for    assists potential petitioners in
                            participation in     ensuring their petition is in
                            procurement by       compliance with statutory
                            service-disabled     initiation standards and
                            veterans is 3        provides small businesses with
                            percent. Beginning   publicly available tariff and
                            in 2007, it will     trade data from the Departments
                            place a greater      of Commerce and Treasury, and
                            emphasis on such     the U.S. International Trade
                            businesses.          Commission.
    Subsidies            Any business,        The primary mission of the
    Enforcement Any      regardless of size   Subsidies Enforcement Office
    small business,      or type Veterans     (SEO) is to assist the private
    regardless of type   Affairs'             sector by monitoring foreign
                            subcontracting       subsidies and identifying
                            program promotes the subsidies that can be remedied
                            involvement of small under the Subsidies Agreement of
                            businesses at the    the World Trade Organization of
                            subcontract level.   which the United States is a
                            Recognizing that     member. As part of its
                            small firms often do monitoring efforts, the SEO has
                            not have the         created a Subsidies Library,
                            capability to        which is available to the public
                            perform as a prime   via the internet. The goal is to
                            contractor on        create an easily accessible
                            certain large        one-stop shop that provides
                            contracts, Veterans  user-friendly information on
                            Affairs requires     foreign government subsidy
                            that any contractor  practices.
                            receiving a contract
                            for more than
                            $10,000 to agree
                            that small business
                            concerns have the
                            maximum practicable
                            opportunity to
                            participate in
                            contracts that
                            Veterans Affairs has
                            awarded.
                            Furthermore, all
                            prime contracts for
                            construction that
                            exceed $1,000,000
                            and all other types
                            of contracts that
                            exceed $500,000 that
                            are not awarded to
                            small businesses and
                            that offer
                            subcontracting
                            opportunities, must
                            contain a
                            subcontracting plan
                            that includes
                            percentage goals for
                            participation by
                            small businesses,
                            small disadvantaged
                            businesses, and
                            women owned small
                            businesses.
    Trade Remedy         Any business,        The Trade Remedy Compliance
    Compliance Any small regardless of size   Staff provides assistance to
    business, regardless or type The Center   U.S. businesses which feel that
    of type              for Veterans         their trade problems may stem
                            Enterprise is a Web  from unfair trade practices or
                            site that assists    the improper application of
                            veterans in starting foreign unfair trade laws.
                            and building
                            businesses. The Web
                            site serves as the
                            federal government's
                            portal for
                            veteran-owned
                            businesses known as
                            VETBIZ.gov.
    Textiles and Apparel Any business engaged The Deputy Assistant Secretary
                            in manufacturing,    (DAS) for Textiles and Apparel
                            regardless of size   oversees programs and strategies
                            Table 30: Services   to improve the domestic and
                            Provided by          international competitiveness of
                            Department of        the U.S. fiber, textile, and
                            Veterans Affairs     apparel industries, as well as
                            Programs by Agency,  industries which manufacture a
                            Target Businesses,   wide range of consumer products.
                            and Type of Services The DAS also serves as Chairman
                                                 of the Committee for the
                                                 Implementation of Textile
                                                 Agreements, which determines
                                                 when market disrupting factors
                                                 exist in the domestic fiber,
                                                 textile, and apparel
                                                 marketplace. The DAS also
                                                 administers U.S. textile quota
                                                 agreements, formulates trade
                                                 policy, performs research and
                                                 analysis, compiles industry
                                                 data, and promotes U.S. trade
                                                 events for a whole spectrum of
                                                 textiles and apparel.
    Export Certificate   Any business,        Through the Export Trade
    of Review Program    regardless of size   Certificate of Review Program,
                            or type Type of      Commerce helps promote the
                            service Type of      development of Joint Ventures
                            service              and the use of Export Trade
                                                 Intermediaries. With this
                                                 Certificate, businesses limit
                                                 their domestic legal liability
                                                 when Joint Exporting or when
                                                 they have Joint Sales with a
                                                 Trading Partner in foreign
                                                 markets. Currently the more than
                                                 3,000 firms participate in the
                                                 program account for an average
                                                 of $12.3 billion in annual
                                                 export sales.
    Safe Harbor          Any business,        In order to provide a
    Certification Target regardless of size   streamlined means for U.S.
    businesses Target    or type              organizations to comply with the
    businesses                                European.Union's (E.U.) data
                                                 protection directive, Commerce
                                                 and the European Union
                                                 negotiated the U.S.-E.U. Safe
                                                 Harbor Framework. The Safe
                                                 Harbor Framework allows U.S.
                                                 companies to avoid data flow
                                                 interruptions from the European
                                                 Union to the United States. To
                                                 be assured of "safe harbor," a
                                                 business must annually self
                                                 certify to Commerce that it
                                                 adheres to certain safe harbor
                                                 requirements of the E.U.
                                                 directive. Commerce maintains a
                                                 list of all organizations that
                                                 file self certification letters
                                                 and makes both the list and the
                                                 self certification letters
                                                 publicly available. Financial
                                                 Financial
    Export Yellow Pages  Any business,        The Export Yellow Pages on-line
    Technical, business, regardless of size   or print directory helps
    or management        or type Export       businesses locate export or
    Technical, business, Export               trading partners, export trading
    or management                             companies, export management
                                                 companies and export
                                                 intermediaries. More than 27,000
                                                 firms currently advertise in the
                                                 Yellow Pages Worker training
                                                 Worker training
    Market Development   Any small business,  Market Development Cooperator
    Cooperator Program   regardless of type   Program (MDCP) awards entail
    Office of Small and                       financial and technical
    Disadvantaged                             assistance from the
    Business Utilization                      International Trade
                                                 Administration (ITA) to support
                                                 projects that enhance the global
                                                 competitiveness of U.S.
                                                 manufacturing and services
                                                 industries. An MDCP award
                                                 establishes a partnership
                                                 between ITA and non-profit
                                                 industry groups such as trade
                                                 associations or chambers of
                                                 commerce. Such groups are
                                                 particularly effective in
                                                 reaching small- and medium-size
                                                 enterprises. The non-profit
                                                 groups compete for a limited
                                                 number of MDCP award
                                                 partnerships by proposing
                                                 innovative projects that enhance
                                                 the global competitive position
                                                 of their industry with a special
                                                 emphasis on small- and
                                                 medium-sized enterprises. These
                                                 industry groups pledge to pay a
                                                 minimum of two-thirds of the
                                                 project cost and to sustain the
                                                 project after the MDCP award
                                                 period ends. Office of Small and
                                                 Disadvantaged Business
                                                 Utilization
    Strategy Targeting   Any business,        The Market Access and
    Organized Piracy     regardless of size   Compliance's Office of
                            or type              Intellectual Property Rights has
                                                 undertaken numerous activities
                                                 to assist particularly small and
                                                 medium sized businesses in
                                                 protecting intellectual property
                                                 rights, both in the United
                                                 States and abroad. These
                                                 activities include hotlines to
                                                 file complaints; limited legal
                                                 counseling; country-specific
                                                 information on protecting
                                                 intellectual property rights;
                                                 guidance in securing supply
                                                 chains against fakes; protecting
                                                 intellectual property right at
                                                 trade fairs; training; and
                                                 information to raise consumer
                                                 awareness.
    Commercial Services  Any business,        The U.S. Commercial Service
                            regardless of size   promotes and protects U.S.
                            or type X            commercial interests abroad and
                                                 delivers customized solutions to
                                                 ensure that U.S. businesses,
                                                 especially small and medium
                                                 sized enterprises, compete and
                                                 win in the international
                                                 marketplace through a global
                                                 network of trade professionals.
    The Advocacy Center  Any business,        Since its creation in 1993, the
    Any small business,  regardless of size   Advocacy Center has helped
    regardless of type   or type              hundreds of U.S.
                                                 companies--small, medium and
                                                 large enterprises--in various
                                                 industry sectors win government
                                                 contracts across the globe.
                                                 Advocacy assistance is wide and
                                                 varied but often involves
                                                 helping companies communicate
                                                 with foreign governments or
                                                 government-owned corporations.
                                                 For example, on a case-by-case
                                                 basis, following its due
                                                 diligence process, the Advocacy
                                                 Center and, if necessary, the
                                                 Advocacy Network will make a
                                                 national interest determination
                                                 to identify whether the project
                                                 qualifies for federal support.
                                                 Typically, companies must
                                                 demonstrate how supporting their
                                                 bid will positively benefit the
                                                 U.S. economy, primarily in the
                                                 form of exports of goods and
                                                 services. Other factors may also
                                                 be taken into consideration.
    Foreign Trade Zones  Any business,        Manufacturing in a Foreign Trade
    Board X              regardless of size   Zone (FTZ) may offer cost
                            or type              advantages to small and medium
                                                 sized manufacturers. FTZ staff
                                                 will provide information and
                                                 assistance to companies
                                                 considering whether to relocate
                                                 to an FTZ, which are specific
                                                 physical areas within the United
                                                 States that, for customs
                                                 purposes, are treated as if they
                                                 are outside U.S. borders. When a
                                                 company manufactures in an FTZ,
                                                 the company is treated (for
                                                 purposes of customs duties) as
                                                 if it is located outside the
                                                 United States. As a result, for
                                                 export shipments of the finished
                                                 product, U.S. import duties
                                                 don't have to be paid on
                                                 imported components. If the
                                                 finished product is ultimately
                                                 shipped to the U.S. market,
                                                 companies may have the option to
                                                 pay the finished product duty
                                                 rate rather than the component
                                                 duty rate.
    Minority Business Development Agency Women-Owned Small Business Program
    Minority Business    Any business,        The Minority Business
    Internet Portal      regardless of size   Development Agency's new
                            or type              Minority Business Internet
                                                 Portal (website) is an
                                                 e-commerce solution designed for
                                                 the Minority Business Enterprise
                                                 (MBE) community. This Internet
                                                 platform provides MBEs with
                                                 access to customized tools and
                                                 business information to help
                                                 them grow and thrive in an
                                                 ever-changing digital economy.
    Minority Business    Any business,        According to Commerce, the
    Development Centers, regardless of size   Minority Business Development
    Native American      or type              Agency (MBDA) is the only
    Business Development                      federal agency created
    Centers, Business                         specifically to foster the
    Resource Centers                          establishment and growth of
                                                 minority-owned businesses in
                                                 America. The Agency's mission is
                                                 to actively promote the growth
                                                 and competitiveness of large,
                                                 medium and small minority
                                                 business enterprises. MBDA funds
                                                 a network of Minority Business
                                                 Development Centers, Native
                                                 American Business Development
                                                 Centers, and Business Resource
                                                 Centers located throughout the
                                                 Nation. The Centers are staffed
                                                 by business specialists who have
                                                 the knowledge and practical
                                                 experience needed to run
                                                 successful and profitable
                                                 businesses. Business referral
                                                 services are provided free of
                                                 charge. However, the network
                                                 generally charges nominal fees
                                                 for specific management and
                                                 technical assistance services.
    Minority Business    Any business,        The Minority Business
    Opportunity Centers  regardless of size   Opportunity Centers (MBOC) are
    Any small business,  or type              designed to coordinate federal,
    regardless of type                        state and local business
                                                 resources to benefit minority
                                                 business development. They
                                                 identify business and economic
                                                 opportunities in the community
                                                 and leverage those opportunities
                                                 to meet the needs of minority
                                                 business enterprises. The MBOC's
                                                 help broker contract
                                                 opportunities and financial
                                                 transactions for minority owned
                                                 businesses
    National Institute of Standards and Technology X
    Advanced Technology  Any business,        Although funding for new
    Program              regardless of size   projects was discontinued in
                            or type              fiscal year 2005, the Advanced
                                                 Technology Program (ATP) did
                                                 receive funding to continue
                                                 existing projects. ATP provides
                                                 cost-shared multi-year funding
                                                 to single companies and
                                                 industry-led joint ventures to
                                                 accelerate the development and
                                                 broad dissemination of
                                                 challenging, high-risk
                                                 technologies with the potential
                                                 for significant commercial
                                                 payoffs and widespread benefits
                                                 for the nation. This unique
                                                 government-industry partnership
                                                 aids companies in accelerating
                                                 the development of emerging or
                                                 enabling technologies that lead
                                                 to revolutionary new products
                                                 and industrial processes and
                                                 services that can compete in
                                                 rapidly changing world markets.
                                                 ATP challenges the research and
                                                 development community to take on
                                                 higher technical risk projects
                                                 with commensurately higher
                                                 potential payoffs for the nation
                                                 than they would otherwise
                                                 pursue. ATP does not fund
                                                 product development,
                                                 manufacturing, marketing, or
                                                 commercialization activities.
                                                 Section 8(a) Business
                                                 Development Program
    Calibration services Any business,        The calibration services of the
                            regardless of size   National Institute of Standards
                            or type              and Technology (NIST) are
                                                 designed to help the makers and
                                                 users of precision instruments
                                                 achieve the highest possible
                                                 levels of measurement quality
                                                 and productivity. NIST recovers
                                                 the cost of providing
                                                 calibration services by charging
                                                 a fee for each calibration
                                                 performed. Calibration services
                                                 are offered to public and
                                                 private organizations and
                                                 individuals alike.
    Manufacturing        Any business,        The Manufacturing Engineering
    Engineering          regardless of size   Laboratory works to satisfy the
    Laboratory           or type              measurements and standards needs
                                                 of the U.S. manufacturers in
                                                 mechanical and dimensional
                                                 metrology and in advanced
                                                 manufacturing technology by
                                                 conducting research and
                                                 development, providing services,
                                                 and participating in standards
                                                 activities.
    Hollings             Any business engaged The Hollings Manufacturing
    Manufacturing        in manufacturing,    Extension Partnership (MEP) is a
    Extension            regardless of size   nationwide network of
    Partnership Any                           not-for-profit centers in nearly
    small business,                           350 locations, whose purpose is
    regardless of type                        to provide manufacturers with
                                                 the services they need to
                                                 succeed. The centers, serving
                                                 all 50 States and Puerto Rico,
                                                 are linked together through
                                                 Commerce's National Institute of
                                                 Standards and Technology.
                                                 Centers are funded by federal,
                                                 state, local and private
                                                 resources to serve manufacturers
                                                 that make it possible for even
                                                 the smallest firms to tap into
                                                 the expertise of knowledgeable
                                                 manufacturing and business
                                                 specialists all over the United
                                                 States. These specialists are
                                                 people who have had experience
                                                 on manufacturing floors and in
                                                 plant operations. Each center
                                                 works directly with area
                                                 manufacturers to provide
                                                 expertise and services tailored
                                                 to their most critical needs,
                                                 which range from process
                                                 improvements and worker training
                                                 to business practices and
                                                 applications of information
                                                 technology. Solutions are
                                                 offered through a combination of
                                                 direct assistance from center
                                                 staff and outside consultants.
                                                 Centers often help small firms
                                                 overcome barriers in locating
                                                 and obtaining private-sector
                                                 resources.
    X

    Veteran-Owned and Operated Small Business Program
    National Institute of Standards and Technology - Information Technology
    Laboratory
    Small Business       Any small business,  According to the National
    Computer Security    regardless of type X Institute of Standards and
    Workshops                                 Technology (NIST), it has the
                                                 mandate to help improve the
                                                 security of commercial
                                                 information technology products
                                                 and strengthen the security of
                                                 users' systems and
                                                 infrastructures. To this end,
                                                 NIST, in co-sponsorship with the
                                                 Small Business Administration
                                                 and the Federal Bureau of
                                                 Investigation, conducts
                                                 workshops on information
                                                 security threats and solutions.
                                                 The workshops resulting from
                                                 this partnership deliver
                                                 information security training
                                                 and are especially designed for
                                                 small businesses and
                                                 not-for-profit organizations.
                                                 Attendees will have the
                                                 opportunity to explore practical
                                                 tools and techniques that can
                                                 help them to assess, enhance,
                                                 and maintain the security of
                                                 their systems and information.
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    Fisheries Finance    Any business,        The Fisheries Finance Program
    Program Any small    regardless of size   provides long-term financing for
    business, regardless or type              the cost of construction or
    of type                                   reconstruction of fishing
                                                 vessels, shoreline facilities,
                                                 and aquacultural facilities.
                                                 Specifically, the program does
                                                 not finance construction of new
                                                 vessels, but refinances the
                                                 previously paid cost of such
                                                 construction. Additionally, the
                                                 program provides long-term
                                                 financing of individual fishing
                                                 quotas in the Northwest Halibut
                                                 and Sablefish fisheries. Vessel
                                                 financing or refinancing that
                                                 could contribute to
                                                 overcapitalization by increasing
                                                 harvesting capacity is
                                                 prohibited by regulation.
    National Telecommunications and Information Administration X
    Technology Transfer  Any business,        The Institute for
                            regardless of size   Telecommunication Sciences (ITS)
                            or type              participates in technology
                                                 transfer and commercialization
                                                 efforts by fostering cooperative
                                                 telecommunications research with
                                                 industry where benefits can
                                                 directly facilitate U.S.
                                                 competitiveness and market
                                                 opportunities. ITS has
                                                 participated for a number of
                                                 years in Cooperative Research
                                                 and Development Agreements
                                                 (CRADAs) with private sector
                                                 organizations to design,
                                                 develop, test and evaluate
                                                 advanced telecommunication
                                                 concepts. Cooperative research
                                                 with private industry has helped
                                                 ITS accomplish its mission to
                                                 support industry's productivity
                                                 and competitiveness by providing
                                                 insight into industry needs.
                                                 This has led to adjustments in
                                                 the focus and direction of other
                                                 Institute programs to improve
                                                 their effectiveness and value.
                                                 While most CRADAs are with small
                                                 businesses that gain access to
                                                 the Institute's facilities
                                                 through the agreement, these
                                                 businesses may not meet the
                                                 Small Business Administration's
                                                 definition of small. These
                                                 entities gain access to the
                                                 Table Mountain Field Site and
                                                 Radio Quiet Zone facilities to
                                                 conduct radio research
                                                 experiments that does not
                                                 involve the transfer of
                                                 technology from the government
                                                 to small businesses.
                                                 Subcontracting Program
    Office of the
    Secretary
    Small Business       Any small business,  The Small Business Innovation
    Innovation Research  regardless of type   Research Program (SBIR) is
    Program                                   designed to ensure that small,
                                                 high-technology firms have
                                                 access to federal research and
                                                 development funds to pursue
                                                 advanced technologies and their
                                                 commercial applications. SBIR is
                                                 a competitive three-phase
                                                 program that reserves a specific
                                                 percentage of research and
                                                 development funding at certain
                                                 federal agencies for awards to
                                                 small businesses. Currently
                                                 eleven other federal agencies
                                                 provide the grant funds and
                                                 oversee the projects. The Small
                                                 Business Administration monitors
                                                 the SBIR program and provides
                                                 guidance. Two Commerce agencies
                                                 (the National Oceanic and
                                                 Atmospheric Administration and
                                                 National Institute of Standards
                                                 and Technology) administer SBIR
                                                 programs. SBIR funds the
                                                 critical startup and development
                                                 stages and it encourages the
                                                 commercialization of the
                                                 resulting technology, product,
                                                 or service. In accordance with
                                                 Executive Order No. 13,329, SBIR
                                                 programs will give a priority,
                                                 where feasible, to proposals
                                                 that are directed toward
                                                 innovations that will aid the
                                                 nation's manufacturing sector.
    Commerce's           Any small business,  The Commerce's Information
    Information          regardless of type   Technology Solutions Next
    Technology Solutions                      Generation (COMMITS NexGen)
    Next Generation Any                       levels the "playing field" as a
    small business,                           small business Government-Wide
    regardless of type                        Acquisition Contract (GWAC) that
                                                 is convenient for ordering
                                                 information technology (IT)
                                                 services from high quality small
                                                 businesses. In today's
                                                 streamlined acquisition
                                                 environment, many IT
                                                 requirements that once were
                                                 publicly announced are now met
                                                 through task and delivery order
                                                 contracts. COMMITS NexGen gives
                                                 small businesses the opportunity
                                                 to compete and grow.
    Office of Business   Any business,        The Office of Business Liaison
    Liaison X            regardless of size   serves as the primary point for
                            or type X            contact between Commerce and the
                                                 business community.
                                                 Specifically, among other
                                                 things, the Office helps guide
                                                 individuals and businesses to
                                                 the Commerce offices and policy
                                                 experts best suited to respond
                                                 to their needs; helps to develop
                                                 a pro-active, responsive and
                                                 effective outreach program and
                                                 relationship with the business
                                                 community; informs the
                                                 Secretary, the Department and
                                                 Administration officials of the
                                                 critical issues facing the
                                                 business community; and informs
                                                 the business community of
                                                 Commerce and Administration
                                                 resources, policies and
                                                 programs.
    Prime Contractor     Any small business,  Commerce's `Prime Contractor
    Directory Source:    regardless of type   Directory' is prepared to assist
    GAO data.                                 all small businesses, with their
                                                 marketing efforts in obtaining
                                                 suitable subcontracting
                                                 opportunities and presenting
                                                 their capabilities to Commerce
                                                 prime contractors. The Prime
                                                 Contractor Directory includes
                                                 product, service, and
                                                 construction related contractors
                                                 that have contracts with
                                                 Commerce which are valued at
                                                 $500,000 or more. These
                                                 companies have approved
                                                 subcontracting plans and their
                                                 progress toward achieving its
                                                 subcontracting goals is
                                                 monitored by the Office of Small
                                                 and Disadvantaged Utilization.
    Subcontracting       Any small business,  The subcontracting program
    Program Table 31:    regardless of type   creates many opportunities for
    Environmental        Agency, office, and  small, small disadvantaged,
    Protection Agency    program Agency,      HUBZone, veteran-owned, service
    Programs That Offer  office, and program  disabled veteran-owned small
    Services to Small    Agency, office, and  firms, and women-owned small
    Businesses Engaged   program              businesses. Commerce requires
    in Manufacturing by                       contractors to establish
    Agency, Target                            aggressive goals for
    Businesses, and                           subcontracting with small
    Agency Description                        businesses. The Office of Small
    of Purpose                                and Disadvantaged Business
                                                 Utilization monitors the
                                                 progress of prime contractors in
                                                 meeting the goals in their
                                                 subcontracting plans. Target
                                                 businesses Target businesses
                                                 Target businesses
    Office of Small and  Any small business,  Office of Small and
    Disadvantaged        regardless of type   Disadvantaged Business
    Business Utilization Office of            Utilization is an advocacy and
                            Acquisition          advisory office responsible for
                            Management           promoting the use of small,
                                                 small disadvantaged, Section
                                                 8(a), women-owned,
                                                 veteran-owned, service-disabled
                                                 veteran-owned, and HUBZone small
                                                 businesses within Commerce's
                                                 acquisition process.
    Technology Administration Any small business, regardless of type
    National Technical   Any business,        The mission of the National
    Information Service  regardless of size   Technical Information Service
                            or type Office of    (NTIS) is to promote progress by
                            Enforcement and      serving as the federal
                            Compliance Assurance government's central means of
                                                 making technical information
                                                 perpetually and widely
                                                 available. In performing its
                                                 mission, NTIS contributes
                                                 directly and substantially to
                                                 the larger mission of Commerce
                                                 which, according to Commerce's
                                                 Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years
                                                 2004-2009, is to create the
                                                 conditions for economic growth
                                                 and opportunity by promoting
                                                 innovation, entrepreneurship,
                                                 competitiveness, and
                                                 stewardship. Through NTIS, the
                                                 nation's research and scientific
                                                 community receives the fruits of
                                                 research that can be used to
                                                 create new or improved products
                                                 and services that enhance the
                                                 nation's competitiveness.

    Source: GAO data. Any business, regardless of size or type

    Table 10: Services Provided by Department of Commerce Programs by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Type of Services The Environmental Protection
    Agency, working with industry, academic institutions, environmental
    groups, and other agencies, sponsors Compliance Assistance Centers that
    address the requirements of specific sectors. Each Web-based Center
    provides businesses, local governments, and federal facilities with
    information and guidance on environmental requirements and ways to save
    money through pollution prevention techniques.

                                                                                       Type of service
                                                                         Technology
                                                                        development     Technical,
    Agency and        Target                                               and/or      business, or
    program           businesses                          Financial      deployment     management       Export      Worker training
    Bureau of Industry and Security Any business, regardless of size or type
    Office of         Any business,                                                                                    Through the
    Exporter Services regardless of                                                                                 Federal Technology
                      size or type                                                                                     Transfer Act
                                                                                                                     program, federal
                                                                                                                     agencies conduct
                                                                                                                      joint research
                                                                                                                     with non-federal
                                                                                                                       partners and
                                                                                                                         protect
                                                                                                                       intellectual
                                                                                                                    property that may
                                                                                                                      be developed.
                                                                                                                     Program partners
                                                                                                                       benefit from
                                                                                                                       cooperative
                                                                                                                       research and
                                                                                                                       development
                                                                                                                      agreements by
                                                                                                                    tapping into EPA's
                                                                                                                      resources and
                                                                                                                    knowledge base to
                                                                                                                      conduct joint
                                                                                                                       research and
                                                                                                                        technology
                                                                                                                    commercialization.
                                                                                                                      The program is
                                                                                                                       conducted in
                                                                                                                     accordance with
                                                                                                                       the Federal
                                                                                        X Federal        X Any          Technology
                                                          Office of                     Technology     business,     Transfer Act of
                                                         Research and                  Transfer Act  regardless of  1986 and preceding
                                                         Development                     program      size or type     legislation.
    Business and      Any business,    The goal of the                                               The Superfund
    Technology        regardless of    Environmental                                                   Innovative
    Enhancement       size or type Any Technology                                                      Technology
    Opportunities and business,        Verification                                                    Evaluation
    Partner Links     regardless of    (ETV) program, a                                              (SITE) program
    Environmental     size or type     public-private                                                     was
    Technology                         partnership, is                                               established to
    Verification                       to provide                                                     address the
    program                            credible                                                       need for an
                                       performance data                                              alternative or
                                       for                                                             innovative
                                       commercial-ready                                                hazardous
                                       environmental                                                     waste
                                       technologies to                                                 treatment
                                       speed their                                                     technology
                                       implementation                                                 research and
                                       for the benefit                                               demonstration
                                       of vendors,                                                    program. The
                                       purchasers,                                                        SITE
                                       permitters, and                                               Demonstration
                                       the public. The                                                  Program
                                       ETV program                                                   encourages the
                                       develops testing                                               development
                                       protocols and                                                      and
                                       verifies the                                                  implementation
                                       performance of                                                of innovative
                                       innovative                                                      treatment
                                       technologies                                                   technologies
                                       with the                                                      for hazardous
                                       potential to                      Superfund                     waste site
                                       improve                           Innovative       X Any       remediation
                                       protection of                     Technology     business,    and monitoring
                                       human health and                  Evaluation   regardless of       and
                                       the environment.                   program      size or type   measurement.
    Export Control    Any business,
    Seminar Program   regardless of
    Any small         size or type The
    business,         Environmental
    regardless of     Protection
    type              Agency (EPA) is
                      one of 11
                      federal agencies
                      that participate
                      in the Small
                      Business
                      Innovation
                      Research (SBIR)
                      program
                      established by
                      the Small
                      Business
                      Innovation
                      Development Act
                      of 1982, Pub. L.
                      No. 97-219, 96
                      Stat. 217 (July
                      22, 1982). The
                      purpose of this
                      Act was to
                      strengthen the
                      role of small
                      businesses in
                      federally funded
                      research and
                      development and
                      help develop a
                      stronger
                      national base
                      for technical
                      innovation. EPA
                      issues annual
                      solicitations
                      for Phase I and
                      Phase II
                      research
                      proposals from
                      science and                                                                                   The purpose of the
                      technology-based                                                                               Office of Small
                      firms. Through a                                                                              and Disadvantaged
                      phased approach                                                                                    Business
                      to SBIR funding,                                                                                 Utilization
                      EPA can                                                                                         (OSDBU) is to
                      determine                                                                                       stimulate and
                      whether the                                                                                      improve the
                      research idea,                                                                                  involvement of
                      often on                                                                                       small businesses
                      high-risk                                                                                      and socially and
                      advanced                                                                                         economically
                      concepts, is                                                                                    disadvantaged
                      technically                                                                                    small businesses
                      feasible,                                                                                     in the overall EPA
                      whether the firm                                                                                 procurement
                      can do                                                                                          process. OSDBU
                      high-quality                                                                                     monitors and
                      research, and                                                                                  evaluates EPA's
                      whether                                                                                         performance in
                      sufficient                                                                                      achieving the
                      progress has                                                                                       Agency's
                      been made to                                                                                   contracting and
                      justify a larger                                                                                subcontracting
                      Phase II effort.                                                                                  goals, and
                      Phase II                                                                                        recommends the
                      contracts are                                                                                 assignment of the
                      limited to small                                                                                Small Business
                      businesses that                                                                                Representatives
                      have                                                                                            from the Small
                      successfully                                                                                       Business
                      completed their                                                                                 Administration
                      Phase I                                                                                       (SBA), who carries
                      contracts. The                                                                                    out SBA's
                      objective of                        Office of                    X Office of                     procurement
                      Phase II is to                      Small and                     Small and     X Any small    oversight duties
                      commercialize                     Disadvantaged                 Disadvantaged    business,       pursuant to
                      the Phase I                          Business                      Business    regardless of   applicable laws
                      technology.                        Utilization                   Utilization        type        and mandates.
    Defense Trade     Any business,    The purpose of                                                 X The Clean
    Advocacy Program  regardless of    the Small                                                        Air Act
    Small Business    size or type Any Business                                                      Amendments of
    Ombudsman         small business,  Ombudsman is to                                               1990, Pub. L.
                      regardless of    serve as a                                                     No. 101-549,
                      type             conduit for                                                   104 Stat. 2399
                                       small business                                                  (Nov. 15,
                                       to access                                                         1990),
                                       Environmental                                                 required that
                                       Protection                                                      all states
                                       Agency and                                                      develop a
                                       facilitates                                                     program to
                                       communications                                                 assist small
                                       between the                                                   businesses in
                                       small business                                                 meeting the
                                       community and                                                  requirements
                                       the agency. The                                                of the Act.
                                       office reviews                                                     Such
                                       and resolves                                                    assistance
                                       disputes between                                              includes, but
                                       small businesses                                                  is not
                                       and the                                                        necessarily
                                       Environmental                                                  limited to,
                                       Protection                                                       adequate
                                       Agency and works                                              mechanisms to
                                       with                                                           assist small
                                       Environmental                                                   businesses
                                       Protection                                                         with
                                       Agency personnel                                                compliance
                                       to increase                                                    assistance,
                                       their                                                           pollution
                                       understanding of                                              prevention and
                                       small businesses                                                accidental
                                       in the                                                           release
                                       development and                                               detection and
                                       enforcement of                                                 prevention,
                                       environmental                                                     permit
                                       regulations.                                                  assistance and
                                                                                                      obligations.
                                                                                                     Section 507 of
                                                                                                     the Clean Air
                                                                                                     Act discusses
                                                                                                      specifics of
                                                                                                       the Small
                                                                                                        Business
                                                                                                       Assistance
                                                                                                        Program
                                                                                                      (SBAP). The
                                                                                                        SBAP is
                                                                                                     non-regulatory
                                                                                                     in nature and
                                                                                                      all services
                                                                                                          are
                                                                                                      confidential
                                                                                                      and free of
                                                                                                      charge. The
                                                                                                        SBAP is
                                                                                                     divided in to
                                                                                                      three major
                                                                                                      components:
                                                                                                     the Compliance
                                                                                                        Advisory
                                                                                                       Panel, the
                                                                                                     Ombudsman, and
                                                                                                     the Assistance
                                                                                                      Program. Due
                                                                                                     to geography,
                                                                                                      demographics
                                                                                                     and the unique
                                                                                                     environmental
                                                                                                     issues in each
                                                                       Small Business   Any small      state, the
                                                                       Environmental    business,     structure of
                                                                         Assistance   regardless of   each program
                                                                          Programs         type        may vary.
    Defense           Any business,                                                   X WasteWise is
    Priorities and    regardless of                                                      a free,
    Allocations       size or type                                                      voluntary
    System Program                                                                     partnership
                                                                                         program
                                                                                      through which
                                                                                      organizations
                                                                                        eliminate
                                                                                          costly
                                                                                        municipal
                                                                                       solid waste
                                                                                        and select
                                                                                        industrial
                                                                                         wastes,
                                                                                        benefiting
                                                                                       their bottom
                                                                                       line and the
                                                                                       environment.
                                                                                      WasteWise is a
                                                                                         flexible
                                                                                       program that
                                                                                          allows
                                                                                       partners to
                                                                                       design their
                                                                                        own waste
                                                                                        reduction
                                                                                         programs
                                                                                       tailored to
                                                                                       their needs.
                                                                                        Large and
                                                                                          small
                                                                                        businesses
                                                                                         from any
                                                                                         industry
                                                                                        sector may
                                                                                       participate.
                                                                                      Institutions,
                                                                                         such as
                                                                                      hospitals and
                                                                                      universities,
                                                                                       non-profits,
                                                                                        and other
                                                                                      organizations,
                                                                                        as well as
                                                                                       state, local
                                                                                        and tribal
                                                                       Any business,   governments,
                                                          Waste Wise   regardless of     may also
                                                           program      size or type   participate.                 Source: GAO data.
    Defense           Any business,
    Industrial        regardless of
    Capability and    size or type
    Technology
    Assessments Table
    32: Services
    Provided by
    Environmental
    Protection Agency
    Programs by
    Agency, Target
    Businesses, and                                                       Type of                      Agency and
    Type of Services                                                      service           X           program     Target businesses
    Office of         Any business,    Technical,
    National Security regardless of    business, or
    and Technology    size or type     management
    Transfer Controls Technology
    and Office of     development
    Nonproliferation  and/or
    and Treaty        deployment                                                                      X Office of
    Compliance                                                             Worker                     Acquisition
    Financial                                               Export        training          X          Management
    Economic Development Administration Any small business, regardless of type
    Trade Adjustment  Any business     X
    Assistance for    engaged in                                                                       Office of
    Firms             manufacturing,                                                                    Policy,
                      regardless of                                                                  Economics, and
                      size                                                                  X          Innovation           X
    International Trade Administration Any business, regardless of size or type
    Petition          Any business,    X                                                                 Sector       Any business,
    Counseling and    regardless of                                                                    Strategies   regardless of size
    Analysis Unit     size or type                                                          X           Program          or type
    Subsidies         Any business,    X                                                               Office of
    Enforcement       regardless of                                                                    Pollution
                      size or type                                                                   Prevention and
                                                                                            X            Toxics
    Trade Remedy      Any business,
    Compliance Any    regardless of
    business,         size or type
    regardless of
    size or type                                                             X                             X
    Textiles and      Any business     Any business,
    Apparel           engaged in       regardless of
                      manufacturing,   size or type
                      regardless of
                      size Federal
                      Technology
                      Transfer Act
                      program                                                               X             X X               X
    Export            Any business,    Any business,
    Certificate of    regardless of    regardless of
    Review Program    size or type     size or type
                      Environmental
                      Technology
                      Verification
                      program                                                X              X             X X
    Safe Harbor       Any business,    Any business,
    Certification     regardless of    regardless of
                      size or type     size or type
                      Superfund
                      Innovative
                      Technology
                      Evaluation
                      program                                                X              X             X X
    Export Yellow     Any business,    Any small
    Pages             regardless of    business,
                      size or type     regardless of
                      Small Business   type
                      Innovation
                      Research Program                                       X              X             X X
    Market            Any small
    Development       business,
    Cooperator        regardless of
    Program           type Office of                     X Office of
                      Small and                           Small and     X Any small
                      Disadvantaged                     Disadvantaged    business,
                      Business                             Business    regardless of
                      Utilization                        Utilization        type            X              X                X
    Trade Compliance  Any business,                                      Any small
    Center            regardless of                                      business,
                      size or type                      Small Business regardless of
                                                          Ombudsman         type                           X
    Commercial        Any business,                     Small Business   Any small
    Services          regardless of                     Environmental    business,
                      size or type                        Assistance   regardless of
                                                           Programs         type            X              X
    The Advocacy      Any business,
    Center            regardless of                       Office of
                      size or type                       Solid Waste                        X              X
    Foreign Trade     Any business,                                    Any business,
    Zones Board       regardless of                       Waste Wise   regardless of
                      size or type                         program      size or type        X
    Minority Business Development Agency
    Minority Business Any business,                                     Appendix XV:
    Internet Portal   regardless of                                    Export-Import
                      size or type                                         Bank -
                      Source: GAO                                      Programs that   X Table 33:
                      data.                                            Offer Services Export-Import
                                                                          to Small    Bank Programs
                                                                       Manufacturers    That Offer
                                                                        and Types of   Services to
                                                                          Services        Small
                                                                        Appendix XV:    Businesses
                                                                       Export-Import    Engaged in
                                                                           Bank -     Manufacturing
                                                                       Programs that    by Agency,
                                                                       Offer Services     Target
                                                                          to Small     Businesses,
                                                                       Manufacturers    and Agency      Agency,
                                                                        and Types of  Description of  office, and
                                                                          Services       Purpose        program     Target businesses
    Minority Business Any business,                                                                                 The Export-Import
    Development       regardless of                                                                                 Bank of the United
    Centers, Native   size or type                                                                                    States (Ex-Im
    American Business Export Finance                                                                                   Bank) is the
    Development                                                                                                      official export
    Centers, Business                                                                                                credit agency of
    Resource Centers                                                                                                the United States.
                                                                                                                       Ex-Im Bank's
                                                                                                                      mission is to
                                                                                                                        assist in
                                                                                                                      financing the
                                                                                                                      export of U.S.
                                                                                                                    goods and services
                                                                                                                     to international
                                                                                                                      markets. Ex-Im
                                                                                                                      Bank estimates
                                                                                                                      that about 85
                                                                                                                      percent of its
                                                                                                                       transactions
                                                                                                                      support small
                                                                                                                    businesses. Small
                                                                                                                      businesses can
                                                                                                                     access all Ex-Im
                                                                                                                      Bank products,
                                                                                                                        including
                                                                                                                    specialized small
                                                                                                                    business financing
                                                                                                                      tools such as
                                                                                                      X Any small    working capital
                                                                                         X Small       business,      guarantees and
                                                                                         Business    regardless of    export credit
                                                                                        Initiative        type          insurance.
    Minority Business Any business,    Table 34:
    Opportunity       regardless of    Services
    Centers Source:   size or type     Provided by
    GAO data.                          Export-Import
                                       Bank Programs by
                                       Agency, Target
                                       Businesses, and                                                  Type of
                                       Type of Services                                     X           service
    Target businesses
    National Institute of Standards and Technology Financial
    Advanced          Any business,    Worker training
    Technology        regardless of
    Program           size or type
    Technical,        Export                                                                                            Any small
    business, or                                                          X Export                   Small Business     business,
    management                                                X           Finance                      Initiative   regardless of type
    Calibration       Any business,
    services X        regardless of                                                                   Source: GAO
                      size or type                            X                             X            data.
    Manufacturing     Any business,    Agency, office,
    Engineering       regardless of    and program
    Laboratory        size or type     Agency, office,
    Appendix XVI:     Table 35:        and program
    National          National
    Aeronautics and   Aeronautics and
    Space             Space
    Administration -  Administration
    Programs that     Programs That
    Offer Services to Offer Services
    Small             to Small
    Manufacturers and Businesses
    Types of Services Engaged in
    Appendix XVI:     Manufacturing by
    National          Agency, Target
    Aeronautics and   Businesses, and
    Space             Agency                                              X Agency
    Administration -  Description of                                   description of
    Programs that     Purpose                                             program
    Offer Services to                                      X Target    purpose Agency
    Small                                                 businesses   description of
    Manufacturers and                                       Target        program                    Goddard Space
    Types of Services                                     businesses      purpose           X        Flight Center
    Hollings          Any business                                                                                      X Regional
    Manufacturing     engaged in                                                                                        Technology
    Extension         manufacturing,                                                                                 Transfer Centers
    Partnership Any   regardless of                                                                                      expedite
    business,         size The Goddard                                                                                  technology
    regardless of     Space Flight                                                                                  transfer and spur
    size or type      Center and the                                                                                     economic
                      Jet Propulsion                                                                                 development. The
                      Laboratory, both                                                                               program divides
                      within the                                                                                     the nation into
                      National                                                                                       six regions and
                      Aeronautics and                                                                                  relies on a
                      Space                                                                                           network within
                      Administration,                                                                                 each region to
                      are the training                                                                              provide direct and
                      centers for                                                                                   timely services to
                      technical                                                                                       companies and
                      training courses                                                                              other institutions
                      in the                                                                                         nationwide. The
                      fabrication,                                                                                     cooperative
                      assembly and                                                                                      agreements
                      inspection of                                                                                   covering these
                      flight and                                                                                    Centers expired at
                      ground support                                                                                 the end of 2006.
                      equipment.                                                                                     Services will be
                                                                                        X Regional       X Any      offered through an
                                                          Innovative                    Technology     business,    outside contractor
                                                         Partnerships                    Transfer    regardless of  beginning in March
                                                        Program Office       X           Centers      size or type        2007.
    National Institute of Standards and Technology - Information Technology Laboratory Innovative Partnerships Program
    Small Business    Any small        Office of                           X The
    Computer Security business,        Technology                        Innovative
    Workshops The     regardless of    Transfer                         Partnerships
    Innovative        type                                                Program
    Partnerships                                                        includes the
    Program fosters                                                      Office of
    technology                                                           Technology
    partnerships,                                                        Transfer,
    commercialization                                                   which has a
    and innovation in                                                  mission to (1)
    support of the                                                     facilitate the
    agency's overall                                                    transfer of
    mission and                                                          technology
    national                                                            developed by
    priorities.                                                         the National
                                                                        Aeronautics
                                                                         and Space
                                                                       Administration
                                                                       and for which
                                                                       the agency has
                                                                        title to the
                                                                       private sector
                                                                       for commercial
                                                                        application
                                                                         and other
                                                                        benefits to
                                                                        the nation;
                                                                       (2) facilitate
                                                                        partnerships
                                                                          with the
                                                                       private sector
                                                                         and other
                                                                          external
                                                                        entities to
                                                                          jointly
                                                                          develop
                                                                         technology
                                                                         with both
                                                                        defense and
                                                                       civilian uses
                                                                         and infuse
                                                                            such
                                                                         technology
                                                                          into the
                                                                          agency's
                                                                       missions; and
                                                                        (3) protect
                                                                            the
                                                        Any business,   government's                                  Any business,
                                                        regardless of  rights in its                                regardless of size
                                                         size or type   inventions.         X         Tech Briefs        or type
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    Fisheries Finance Any business,
    Program Any       regardless of
    business,         size or type The
    regardless of     Enterprise
    size or type      Engine program                                                    The Small
                      created a                                                          Business
                      venture capital                                                   Innovation
                      fund to provide                                                    Research
                      the National                                                    (SBIR) program
                      Aeronautics and                                                 funds research
                      Space                                                              by small
                      Administration                                                  businesses to
                      with earlier and                                                 meet many of
                      broader exposure                                                 the agency's
                      to emerging                                                      research and
                      technologies and                                                 development
                      to leverage                                                     requirements.
                      external venture                                                   The SBIR
                      capital to                                                       program was
                      develop products                                                established in
                      likely to                                                          1982 to
                      support the                                                     provide small
                      agency's                                                          businesses
                      mission.                             X Small                    with increased
                      Effective fiscal                     Business      Any small       federal
                      year 2007 the                       Innovation     business,     research and                   Small Business
                      program was                          Research    regardless of   development                      Technology
                      terminated.                          Program          type      opportunities.                 Transfer Program
    National Telecommunications and Information Administration Modeled after the Small Business Innovation Research program, the Small
    Business Technology Transfer program is aimed specifically at technology transfer. The goal is to translate basic research into
    economic advantage by advancing productivity growth and international economic competitiveness.
    Technology        Any business,
    Transfer          regardless of                                                                    Office of
                      size or type                                           X                        Procurement
    Office of the Secretary
    Small Business    Any small
    Innovation        business,
    Research Program  regardless of
    Any business,     type The NASA
    regardless of     Acquisition
    size or type      Internet Service
                      (NAIS) is a Web
                      site, from which
                      industry has
                      immediate access
                      to current
                      acquisition
                      information over
                      the Internet.
                      Users may
                      subscribe to
                      receive email
                      notifications on                                                                              The Mentor Protege
                      acquisitions of                                                                                   Program is
                      interest. NAIS                                                                                   designed to
                      is a feeder                                                                                   provide incentive
                      system for                                                                                     to the agency's
                      Federal E-Gov                                                                                    major prime
                      Systems like the                                                                                contractors to
                      Federal Business                                                                                 assist small
                      Opportunities.                                                                                  disadvantaged
                      NAIS provides                                                                                 business concerns,
                      industry links                                                                                Historically Black
                      to reference                                                                                     Colleges and
                      such information                                                                                Universities),
                      as regulations,                                                                                    minority
                      provisions,                                                                                   institutions, and
                      handbooks and                                                                                 women-owned small
                      guidance. NAIS                                                                                  businesses in
                      also provides                                                                                  expanding their
                      industry with a                                                                                   technical
                      center location                                                                               capabilities into
                      to find each                                                                                   high technology
                      NASA field                                                                       Any small     areas where such
                      Center's                           X Office of                                   business,        firms are
                      procurement home                  Small Business                Mentor Protege regardless of      currently
                      page.                                Programs          X           Program          type      under-represented.
    Commerce's        Any small        The Office of
    Information       business,        Small Business
    Technology        regardless of    Programs is
    Solutions Next    type Any small   responsible for
    Generation Small  business,        integrating all
    Business Programs regardless of    categories of
                      type             small businesses
                                       (small
                                       businesses,
                                       small
                                       disadvantaged
                                       businesses,
                                       woman-owned
                                       small
                                       businesses,
                                       veteran- and
                                       service-disabled
                                       veteran-owned
                                       small
                                       businesses,
                                       Historically
                                       Underutilized
                                       Business Zone
                                       (HUB Zone) small
                                       businesses, and
                                       minority-serving
                                       institutions)
                                       into the
                                       competitive base
                                       of contractors
                                       from which the
                                       National
                                       Aeronautics and
                                       Space
                                       Administration
                                       and its various
                                       centers
                                       regularly                                                                      Any business,
                                       purchase goods                  Office of the                                regardless of size
                                       and services.                   Administrator        X          TechFinder        or type
    Office of         Any business,                       Table 36:
    Business Liaison  regardless of                        Services
                      size or type                       Provided by
                      Source: GAO                          National
                      data.                              Aeronautics
                                                          and Space
                                                        Administration
                                                         Programs by
                                                        Agency, Target
                                                         Businesses,
                                                         and Type of                                                 Type of service
                                                           Services                         X              X         Type of service
    Prime Contractor  Any small                                          Technology
    Directory Agency  business,                                         development
    and program       regardless of                                        and/or      X Technical,
    Agency and        type Target                                        deployment    business, or
    program           businesses                                         Technology     management
                      Target                                            development     Technical,
                      businesses                          Financial        and/or      business, or                  Worker training
                                                          Financial      deployment     management   Export Export   Worker training
    Subcontracting    Any small        Manufacturing
    Program Goddard   business,        Technology       Any business,
    Space Flight      regardless of    Transfer Centers regardless of
    Center            type                               size or type                      X X                              X
    Office of Small   Any small        Innovative                         Regional        X Any
    and Disadvantaged business,        Partnerships                      Technology     business,
    Business          regardless of    Program Office                     Transfer    regardless of
    Utilization X     type                                    X           Centers      size or type                         X
    Technology Administration X
    National          Any business,    Innovative
    Technical         regardless of    Partnerships     Any business,
    Information       size or type     Program          regardless of
    Service                                              size or type                      X X             X               X X

    Source: GAO data.

    Appendix IV: Department of Defense - Programs that Offer Services to Small
    Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 11: Department of Defense Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office, and     Target           Agency description of program
    program                 businesses       purpose
    Department of the Air Force
    Technology Insertion,   Small businesses The Technology Insertion,
    Demonstration, and      engaged in       Demonstration, and Evaluation
    Evaluation Program Tech manufacturing    (TIDE) program was founded to
    Briefs                  Any business,    encourage and assist small
                               regardless of    manufacturers in the adoption of
                               size or type     commercially available software
                                                and information technology. The
                                                TIDE program is specifically
                                                focused on small manufacturers
                                                that supply goods and services
                                                important to the national
                                                defense; however, much of the
                                                work of the TIDE program is
                                                broadly applicable to all small
                                                businesses. The TIDE program
                                                consists of three primary
                                                elements: (1) technology
                                                demonstration projects; (2)
                                                workforce development course; and
                                                (3) technology development
                                                projects. This program is run
                                                through Carnegie Mellon
                                                University's Software Engineering
                                                Institute.
    Department of the Air Force - Air Force Outreach Program Office X
    Manufacturing Technical Small businesses The purpose of the Air Force
    Assistance Production   engaged in       Manufacturing Technical
    Program                 manufacturing    Assistance Production Program is
                                                to assist in increasing and
                                                enhancing the competitiveness of
                                                small manufacturing firms in
                                                support of the Air Force in
                                                Defense and their major prime
                                                contractors by providing
                                                technical and managerial
                                                assistance. The program focuses
                                                on: small business solutions to
                                                industrial policy issues;
                                                reducing critical shortages of
                                                spare parts; sustaining legacy
                                                weapons systems; maintaining
                                                surge production capability;
                                                reducing diminishing
                                                manufacturing sources and
                                                material shortages; increasing
                                                competition in commodity areas
                                                and providing a source of "Best
                                                in Class" suppliers for the
                                                government to increase
                                                competition, reduce manufacturing
                                                costs, reduce cycle times, and
                                                increase flexibility in the
                                                supply chain.
    Department of the Air Force - Manufacturing Technology Division Any
    business, regardless of size or type
    Industrial Base         Any business,    The Industrial Base Information
    Information Center      regardless of    Center (IBIC) provides timely
                               size or type X   information about the Defense
                                                Technology and Industrial Base to
                                                directly support the planning and
                                                execution activities of the
                                                Directorate and related
                                                government users. IBIC services
                                                are available to all federal
                                                government employees and
                                                contractors requiring information
                                                on valid federal government
                                                contracts. IBIC has access to an
                                                extensive range of commercial and
                                                government information sources.
                                                On-line services include DIALOG,
                                                Haystack, AFKS, and Jane's.
                                                Databases available to IBIC
                                                include DD350 government contract
                                                data, Standard & Poor's Research
                                                Insight, FEDLOG, Forecast
                                                International, and others. IBIC
                                                has used these and other sources
                                                to provide analyses suited to a
                                                variety of customers' needs.
    Department of the Air Force - Technology Transfer Branch
    Technology Transfer     Any business,    The Air Force Technology Transfer
    Program Small Business  regardless of    Program assures that Air Force
    Innovation Research     size or type Any Science and science and
    Program                 small business,  engineering activities promote
                               regardless of    the transfer and/or exchange of
                               type             technology in a timely manner to
                                                the private and public sectors.
                                                Partnering with the Air Force can
                                                be readily accomplished through a
                                                variety of Technology Transfer
                                                agreements, such as collaborative
                                                research or licensing Air Force
                                                technologies.
    X

    X
    Department of the Army - Joint Munitions Command Any small business,
    regardless of type
    Armament Retooling and  Any business,    The Armament Retooling and
    Manufacturing Support   regardless of    Manufacturing Support (ARMS)
    Program X               size or type X   program--a cooperative
                                                arrangement between the Army and
                                                Agriculture--offers
                                                commercial/industrial businesses
                                                the opportunity to establish
                                                business centers at eligible Army
                                                production facilities. The ARMS
                                                "Asset Management" model offers
                                                mature infrastructure and
                                                services to businesses seeking
                                                manufacturing, office, warehouse,
                                                and other industrial park
                                                resources. The facility
                                                contractor (property manager) at
                                                the participating Army site
                                                negotiates terms and conditions
                                                with these clients reaching the
                                                "fair market value" for needed
                                                asset requirements. The ARMS
                                                program offers leasehold
                                                improvements to prospective
                                                clients to upgrade the property,
                                                meet code requirements, or adapt
                                                existing infrastructure to
                                                business client needs. As with
                                                state and local economic
                                                development agencies, the aim of
                                                the ARMS Loan Guarantee Program
                                                is to assist commercial
                                                clients/tenants in capitalizing
                                                their business opportunities.
                                                This loan program provides
                                                tenants with working capital,
                                                equipment acquisition, building
                                                modification, and other business
                                                resources to locate at eligible
                                                Army industrial facilities. X
    Department of the Navy - Best Manufacturing Practices Center of Excellence
    X
    Best Manufacturing      Any business     The Best Manufacturing Practices
    Practices Program       engaged in       (BMP) program operates out of the
    Office of Procurement   manufacturing,   Best Manufacturing Practices
                               regardless of    Center of Excellence (BMPCOE), a
                               size             partnership of the Office of
                                                Naval Research's BMP, Commerce,
                                                and the University of Maryland.
                                                The program helps businesses
                                                identify, research, and promote
                                                exceptional manufacturing
                                                practices, methods, and
                                                procedures to allow them to
                                                operate at a higher level of
                                                efficiency and effectiveness. BMP
                                                has three core competencies: (1)
                                                Best Practices Surveys - to
                                                identify, validate, and document
                                                best practices, and encourage
                                                government, industry, and
                                                academia to share information and
                                                implement the practices; (2)
                                                Systems Engineering - facilitated
                                                by the Program Manager's
                                                WorkStation, a suite of
                                                electronic tools that provide
                                                risk management, engineering
                                                support, and failure analysis
                                                through integrated problem
                                                solving; and (3) Web Technologies
                                                - offered through the
                                                Collaborative Work Environment to
                                                provide users with an integrated
                                                digital environment to access and
                                                process a common set of documents
                                                in a geographically dispersed
                                                environment. The mission of the
                                                BMPCOE is to provide a national
                                                resource to foster the
                                                identification and sharing of
                                                best practices used in industry,
                                                government, and academia, and to
                                                coordinate efforts to strengthen
                                                the U.S. industrial base for
                                                global competition. The BMPCOE
                                                staff assist projects with
                                                systems engineering best
                                                practices throughout a product's
                                                life cycle using process-based
                                                solutions to reduce risk and
                                                eliminate surprises. NASA
                                                Acquisition Internet Service
    Department of the Navy - Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Charleston
    Defense Small Business  Small businesses The Defense Small Business
    Technology and          engaged in       Technology and Readiness
    Readiness Resources     manufacturing X  Resources (DSTARR) program
                                                supports Defense needs by
                                                developing a national network of
                                                technically competent small
                                                businesses. DSTARR provides
                                                technical assistance and
                                                expertise to small businesses in
                                                support of their efforts to
                                                achieve process improvements, be
                                                competitive in the global
                                                marketplace, advance information
                                                technology capabilities,
                                                development leadership skills,
                                                and achieve manufacturing
                                                excellence. The program supports
                                                small manufacturing and
                                                specialized information
                                                technology companies so they can
                                                become viable suppliers, have the
                                                appropriate infrastructure and
                                                processes, and integrate into
                                                supply chains that support
                                                Defense. Prior to December 2006
                                                this program was known as the
                                                Manufacturing Technical
                                                Assistance Production Program.
    Office of Small Business Programs
    Office of the Secretary of Defense Mentor Protege Program
    Next Generation         Any business     The purpose of the Next
    Manufacturing           engaged in       Generation Manufacturing
    Technology Initiative   manufacturing,   Technology Initiative (NGMTI) is
                               regardless of    to accelerate the development and
                               size             implementation of breakthrough
                                                manufacturing technologies in
                                                support of the transformation of
                                                the defense industrial base and
                                                the global economic
                                                competitiveness of U.S.-based
                                                manufacturing. With strong
                                                Congressional, federal/Defense,
                                                and industry support, NGMTI's
                                                goal is not only to create
                                                strategic investment plans for
                                                innovative manufacturing
                                                technologies, but also to drive
                                                the implementation of those
                                                technologies through focused
                                                experiments and partnerships.
    TechMatch               Any business,    TechMatch web-based portal
                               regardless of    designed to provide industry and
                               size or type     academia a Defense-sponsored
                                                solution to find research and
                                                development opportunities,
                                                licensable patents, and
                                                information on nearly 120 Defense
                                                labs located across the United
                                                States. Registered users will
                                                receive a daily e-mail taking
                                                them to their matching research
                                                and development opportunities
                                                from FedBizOpps, Grants.gov,
                                                SBIR/STTR solicitations; calendar
                                                events; and licensable patents
                                                relevant to their business.
    Technology Transition   Any business,    Congress established the
    Initiative Any small    regardless of    Technology Transition Initiative
    business, regardless of size or type     (TTI) in the Bob Stump National
    type                                     Defense Authorization Act for
                                                fiscal year 2003, Pub. L. No.
                                                107-314, Section 242, 116 Stat.
                                                2458, 2494-2495 (Dec. 2, 2002)
                                                to: (1) accelerate the
                                                introduction of new technologies
                                                into operational capabilities for
                                                the armed forces, and (2)
                                                successfully demonstrate new
                                                technologies in relevant
                                                environments. The Science and
                                                Technology and Acquisition
                                                executives of each military
                                                department and each Defense
                                                Agency and the commanders of the
                                                unified and specified combatant
                                                commands nominate projects to be
                                                funded. The TTI Program Manager
                                                identifies the projects that meet
                                                Defense technology goals and
                                                requirements in consultation with
                                                the Technology Transition
                                                Council. The transition costs can
                                                be shared by the TTI Program
                                                Manager and the appropriate
                                                acquisition executive.
                                                Service/Agency contribution can
                                                be up to 50 percent of the total
                                                project cost.
    Manufacturing           Any business     The Defense Manufacturing
    Technology Program X    engaged in       Technology (ManTech) Program
                               manufacturing,   focuses on the needs of weapon
                               regardless of    system programs for affordable,
                               size             low-risk development, and
                                                production capabilities. It
                                                provides a link between
                                                technology invention and
                                                development, and industrial
                                                applications. It matures and
                                                validates emerging manufacturing
                                                technologies to support low-risk
                                                implementation in industry and
                                                Defense facilities (e.g., depots
                                                and shipyards). The program
                                                addresses production issues from
                                                system development through
                                                transition to production and
                                                sustainment. The primary
                                                customers of the Program are
                                                acquisition and logistics program
                                                managers who are responsible for
                                                transitioning acquisition
                                                programs from development into
                                                production and for the repair,
                                                maintenance, and overhaul of
                                                systems currently in use. It
                                                operates in the Army, Navy, Air
                                                Force, Defense Logistics Agency,
                                                and Defense Advanced Research
                                                Projects Agency.
    Defense Industry        Any business,    The purpose of the Defense
    Adjustment Office of    regardless of    Industry Adjustment program is to
    the Administrator       size or type     help communities respond
                                                effectively to adverse Defense
                                                impacts, such as termination of a
                                                major defense contract. This
                                                usually means helping communities
                                                diversify defense-dependent
                                                economies by developing community
                                                strategies and initiatives to
                                                assist firms and their employees.
                                                Usually, the adjustment process
                                                revolves around identifying an
                                                organization to assume
                                                responsibility for carrying out
                                                the program, planning the
                                                adjustment, and implementing the
                                                strategy. Community responses may
                                                include any or all of the
                                                following: assistance for small
                                                and medium-sized businesses;
                                                business financing programs;
                                                procurement assistance centers;
                                                industry clusters; manufacturing
                                                extension partnerships; export
                                                assistance; workforce assistance
                                                programs; business incubators;
                                                and/or a comprehensive strategy
                                                with multiple initiatives.
                                                TechFinder
    TechLink                Any business,    The TechLink Center was
                               regardless of    established in 1996 at Montana
                               size or type     State University in Bozeman,
                                                Montana. TechLink is funded by
                                                Defense to link companies with
                                                federal laboratories for
                                                technology licensing, research,
                                                technology transfer, and
                                                technology transition. TechLink's
                                                expertise extends to many
                                                industry areas including advanced
                                                materials and nano technology,
                                                aerospace, agricultural
                                                technologies, biomedicine and
                                                biotechnology, electronics,
                                                environmental technologies,
                                                information technologies and
                                                software, photonics and sensors.
                                                By understanding the technology
                                                needs and strengths of both
                                                industry and federal labs,
                                                TechLink develops productive
                                                partnerships for the licensing,
                                                transfer, development, and
                                                commercialization of technology.
                                                X
    MilTech                 Small businesses MilTech leverages TechLink's
                               engaged in       technology transfer activities
                               manufacturing    and helps companies primarily in
                                                the northwestern U.S. to
                                                transition innovative technology
                                                to Defense operational use. This
                                                program is a partnership between
                                                TechLink and the Montana
                                                Manufacturing Extension
                                                Partnership Center. MilTech
                                                provides engineering,
                                                manufacturing, and business
                                                development assistance to these
                                                companies to help accelerate the
                                                transition of new technology to
                                                the U.S. warfighter, lower the
                                                cost and cycle time of technology
                                                acquisition, and help Defense
                                                more fully benefit from its small
                                                business research and development
                                                funding. Although MilTech is
                                                primarily a regional program, it
                                                operates outside of the
                                                northwestern United States in two
                                                different circumstances: (1) to
                                                help TechLink licensees of
                                                Defense technologies to
                                                transition these technologies to
                                                the U.S. warfighter, and (2) when
                                                requested by Defense program
                                                managers to help other companies
                                                deliver critically needed
                                                technology to Defense.
    Defense Technical       Any business,    The Defense Technical Information
    Information Center      regardless of    Center (DTIC) is an online source
                               size or type     of information for the
                                                acquisition, storage, retrieval,
                                                and dissemination of information
                                                about Defense's research and
                                                scientific and technical
                                                information. Its technical
                                                information services are
                                                available to anyone at no cost
                                                and can help applicants for
                                                research funds, such as Small
                                                Business Innovation Research
                                                program participants, to prepare
                                                proposals, develop products,
                                                market, and network. DTIC
                                                provides access to citations of
                                                unclassified documents, as well
                                                as the electronic full-text of
                                                many documents. Appendix XVII:
                                                National Science Foundation -
                                                Programs that Offer Services to
                                                Small Manufacturers and Types of
                                                Services Appendix XVII: National
                                                Science Foundation - Programs
                                                that Offer Services to Small
                                                Manufacturers and Types of
                                                Services
    Value Engineering       Any business,    The objective of the Defense
    Agency, office, and     regardless of    Value Engineering program is to
    program Agency, office, size or type     identify improvements in defense
    and program             Target           systems that can reduce costs and
                               businesses       increase performance. Defense
                               Target           seeks to promote contractor
                               businesses       participation in the program by
                                                (1) providing
                                                informational/educational
                                                material and assistance to
                                                contractors and (2) providing
                                                program advocates who can advise
                                                and assist Defense prime
                                                contractors and their
                                                subcontractors in developing
                                                proposals to change Value
                                                Engineering contracts as well as
                                                expediting the processing of
                                                these change proposals.
                                                Contractors receive a number of
                                                benefits for their participation
                                                in Value Engineering, including a
                                                share of the savings that results
                                                from Value Engineering contract

                                                changes. Also, contractors may
                                                benefit from reduced costs,
                                                increased efficiencies, and
                                                reduced overhead, among other
                                                things. Agency description of
                                                program purpose Agency
                                                description of program purpose
    Office of the Secretary of Defense - Defense Logistics Agency Division of
    Engineering Education and Centers
    Procurement Gateway     Any business,    The Procurement Gateway is an
    Engineering Research    regardless of    integrated online collection of
    Centers                 size or type Any automated systems providing
                               business,        oversight for the management of
                               regardless of    procurement data. The Procurement
                               size or type     Gateway allows prospective
                                                government contractors to perform
                                                comprehensive and detailed
                                                searches against Request for
                                                Quotation and Award documents.
                                                Engineering Research Centers
                                                (ERC) focus on the definition,
                                                fundamental understanding,
                                                development, and validation of
                                                the technologies needed to
                                                realize a well-defined class of
                                                engineered systems with the
                                                potential to spawn whole new
                                                industries or radically transform
                                                the product lines, processing
                                                technologies, or service delivery
                                                methodologies of current
                                                industries. ERC faculty, students
                                                and industry partners integrate
                                                discovery and learning in an
                                                interdisciplinary environment
                                                that reflects the complexities
                                                and realities of real-world
                                                technology. ERC innovations in
                                                research and education are
                                                expected to impact curricula at
                                                all levels from pre-college to
                                                life-long learning and to be
                                                disseminated to and beyond
                                                academic and industry partners.
                                                This partnership speeds the
                                                transfer of knowledge and
                                                technology to industry.
    Business Counseling     Any business,    The goal of the Business
    Center Division of      regardless of    Counseling Center (BCC) is to
    Industrial Innovation   size or type     assist vendors in their search
    and Partnerships                         for business opportunities and to
                                                supply military customers with
                                                on-time quality goods. BCC has
                                                six state-of-the-art workstations
                                                that can provide easy access to
                                                view and quote on open
                                                solicitations via the Defense
                                                Supply Center Columbus Internet
                                                Bid Board System. BCC also offers
                                                contractors a free resource to
                                                access comprehensive research and
                                                logistics systems that include
                                                data on millions of parts
                                                purchased by the Department of
                                                Defense. BCC provides training
                                                sessions on the many facets of
                                                the acquisition process, in
                                                addition to a conference area for
                                                contractors and Defense Supply
                                                Center Columbus personnel to
                                                discuss acquisition issues. Small
                                                Business Technology Transfer
                                                Program
    Aging Systems           Any business,    The Aging Systems Sustainment and
    Sustainment and         regardless of    Enabling Technologies (ASSET)
    Enabling Technologies   size or type     program is a National Reinvention
    The primary objective                    Laboratory initiated in 1994 by
    of the National Science                  Oklahoma State University to
    Foundation's Small                       address Defense procurement
    Business Innovation                      problems. ASSET is a
    Research/Small Business                  government-academic-business
    Technology Transfer                      partnership. Technology
    Program (STTR)                           development, insertion activities
    increases the                            and virtual manufacturing
    incentives and                           capabilities developed by ASSET
    opportunities for small                  partners have resulted in grouped
    firms to undertake                       parts databases, parts-demand
    cutting-edge, high                       forecasting models,
    risk, high quality                       parts-on-demand manufacturing,
    scientific engineering,                  new materials technologies for
    or science and                           ceramic bearings, new processes
    engineering education                    to reduce corrosion of aging
    research with the                        systems, and new training
    potential for a high                     materials. The technologies and
    economic payoff. The                     processes developed in the ASSET
    STTR program further                     program increase the Defense
    expands the                              supply base, reduce the time and
    public/private                           cost associated with parts
    partnership to include                   procurement, and enhance military
    joint venture                            readiness. Small Business
    opportunities for small                  Innovation Research Program
    businesses and
    non-profit research
    institutions.
    Procurement Technical   Any small        The Procurement Technical
    Assistance Program The  business,        Assistance Program provides
    Small Business          regardless of    Procurement Technical Assistance
    Innovation Research     type             Centers (PTACs) with Defense
    (SBIR) Program was                       support so that they may provide
    established to                           specialized and professional
    stimulate technological                  assistance to individuals and
    innovation, utilize                      businesses seeking to learn about
    small business to meet                   contracting and subcontracting
    federal research and                     opportunities, actively seeking
    development needs, and                   contracting and subcontracting
    increase private sector                  opportunities, and/or performing
    commercialization. SBIR                  under contracts and subcontracts
    is a highly competitive                  with Defense, other federal
    program that encourages                  agencies, or state and local
    small business to                        governments. This specialized and
    explore their                            professional assistance may
    technological potential                  consist of but is not limited to
    and provides the                         outreach and counseling type
    incentive to profit                      services to promote understanding
    from its                                 of federal, state, and local
    commercialization. By                    government requirements
    including qualified                      applicable to contracting for
    small businesses in the                  services, manufacturing, or other
    nation's research and                    markets, and assistance in
    development arena,                       pursuing and securing
    high-tech innovation is                  subcontracting opportunities.
    stimulated and the                       PTACs are to make a concerted
    United States gains                      effort to seek out and assist
    entrepreneurial spirit                   Small Businesses, Small
    as it meets its                          Disadvantaged Businesses,
    specific research and                    Women-Owned Small Businesses,
    development needs. In                    Historically Underutilized
    response to Executive                    Business Zone Small Business
    Order 13,329                             Concerns, Service-disabled
    encouraging innovation                   Veteran-owned Small Businesses,
    in Manufacturing, the                    and Historically Black Colleges
    SBIR program has                         and Minority Institutions.
    incorporated
    manufacturing as a key
    part of its Advanced
    Materials, Chemical
    Technology and
    Manufacturing
    Innovation topic.
    Office of the Secretary of Defense - Office of Small Business Programs
    Small Business          Any small        The Defense Small Business
    Innovation Research     business,        Innovation Research program is
    Program                 regardless of    made up of 12 participating
                               type             components: Army, Navy, Air
                                                Force, Missile Defense Agency,
                                                Defense Advanced Research
                                                Projects Agency, Chemical
                                                Biological Defense, Special
                                                Operations Command, Defense
                                                Threat Reduction Agency, National
                                                Geospatial-Intelligence Agency,
                                                and the Office of the Secretary
                                                of Defense. Beginning in fiscal
                                                year 2007, the Defense Logistics
                                                Agency and the Defense
                                                Micro-Electronics Activity became
                                                participating components. The
                                                program funds early-stage
                                                research and development at small
                                                technology companies and is
                                                designed to stimulate
                                                technological innovation,
                                                increase private sector
                                                commercialization of federal
                                                research and development,
                                                increase small business
                                                participation in federally funded
                                                research and development, and
                                                foster participation by minority
                                                and disadvantaged firms in
                                                technological innovation.
    Small Business          Any small        The Defense Small Business
    Technology Transfer     business,        Technology Transfer (STTR)
    Program                 regardless of    program is made up of 6
                               type             participating components: Army,
                                                Navy, Air Force, Missile Defense
                                                Agency, Defense Advanced Research
                                                Projects Agency, and Defense
                                                Research and Engineering. STTR
                                                competitively funds cooperative
                                                research and development projects
                                                involving a small business and a
                                                research institution, such as a
                                                university, federally-funded
                                                research and development center,
                                                or nonprofit research
                                                institution. The purpose of STTR
                                                is to create an effective vehicle
                                                for moving ideas from the
                                                nation's research institutions to
                                                the market, where they can
                                                benefit both private sector and
                                                military customers.
    Mentor-Protege Program  Any small        The Mentor-Protege program
    Division of Industrial  business,        assists certain small businesses
    Innovation and          regardless of    (Proteges) to successfully
    Partnerships            type             compete for prime contract and
                                                subcontract awards by partnering
                                                with large companies (Mentors)
                                                under individual, project-based
                                                agreements. Mentors and Proteges
                                                are solely responsible for
                                                finding their counterpart. Many
                                                mentors have made the program an
                                                integral part of their sourcing
                                                plans; while the proteges have
                                                used their involvement to develop
                                                much needed business and
                                                technical capabilities to
                                                diversify their customer base.
                                                This program is operated through
                                                the Air Force, Army, Navy,
                                                Defense Information Systems
                                                Agency, Defense Contracts
                                                Management Agency, Defense
                                                Intelligence Agency, Defense
                                                Logistics Agency, National
                                                Geospatial-Intelligence Agency,
                                                Special Operations Command,
                                                National Security Agency, Joint
                                                Robotics Program, and Missile
                                                Defense Agency.
                                                Industry-University Cooperative
                                                Research Centers Program
    Women-Owned Small       Any small        The Defense Women-Owned Small
    Business Program The    business,        Business (WOSB) program
    Industry/University     regardless of    highlights the agency's efforts
    Cooperative Research    type             to achieve the 5 percent goal for
    Centers (I/URC) Program                  prime and subcontract awards to
    develops long-term                       small business concerns owned and
    partnerships among                       controlled by women. The program
    industry, academic                       objectives are to facilitate,
    institutions, and                        preserve, and strengthen full
    government for                           participation for WOSB concerns
    technology development,                  in the Defense acquisition
    but not deployment. The                  programs for goods and services
    centers are catalyzed                    and, through programs and
    by a small investment                    activities. It supports the
    from National Science                    growth of WOSB concerns through
    Foundation (NSF) and                     outreach, training, and technical
    are primarily supported                  assistance. All Defense
    by industry center                       subcontracting plans are required
    members, with NSF                        to have a separate goal for
    taking a supporting                      awards to WOSBs. Source: GAO
    role in their                            data.
    development and
    evolution. Each center
    is established to
    conduct research that
    is of interest to both
    the industry and the
    center. The
    partnerships feature
    high-quality,
    industrially relevant
    fundamental research,
    strong industrial
    support of and
    collaboration in
    research, and direct
    transfer of university
    developed ideas,
    research results, and
    technology to U.S.
    industry to improve its
    competitive posture in
    world markets. All the
    companies will be
    eligible to become a
    member of the Centers
    starting in the fall of
    2007. NSF can partially
    subsidize membership
    for Small Business
    Innovation Research
    awardee firms.
    Regional Councils for   Any small        The Defense Regional Councils for
    Small Business          business,        Small Business Education and
    Education and Advocacy  regardless of    Advocacy are a nationwide network
    Table 38: Services      type             of small business specialists
    Provided by National                     organized to promote the national
    Science Foundation                       small business programs of the
    Programs by Agency,                      United States. There are eight
    Target Businesses, and                   Regional Councils sponsored by
    Type of Services                         the Defense Office of Small
                                                Business Programs governed by
                                                individual by-laws: Northeast,
                                                Mid-Atlantic, District of
                                                Columbia, Southeastern, North
                                                Central, South Central, Pacific
                                                Northwest, and Western. The
                                                Council's primary objective is to
                                                promote the national small
                                                business programs to include
                                                small, historically underutilized
                                                business zone (HUBZone) small,
                                                small disadvantaged, women-owned
                                                small, and veteran-owned small
                                                business concerns; historically
                                                black colleges and universities;
                                                minority institutions; and tribal
                                                colleges. Additional objectives
                                                include promoting the exchange of
                                                ideas and experiences, and
                                                general information among small
                                                business specialists and the
                                                contracting community; and
                                                developing closer relationships
                                                and better communication among
                                                government entities and the small
                                                business community. Some Councils
                                                invite Small Business Liaison
                                                Officers representing prime
                                                contractors in an effort to
                                                promote small business
                                                subcontracting.
    Service Disabled        Any small        Defense conducts outreach to
    Veteran-Owned Small     business,        identify small business concerns
    Business Program Type   regardless of    that are owned and controlled by
    of service              type             service-disabled veterans. The
                                                purpose of this outreach is to
                                                improve prime and subcontracting
                                                opportunities for service
                                                disabled veteran-owned small
                                                businesses throughout Defense
                                                including the military services
                                                and other Defense agencies.
                                                Agency and program
    Indian Incentive        Any business,    The Indian Incentive Program is a
    Program                 regardless of    congressionally authorized
                               size or type     program that provides a rebate to
                               Financial        the Prime Contractor of 5-percent
                                                of the total amount subcontracted
                                                to an Indian-Owned Economic
                                                Enterprise or Indian
                                                Organization. The program
                                                motivates Prime contractors to
                                                utilize Indian organization and
                                                Indian-owned economic
                                                enterprises. Defense prime
                                                contractors, regardless of size
                                                of contract are eligible for
                                                incentive payments. This is more
                                                of a monetary incentive for
                                                primes that will contract with
                                                Indian organizations, thus
                                                benefit those organizations by
                                                giving increased opportunities.
                                                Technology development and/or
                                                deployment
    HUBZone Empowerment     Any small        The purpose of the Historically
    Contracting Program     business,        Underutilized Business Zone
    Export                  regardless of    Empowerment Contracting Program
                               type Worker      is to stimulate economic
                               training         development and create jobs in
                                                urban and rural communities by
                                                providing federal contracting
                                                preferences to small businesses.
                                                The program provides federal
                                                contracting opportunities for
                                                qualified small businesses
                                                located in distressed areas.
    Office of Small         Any small        The mission of the Office of
    Business Programs       business,        Small Business Programs is to (1)
                               regardless of    advise the Secretary of Defense
                               type Engineering on all matters related to small
                               Research Centers business; (2) represent the
                                                Secretary of Defense on major
                                                matters addressed at the Office
                                                of the Secretary of Defense
                                                level; (3) develop Defense-wide
                                                small business policy and provide
                                                oversight to ensure compliance by
                                                all military departments and
                                                defense agencies; and (4) provide
                                                military departments, Defense
                                                agencies, and Procurement
                                                Technical Assistance Centers with
                                                training and tools to foster an
                                                environment that encourages small
                                                business participation in defense
                                                acquisition. The Office of Small
                                                Business Programs has the full
                                                range of authority over Defense
                                                small business programs. Any
                                                business, regardless of size or
                                                type
    Office of the Secretary of Defense - Office of Technology Transition
    Defense Production Act  Any business,    Title III of the Defense
    Title III Program       regardless of    Production Act of 1950, ch. 932,
                               size or type     64 Stat. 798 (Sept. 8, 1950),
                                                authorizes the federal government
                                                to provide appropriate incentives
                                                to develop, maintain, modernize,
                                                and expand the productive
                                                capacities of domestic sources
                                                for critical components, critical
                                                technology items, and industrial
                                                resources essential for the
                                                execution of the national
                                                security strategy of the United
                                                States. The purposes of a Title
                                                III project is to create a
                                                commercially viable domestic
                                                industrial capability for
                                                affordable, high quality, high
                                                performance products that are
                                                essential to national defense.
                                                Additionally, sources
                                                incentivized under Title III are
                                                intended to be competitive in the
                                                global market and remain a
                                                reliable supplier for Defense and
                                                its industry partners. X

    Source: GAO data. Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships

    Table 12: Services Provided by Department of Defense Programs by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Type of Services Small Business Technology Transfer
    Program

                                                                                             Type of service
                                                                               Technology       Technical,
    Agency and        Target                                               development and/or  business, or
    program           businesses                            Financial          deployment       management         Export        Worker training
    Department of the Air Force
    Technology        Small
    Insertion,        businesses
    Demonstration,    engaged in
    and Evaluation    manufacturing                    Industry-University
    Program           Industrial                           Cooperative       Any business,
                      Innovation and                    Research Centers   regardless of size
                      Partnerships                           Program            or type              X                                  X
    Department of the Air Force - Air Force Outreach Program Office
    Manufacturing     Small                                                X Appendix XVIII:
    Technical         businesses                                             Small Business
    Assistance        engaged in                                            Administration -
    Production        manufacturing                                          Programs that      X Table 39:
    Program           Source: GAO                                          Offer Services to  Small Business  Agency, office,
                      data.                                                      Small        Administration    and program
                                                                           Manufacturers and   Programs That  Agency, office,
                                                                           Types of Services  Offer Services    and program
                                                                            Appendix XVIII:      to Small     Agency, office,
                                                                             Small Business     Businesses      and program
                                                                            Administration -    Engaged in    Agency, office,  X Target businesses
                                                                             Programs that     Manufacturing    and program     Target businesses
                                                                           Offer Services to    by Agency,    Agency, office,   Target businesses
                                                                                 Small            Target        and program     Target businesses
                                                                           Manufacturers and  Businesses, and Agency, office,   Target businesses
                                                                           Types of Services      Purpose       and program     Target businesses
    Department of the Air Force - Manufacturing Technology Division
    Industrial Base   Any business,   Any small           The Pollution
    Information       regardless of   business,           Control Loans                                                           The Qualified
    Center            size or type    regardless of    program is designed                                                     Employee Trusts Loan
                      Pollution       type                 to provide                                                          Program is designed
                      Control Loan                        financing to                                                         to provide financial
                      Program                            eligible small                                                           assistance to
                                                       businesses for the                                                         employee stock
                                                        planning, design,                                                      ownership plans. The
                                                       or installation of                                                      employee trust must
                                                       a pollution control                                                      be part of a plan
                                                         facility. This                                                          sponsored by the
                                                          facility must                                                        employer company and
                                                        prevent, reduce,                                                         qualified under
                                                        abate or control                                                        regulations set by
                                                           any form of                                                         either the Internal
                                                           pollution,                                                          Revenue Service Code
                                                            including                                                            (as an Employee
                                                         recycling. The                                                        Stock Ownership Plan
                                                         loans are Small                                                         or ESOP) or the
                                                          Business Act                                                         Department of Labor
                                                       Section 7(a) loans                                        Any small        (the Employee
                                                         with a special                         X Qualified      business,      Retirement Income
                                                           purpose of                         Employee Trusts  regardless of     Security Act or
                                                       pollution control.                      Loan Program         type             ERISA).
    Department of the Air Force - Technology Transfer Branch Section 7(a) Loan Guarantees
    Technology        Any business,   U.S. Community                           X The U.S.
    Transfer Program  regardless of   Adjustment and                           Community
    Section 7(a) Loan size or type    Investment                             Adjustment and
    Guarantees help                   Program                              Investment Program
    creditworthy                                                           was established to
    small businesses,                                                         assist U.S.
    including                                                              companies that are
    manufacturers,                                                         doing business in
    meet financing                                                            areas of the
    needs when                                                             country that have
    dealing with                                                            been negatively
    commercial                                                             affected by North
    bankers. These                                                           American Free
    firms are often                                                         Trade Agreement
    denied                                                                  (NAFTA) based on
    conventional                                                           job losses and the
    financing because                                                      unemployment rate.
    the loans they                                                         Funds administered
    seek are too                                                           by Treasury allow
    small for private                                                      for the payment of
    banks to pursue                                                         fees on eligible
    or because they                                                        loans. These fees
    need loans for a                                                          include the
    longer period of                                                          Section 7(a)
    time than a                                                            program guarantee
    lender is willing                                                      fee (and subsidy)
    to accept. This                                                         and the Section
    is the Small                                                             504 Certified
    Business                                                                  Development
    Administration's                                                         Company (CDC)
    most flexible                                                          Program guarantee,
    business loan,                                                           CDC and lender
    and can be used                                                        fees. This reduces
    for a variety of                                                       borrower costs and
    general business                                                         increases the
    purposes                                                                availability of
    including working                                                        these business
    capital machinery                                                          assistance
    and equipment,                                                             programs.
    furniture and                                                            Eligibility is
    fixtures, land                                                             limited to
    and building,                                                           businesses that
    leasehold                                                               reside in one of
    improvements, and                                                      the more than 230
    debt refinancing                                                         counties in 29
    (under special                                                          states that are
    conditions).                                                               currently
                                                                             designated as                      Export Legal
                                                       Any small business,     negatively                        Assistance    Any small business,
                                                       regardless of type  affected by NATA.         X            Network       regardless of type
    Department of the Army - Joint Munitions Command Any small business, regardless of type
    Armament          Any business,   Any small                                               SBA Export      Any small        The Export Express
    Retooling and     regardless of   business,                                               Express         business,        provides loans to
    Manufacturing     size or type    regardless of                                                           regardless of    assist small
    Support Program   International   type                                                                    type             businesses in
                      Trade Loan                                                                                               developing or
                                                                                                                               expanding export
                                                                                                                               markets. Eligible
                                                                                                                               use of proceeds
                                                                                                                               include: 1)
                                                                                                                               financing
                                                         X International                                                       export-development
                                                        Trade Loans help                                                       activities such as
                                                        small businesses                                                       participation in a
                                                           engaged in                                                          foreign trade show
                                                           exporting,                                                          or translation of
                                                       preparing to engage                                                     product literature,
                                                        in exporting, or                                                       2)
                                                       adversely affected                                                      transaction-specific
                                                       by competition from                                                     financing for
                                                         imports. Small                                                        overseas orders, 3)
                                                            Business                                                           revolving lines of
                                                         Administration                                                        credit for export
                                                       guarantees as much                                                      purposes, 4)
                                                       as $1.25 million in                                                     acquiring,
                                                            combined                                                           constructing,
                                                       working-capital and                                                     renovating,
                                                         facilities and                                                        improving or
                                                        equipment loans.                                                       expanding facilities
                                                         Proceeds can be                                                       or equipment used in
                                                         used for fixed                                                        the U.S. to produce
                                                        assets or working                                                      goods or services
                                                            capital.                                                           for export.
    Department of the Navy - Best Manufacturing Practices Center of Excellence U.S. Export Assistance Centers
    Best              Any business    Surety Guarantee                     Through the Surety
    Manufacturing     engaged in      Program                              Guarantee program,
    Practices Program manufacturing,                                       the Small Business
    U.S. Export       regardless of                                          Administration
    Assistance        size                                                     (SBA) can
    Centers are                                                             guarantee bonds
    multi-federal                                                           for contracts up
    agency offices                                                           to $2 million,
    that provide                                                             covering bid,
    marketing,                                                              performance and
    product                                                                payment bonds for
    assistance and                                                         small and emerging
    financial                                                               contractors who
    assistance to                                                            cannot obtain
    small- and                                                                surety bonds
    medium-size U.S.                                                        through regular
    businesses that                                                            commercial
    would like to                                                           channels. SBA's
    export. Twenty                                                          guarantee gives
    centers are                                                               sureties an
    nationwide.                                                               incentive to
                                                                            provide bonding
                                                                              for eligible
                                                                            contractors, and
                                                                                thereby
                                                                             strengthens a
                                                                              contractor's
                                                                           ability to obtain
                                                                              bonding and
                                                                           greater access to
                                                                              contracting
                                                                            opportunities. A
                                                                           surety guarantee,
                                                                              an agreement
                                                                            between a surety
                                                                              and the SBA,
                                                                           provides that SBA
                                                                             will assume a
                                                                             predetermined
                                                                           percentage of loss
                                                                            in the event the
                                                                           contractor should                   Small Business
                                                       Any small business,  breach the terms                     Investment    Any small business,
                                                       regardless of type   of the contract.         X           Companies      regardless of type
    Department of the Navy - Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Charleston
    Defense Small     Small                                                                   X The Certified
    Business          businesses                                                                Development
    Technology and    engaged in                                                                  Company
    Readiness         manufacturing                                                             Guaranteed
    Resources Any     CAPlines is a                                                           Loans (Section
    small business,   loan umbrella                                                           504) loans are
    regardless of     program that                                                               long-term
    type              provides                                                                financing tools
                      short-term and                                                           for economic
                      cyclical                                                                  development
                      working-capital                                                            within a
                      needs. There                                                            community. The
                      are five                                                                  Section 504
                      short-term                                                                  program
                      working capital                                                            provides
                      loan programs                                                               growing
                      for small                                                               businesses with
                      businesses                                                                long-term,
                      under this                                                                fixed-rate
                      program:                                                                 financing for
                      Seasonal Line;                                                            major fixed
                      Contract Line;                                                          assets, such as
                      Builders Line;                                                             land and
                      Standard                                                                 buildings. A
                      Asset-based                                                                Certified
                      Line, and;                                                                Development
                      Small                                                                    Company (CDC)
                      Asset-Based                                                             is a nonprofit
                      Line. This is a                                                         corporation set
                      Section 7(a)                                                                 up to
                      program.                                                                 contribute to
                                                                                               the economic
                                                                                              development of
                                                                                              its community.
                                                                                              CDCs work with
                                                                                                 the Small
                                                                                                 Business
                                                                                              Administration
                                                                                                 (SBA) and
                                                                                              private-sector
                                                                                                lenders to
                                                                                                  provide
                                                                                               financing to
                                                                                                   small
                                                                                              businesses. The
                                                                                                maximum SBA
                                                                                               debenture is
                                                                                              $1,500,000 when
                                                                                              meeting the job
                                                                                                 creation
                                                                                               criteria or a
                                                                                                 community
                                                                                                development
                                                                                                   goal.
                                                                                               Generally, a
                                                                                               business must
                                                                                                 create or
                                                                                              retain one job
                                                                                                 for every
                                                                                                  $50,000
                                                                                              provided by the
                                                                                              SBA except for
                                                                                                  "Small
                                                                                              Manufacturers"
                                                                                               which have a
                                                                                               $100,000 job
                                                                                                creation or
                                                                                              retention goal
                                                                                              (see below).The
                                                                                                maximum SBA
                                                                                               debenture is
                                                                                               $2.0 million
                                                                                              when meeting a
                                                                                               public policy
                                                                                              goal. Proceeds
                                                                                              from 504 loans
                                                                                               must be used
                                                                                              for fixed asset
                                                                                               projects such
                                                                                              as: purchasing
                                                                                                 land and
                                                                                               improvements,
                                                                                                 including
                                                                                                 existing
                                                                                                buildings,
                                                                                              grading, street
                                                                                               improvements,
                                                                                                utilities,
                                                                                               parking lots
                                                                                                    and
                                                                                               landscaping;
                                                                                              construction of
                                                                                              new facilities,
                                                                                              or modernizing,
                                                                                               renovating or
                                                                                                converting
                                                                                                 existing
                                                                                              facilities; or
                                                                                                purchasing
                                                                                                 long-term
                                                                                               machinery and
                                                                                              equipment. The
                                                                                                Section 504
                                                                                              Program cannot
                                                                                                be used for
                                                                                              working capital
                                                                                               or inventory,
                                                            Certified                          consolidating
                                                       Development Company     Any small        or repaying                     X Defense Loan and
                                                        Guaranteed Loans       business,         debt, or                      Technical Assistance
                                                          (Section 504)    regardless of type  refinancing.                          Program
    Office of the Secretary of Defense The Defense Loan and Technical Assistance Program (DELTA) program is designed to help eligible small
    business contractors shift from defense to civilian markets. Small businesses are eligible for financial and technical assistance if they are
    prime contractors, subcontractors, or suppliers detrimentally impacted by the closure, or substantial reduction, of a Defense installation or
    program, or if the community they are in has been detrimentally impacted by such actions. Financial assistance is provided through the Small
    Business Administration's existing Section 7(a) and Section 504 programs. Technical assistance is provided through small business development
    centers, SCORE, and other federal agencies and other providers. It is a joint program with Defense. To be eligible for this program, small
    businesses must have derived at least 25 percent of its revenues from Defense or Defense-related Energy contracts or subcontracts in support of
    defense prime contracts in any one of five prior operating years.
    Next Generation   Any business    The
    Manufacturing     engaged in      Prequalification
    Technology        manufacturing,  Loan is a pilot
    Initiative Loan   regardless of   program that
    Prequalification  size Any small  helps low income
                      business,       borrowers,
                      regardless of   disabled
                      type            business owners,
                                      new and emerging                                                         The Microloan
                                      businesses,                                                             Program provides
                                      veterans,                                                               very small loans
                                      exporters, rural                                                          to start-up,
                                      and specialized                                                              newly
                                      industries                                                              established, or
                                      develop viable                                                           growing small
                                      loan application                                                          businesses.
                                      packages and                                                               Under this
                                      secure loans up                                                           program, the
                                      to $250,000. The                                                         Small Business
                                      program is                                                               Administration
                                      administered by                                                           makes funds
                                      the Small                                                                 available to
                                      Business                                                                   nonprofit
                                      Administration's                                                        community based
                                      (SBA) Office of                                                             lenders
                                      Field Operations                                                        (intermediaries)
                                      and SBA district                                                        which, in turn,
                                      offices.                                                                 make loans to
                                      Intermediary                                                                eligible
                                      organizations                                                             borrowers in
                                      work with                                                               amounts up to a
                                      applicants to                                                              maximum of
                                      make sure their                                                           $35,000. The
                                      business plans                                                            average loan
                                      are complete and                                                         size is about
                                      that their                                                                  $13,000.
                                      applications are                                                        Applications are
                                      eligible and                                                            submitted to the
                                      have credit                                                             local lender and
                                      merit. If the                                                              all credit
                                      intermediary                                                             decisions are
                                      organization is                                                           made at the
                                      satisfied that                                                            local level.
                                      the application                                                         Individuals and
                                      has a chance for                                                        small businesses
                                      approval, it                                                              applying for
                                      will send it to                                                          microloans may
                                      SBA for                                                                  be required to
                                      processing.                                                             fulfill training
                                      Small Business                                                          and/or planning
                                      Development                                                               requirements
                                      Centers serving                                                          before a loan
                                      as                                                                       application is
                                      intermediaries                                                          considered, and
                                      do not charge                                                             lenders are
                                      fees for loan                                                             required to
                                      packaging, while                                          X Any small   provide business
                                      for-profit                                                 business,      training and
                                      organizations                           X Microloan      regardless of     technical
                                      charge fees.              X               Program            type         assistance.
    TechMatch         Any business,   Any business,     The Disaster Loan
                      regardless of   regardless of      Program offers
                      size or type    size or type        low-interest,
                      Disaster                         long-term financial
                      Assistance                            loans to
                                                           homeowners,
                                                          renters, and
                                                        businesses of all
                                                         sizes that are
                                                        trying to rebuild
                                                         their homes and
                                                        businesses in the
                                                         aftermath of a
                                                       disaster. Two types
                                                       of loans--Physical
                                                          Disaster and
                                                            Economic
                                                           Injury--are
                                                       available. Physical
                                                       Disaster Loans are
                                                          available to
                                                        businesses of all
                                                       sizes and nonprofit
                                                        organizations for
                                                            permanent
                                                         rebuilding and
                                                         replacement of
                                                          uninsured or
                                                          underinsured
                                                        disaster- damaged
                                                         privately-owned
                                                           real and/or
                                                       personal property.
                                                        This is the only
                                                       SBA assistance that
                                                        is not limited to
                                                        small businesses.
                                                         Economic Injury
                                                       Disaster Loans are
                                                        available only to
                                                       small businesses to
                                                        provide necessary
                                                         working capital
                                                          until normal                           Office of
                                                        operations resume                     Entrepreneurial
                                                        after a disaster.          X            Development                           SCORE
    Technology        Any business,   Small Business                        X Small Business
    Transition        regardless of   Development                             Development
    Initiative SCORE  size or type    Centers                                Centers (SBDC)
    uses the                                                                serve as central
    management                                                                sources for
    experience and                                                           disseminating
    business acumen                                                         information and
    of retired and                                                         guidance to small
    active corporate                                                          businesses,
    professionals and                                                       company owners,
    small business                                                         and entrepreneurs,
    owners who                                                                many of whom
    volunteer their                                                          cannot afford
    time and                                                               private consulting
    expertise to                                                           services. There is
    assist small                                                           at least one SBDC
    businesses and                                                           in each state,
    prospective                                                               each with a
    businesses.                                                            network of service
    Counseling                                                               locations, to
    services are free                                                       ensure that they
    and business                                                               are easily
    workshops and                                                            accessible. At
    seminars are at                                                         least 50 percent
    low cost. SCORE                                                          of clients are
    pioneered online                                                       small businesses.
    counseling with                                                         The program is a
    the launch of its                                                      cooperative effort
    Cyber Chapter in                                                         of the private
    1996.                                                                     sector, the
                                                                              educational
                                                                             community and
                                                                           federal, state and
                                                                           local governments.
                                                                             Most SBDCs can
                                                                               help with
                                                                               marketing,
                                                                               financing,
                                                                              feasibility
                                                                           studies, technical
                                                                             problems, and
                                                                           financing issues.
                                                                              Special SBDC
                                                                              programs and
                                                                                economic
                                                                              development
                                                                           activities include
                                                                             international
                                                                           trade assistance,
                                                                             technology and
                                                                             manufacturing
                                                                               technical
                                                                              assistance,
                                                                              procurement
                                                                              assistance,
                                                                            venture capital
                                                                             formation and
                                                                           rural development.
                                                                             SBDCs focus on
                                                                               providing
                                                                             extended-term
                                                                             counseling to
                                                                            small businesses
                                                                              rather than
                                                       Any small business,     short-term                     Women's Business Any small business,
                                                       regardless of type     assistance.                         Centers       regardless of type
    Manufacturing     Any business    Any small            X The Small
    Technology        engaged in      business,         Business Training
    Program           manufacturing,  regardless of     Network provides
                      regardless of   type             online training to
                      size Small                            meet the                            X Office of
                      Business                         informational needs                      Government
                      Training                         of prospective and                     Contracting and
                      Network                            existing small                          Business                       X Prime Contracts
                                                           businesses.             X            Development          X               Program
    Defense Industry  Any business,   Subcontracting
    Adjustment The    regardless of   Assistance
    Prime Contracts   size or type    Program
    Program helps
    increase small
    businesses' share
    of government
    contracts. Small
    Business
    Administration
    (SBA) procurement
    center
    representatives
    (PCR), located at
    SBA procurement
    area offices and
    federal buying
    centers across
    the country, help
    small businesses
    obtain federal
    contracts. There                                                       The Subcontracting
    are two types of                                                       Assistance Program
    PCRs: traditional                                                      promotes the prime
    and breakout.                                                           contractors' use
    Traditional PCRs                                                            of small
    work to increase                                                       businesses. Small
    the number of                                                               Business
    procurements set                                                        Administration's
    aside for small                                                            commercial
    businesses.                                                                marketing
    Breakout PCRs                                                           representatives
    work to remove                                                             review the
    components or                                                            subcontracting
    spare parts from                                                         plans of prime
    sole source                                                             contractors that
    procurements to                                                         have one or more
    procurements                                                             contracts that
    through open                                                           exceed $500,000 to
    competition,                                                                identify
    which generates                                                        opportunities for                   X Business or
    savings for the                                        X Any small      small businesses                    Procurement        X Any small
    federal                                                 business,         to serve as                       Matchmaking    business, regardless
    government.                                        regardless of type   subcontractors.          X           Initiative          of type
    TechLink          Any business,   Any small           X The Natural
                      regardless of   business,             Resources
                      size or type    regardless of    Assistance Program
                      Natural         type               is intended to
                      Resources                         ensure that small
                      Assistance                       businesses obtain a
                      Program                             fair share of
                                                       government property
                                                        sales and leases
                                                          through small
                                                            business                                                             The Historically
                                                         set-asides. The                                                          Underutilized
                                                         Small Business                                                           Business Zone
                                                       Administration also                                                          (HUBZone)
                                                       provides counseling                                                         Empowerment
                                                            and other                                                          Contracting Program
                                                       assistance to small                                                     stimulates economic
                                                          businesses on                                                          development and
                                                        government sales                                                         creates jobs in
                                                        and leasing. The                                                         urban and rural
                                                       program covers five                                                        communities by
                                                          categories of                                                         providing federal
                                                       federal resources:                                                          contracting
                                                          1) timber and                                                        preferences to small
                                                         related forest                                                         businesses. These
                                                          products, 2)                                                          preferences go to
                                                       strategic materials                                                       small businesses
                                                        from the national                                                      that obtain HUBZone
                                                          stockpile, 3)                                                         certification by,
                                                         royalty oil, 4)                                                       among other things,
                                                        leases involving                                                       employing staff and
                                                       rights to minerals,                                       Any small        maintaining a
                                                       coal, oil, and gas,                    X Historically     business,     principal office in
                                                       5) surplus real and                     Underutilized   regardless of       a designated
                                                       personal property.          X          Business Zones        type             HUBZone.
    MilTech Section   Small           The Small
    8(a) Business     businesses      Business Act                                                               The Mentor
    Development       engaged in      Section 8(a)                                                            Protege program
    Program           manufacturing   Program focuses                                                           enhances the
                      Any small       on business                                                              capability of
                      business,       development and                                                           Section 8(a)
                      regardless of   is designed to                                                          participants to
                      type            foster the                                                                compete more
                                      growth and                                                              successfully for
                                      competitive                                                                 federal
                                      viability of                                                             contracts. The
                                      Section 8(a)                                                                program
                                      firms through                                                              encourages
                                      technical                                                                private sector
                                      assistance                                                               relationships
                                      delivered over a                                                        and expands the
                                      9-year period.                                                           Small Business
                                      One of the                                                              Administration's
                                      benefits of the                                                            efforts to
                                      program is that                                                           identify and
                                      Section 8(a)                                                             respond to the
                                      firms, through                                                           developmental
                                      their own                                                               needs of Section
                                      self-marketing                                                           8(a) clients.
                                      efforts, can                                                            Mentors provide
                                      obtain sole                                                              technical and
                                      source contracts                                                           management
                                      of up to $5.5                                                             assistance,
                                      million for                                                                financial
                                      manufacturing                                                            assistance in
                                      and $3.5 million                                                          the form of
                                      for all other                                                                equity
                                      purposes that                                                             investments
                                      federal agencies                                                         and/or loans,
                                      make available                                                            subcontract
                                      for the Section                                                           support, and
                                      8(a) program.                                                            assistance in
                                      Qualified firms                                                         performing prime
                                      can also                                                                   contracts
                                      participate in                                                           through joint
                                      restricted                                                X Any small       venture
                                      competitions for                                           business,      arrangements
                                      federal                               X Mentor-Protege   regardless of    with Section
                                      contracts.                X               Program            type         8(a) firms.             X
    Defense Technical Any business,
    Information       regardless of
    Center Any small  size or type
    business,         The Small
    regardless of     Disadvantaged
    type              Businesses
                      (SDB)
                      Certification
                      Program makes
                      qualified small
                      businesses
                      eligible for
                      special bidding
                      benefits in
                      federal
                      procurement.
                      Under new
                      federal
                      procurement
                      regulations,
                      the Small
                      Business
                      Administration
                      certifies SDBs
                      for                                                                          X The
                      participation                                                           Certificate of
                      in federal                                                                Competency
                      procurements to                                                         Program allows
                      help overcome                                                               a small
                      the effects of                                                            business to
                      discrimination.                                                            appeal a
                      Evaluation                                                                contracting
                      credits                                                                    officer's
                      available to                                                             determination
                      prime                                                                     that it is
                      contractors                                                                unable to
                      increase                                                                  fulfill the
                      subcontracting                                                          requirements of
                      opportunities                                                             a specific
                      for SDBs. While                                                           government
                      the Section                                                               contract on
                      8(a) Program                                                            which it is the
                      offers a broad                                                           apparent low
                      scope of                                                                 bidder. When
                      assistance to                                                              the small
                      socially and                                                               business
                      economically                                                             applies for a
                      disadvantaged                                                           Certificate of
                      firms, SDB                                                              Competency, the
                      certification                                                           Small Business
                      strictly                                                                Administration
                      pertains to                                                             industrial and
                      benefits in                                                                financial
                      federal                                                                   specialists
                      procurement.                                                               conduct a
                      Section 8(a)                                                            detailed review
                      firms                                                                    of the firm's
                      automatically                                            Any small      capabilities to
                      qualify for SDB                    Certificate of        business,      perform on the                      Small Business
                      certification.                   Competency Program  regardless of type    contract.                     Innovation Research
    Value Engineering Any business,   Small Business                       The Small Business
    The Small         regardless of   Technology                               Technology
    Business          size or type    Transfer Program                      Transfer Program
    Innovation                                                               (STTR) expands
    Research (SBIR)                                                             funding
    program is                                                              opportunities in
    designed to                                                               the federal
    ensure that                                                                innovation
    small,                                                                    research and
    high-technology                                                        development (R&D)
    firms have access                                                        arena through
    to federal                                                               public/private
    research and                                                                 sector
    development (R&D)                                                       partnerships to
    funds to pursue                                                        include the joint
    advanced                                                                    venture
    technologies and                                                       opportunities for
    their commercial                                                       small business and
    applications.                                                          nonprofit research
    SBIR is a                                                              institutions. STTR
    competitive                                                             is a competitive
    three-phase                                                               three-phase
    program that                                                              program that
    reserves a                                                                 reserves a
    specific                                                                    specific
    percentage of R&D                                                        percentage of
    funding at                                                                federal R&D
    certain federal                                                        funding for award
    agencies for                                                           to small business
    awards to small                                                          and nonprofit
    businesses.                                                                 research
    Currently 11                                                              institution
    other federal                                                            partners. Five
    agencies provide                                                            federal
    the grant funds                                                         departments and
    and oversee the                                                          agencies (the
    projects. The                                                            Departments of
    Small Business                                                          Defense, Energy,
    Administration                                                           and Health and
    monitors the SBIR                                                      Human Services as
    program and                                                               well as the
    provides                                                                    National
    guidance. SBIR                                                          Aeronautics and
    funds the                                                                    Space
    critical startup                                                       Administration and
    and development                                                           the National
    stages and it                                                               Science
    encourages the                                                          Foundation) are
    commercialization                                                       required by STTR
    of the resulting                                                          to reserve a
    technology,                                                             portion of their
    product, or                                                              R&D funds for
    service.                                                                awards to small
                                                                           business/nonprofit
                                                           X Any small          research
                                                            business,         institution                                      Any small business,
                                                       regardless of type    partnerships.                        Sub-Net       regardless of type
    Office of the Secretary of Defense - Defense Logistics Agency
    Procurement       Any business,                                                           X Section 7(j)
    Gateway Any small regardless of                                                            of the Small
    business,         size or type                                                             Business Act
    regardless of     Tech-Net is an                                                          authorized the
    type              electronic                                                              Small Business
                      gateway of                                                              Administration
                      technology                                                               to enter into
                      information and                                                             grants,
                      resources for                                                             cooperative
                      and about small                                                          agreements or
                      high tech                                                               contracts, with
                      businesses. It                                                             public or
                      includes a                                                                  private
                      search engine                                                            organizations
                      for                                                                       to deliver
                      researchers,                                                             management or
                      scientists,                                                                technical
                      state, federal                                                           assistance to
                      and local                                                               individuals and
                      government                                                                enterprises
                      officials; a                                                             eligible for
                      marketing tool                                                            assistance
                      for small                                                               under the Act.
                      firms; and                                                              This assistance
                      links to                                                                 is delivered
                      potential                                                                 through the
                      investment                                                               Section 7(j)
                      opportunities                                                           Management and
                      for investors                                                              Technical
                      and other                                                                 Assistance
                      sources of                                                                Program to
                      capital. The                                                             Section 8(a)
                      system is also                                                             certified
                      linked to                                                                firms, small
                      technology                                                               disadvantaged
                      sources of                                                                businesses,
                      information,                                                              businesses
                      assistance, and                                                          operating in
                      training.                                                                areas of high
                                                                                              unemployment or
                                                                                               low-income or
                                                                                              firms owned by
                                                                                                low-income
                                                                                               individuals.
                                                                                               The Section7
                                                                                                (j) program
                                                                                                  grants,
                                                                                                cooperative
                                                                                               agreements or
                                                                                               contracts are
                                                                                                awarded to
                                                                                                 qualified
                                                                                                  service
                                                                                               providers who
                                                                                                 have the
                                                                                               capability to
                                                                                                  provide
                                                                                                 business
                                                                                                development
                                                                                               assistance to
                                                                                               the eligible
                                                                                               clients. The
                                                                                               Section 7(j)
                                                                                              program funding
                                                                                                  is not
                                                                                               available to
                                                                                                 finance a
                                                                                                 business;
                                                                                                purchase a
                                                                                               business; or
                                                                                                  use as
                                                                                                 expansion
                                                                                              capital for an
                                                                                                 existing
                                                                                                 business.
                                                                                                 Financial
                                                                                                assistance
                                                                                                 under the
                                                                                              program may be
                                                                                                 given for
                                                                                               projects that
                                                                                                respond to
                                                                                              needs outlined
                                                                                               in a Section
                                                                                               7(j) program
                                                                                               solicitation
                                                                                               announcement,
                                                                                                 or for an
                                                                                                unsolicited
                                                                                               proposal that
                                                                                               could provide
                                                                                                 valuable
                                                                                                 business
                                                                                                development
                                                                                              assistance for
                                                                                               Section 8(a)
                                                                                                 and other
                                                                                               socially and
                                                                                               economically
                                                                                               disadvantaged
                                                                                                   small
                                                                                                businesses.
                                                                                               Technical and
                                                                                                management
                                                                                                assistance
                                                                                                includes an
                                                                                                 executive
                                                                                                 education
                                                                                                program for
                                                                               Any small        owners and
                                                          Section 7(j)         business,          senior                        Office of Veterans
                                                             program       regardless of type    officers.                     Business Development
    Business          Any business,   The
    Counseling Center regardless of   Service-Disabled
    Service-Disabled  size or type    Veteran Owned
    Veteran Owned     Any small       Small Business
    Small Business    business,       Concern
    Concern Program   regardless of   (SDVOSBC)
                      type            Program
                                      establishes the
                                      criteria to be
                                      used in federal
                                      contracting to
                                      determine
                                      service-disabled
                                      veteran status;
                                      business
                                      ownership and
                                      control
                                      requirements;
                                      guidelines for
                                      establishing
                                      sole source and
                                      set-aside
                                      procurement                                                                Table 40:
                                      opportunities;                                                              Services
                                      and procurement                                                           Provided by
                                      protest and                                                              Small Business
                                      appeal                                                                   Administration
                                      procedures for                                                            Programs by
                                      service-disabled                                                         Agency, Target
                                      veteran owned                                                           Businesses, and
                                      small business.                      Source: GAO data.         X        Type of Services
    Aging Systems     Any business,                                                                                                 Technology
    Sustainment and   regardless of                                                                                             development and/or
    Enabling          size or type                                                                                                  deployment
    Technologies      Type of service                                                                                               Technology
                      Type of service                  Agency and program  Target businesses                     Financial      development and/or
                                                       Agency and program  Target businesses         X           Financial          deployment
    Procurement       Any small
    Technical         business,
    Assistance        regardless of
    Program Export    type Worker
    Export            training Worker                   Office of Capital
                      training                               Access                                  X                                  X
    Office of the Secretary of Defense - Office of Small Business Programs
    Small Business    Any small       Any small
    Innovation        business,       business,
    Research Program  regardless of   regardless of
                      type Pollution  type
                      Control Loan
                      Program                                   X                 X X                                X
    Small Business    Any small       Any small
    Technology        business,       business,
    Transfer Program  regardless of   regardless of
                      type Qualified  type
                      Employee Trusts
                      Loan Program                              X                 X X                                X
    Mentor-Protege    Any small       Any small
    Program           business,       business,
                      regardless of   regardless of
                      type Section    type
                      7(a) Loan
                      Guarantees                                X                 X X                X               X
    Women-Owned Small Any small       Any small
    Business Program  business,       business,
                      regardless of   regardless of
                      type U.S.       type
                      Community
                      Adjustment and
                      Investment
                      Program                                                     X X                X               X
    Regional Councils Any small       Any small
    for Small         business,       business,
    Business          regardless of   regardless of
    Education and     type Export     type
    Advocacy          Legal
                      Assistance
                      Network                                                                        X                                  X
    Service Disabled  Any small       Any small
    Veteran-Owned     business,       business,
    Small Business    regardless of   regardless of
    Program           type Export     type
                      Working Capital
                      Loan Program                                                X X                X                                  X
    Indian Incentive  Any business,   Any small
    Program           regardless of   business,
                      size or type    regardless of
                      International   type
                      Trade Loan                                X                  X                                                    X
    HUBZone           Any small       Any small
    Empowerment       business,       business,
    Contracting       regardless of   regardless of
    Program           type SBA Export type
                      Express                                                      X                 X               X                  X
    Office of Small   Any small       Any small
    Business Programs business,       business,
                      regardless of   regardless of
                      type U.S.       type
                      Export
                      Assistance
                      Centers                                                      X                 X                                  X
    Office of the Secretary of Defense - Office of Technology Transition
    Defense           Any business,   X
    Production Act    regardless of
    Title III Program size or type
    Any small
    business,
    regardless of
    type                                                        X                 X X                X

    Source: GAO data. Any small business, regardless of type

    Enterprise Engine

    X

    Small Business Technology Transfer Program

    Any business, regardless of size or type

    Any small business, regardless of type

    Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

    X

    Any business, regardless of size or type

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 37: National Science Foundation Programs That Offer Services to
    Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses,
    and Agency Description of Purpose

    Any small business, regardless of type

    Any small business, regardless of type

    Any business, regardless of size or type

    Target businesses

    Technical, business, or management

    Division of Engineering Education and Centers

    X

    Agency description of program purpose Agency description of program
    purpose Agency description of program purpose Agency description of
    program purpose Agency description of program purpose Agency description
    of program purpose

    Office of Capital Access

    Any small business, regardless of type

    The Export Legal Assistance Network offers free initial consultations with
    international trade attorneys from the Federal Bar Association to small
    businesses interested in exporting. Attorneys help businesses navigate
    international legal issues, such as patents, copyrights, and trademarks;
    help clients understand basic contractual, tax and regulatory
    requirements; provide an indication of priorities among them; and give
    businesses basic information on programs at other institutions that may be
    able to help, such as international departments of near-by banks, freight
    forwarders, insurance companies with international experience, and other
    government programs.

    Export Working Capital Loan Program

    The Export Working Capital Program is a line of credit for financing
    foreign accounts receivable and export inventory. It is a
    transaction-based program and can be revolving or non-revolving. The Small
    Business Administration provides a 90 percent guarantee to the lender.
    Recipients are usually businesses that have been operating for at least 12
    months prior to the application. Proceeds can be used to finance materials
    and labor needed to manufacture or to purchase goods and services for sale
    in foreign markets. Funds cannot be used to purchase long term fixed
    assets. Loans are generally for 12 or fewer months, but can be reissued
    for additional 12-month periods.

    Any small business, regardless of type

    Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC) are privately owned and managed
    investment firms that provide venture capital and startup financing to new
    and already established small businesses to ensure they have access to
    long-term financing and venture capital they need to maintain and expand
    their operations. Small Business Administration (SBA) licenses and
    regulates the SBICs, and supports them with government backed funds that
    are invested in small enterprises. SBICs are profit-motivated; they use
    their own capital and with funds borrowed at favorable rates through the
    federal government to invest in small businesses in exchange for a share
    in the success of the small business if it grows and prospers.

    CAPlines Loan Program

    Any small business, regardless of type

    Office of Disaster Assistance

    Any small business, regardless of type

    There are currently 99 Women's Business Centers (WBC) in 44 states and 3
    territories. The mission of the WBC program is to target the economically
    and socially disadvantaged population. WBCs promote the growth of
    women-owned businesses through training, counseling, mentoring and
    technical assistance programs. Each WBC provides assistance or training in
    finance, management, marketing and procurement. In addition, each WBC
    tailors its program to the needs of its constituency and many offer
    programs and counseling in two or more languages.

    Any small business, regardless of type

    The Business or Procurement Matchmaking Initiative helps increase small
    businesses' access to federal contracting opportunities. Federal, county
    and state agencies, as well as private sector contractors, are matched
    with small business sellers either in person or through facilitated phone
    conferences.

    Small Disadvantaged Business Certification Program

    Any small business, regardless of type

    Sub-Net is a Web site where prime contractors post subcontracting
    opportunities. These may or may not be reserved for small businesses, and
    they may include either solicitations or other notices. Small businesses
    can review this Web site to identify opportunities in their areas of
    expertise. While the Web site is designed primarily as a place for large
    businesses to post solicitations and notices, it is also used by federal
    agencies, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, colleges
    and universities, and even foreign governments for the same purpose.

    TECH-Net

    Technical, business, or management Technical, business, or management

    X

    Surety Guarantee Program

    Small Business Investment Companies

    Appendix V: Department of Education - Programs that Offer Services to
    Small Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 13: Department of Education Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office, and                    Agency description of program
    program             Target businesses  purpose
    Institute of Education Sciences CAPlines Loan Program
    Small Business      Any small          The Small Business Innovation
    Innovation Research business,          Research (SBIR) program helps
    Program             regardless of type stimulate technological innovation,
                           X                  utilize small business to meet
                                              federal research and development
                                              needs, and increase private sector
                                              commercialization. SBIR is a highly
                                              competitive program that encourages
                                              small business to explore their
                                              technological potential and
                                              provides the incentive to profit
                                              from its commercialization. By
                                              including qualified small
                                              businesses in the nation's research
                                              and development arena, high-tech
                                              innovation is stimulated and the
                                              United States gains entrepreneurial
                                              spirit as it meets its specific
                                              research and development needs.
                                              Offices within Education that have
                                              SBIR programs are as follows: the
                                              Institute of Education Sciences and
                                              the Office of Special Education and
                                              Rehabilitative Services/National
                                              Institute on Disability and
                                              Rehabilitation Research.
    Office of the Deputy Secretary
    Office of Small and Any small          The Office of Small and
    Disadvantaged       business,          Disadvantaged Business Utilization
    Business            regardless of type promotes and fosters opportunities
    Utilization         Certified          for small and socioeconomically
                           Development        disadvantaged business concerns
                           Company Guaranteed seeking to obtain prime contracts,
                           Loans (Section     subcontracts, and grants that
                           504)               support the programmatic and
                                              operational functions of the
                                              Department of Education. Any small
                                              business, regardless of type

    Source: GAO data. X

    Table14: Services Provided by Department of Education Programs by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Type of Services X

                                                 Type of service
                                           Technology  Technical,
                                           development business,
    Agency and    Target                  and/or        or             Worker
    program       businesses  Financial deployment  management Export training
    Institute of Education Sciences
    Small         Any small
    Business      business,
    Innovation    regardless
    Research      of type
    Program                       X          X          X
    Office of the
    Deputy
    Secretary
    Office of     Any small
    Small and     business,
    Disadvantaged regardless
    Business      of type
    Utilization                              X          X                X

    Source: GAO data. SCORE

    Any small business, regardless of type

    X

    Any small business, regardless of type

    Any small business, regardless of type

    X

    Any business, regardless of size or type

    Any small business, regardless of type

    Appendix VI: Department of Energy - Programs that Offer Services to Small
    Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 15: Department of Energy Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office,                              Agency description of program
    and program        Target businesses         purpose
    Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research
    Small Business     Any small business,       The Small Business Technology
    Technology         regardless of type        Transfer (STTR) program
    Transfer Program                             expands funding opportunities
                                                    in the federal innovation
                                                    research and development
                                                    (R&D) arena through
                                                    public/private sector
                                                    partnerships to include joint
                                                    venture opportunities for
                                                    small business and nonprofit
                                                    research institutions. STTR
                                                    is a competitive three-phase
                                                    program that reserves a
                                                    specific percentage of
                                                    federal R&D funding for award
                                                    to small business and
                                                    nonprofit research
                                                    institution partners. Five
                                                    federal departments and
                                                    agencies (the Departments of
                                                    Defense, Energy, and Health
                                                    and Human Services, as well
                                                    as the National Aeronautics
                                                    and Space Administration and
                                                    National Science Foundation)
                                                    are required by STTR to
                                                    reserve a portion of their
                                                    R&D funds for awards to small
                                                    business/nonprofit research
                                                    institution partnerships.
    Any small          The Small Business
    business,          Innovation Research
    regardless of type (SBIR) program is
                          designed to stimulate
                          technological innovation,
                          utilize small business to
                          meet federal research and
                          development needs, and
                          increase private sector
                          commercialization. SBIR
                          is a highly competitive
                          program that encourages
                          small business to explore
                          their technological
                          potential and provides
                          the incentive to profit
                          from its
                          commercialization. By
                          including qualified small
                          businesses in the
                          nation's research and
                          development arena,
                          high-tech innovation is
                          stimulated and the United
                          States gains
                          entrepreneurial spirit as
                          it meets its specific
                          research and development
                          needs. Twelve Energy
                          components participate in
                          the agency's SBIR
                          program.
    Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
    Inventions and     Any small business,       Inventions and Innovation
    Innovation         regardless of type        (I&I) provides grants to
                                                    independent inventors and
                                                    small companies with sound
                                                    ideas for energy efficiency
                                                    technologies. I&I provides
                                                    grantees not only with
                                                    funding, but also with
                                                    additional resources such as
                                                    training, market assessments,
                                                    technical assistance, access
                                                    to promotional events and
                                                    materials, and special
                                                    contacts to aid in
                                                    commercialization endeavors.
                                                    In addition to the financial
                                                    assistance grant, I&I
                                                    provides awardees with
                                                    business planning assistance
                                                    and networking resources. For
                                                    grantees who demonstrate a
                                                    commitment to commercializing
                                                    their technology, I&I also
                                                    funds a market assessment and
                                                    offers business strategy
                                                    assistance. I&I recently
                                                    launched a Web site that
                                                    offers information tools and
                                                    valuable network resources
                                                    for the entrepreneur.
                                                    Finally, awardees have the
                                                    option of working with a
                                                    private organization of past
                                                    successful grantees that will
                                                    mentor or otherwise aid new
                                                    entrepreneurs graduating from
                                                    I&I. Since I&I's inception,
                                                    over 34,000 proposals have
                                                    been submitted, resulting in
                                                    over 900 projects selected
                                                    for financial and
                                                    commercialization assistance.
                                                    Awardees are monitored
                                                    annually until their
                                                    technologies are retired from
                                                    the market or they abandon
                                                    their efforts. Licensees are
                                                    monitored as long as the
                                                    technology remains on the
                                                    market.
    Industrial         Any business engaged in   The Industrial Technologies
    Technologies       manufacturing, regardless Program (ITP) works with U.S.
    Program            of size                   industry to improve
                                                    industrial energy efficiency
                                                    and environmental
                                                    performance. The program
                                                    invests in high-risk,
                                                    high-value research and
                                                    development to reduce
                                                    industrial energy use while
                                                    stimulating productivity and
                                                    growth. Results of this
                                                    investment are seen in the
                                                    many ITP-funded technologies
                                                    in the marketplace today.
    Energy TechNet     Any business, regardless  Energy TechNet is a core
                          of size or type           collection of information and
                                                    resources for anyone engaged
                                                    in developing and
                                                    commercializing advanced
                                                    energy technologies. From
                                                    idea development to market
                                                    assessment, intellectual
                                                    property protection to
                                                    financing, the Web site
                                                    addresses each stage of
                                                    technology development and
                                                    commercialization.
    FreedomCAR and     Any business, regardless  FreedomCAR and Vehicle
    Vehicle            of size or type           Technologies Program
    Technologies                                 professionals work with
    Program                                      industry leaders to develop
                                                    and deploy advanced
                                                    transportation technologies
                                                    that could achieve
                                                    significant improvements in
                                                    vehicle fuel efficiency and
                                                    displace oil with competitive
                                                    manner. Program activities
                                                    include research,
                                                    development, demonstration,
                                                    testing, technology
                                                    validation, technology
                                                    transfer, and education.
    Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
    Office of Small    Any small business,       The Office of Small and
    and Disadvantaged  regardless of type        Disadvantaged Business
    Business                                     Utilization is responsible
    Utilization                                  for increasing the
                                                    contracting opportunities
                                                    awarded to small and
                                                    disadvantaged businesses.
                                                    Energy purchases billions of
                                                    dollars worth of goods and
                                                    services annually including
                                                    remediation, research and
                                                    development, management and
                                                    scientific consulting, plate
                                                    work manufacturing,
                                                    engineering, and waste
                                                    treatment and disposal.
    Section 8(a) Pilot Any small business,       The Small Business Act
    Program            regardless of type        Section 8(a) (Section 8(a))
                                                    Pilot Program was established
                                                    in fiscal year 1991 to: 1)
                                                    target Section 8(a)
                                                    businesses for Energy
                                                    procurement opportunities at
                                                    the subcontract level. The
                                                    Section 8(a) Pilot Program
                                                    offers financial assistance
                                                    in the form of subcontracts.
    Mentor-Protege     Any small business,       The Mentor-Protege program is
    Program            regardless of type        designed to encourage Energy
                                                    prime contractors to assist
                                                    small disadvantaged firms
                                                    certified by the Small
                                                    Business Administration (SBA)
                                                    under Section 8(a) of the
                                                    Small Business Act, other
                                                    small disadvantaged
                                                    businesses, women-owned and
                                                    service disabled veteran
                                                    owned small businesses,
                                                    Historically Black Colleges
                                                    and Universities, and other
                                                    minority institutions of
                                                    higher learning, in business
                                                    and technical areas. The
                                                    program seeks to foster
                                                    long-term business
                                                    relationships between these
                                                    small business entities and
                                                    Energy prime contractors, and
                                                    to increase the overall
                                                    number of small businesses
                                                    that receive Energy contract
                                                    and subcontract awards.

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 16: Services Provided by Department of Energy Programs by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Type of Services

                                                    Type of service
                                              Technology  Technical,
                                              development business,
     Agency and     Target                      and/or        or             Worker
     program        businesses      Financial deployment  management Export training
     Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research
     Small Business Any small
     Technology     business,
     Transfer       regardless of
     Program        type                X
     Small Business Any small
     Innovation     business,
     Research       regardless of
     Program        type                X          X                           X
     Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
     Inventions and Any small
     Innovation     business,
                    regardless of
                    type                X          X          X                X
     Industrial     Any business
     Technologies   engaged in
     Program        manufacturing,
                    regardless of
                    size                X          X          X                X
     Energy TechNet Any business,
                    regardless of
                    size or type                   X          X
     FreedomCAR and Any business,
     Vehicle        regardless of
     Technologies   size or type
     Program                                       X
     Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
     Office of      Any small
     Small and      business,
     Disadvantaged  regardless of
     Business       type
     Utilization                        X                     X
     Section 8(a)   Any small
     Pilot Program  business,
                    regardless of
                    type                X
     Mentor-Protege Any small
     Program        business,
                    regardless of
                    type                                      X

    Source: GAO data.

    Appendix VII: Department of Health and Human Services - Programs that
    Offer Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 17: Department of Health and Human Services Programs That Offer
    Services to Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target
    Businesses, and Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office, and                      Agency description of program
    program              Target businesses   purpose
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - National Institute for
    Occupational Safety and Health
    Occupational Health  Any business,       The National Institute for
    Training             regardless of size  Occupational Safety and Health
                            or type             supports 16 university-based
                                                Education and Research Centers
                                                that offer short-term continuing
                                                education for occupational safety
                                                and health professionals and
                                                others with worker safety and
                                                health responsibilities.
    Research Program for Any business        The mission of the National
    the Manufacturing    engaged in          Institute for Occupational Safety
    Sector               manufacturing,      and Health (NIOSH) Research
                            regardless of size  Program for the Manufacturing
                                                sector is to eliminate
                                                occupational diseases, injuries,
                                                and fatalities among workers in
                                                manufacturing industries through
                                                a focused program of research and
                                                prevention. NIOSH believes that
                                                their research only realizes its
                                                true value when put into
                                                practice. Every research project
                                                within the NIOSH program for the
                                                Manufacturing sector formulates a
                                                strategy to promote the transfer
                                                and translation of research
                                                findings into prevention
                                                practices and products that will
                                                be adopted in the workplace.
                                                NIOSH partners with labor,
                                                industry, government, and other
                                                stakeholders to accomplish the
                                                program goals. There is also a
                                                research to practice component to
                                                the program.
    Summary Fact Sheets  Any business,       National Institute for
                            regardless of size  Occupational Safety and Health
                            or type             (NIOSH) makes available brief
                                                documents, from1 to 4 pages that
                                                describe occupational hazards or
                                                NIOSH research activities.
    Alerts               Any business,       Alerts briefly present new
                            regardless of size  information about occupational
                            or type             illnesses, injuries, and deaths.
                                                Alerts urgently request
                                                assistance in preventing,
                                                solving, and controlling newly
                                                identified occupational hazards.
                                                Workers, employers, and safety
                                                and health professionals are
                                                asked to take immediate action to
                                                reduce risks and implement
                                                controls. National Institute for
                                                Occupational Safety and Health
                                                has published more than 40 Alerts
                                                on a variety of topics.
    NIOSH Pocket Guide   Any business,       This Guide is a source of general
    to Chemical Hazards  regardless of size  industrial hygiene information
                            or type             for workers, employers, and
                                                occupational health
                                                professionals. It presents key
                                                information and data in
                                                abbreviated tabular form for 677
                                                chemicals or substance groups
                                                that are found in many work
                                                environments.
    Chemical Safety      Any business,       Chemical Safety Cards summarize
    Cards                regardless of size  essential safety and health
                            or type             information about chemicals for
                                                their use at the "shop floor"
                                                level by workers and employers.
                                                They are simpler than material
                                                safety data sheets and designed
                                                specifically for workers'
                                                reference.
    Health Hazard        Any business,       Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs)
    Evaluations          regardless of size  are investigations conducted by
                            or type             the National Institute for
                                                Occupational Safety and Health in
                                                response to concerns expressed by
                                                employees, employee
                                                representatives, or employers, to
                                                find out whether there is a
                                                health hazard to employees caused
                                                by hazardous exposures and
                                                conditions in the workplace. HHEs
                                                are provided at no cost and may
                                                be confidential.
    Food and Drug Administration - Center for Biologics Evaluation and
    Research
    Manufacturers'       Any business        The Center for Biologics
    Assistance           engaged in          Evaluation and Research (CBER)
                            manufacturing,      has established a manufacturers'
                            regardless of size  assistance program to provide
                                                assistance and training to
                                                industry, including large and
                                                small manufacturers and trade
                                                associations, and to respond to
                                                requests for information
                                                regarding CBER policies and
                                                procedures. Manufacturers'
                                                assistance is available in
                                                numerous areas including:
                                                clinical investigator
                                                information, adverse event
                                                reporting procedures, electronic
                                                submissions guidance and
                                                requirements, and information on
                                                how to submit an investigational
                                                new drug application to
                                                administer an investigational
                                                product to humans. This
                                                assistance extends to
                                                facilitating effective
                                                development of all products
                                                regulated by CBER including
                                                products to diagnose, treat or
                                                prevent outbreaks from exposure
                                                to the pathogens that have been
                                                identified as bioterrorist
                                                agents. The Manufacturers
                                                Assistance and Technical Training
                                                Branch (MATTB) informs industry
                                                and trade associations of the
                                                status of CBER policies and
                                                initiatives through regular
                                                information dissemination and
                                                training. MATTB also serves as
                                                the CBER focal point for industry
                                                and trade associations to provide
                                                meeting support, and coordinates
                                                external meetings with other Food
                                                and Drug Administration Centers.
    Investigational New  Any business        Current federal law requires that
    Drug Application     engaged in          a drug be the subject of an
                            manufacturing       approved marketing application
                                                before it is transported or
                                                distributed across state lines.
                                                Because a sponsor (usually the
                                                manufacturer or potential
                                                marketer) will probably want to
                                                ship the investigational drug to
                                                clinical investigators in many
                                                states, it must seek an exemption
                                                from that legal requirement. The
                                                Investigational New Drug
                                                Application is the means through
                                                which the sponsor technically
                                                obtains this exemption from the
                                                Food and Drug Administration.
    Prescription Drug    Any business        21 U.S.C. S 379h authorizes the
    User Fee Act and     engaged in          Food and Drug Administration to
    Reductions for Small manufacturing       collect and use fees from
    Business                                 companies that produce certain
                                                human drug and biological
                                                products. There are three types
                                                of user fees - application fees,
                                                establishment fees, and product
                                                fees. Since the passage of PDUFA,
                                                user fees have played an
                                                important role in expediting the
                                                drug approval process. The agency
                                                will waive the application fee
                                                for the first human drug
                                                application that a small business
                                                or its affiliate submits for
                                                review.
    Food and Drug Administration - Center for Devices and Radiological Health
    Division of Small    Any business,       The Center for Devices and
    Manufacturers,       regardless of size  Radiological Health has a small
    International and    or type             manufacturers, international and
    Consumer Assistance                      consumer advice division which
                                                offers many forms of services to
                                                small manufacturers including
                                                technical and regulatory
                                                assistance. The division
                                                participates in many workshops
                                                which may be of educational value
                                                to the general medical device
                                                community.
    Food and Drug Administration - Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
    Investigational New  Any business,       Current federal law requires that
    Drug Application     regardless of size  a drug be the subject of an
                            or type             approved marketing application
                                                before it is transported or
                                                distributed across state lines.
                                                Because a sponsor (usually the
                                                manufacturer or potential
                                                marketer) will probably want to
                                                ship the investigational drug to
                                                clinical investigators in many
                                                states, it must seek an exemption
                                                from that legal requirement. The
                                                Investigational New Drug
                                                Application is the means through
                                                which the sponsor technically
                                                obtains this exemption from the
                                                Food and Drug Administration.
    Prescription Drug    Any small business, 21 U.S.C. S 379h authorizes the
    User Fee Act and     regardless of type  Food and Drug Administration to
    Reductions for Small                     collect and use fees from
    Business                                 companies that produce certain
                                                human drug and biological
                                                products. There are three types
                                                of user fees - application fees,
                                                establishment fees, and product
                                                fees. Since the passage of PDUFA,
                                                user fees have played an
                                                important role in expediting the
                                                drug approval process. The agency
                                                will waive the application fee
                                                for the first human drug
                                                application that a small business
                                                or its affiliate submits for
                                                review.
    Small Business       Any small business, In the Center for Drug Evaluation
    Assistance           regardless of type  and Research (CDER), the Office
                                                of Training and Communication
                                                (OTCOM) provides ongoing
                                                assistance to pharmaceutical
                                                businesses with fewer than 500
                                                employees. The assistance
                                                includes a comprehensive website,
                                                a ListServ of 2,500 subscribers,
                                                a point of contact office for
                                                specific questions, and a free
                                                annual workshop on basic Food and
                                                Drug Administration/CDER
                                                organization and processes. The
                                                OTCOM ListServ conveys important
                                                emerging information to small
                                                regulated industry, including
                                                Federal Register notices,
                                                guidance, etc., on a bi-weekly
                                                basis.
    Food and Drug Administration - Office of Orphan Product Development
    Orphan Product       Any business,       Orphan Product Grants encourage
    Grants               regardless of size  clinical development of products
                            or type             for use in rare diseases or
                                                conditions, usually defined as
                                                affecting fewer than 200,000
                                                people in the United States. The
                                                products studied can be drugs,
                                                biologics, medical devices, or
                                                medical foods. At this time, only
                                                clinical studies qualify for
                                                consideration. Each application
                                                should propose one discrete
                                                clinical study to facilitate Food
                                                and Drug Administration approval
                                                of the product for a rare disease
                                                or condition. The study may
                                                address an unapproved new product
                                                or an unapproved new use for a
                                                product already on the market.
                                                Small businesses are encouraged
                                                to apply.
    National Institutes of Health - National Cancer Institute
    Innovative Molecular Any small business, The Innovative Molecular Analysis
    Analysis             regardless of type  Technologies (IMAT) Program is
    Technologies Program                     aimed at the inception,
                                                development, integration, and
                                                application of novel and emerging
                                                technologies in the support of
                                                cancer research, treatment,
                                                diagnosis, and prevention. The
                                                IMAT Program is part of a broader
                                                technology development initiative
                                                within the National Cancer
                                                Institute (NCI) to harness
                                                specific technologies in the
                                                fight against cancer. This
                                                initiative underscores the desire
                                                of NCI to develop and integrate
                                                novel and emerging technologies
                                                in support of cancer research,
                                                diagnosis, and treatment. In the
                                                research continuum of discovery,
                                                development, and delivery, the
                                                IMAT Program accelerates
                                                development and delivery. This
                                                specific program will therefore
                                                serve as the discovery tool of a
                                                larger NCI technology initiative
                                                by soliciting and funding highly
                                                innovative, high-risk and
                                                cancer-relevant technology
                                                development projects associated
                                                with the molecular analysis of
                                                cancer.
    Unconventional       Any business,       To spur development of daring
    Innovations Program  regardless of size  technologic improvements in
                            or type             cancer treatment and detection in
                                                the 21st century, the National
                                                Cancer Institute (NCI) created
                                                the Unconventional Innovations
                                                Program. This program seeks to
                                                stimulate development of
                                                radically new technologies in
                                                cancer care that can transform
                                                what is now impossible into the
                                                realm of the possible for
                                                detecting, diagnosing, and
                                                intervening in cancer at its
                                                earliest stages of development.
                                                The program began in 1999 and is
                                                targeted to invest $50 million
                                                over a ten year period.
    Technology Transfer  Any business,       The Technology Transfer Branch
    Branch               regardless of size  (TTB) provides a complete array
                            or type             of services to support the
                                                National Cancer Institute's
                                                technology development
                                                activities. TTB negotiates the
                                                following collaborative
                                                agreements for laboratories:
                                                Cooperative Research and
                                                Development Agreements, Material
                                                Transfer Agreements, Confidential
                                                Disclosure Agreements, and
                                                Clinical Trials Agreements. In
                                                addition, TTB markets
                                                technologies to outside
                                                organizations in order to foster
                                                research collaboration, gives
                                                advice on intellectual property
                                                issues, and keeps laboratories
                                                posted on the latest developments
                                                in technology development and
                                                transfer.
    National Institutes of Health - Office of Technology Transfer
    Office of Technology Any business,       The Office of Technology Transfer
    Transfer             regardless of size  (OTT) retains title to inventions
                            or type             developed in National Institutes
                                                of Health's (NIH) intramural
                                                laboratories and licensing of
                                                these inventions to private
                                                entities to ensure use,
                                                commercialization, and public
                                                availability. In a similar way,
                                                extramural recipients of NIH
                                                funds, such as universities, are
                                                allowed to seek patent protection
                                                for inventions arising from their
                                                NIH-funded basic research and
                                                license the rights to private
                                                entities to promote
                                                commercialization. Over the last
                                                15 years, NIH has executed
                                                thousands of license agreements.
                                                These licenses transfer NIH and
                                                FDA inventions to the private
                                                sector for further research and
                                                development and potential
                                                commercialization that can lead
                                                to significant public health
                                                benefits.
    National Institutes of Health - Office of the Director
    Office of            Any business,       The Office of Acquisition
    Acquisition          regardless of size  Management and Policy (OAMP) is
    Management and       or type             committed to acquisition
    Policy                                   excellence by providing
                                                leadership, advice and oversight
                                                for all National Institute of
                                                Health (NIH) acquisition and
                                                financial advising services.
                                                Through strategic partnership
                                                with industry, the NIH strives to
                                                acquire the best OAMP acquisition
                                                value in products and services to
                                                support the agency's mission
                                                activities. Strategies and
                                                efforts to promote business
                                                interests and opportunities at
                                                NIH include: strategic activities
                                                for contracting and financial
                                                program policies, procedures and
                                                practices; organizational
                                                guidance in advising on
                                                acquisition and financial program
                                                activities; oversight activities
                                                to review compliance with
                                                federal, HHS and NIH acquisition
                                                regulations; outreach activities
                                                for NIH personnel and the
                                                business community; and
                                                maintaining vendor resource
                                                information.
    e-Portals in         Any business,       e-PIC is an e-business system
    Commerce             regardless of size  designed to smartly capture the
                            or type             global marketplace and profile
                                                information about organizations
                                                providing products and services.
                                                The system is designed to
                                                function on a Web platform and
                                                links users of the system
                                                conducting market research or
                                                seeking sources of supplies and
                                                services to this virtual market
                                                place. It is a consolidated
                                                database for storing and
                                                maintaining vendor contact
                                                information and contract services
                                                that each can offer. Vendors can
                                                easily add and update their
                                                contact information to provide a
                                                variety of search criteria for
                                                providing sources for an
                                                organization's acquisitions, and
                                                to make such a system user
                                                friendly and available to the
                                                organization administrators.
    Small Business       Any small business, The Small Business Innovation
    Innovation Research  regardless of type  Research (SBIR) program was
    Program                                  established to stimulate
                                                technological innovation, utilize
                                                small business to meet federal
                                                research and development needs,
                                                and increase private sector
                                                commercialization. SBIR is a
                                                highly competitive program that
                                                encourages small business to
                                                explore their technological
                                                potential and provides the
                                                incentive to profit from its
                                                commercialization. By including
                                                qualified small businesses in the
                                                nation's research and development
                                                arena, high-tech innovation is
                                                stimulated and the United States
                                                gains entrepreneurial spirit as
                                                it meets its specific research
                                                and development needs.
    Small Business       Any small business, The Small Business Technology
    Technology Transfer  regardless of type  Transfer (STTR) program was
    Program                                  established to stimulate
                                                technological innovation, utilize
                                                small business to meet federal
                                                research and development needs,
                                                and increase private sector
                                                commercialization. STTR is a
                                                highly competitive program that
                                                encourages small business to
                                                explore their technological
                                                potential and provides the
                                                incentive to profit from its
                                                commercialization. By including
                                                qualified small businesses in the
                                                nation's research and development
                                                arena, high-tech innovation is
                                                stimulated and the United States
                                                gains entrepreneurial spirit as
                                                it meets its specific research
                                                and development needs. STTR
                                                requires research partners at
                                                universities and other non-profit
                                                institutions to have a formal
                                                collaborative relationship with
                                                the small business concern.
    Office of the Secretary - Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
    Utilization
    Office of Small and  Any small business, The Office of Small &
    Disadvantaged        regardless of type  Disadvantaged Business
    Business Utilization                     Utilization has organized its
                                                responsibilities, programs, and
                                                activities under three lines of
                                                business: Advocacy, outreach and
                                                unification of the business
                                                process. The results achieved
                                                under all three lines of business
                                                support the accomplishment of
                                                Health and Human Services' (HHS)
                                                strategic goal - to encourage and
                                                assist the participation of all
                                                small businesses in HHS'
                                                contracts and grants. All of the
                                                activities carried out by the HHS
                                                Office of Small & Disadvantaged
                                                Business Utilization are done in
                                                support of its mission to give
                                                small businesses equal
                                                consideration in contracting
                                                opportunities and to increase the
                                                number of awards that are made to
                                                small businesses.
    Small Business       Any small business, Health and Human Services' Small
    Program Manual       regardless of type  Business Program Manual (SBPM)
                                                supplements the Federal
                                                Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and
                                                the Health and Human Services
                                                Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR).
                                                It is non-regulatory in nature
                                                and provides uniform procedures
                                                to support and encourage small
                                                business participation in the
                                                Department's efforts to acquire
                                                goods and services. The SBPM is
                                                not a stand-alone document and
                                                must be read with the FAR and
                                                HHSAR.
    Vendor Outreach      Any small business, The Office of Small and
    Sessions             regardless of type  Disadvantaged Business
                                                Utilization hosts monthly Vendor
                                                Outreach Session to educate
                                                vendors on the preferential
                                                procurement programs and to
                                                provide information on how to
                                                effectively market their products
                                                and services to Health and Human
                                                Services. These sessions are free
                                                and are held on the second
                                                Tuesday of each month, January -
                                                November, from 8:30 a.m. - 12
                                                noon.

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 18: Services Provided by Department of Health and Human Services
    Programs by Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services

                                    Type of service
                                              Technology  Technical,
                                              development business,
    Agency and      Target                      and/or        or             Worker
    program         businesses      Financial deployment  management Export training
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - National Institute for Occupational
    Safety and Health
    Occupational    Any business,
    Health Training regardless of
                    size or type                                               X
    Research        Any business
    Program for the engaged in
    Manufacturing   manufacturing,
    Sector          regardless of
                    size                           X
    Summary Fact    Any business,
    Sheets          regardless of
                    size or type                              X
    Alerts          Any business,
                    regardless of
                    size or type                              X
    NIOSH Pocket    Any business,
    Guide to        regardless of
    Chemical        size or type
    Hazards                                                   X
    Chemical Safety Any business,
    Cards           regardless of
                    size or type                              X
    Health Hazard   Any business,
    Evaluations     regardless of
                    size or type                              X
    Food and Drug Administration - Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
    Manufacturers'  Any business
    Assistance      engaged in
                    manufacturing,
                    regardless of
                    size                                      X
    Investigational Any business,
    New Drug        regardless of
    Application     size or type                              X
    Prescription    Any small
    Drug User Fee   business,
    Act and         regardless of
    Reductions for  type
    Small Business                                            X
    Food and Drug Administration - Center for Devices and Radiological Health
    Division of     Any business,
    Small           regardless of
    Manufacturers,  size or type
    International
    and Consumer
    Assistance                                                X
    Food and Drug Administration - Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
    Investigational Any small
    New Drug        business,
    Application     regardless of
                    type                           X
    Prescription    Any small
    Drug User Fee   business,
    Act and         regardless of
    Reductions for  type
    Small
    Businesses                                     X          X
    Small Business  Any small
    Assistance      business,
                    regardless of
                    type                           X          X                X
    Food and Drug Administration - Office of Orphan Product Development
    Orphan Product  Any business,
    Grants          regardless of
                    size or type        X          X
    National Institutes of Health - National Cancer Institute
    Innovative      Any small
    Molecular       business,
    Analysis        regardless of
    Technologies    type
    Program                             X          X
    Unconventional  Any business,
    Innovations     regardless of
    Program         size or type        X          X          X
    Technology      Any business,
    Transfer Branch regardless of
                    size or type        X          X
    National Institutes of Health - Office of Technology Transfer
    Office of       Any business,
    Technology      regardless of
    Transfer        size or type        X          X
    National Institutes of Health - Office of the Director
    Office of       Any business,
    Acquisition     regardless of
    Management and  size or type
    Policy                                                    X
    e-Portals in    Any business,
    Commerce        regardless of
                    size or type                              X
    Small Business  Any small
    Innovation      business,
    Research        regardless of
    Program         type                X          X          X
    Small Business  Any small
    Technology      business,
    Transfer        regardless of
    Program         type                X          X
    Office of the Secretary - Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
    Office of Small Any small
    and             business,
    Disadvantaged   regardless of
    Business        type
    Utilization                                               X
    Small Business  Any small
    Program Manual  business,
                    regardless of
                    type                                      X
    Vendor Outreach Any small
    Sessions        business,
                    regardless of
                    type                                      X

    Source: GAO data.

    Appendix VIII: Department of Homeland Security - Programs that Offer
    Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 19: Department of Homeland Security Programs That Offer Services to
    Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses,
    and Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office, and  Target
    program              businesses    Agency description of program purpose
    Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
    Office of Small and  Any small     The Office of Small and Disadvantaged
    Disadvantaged        business,     Business Utilization (OSDBU) ensures
    Business Utilization regardless of Homeland Security complies with federal
                            type          laws, regulations, and policies to
                                          provide opportunities in its
                                          acquisitions to small business,
                                          including socially and economically
                                          disadvantaged small businesses. OSDBU
                                          is also responsible for Homeland
                                          Security's subcontracting program.
                                          OSDBU has small business specialists at
                                          the Center for Domestic Preparedness,
                                          U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
                                          Services, Customs and Border
                                          Protection, Federal Law Enforcement
                                          Training Center, Immigration and
                                          Customs Enforcement, Transportation
                                          Security Administration, Federal
                                          Emergency Management Agency, U.S.
                                          Secret Service, and U.S. Coast Guard.
    Mentor-Protege       Any small     The Mentor-Protege program is designed
    program              business,     to motivate and encourage large prime
                            regardless of contractors to provide developmental
                            type          assistance to small businesses,
                                          including socially and economically
                                          disadvantaged small businesses. The
                                          program is also designed to (1) improve
                                          the performance of contracts and
                                          subcontracts, (2) foster the
                                          establishment of long-term business
                                          relationships between large prime
                                          contractors and small business
                                          subcontractors, and (3) strengthen
                                          subcontracting opportunities and
                                          accomplishments through incentives. For
                                          certain acquisitions, mentors may
                                          receive credit in the source
                                          selection/evaluation criteria process
                                          and a post-award incentive for the
                                          costs incurred by a mentor firm in
                                          providing assistance to a protege firm.
                                          In addition to the benefits available
                                          to mentors, proteges may receive
                                          technical, managerial, financial, or
                                          any other mutually agreed upon benefit
                                          from mentors.
    Small Business       Any small     Small Business Vendor Outreach Sessions
    Vendor Outreach      business,     are a series of pre-arranged 15-minute
    Sessions             regardless of appointments with Small Business
                            type          Specialists from various components of
                                          the Homeland Security procurement
                                          offices. These sessions provide small
                                          businesses the opportunity to discuss
                                          their capabilities and learn of
                                          potential procurement opportunities.
    Office of the Secretary
    Office of the        Any small     The Office of the Coordinator for Gulf
    Federal Coordinator  business,     Coast Rebuilding was created to help
    for Gulf Coast       regardless of devise a long-term plan for rebuilding
    Rebuilding           type          the region devastated by hurricanes
                                          Katrina and Rita. One of its
                                          initiatives is to provide support for
                                          small business throughout the region
                                          through disaster loans and other
                                          relief. The overarching mission is to
                                          identify the priority of needs for
                                          long-term rebuilding; communicate those
                                          realities to decision makers in
                                          Washington; and advise the President
                                          and senior leadership on effective,
                                          integrated, and fiscally responsible
                                          federal strategies to support a full
                                          recovery.
    Science and Technology Directorate
    Small Business       Any small     The Small Business Innovation Research
    Innovation Research  business,     (SBIR) program's principal objectives
    program              regardless of are to (1) stimulate technological
                            type          innovation by small business; (2)
                                          increase small business participation
                                          in meeting federal research and
                                          development needs; (3) foster and
                                          encourage participation by socially and
                                          economically disadvantaged small
                                          business; (4) increase the
                                          commercialization of technology
                                          development through federal research
                                          and development; and (5) enhance
                                          outreach efforts to ensure that all
                                          qualified small businesses are aware of
                                          the SBIR program and the many benefits
                                          it provides.
    Small Business       Any small     The Homeland Security Small Business
    Technology Transfer  business,     Technology Transfer (STTR) program
    program              regardless of began in early 2006 to help build
                            type          partnerships among small businesses,
                                          universities and research institutions
                                          for research and development efforts.
                                          The program encourages the transfer of
                                          intellectual concepts and ideas from
                                          research institutions through the
                                          entrepreneurship of small business
                                          concerns, as part of a larger goal to
                                          develop innovative solutions to
                                          challenging Homeland Security
                                          scientific and engineering problems.
                                          Due to a decline in its extramural
                                          research budget for fiscal year 2007,
                                          Homeland Security does not meet the
                                          statutory requirement to have an STTR
                                          program.

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 20: Services Provided by Department of Homeland Security Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services

                                                  Type of service
                                            Technology  Technical,
                                            development business,
    Agency and     Target                  and/or        or             Worker
    program        businesses  Financial deployment  management Export training
    Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
    Office of      Any small
    Small and      business,
    Disadvantaged  regardless
    Business       of type
    Utilization                                          X
    Mentor-Protege Any small
    program        business,
                      regardless
                      of type                               X
    Small Business Any small
    Vendor         business,
    Outreach       regardless
    Sessions       of type                               X
    Office of the Secretary
    Office of the  Any small
    Federal        business,
    Coordinator    regardless
    for Gulf Coast of type
    Rebuilding                     X
    Science and Technology Directorate
    Small Business Any small
    Innovation     business,
    Research       regardless
    program        of type         X          X          X
    Small Business Any small
    Technology     business,
    Transfer       regardless
    program        of type         X          X

    Source: GAO data.

    Appendix IX: Housing and Urban Development - Programs that Offer Services
    to Small Manufacturers and Types of Service

    Table 21: Department of Housing and Urban Development Programs That Offer
    Services to Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target
    Businesses and Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office, and                      Agency description of program
    program             Target businesses    purpose
    Office of Community Planning and Development
    Community           Any business,        Community Development Block
    Development Block   regardless of size   Grants support communities'
    Grants              or type              public facilities,
                                                infrastructure, housing, and
                                                economic development activities.
                                                Many jurisdictions have used
                                                funds to make loans or establish
                                                revolving loan funds that may
                                                help manufacturers that need
                                                small amounts of capital for
                                                improvement projects.
    Section 108 Loan    Any business,        The Section 108 Loan Guarantee
    Guarantee Program   regardless of size   Program assists communities with
                           or type              financing for housing
                                                rehabilitation, economic
                                                development, and large-scale
                                                physical development projects
                                                using Housing and Urban
                                                Development funds. These funds
                                                enable local governments to
                                                finance physical and economic
                                                development projects too large
                                                for front-end financing with
                                                single-year Community Development
                                                Block Grant allocations.
    Brownfields         Any business,        The Brownfields Economic
    Economic            regardless of size   Development Initiative (BEDI) is
    Development         or type              a key competitive grant program
    Initiative                               that Housing and Urban
                                                Development administers to
                                                stimulate and promote economic
                                                and community development. BEDI
                                                is designed to assist cities with
                                                the redevelopment of abandoned,
                                                idled and underused industrial
                                                and commercial facilities where
                                                expansion and redevelopment is
                                                burdened by real or potential
                                                environmental contamination. BEDI
                                                grant funds are primarily
                                                targeted for use with a
                                                particular emphasis upon the
                                                redevelopment of brownfields
                                                sites in economic development
                                                projects and the increase of
                                                economic opportunities for
                                                low-and moderate-income persons
                                                as part of the creation or
                                                retention of businesses, jobs and
                                                increases in the local tax base.
                                                BEDI funds are used as the
                                                stimulus for local governments
                                                and private sector parties to
                                                commence redevelopment or
                                                continue phased redevelopment
                                                efforts on brownfields sites
                                                where either potential or actual
                                                environmental conditions are
                                                known and redevelopment plans
                                                exist.
    Disaster Recovery   Any business,        Disaster Assistance Recovery
    Assistance          regardless of size   Grants are additional Community
                           or type              Development Block Grant (CDBG)
                                                funds to rebuild the areas
                                                affected by disaster and bring
                                                crucial seed money to stimulate
                                                the recovery process. Depending
                                                upon the size of the disaster and
                                                the amount of CDBG supplemental
                                                disaster funds appropriated,
                                                eligible activities may cover a
                                                broad range of community
                                                development, housing and economic
                                                development activities. If
                                                Congress appropriates funds for
                                                this purpose, Housing and Urban
                                                Development provides flexible
                                                grants to help cities, counties,
                                                and states recover from
                                                presidentially declared
                                                disasters, especially in low- and
                                                moderate-income areas.
    Rural Housing and   Any business,        The Rural Housing and Economic
    Economic            regardless of size   Development Program provides for
    Development         or type              capacity building at the State
                                                and local level for rural housing
                                                and economic development and to
                                                support innovative housing and
                                                economic development activities
                                                in rural areas.
    Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
    Section 3 Program   Any business,        Section 3 is a provision of the
                           regardless of size   Housing and Urban Development
                           or type              (HUD) Act of 1968, Pub. L. No.
                                                90-448, 82 Stat. 476 (Aug. 1,
                                                1968), codified at 12 U.S.C. S
                                                1701u, that helps foster local
                                                economic development,
                                                neighborhood economic
                                                improvement, and individual
                                                self-sufficiency. The program is
                                                restricted to businesses that are
                                                51 percent or more owned by low-
                                                or very low-income persons or
                                                businesses that substantially
                                                employ (30 percent or more) low-
                                                or very low-income persons,
                                                regardless of size or type. The
                                                Section 3 program requires that
                                                recipients of certain HUD
                                                financial assistance, to the
                                                greatest extent feasible, provide
                                                job training, employment, and
                                                contracting opportunities for
                                                low- or very-low income residents
                                                in connection with projects and
                                                activities in their
                                                neighborhoods.
    Office of Policy Development and Research
    Partnership for     Any business engaged The Partnership for Advancing
    Advancing           in manufacturing,    Technology in Housing Initiative
    Technology in       regardless of size   is a public/private partnership
    Housing Initiative                       that brings together key federal
                                                agencies with leaders of the home
                                                building, product manufacturing,
                                                insurance, and financial
                                                industries to develop and deploy
                                                innovative building technologies
                                                for the next generation of
                                                housing. The goal of this
                                                initiative is to identify
                                                techniques for building more
                                                affordable durable, disaster
                                                resistant, safe, and energy
                                                efficient housing.
    Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
    Office of Small and Any small business,  The Office of Small and
    Disadvantaged       regardless of type   Disadvantaged Business
    Business                                 Utilization is responsible for
    Utilization                              ensuring that small businesses
                                                are treated fairly and that they
                                                have an opportunity to compete
                                                and be selected for a fair amount
                                                of Housing and Urban
                                                Development's prime and
                                                subcontracting opportunities.

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 22: Services Provided by Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Programs by Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services

                                                    Type of service
                                              Technology  Technical,
                                              development business,
      Agency and    Target                      and/or        or             Worker
      program       businesses      Financial deployment  management Export training
      Office of Community Planning and Development
      Community     Any business,
      Development   regardless of
      Block Grants  size or type        X                     X
      Section 108   Any business,
      Loan          regardless of
      Guarantee     size or type
      Program                           X                     X
      Brownfields   Any business,
      Economic      regardless of
      Development   size or type
      Initiative                        X                     X
      Disaster      Any business,
      Recovery      regardless of
      Assistance    size or type        X          X          X        X       X
      Rural Housing Any business,
      and Economic  regardless of
      Development   size or type        X                     X
      Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
      Section 3     Any business,
      Program       regardless of
                    size or type                                               X
      Office of Policy Development and Research
      Partnerships  Any business
      for Advancing engaged in
      Technologies  manufacturing,
      in Housing    regardless of
      Initiative    size                X          X
      Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
      Office of     Any small
      Small and     business,
      Disadvantaged regardless of
      Business      type
      Utilization                       X

    Source: GAO data.

    Appendix X: Department of the Interior - Programs that Offer Services to
    Small Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 23: Department of the Interior Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office, and   Target
    program               businesses    Agency description of program purpose
    Bureau of Indian
    Affairs
    Loan Guaranty Program Any small     The Loan Guarantee program was
                             business,     established to stimulate and increase
                             regardless of Indian entrepreneurship and employment
                             type          through establishment, acquisition or
                                           expansion of Indian-owned economic
                                           enterprises.
    Bureau of Reclamation
    Job Corps Civilian    Any business, The Job Corps Civilian Conservation
    Conservation Centers  regardless of Centers provides individuals, in
                             size or type  addition to other training and
                                           assistance, programs to gain work
                                           experience designed to conserve,
                                           develop, or manage public natural
                                           resources, or public recreational
                                           areas, or to develop community
                                           projects in the public interest. The
                                           Centers are located primarily in rural
                                           areas.
    Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
    Office of Small and   Any small     The Office of Small and Disadvantaged
    Disadvantaged         business,     Business Utilization program strives
    Business Utilization  regardless of to improve and increase Interior's
                             type          performance in utilizing small, small
                                           disadvantaged, HUBZone, women-owned,
                                           and veteran-owned businesses as
                                           contractors and subcontractors.
                                           Bureaus in Interior Bureaus in
                                           Interior collectively spend over $2
                                           billion in contracts with the private
                                           sector, annually.
    Small Disadvantaged   Any small     The Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
    Business Program and  business,     Program is designed to treat small
    Section 8(a) Business regardless of companies equitably and help them to
    Development Program   type          pursue business in both the private
                                           and public sector contract arena. Once
                                           a business is certified as SDB, it is
                                           eligible for specific procurement
                                           benefits. The Small Business Act
                                           Section 8(a) Business Development
                                           Program allows the government to
                                           contract, on a noncompetitive basis,
                                           with socially and economically
                                           disadvantaged small businesses.
    HUBZone Empowerment   Any small     The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting
    Contracting Program   business,     program provides federal contracting
                             regardless of opportunities for qualified small
                             type          businesses located in distressed
                                           areas. The program encourages economic
                                           development in historically
                                           underutilized zones (HUBZones) and
                                           through the establishment of contract
                                           preferences for businesses in
                                           historically underutilized business
                                           zones.
    Veteran and Service   Any small     The Veteran and Service Disabled
    Disabled Veteran      business,     Veteran is designed to assist
                             regardless of businesses that are at least 51
                             type          percent owned by one or more
                                           service-disabled veterans or, in the
                                           case of publicly owned businesses, not
                                           less than 51 percent of the stock of
                                           which is owned by one or more
                                           service-disabled veterans, and the
                                           management and daily business
                                           operations of which are controlled by
                                           one or more service-disabled veterans.
                                           In the case of a veteran with a
                                           permanent and severe disability, a
                                           spouse or permanent caregiver of such
                                           veteran may control the management and
                                           daily business operations
    Woman-Owned Small     Any small     The Woman-Owned Small Business program
    Business              business,     is designed to assist women-owned
                             regardless of small businesses pursue business in
                             type          both the public and private contract
                                           arena.

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 24: Services Provided by Department of the Interior Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services

                                                 Type of service
                                           Technology  Technical,
                                           development business,
    Agency and    Target                  and/or        or             Worker
    program       businesses  Financial deployment  management Export training
    Bureau of Indian Affairs
    Loan Guaranty Any small
    Program       business,
                     regardless
                     of type         X
    Bureau of Reclamation
    Job Corps     Any
    Civilian      business,
    Conservation  regardless
    Centers       of size or
                     type                                                   X
    Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
    Office of     Any small
    Small and     business,
    Disadvantaged regardless
    Business      of type
    Utilization                                         X
    Small         Any small
    Disadvantaged business,
    Business      regardless
    Program and   of type
    Section 8(a)
    Business
    Development
    Program                                             X
    HUBZone       Any small
    Empowerment   business,
    Contracting   regardless
    Program       of type                               X
    Veteran and   Any small
    Service       business,
    Disabled      regardless
    Veteran       of type                               X
    Woman-Owned   Any small
    Small         business,
    Business      regardless
                     of type                               X

    Source: GAO data.

    Appendix XI: Department of Labor - Programs that Offer Services to Small
    Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 25: Department of Labor Programs That Offer Services to Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses, and
    Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office, and                       Agency description of program
    program               Target businesses   purpose
    Employment and Training Administration
    Dream It. Do It.      Any business        Dream It. Do It is a campaign
                             engaged in          launched by the Manufacturing
                             manufacturing,      Institute of the National
                             regardless of size  Association of Manufacturers, to
                                                 help inform young people, their
                                                 parents, and educators of career
                                                 opportunities in advanced
                                                 manufacturing. A grant from
                                                 Labor supports the development
                                                 of tools and partnerships
                                                 between employers, training
                                                 providers, and local Workforce
                                                 Investment Boards in Kansas
                                                 City, southwestern Virginia,
                                                 northeastern Ohio, the
                                                 Dallas-Fort Worth metro area,
                                                 southeastern Indiana, and
                                                 Washington State.
    High Growth Job       Any business,       The High Growth Job Training
    Training Initiative   regardless of size  initiative is a strategic effort
                             or type             to prepare workers to take
                                                 advantage of new and increasing
                                                 job opportunities in 14 high
                                                 growth, high demand and
                                                 economically vital sectors of
                                                 the American economy. Grants are
                                                 available to develop and
                                                 implement numerous industry
                                                 specific solutions.
    Workforce Investment  Any business,       The federal Workforce Investment
    Act                   regardless of size  Act of 1998, Pub. L. No.
                             or type             105-220, 112 Stat. 936 (Aug. 7,
                                                 1998) offers a comprehensive
                                                 range of workforce development
                                                 activities through statewide and
                                                 local organizations. These
                                                 activities can benefit job
                                                 seekers, laid off workers,
                                                 youth, incumbent workers, new
                                                 entrants to the workforce,
                                                 veterans, persons with
                                                 disabilities, and employers. The
                                                 purpose of these activities is
                                                 to improve the employment, job
                                                 retention, earnings, and
                                                 occupational skills of
                                                 participants. This, in turn,
                                                 improves the quality of the
                                                 workforce, reduces welfare
                                                 dependency, and improves the
                                                 productivity and competitiveness
                                                 of the nation. Businesses play
                                                 an active role in ensuring that
                                                 the system prepares people for
                                                 current and future jobs.
    Project GATE -        Any small business, Project GATE promotes individual
    Growing America       regardless of type  entrepreneurship, seeks to
    Through                                   energize local small business
    Entrepreneurship                          creation and help diverse urban
                                                 and rural populations create,
                                                 and support and expand small
                                                 businesses. Labor teams with the
                                                 Small Business Administration
                                                 through a microloan program that
                                                 is offered to small start-up
                                                 companies. Labor provides
                                                 microenterprise training and
                                                 assistance in One-Stop Centers.
    Apprenticeship        Any business,       The Apprenticeship Program is a
    Program               regardless of size  voluntary, industry-driven
                             or type             initiative sponsored by employer
                                                 and labor groups. The federal
                                                 government encourages and
                                                 promotes the establishment of
                                                 apprenticeship programs and to
                                                 provide technical assistance to
                                                 program sponsors.
    Occupational Safety & Health Administration
    Compliance Assistance Any small business, Small and new businesses may
    Quick Start           regardless of type  find the Compliance Assistance
                                                 Quick Start Web site useful as
                                                 an introduction to compliance
                                                 assistance available on
                                                 Occupational Safety & Health
                                                 Administration's (OSHA) Web
                                                 site. It offers a step-by-step
                                                 guide to identify many of the
                                                 major OSHA requirements and
                                                 guidance.
    Consultation Program  Any business,       The Occupational Safety & Health
                             regardless of size  Administration's On-site
                             or type             Consultation Program provides
                                                 services to help employers,
                                                 particularly small businesses,
                                                 identify and correct hazards at
                                                 their worksites, and establish,
                                                 maintain, or enhance their
                                                 safety and health management
                                                 system.
    Small Business        Any small business, The Occupational Safety & Health
    Handbook              regardless of type  Administration's Small Business
                                                 Handbook helps small business
                                                 employers meet the legal
                                                 requirements imposed by the
                                                 Occupational Safety and Health
                                                 Act of 1970, Pub. L. No. 91-596,
                                                 84 Stat. 1590 (Dec. 29, 1970),
                                                 and create and maintain
                                                 effective safety and health
                                                 management systems.
    Training Institute    Any business,       The Occupational Safety & Health
    and Training          regardless of size  Administration's Training
    Education Centers     or type             Institute and Training Education
                                                 Centers provide basic and
                                                 advanced courses in safety and
                                                 health at locations throughout
                                                 the country.
    Office of Small Business Programs
    Small Business        Any small business, The Small Business Resource
    Resource Center       regardless of type  Center is a Web site designed to
                                                 assist small business owners
                                                 understand the rules and
                                                 regulations that Labor
                                                 administers.
    Office of Small and   Any small business, The Office of Small and
    Disadvantaged         regardless of type  Disadvantaged Business
    Business Utilization                      Utilization seeks to increase
                                                 opportunities for small
                                                 businesses to participate in the
                                                 agency's contract and grant
                                                 activities; conduct outreach to
                                                 increase awareness and
                                                 availability of qualified
                                                 providers; develop and issue
                                                 information on Labor's
                                                 procurement needs and
                                                 procedures; train agency staff
                                                 on program requirements and
                                                 capabilities; and monitor,
                                                 evaluate, and report results of
                                                 the agency's efforts.
    Small Business Vendor Any small business, Small Business Vendor Outreach
    Outreach Sessions     regardless of type  Sessions offer small businesses
                                                 the opportunity to market their
                                                 capabilities directly to Office
                                                 of Small Business Programs and
                                                 agency program officials and
                                                 learn about potential Labor
                                                 procurement opportunities.
                                                 Conversely, Labor procurement
                                                 officials can learn more about
                                                 the diverse small business
                                                 resources available to meet
                                                 their procurement needs.
    Small Business        Any small business, The Small Business Procurement
    Procurement Power     regardless of type  Power Web site is designed to
    Page                                      assist small businesses
                                                 interested in procurement
                                                 opportunities with Labor.
    Office of the
    Secretary
    Job Corps             Any business,       Job Corps is a no-cost education
                             regardless of size  and vocational training program
                             or type             that helps young people ages 16
                                                 through 24 get a better job,
                                                 make more money, and take
                                                 control of their lives. Students
                                                 enroll to learn a trade, earn a
                                                 high school diploma or General
                                                 Education Development
                                                 certificate, and get help
                                                 finding a good job. Students are
                                                 paid a monthly allowance that
                                                 increases the longer they stay
                                                 with the program. Job Corps
                                                 provides career counseling and
                                                 transition support to its
                                                 students for up to 12 months
                                                 after they graduate from the
                                                 program.

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 26: Services Provided by Department of Labor Programs by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Type of Services

                                                     Type of service
                                               Technology  Technical,
                                               development business,
    Agency and       Target                      and/or        or             Worker
    program          businesses      Financial deployment  management Export training
    Employee Benefits Security Administration
    Compliance       Any business,
    Assistance       regardless of
                     size or type                              X
    Employment and Training Administration
    Dream It. Do It. Any business                              X                X
                     engaged in
                     manufacturing,
                     regardless of
                     size
    High Growth Job  Any business,
    Training         regardless of
    Initiative       size or type        X          X          X                X
    Workforce        Any business,
    Investment Act   regardless of
                     size or type        X          X          X                X
    Project Gate-    Any small
    Growing America  business,
    Through          regardless of
    Entrepreneurship type                                      X                X
    Apprenticeship   Any business,
    Program          regardless of
                     size or type                   X          X                X
    Occupational Safety & Health Administration
    Compliance       Any small
    Assistance Quick business,
    Start            regardless of
                     type                                      X                X
    Consultation     Any business,
    Program          regardless of
                     size or type                              X                X
    Small Business   Any small
    Handbook         business,
                     regardless of
                     type                                      X                X
    Training         Any business,
    Institute and    regardless of
    Training         size or type
    Education
    Centers                                                                     X
    Office of Small Business Programs
    Small Business   Any small
    Resource Center  business,
                     regardless of
                     type                                      X
    Office of Small  Any small
    and              business,
    Disadvantaged    regardless of
    Business         type
    Utilization                          X                     X
    Small Business   Any small
    Vendor Outreach  business,
    Sessions         regardless of
                     type                                      X
    Small Business   Any small
    Procurement      business,
    Power Page       regardless of
                     type                                      X
    Office of the Secretary
    Job Corps        Any business,
                     regardless of
                     size or type                              X                X

    Source: GAO data.

    Appendix XII: Department of Transportation- Programs that Offer Services
    to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 27: Department of Transportation Programs That Offer Services to
    Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses,
    and Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office, and  Target
    program              businesses    Agency description of program purpose
    Federal Aviation Administration
    Small Business       Any small     The Small Business Development Office
    Development Program  business,     develops and implements programs that
                            regardless of help small businesses, including small
                            type          businesses owned and controlled by
                                          socially and economically disadvantaged
                                          individuals, obtain procurement
                                          opportunities with the Federal Aviation
                                          Administration.
    Federal Highway Administration
    International        Any business, The Office of International Programs in
    Program              regardless of cooperation with the Affiliate Programs
                            size or type  Team coordinates and arranges for
                                          international training and professional
                                          development activities. These
                                          activities inform the U.S.
                                          transportation community of
                                          technological and innovative programs
                                          abroad, promote U.S. transportation
                                          expertise internationally, and increase
                                          technology sharing between the U.S. and
                                          the international community.
    Maritime
    Administration
    National Maritime    Any business, The Maritime Administration (MARAD)
    Resource and         regardless of established the National Maritime
    Education Center     size or type  Resource and Education Center (NMREC)
                                          in April 1994 to help improve the
                                          international competitiveness of the
                                          U.S. shipbuilders, ship repairers, ship
                                          owner/operators and marine suppliers.
                                          NMREC's services include: 1)
                                          conferences and workshops; 2) energy
                                          technologies information; 3) MARAD
                                          guideline specifications for merchant
                                          ship construction; 4) marine industry
                                          standards library; 5) standards
                                          organizations and information; and 6)
                                          Title XI information.
    Office of the Secretary, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
    Utilization
    Subcontracting       Any small     Transportation's Office of Small and
    Program              business,     Disadvantaged Business Utilization
                            regardless of (OSDBU), works closely with the Small
                            type          Business Administration (SBA) and its
                                          Procurement Center Representative (PCR)
                                          to coordinate policy direction and
                                          develop new initiatives on
                                          subcontracting issues. A substantial
                                          amount of Transportation subcontracting
                                          opportunities are awarded to small
                                          businesses. To maintain a strong
                                          subcontracting program, OSDBU, in
                                          conjunction with the SBA/PCR evaluate,
                                          review, and make recommendations on
                                          subcontracting plans. OSDBU also helps
                                          large prime contractors in identifying
                                          potential small businesses (including
                                          veteran-owned, service-disabled
                                          veteran-owned, HUBZone, disadvantaged,
                                          and women-owned businesses) to help
                                          attain subcontracting goals. Prime
                                          contractors report their achievements
                                          annually and semi-annually using an
                                          electronic subcontracting reporting
                                          system at Esrs.gov.
    Small Business       Any small     Small Business Transportation Resource
    Transportation       business,     Centers: 1) disseminate information to
    Resource Centers     regardless of small and disadvantaged businesses on
                            type          business opportunities in
                                          Transportation-direct and
                                          Transportation-funded activities; 2)
                                          carry out market research, and business
                                          analyses, to identify the training and
                                          technical assistance needs of small
                                          businesses to help them become better
                                          prepared to compete for and receive
                                          transportation-related contracts; 3)
                                          design and carry out training and
                                          technical assistance programs to
                                          encourage, promote, and help minority
                                          entrepreneurs and businesses in obtain
                                          contracts, subcontracts, and projects
                                          related to business opportunities in
                                          Transportation-direct and
                                          Transportation-funded activities; 4)
                                          develop support mechanisms to help
                                          minority entrepreneurs and businesses
                                          take advantage of those business
                                          opportunities; 5) assist minority
                                          entrepreneurs and businesses by
                                          identifying opportunities for obtaining
                                          investment capital and debt financing,
                                          including Transportation's Short Term
                                          Lending Program; 6) participate in and
                                          cooperate with federal and other
                                          programs designed to provide financial
                                          management and other forms of support
                                          and assistance to minority
                                          entrepreneurs and businesses; and 7)
                                          conduct outreach and disseminate
                                          information to small and disadvantaged
                                          business across the nation at local,
                                          regional and national transportation
                                          and business related conferences,
                                          seminars and workshops.
    Disadvantaged        Any small     The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
    Business Enterprise  business,     Program is designed to encourage,
    Program              regardless of promote and assist minority and women
                            type          entrepreneurs and businesses to obtain
                                          training and technical assistance
                                          services. State Departments of Highways
                                          and Transportation receive supportive
                                          services funds from Transportation to
                                          provide in-house supportive services or
                                          hire consultants to provide supportive
                                          services for disadvantages business
                                          enterprises. These supportive services
                                          help disadvantages business enterprises
                                          compete in winning contracts.
    Short Term Lending   Any small     The Short Term Lending Program provides
    Program              business,     loan guarantees to enhance the lending
                            regardless of opportunities for disadvantaged
                            type          business enterprises and other small
                                          and disadvantaged businesses to
                                          increase the number of such businesses
                                          that engage in transportation-related
                                          contracts and to strengthen the
                                          competitive and productive capabilities
                                          of such businesses that currently do
                                          business with Transportation, and its
                                          grantees, recipients, contractors and
                                          subcontractors.
    Women Procurement    Any business, The Women's Procurement Assistance
    Assistance Committee regardless of Committee (WPAC), managed by
                            size or type  Transportation's Office of Small and
                                          Disadvantaged Business Utilization
                                          (OSDBU), consists of at least one
                                          representative from each Transportation
                                          Operating Administration. The purpose
                                          of the OSDBU WPAC is to promote,
                                          coordinate, and monitor the plans and
                                          programs towards achievement of the
                                          five percent procurement goals in its
                                          direct contracting activities. The
                                          Committee works to provide forums,
                                          workshops and best practices in order
                                          to contribute to the growth and
                                          economic development of women. In
                                          addition, the Committee seeks to
                                          enhance awareness of women-owned
                                          businesses and ensure full
                                          participation in the Transportation
                                          procurement process.
    Office of Small and  Any small     The Office of Small and Disadvantaged
    Disadvantaged        business,     Business Utilization (OSDBU) ensures
    Business Utilization regardless of that small and disadvantaged business
                            type          policies and goals are developed and
                                          implemented in a fair, efficient, and
                                          effective manner to serve small and
                                          disadvantaged businesses. To achieve
                                          this goal OSDBU provides services
                                          through the Procurement Assistance
                                          Division, the Short Term Lending
                                          Program, and Regional Small Business
                                          Transportation Resource Centers. In
                                          addition, OSDBU organizes, co-sponsors,
                                          and participates in local, regional,
                                          and national outreach events.
    National Information Any small     The National Information Clearinghouse
    Clearinghouse        business,     (NIC) serves as a central point of
                            regardless of contact for the dissemination of
                            type          program and procurement information,
                                          procurement forecasts, forms, data,
                                          public laws, orders, and other similar
                                          information of interest to the small
                                          business community. NIC customer
                                          service representatives respond to
                                          inquiries and questions received
                                          through a dedicated toll-free number,
                                          by written correspondence, or by e-mail
                                          in the feedback section of the Office
                                          of Small and Disadvantaged Business
                                          Utilization Web site.
    Research and Innovative Technology Administration
    Small Business       Any small     The Small Business Innovation Research
    Innovation Research  business,     Program (SBIR) is designed to stimulate
    Program              regardless of technological innovation, utilize small
                            type          business to meet federal research and
                                          development needs, and increase private
                                          sector commercialization. SBIR is a
                                          highly competitive program that
                                          encourages small business to explore
                                          their technological potential and
                                          provides the incentive to profit from
                                          its commercialization. By including
                                          qualified small businesses in the
                                          nation's research and development
                                          arena, high-tech innovation is
                                          stimulated and the United States gains
                                          entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its
                                          specific research and development
                                          needs.

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 28: Services Provided by Department of Transportation Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services

                                                  Type of service
                                            Technology  Technical,
                                            development business,
    Agency and     Target                  and/or        or             Worker
    program        businesses  Financial deployment  management Export training
    Federal Aviation Administration
    Small Business Any small
    Development    business,
    Program        regardless
                      of type                               X
    Federal Highway Administration
    International  Any
    Program        business,
                      regardless
                      of size or
                      type                       X
    Maritime Administration
    National       Any
    Maritime       business,
    Resource and   regardless
    Education      of size or
    Center         type                       X          X        X
    Office of the Secretary, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
    Utilization
    Subcontracting Any small
    Program        business,
                      regardless
                      of type                               X
    Small Business Any small
    Transportation business,
    Resource       regardless
    Centers        of type                               X                X
    Disadvantaged  Any small
    Business       business,
    Enterprise     regardless
    Program        of type                               X

                                                   Type of service
                                             Technology  Technical,
                                             development business,
      Agency and       Target                  and/or        or             Worker
      program          businesses  Financial deployment  management Export training
      Small Business   Any small
      Development      business,
      Centers          regardless
                       of type                    X          X        X
      Women's Business Any small                          Science
      Centers          business,                            and
                       regardless                        Technology
                       of type                           X Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
                                                          Science
                                                            and
                                                         Technology
      Small Business   Any small
      Training Network business,
                       regardless
                       of type                               X
      Office of Government Contracting and Business Development
      Prime Contracts  Any small
      Program          business
                       regardless
                       of type                               X
      Subcontracting   Any small
      Assistance       business
      Program          regardless
                       of type                               X
      Business or      Any small
      Procurement      business
      Matchmaking      regardless
      Initiative       of type                               X
      Natural          Any small
      Resources        business
      Assistance       regardless
      Program          of type                               X
      Historically     Any small
      Underutilized    business
      Business Zones   regardless
                       of type         X          X          X                X
      Section 8(a)     Any small
      Business         business
      Development      regardless
      Program          of type         X          X          X        X       X
      Mentor-Protege   Any small
      Program          business
                       regardless
                       of type                               X
      Small            Any small
      Disadvantaged    business
      Business         regardless
      Certification    of type
      Program                                                X
      Certificate of   Any small
      Competency       business
      program          regardless
                       of type                    X
      Small Business   Any small
      Innovation       business
      Research         regardless
                       of type         X
      Small Business   Any small
      Technology       business
      Transfer Program regardless
                       of type         X
      Sub-Net          Any small
                       business
                       regardless
                       of type                    X
      TECH-Net         Any small
                       business
                       regardless
                       of type                    X
      Section 7(j)     Any small
      program          business
                       regardless
                       of type                    X
      Office of Veterans Business Development
      Service-Disabled Any small
      Veteran Owned    business
      Small Business   regardless
      Concern Program  of type         X

    Source: GAO data.

    Appendix XIII: Department of Veterans Affairs - Programs that Offer
    Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 29: Department of Veterans Affairs Programs That Offer Services
    to Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target
    Businesses, and Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency description of program purpose Agency description of program
    purpose

    Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

    Historically Underutilized Business Zones Program

    Women-Owned Small Business Program

    Small Business Program

    Section 8(a) Business Development Program

    Small Disadvantaged Business Program

    The Small Disadvantaged Business Program is responsible for the award of
    contracts to small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and
    economically disadvantaged individuals and encouraging greater economic
    opportunity for minority entrepreneurs.

    The Veteran-Owned and Operated Small Business program identifies small
    businesses for inclusion Veterans Affairs' existing acquisition programs;
    although it is not authorized to set aside contracts for veterans.
    Veterans Affairs is the only agency which sets a goal and tracks
    participation of veteran-owned small businesses. Beginning in 2007, it
    will place a greater emphasis on such businesses.

    Service Disabled Veteran Owned and Operated Small Business Program

    Subcontracting Program

    Center for Veterans Enterprise

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 30: Services Provided by Department of Veterans Affairs Programs by Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services

    Agency and program Agency and program

    Technology development and/or deployment Technology development and/or
    deployment

    Any small business, regardless of type

    X

    Historically Underutilized Business Zones Program

    Any small business, regardless of type

    X

    Small Business Program

    Any small business, regardless of type

    X

    Small Disadvantaged Business Program

    X

    Any small business, regardless of type

    Service Disabled Veteran Owned and Operated Small Business Program

    Any small business, regardless of type

    X

    Center for Veterans Enterprise

    X

    Appendix XIV: Environmental Protection Agency - Programs that Offer
    Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 31: Environmental Protection Agency Programs That Offer Services
    to Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target
    Businesses, and Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency description of program purpose Agency description of program
    purpose Agency description of program purpose

    Mentor-Protege Program

    The purpose of the Mentor-Protege Program is meant to stimulate and impact
    the number of small disadvantaged businesses and women-owned businesses
    engaged in Environmental Protection Agency contracts.

    Compliance Assistance Centers

    Any business, regardless of size or type

    Design for the Environment program

    The purpose of the Design for Environment (DfE) program is to work in
    partnership with a broad range of stakeholders to reduce risk to people
    and the environment by preventing pollution. DfE focuses on industries
    that combine the potential for chemical risk reduction with a strong
    motivation to make lasting, positive changes. DfE convenes partners,
    including industry representatives and environmental groups to develop
    goals and guide the work of the partnership. Partnerships evaluate the
    human health and environmental considerations, performance, and cost of
    traditional and alternative technologies, materials and processes. As
    incentives ford participation and change DfE offers unique technical
    tools, methodologies, and expertise.

    Small Business Innovation Research Program

    Office of Solid Waste

    Mentor-Protege Program

    National Environmental Performance Track

    Design for the Environment program

    Office of Research and Development

    X

    X

    X

    X

    Agency description of program purpose

    Agency and program

    Technology development and/or deployment

    Manufacturing Technology Transfer Centers

    Any business, regardless of size or type

    Tech Briefs provides on a monthly basis any technologies releasable for
    dissemination to the public resulting from research funded by the National
    Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It is not restricted to
    commercially significant technologies. Tech Briefs are typically cutting
    edge reports on research and emerging technologies. Until fiscal year 2007
    NASA funded the publication under a cooperative agreement.

    Enterprise Engine

    Any small business, regardless of type

    NASA Acquisition Internet Service

    TechFinder is a resource that enables commercial and private users to
    perform simple or advanced searches or request more detailed information
    for technology opportunities, licensing opportunities, past success
    stories, and featured technologies leads.

    X

    X

    Office of Technology Transfer

    Appendix XIX: Appalachian Regional Commission - Programs that Offer
    Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 41: Appalachian Regional Commission Programs That Offer Services to
    Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency, Target Businesses,
    and Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office, and     Target        Agency description of program
    program                 businesses    purpose
    Appalachian Regional Commission
    Telecommunications      Any small     Appalachian Regional Commission's
    Initiative              business,     Information Age Appalachia
                               regardless of telecommunications and information
                               type          technology program was created to
                                             promote the development of
                                             telecommunications in Appalachia,
                                             with a special focus on helping the
                                             Region's distressed counties. The
                                             focus of Information Age Appalachia
                                             is not only on access to
                                             infrastructure, but also, and more
                                             importantly, on applications that
                                             use that access. Instead of simply
                                             promoting technology by itself, the
                                             program seeks to stimulate economic
                                             growth and improve the standard of
                                             living in the Region through
                                             technology-related avenues. Two key
                                             areas of the program are e-commerce
                                             and technology-sector job creation.
                                             The focus of the program is to
                                             ensure rural areas of Appalachia
                                             have access to broadband services.
                                             Training and education are included
                                             in activities. The program has
                                             provided broadband awareness
                                             training and general e-commerce
                                             training throughout the Appalachian
                                             Region. It has also worked with
                                             broadband service providers in
                                             helping rural communities obtain
                                             broadband access in unserved and
                                             underserved areas.
    Entrepreneurship        Any small     Small, homegrown businesses play an
    Initiative              business,     important role in creating
                               regardless of self-sustaining local economies and
                               type          improving the quality of life in
                                             Appalachia. The Entrepreneurship
                                             Initiative is a multi-year, $31
                                             million effort that seeks to provide
                                             communities with tools to assist
                                             entrepreneurs in starting and
                                             expanding local businesses. Two key
                                             activities of the Initiative include
                                             giving entrepreneurs greater access
                                             to capital and educating and
                                             training entrepreneurs.
    Business Development    Any small     The Business Development Revolving
    Revolving Loan Fund     business,     Loan Fund is a pool of money used by
    Grants                  regardless of an eligible grantee for the purpose
                               type          of making loans to create and/or
                                             retain jobs. As loans are repaid by
                                             the borrowers, the money is returned
                                             to the revolving loan fund to make
                                             other loans that becomes an ongoing
                                             or "revolving" financial tool to
                                             retain and create private-sector
                                             jobs.
    Export Trade Promotion  Any small     Expanding trade opportunities for
                               business,     Appalachian businesses is an
                               regardless of important strategy for increasing
                               type          job opportunities and per capita
                                             income in the Region. The Export
                                             Trade Advisory Council (ETAC)
                                             advises the Commission on trade
                                             policy issues, promotes advocacy in
                                             national and regional venues, and
                                             recommends specific programs for
                                             promoting rural export trade in
                                             Appalachia. The ETAC has initiated a
                                             number of projects designed to help
                                             small and medium-sized Appalachian
                                             businesses increase their export
                                             sales. Its activities include
                                             education and training, market entry
                                             for small and medium-sized firms,
                                             advocacy, and research.
    Asset-Based Development Any business, Appalachian Regional Commission's
    Initiative              regardless of Area Development Program seeks to
                               size or type  augment the Highway Program and
                                             bring more of Appalachia's people
                                             into America's economic mainstream.
                                             The Asset-Based Development
                                             Initiative seeks to help communities
                                             identify and leverage local assets
                                             to create jobs and build prosperity
                                             while preserving the character of
                                             their community. Development
                                             strategies include, among other
                                             things, capitalizing on traditional
                                             arts, culture, and heritage; adding
                                             value to farming through specialized
                                             agricultural development, including
                                             processing specialty food items,
                                             fish farming, and organic farming;
                                             and converting overlooked and
                                             underused facilities into industrial
                                             parks, business incubators, or
                                             educational facilities.

    Table 42: Services Provided by Appalachian Regional Commission Programs by
    Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of Services

                                                    Type of service
                                              Technology  Technical,
                                              development business,
                        Target                  and/or        or             Worker
     Agency and program businesses  Financial deployment  management Export training
     Appalachian Regional Commission
     Telecommunications Any small
     Initiative         business,
                        regardless
                        of type         X          X          X                X
     Entrepreneurship   Any small
     Initiative         business,
                        regardless
                        of type         X                                      X
     Business           Any small
     Development        business,
     Revolving Loan     regardless
     Fund Grants        of type         X                     X
     Export Trade       Any small
     Promotion          business,
                        regardless
                        of type         X          X          X        X
     Asset-Based        Any
     Development        business,
     Initiative         regardless
                        of size or
                        type            X                     X                X

    Source: GAO data.

    Appendix XX: Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center - Programs
    that Offer Services to Small Manufacturers and Types of Services

    Table 43: Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center Programs That
    Offer Services to Small Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing by Agency,
    Target Businesses, and Agency Description of Purpose

    Agency, office, Target
    and program     businesses    Agency description of program purpose
    Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center
    National        Any business, The Robert C. Byrd National Technology
    Technology      regardless of Transfer Center (NTTC), a 501 (c)(3)
    Transfer Center size or type  organization, was established in 1989 to
                                     link U.S. industry with federal laboratories
                                     and universities that have the technologies
                                     facilities and researchers that industry
                                     needs to maximize product development
                                     opportunities. The NTTC provides technology
                                     assessment services and serves its clients
                                     with an experienced professional staff that
                                     includes intellectual-property management
                                     experts, scientists and engineers, computer
                                     information specialists and programmers,
                                     market analysts, Web designers, security
                                     experts, outreach specialists and technology
                                     transfer negotiators. In addition, the NTTC
                                     houses a demonstration and training
                                     laboratory in which software and other
                                     technologies are tested and demonstrated.

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 44: Services Provided by the Robert C. Byrd National Technology
    Transfer Center Programs by Agency, Target Businesses, and Type of
    Services

                                                 Type of service
                                           Technology  Technical,
                                           development business,
    Agency and Target                     and/or        or             Worker
    program    businesses     Financial deployment  management Export training
    Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center
    National   Any business,
    Technology regardless of
    Transfer   size or type
    Center                                   X          X

    Source: GAO data.

    Appendix XXI: Interagency Efforts that Address Concerns of Small
    Businesses and Businesses Regardless of Size and Type

    Table 45: Five Interagency Efforts Address the Concerns of Small
    Businesses, Regardless of Type

    Focus of                                    Description of interagency
    interagency effort Participating agencies   effort
    Coordinate program Twelve participating     The Small Business Innovation
    operations across  agencies including the   Research (SBIR) Program
    multiple agencies  Departments of           Managers Meetings is an
                          Agriculture, Commerce,   interagency effort in which
                          Defense, Education,      program managers from the
                          Energy, Health and Human Small Business Administration
                          Services, Homeland       and the 11 participating SBIR
                          Security, and            agencies meet periodically to
                          Transportation as well   discuss program-related topics
                          as the Environmental     such as operations, approaches
                          Protection Agency, the   to new initiatives, and policy
                          National Aeronautics and changes.
                          Space Administration,
                          the National Science
                          Foundation, and the
                          Small Business
                          Administration.
    Encourage program  Twelve participating     The SBIR/STTR-Where Innovation
    participation by   agencies including the   Focuses Technology (SWIFT) is
    small businesses   Departments of           an interagency effort which
    in selected        Agriculture, Commerce,   outreaches to raise awareness
    geographic areas   Defense, Education,      of the SBIR and Small Business
                          Energy, Health and Human Technology Transfer (STTR)
                          Services, Homeland       programs in areas of the
                          Security, and            country with low participation
                          Transportation as well   in these programs. SWIFT
                          as the Environmental     brings officials from
                          Protection Agency, the   participating agencies to
                          National Aeronautics and state-sponsored conferences to
                          Space Administration,    discuss their research topic
                          the National Science     areas and raise awareness of
                          Foundation, and the      the funding opportunities
                          Small Business           available to entrepreneurs,
                          Administration.          scientists, business owners,
                                                   and others. Federal officials
                                                   may also conduct individual
                                                   meetings at these conferences
                                                   to discuss how small
                                                   businesses compete for SBIR
                                                   funding.
    Enhance            Twelve participating     The Small Business Working
    participation in   agencies including the   Group is a subset of the Chief
    federal            Departments of           Acquisitions Officers Council
    contracting by     Agriculture, Commerce,   (CAOC). The CAOC consists of a
    small businesses   Defense, Education,      diverse group of acquisition
                          Energy, Health and Human professionals in the Executive
                          Services, Homeland       Branch established to provide
                          Security, and            a senior level forum for
                          Transportation, as well  monitoring and improving the
                          as the Environmental     federal acquisition system.
                          Protection Agency,       The CAOC promotes effective
                          National Aeronautics and business practices that ensure
                          Space Administration,    the timely delivery of best
                          National Science         value products and services to
                          Foundation, and Small    the agencies, achieve public
                          Business Administration. policy objectives, and further
                                                   integrity, fairness,
                                                   competition, and openness in
                                                   the federal acquisition
                                                   system. The CAOC works closely
                                                   with the Administrator, Office
                                                   of Federal Procurement Policy,
                                                   and the Federal Acquisition
                                                   Regulatory Council to promote
                                                   these business practices in
                                                   the acquisition system. The
                                                   CAOC is focused on promoting
                                                   the President's Management
                                                   Agenda in all aspects of the
                                                   acquisition system. The CAOC
                                                   also promotes the President's
                                                   specific acquisition-related
                                                   initiatives and policies.
    Enhance            Twenty-five              The Federal Office of Small
    participation in   participating agencies   and Disadvantaged Business
    federal            including the            Utilization (OSDBU) Directors
    contracting by     Departments of:          Interagency Council exchanges
    small socially and Agriculture, Commerce,   information on methods,
    economically       Defense (Air Force,      initiatives, and processes
    disadvantaged      Army, and Navy),         that will permit respective
    businesses         Education, Energy,       agencies to more effectively
                          Health and Human         utilize small businesses in
                          Services, Homeland       prime contracts and
                          Security, Housing and    subcontracts to the maximum
                          Urban Development,       extent practicable. In
                          Interior, Justice,       addition, the Council shall
                          Labor, State,            collectively act in the
                          Transportation,          interest of small businesses
                          Treasury, and Veterans   on federal and national small
                          Affairs; as well as the  business initiatives. More
                          Environmental Protection specifically, the Council
                          Agency, Executive Office disseminates information to
                          of the President,        all OSDBU Directors and their
                          Federal Deposit          staffs, advocates training for
                          Insurance Corporation,   the federal procurement
                          General Services         workforce, and provides a
                          Administration, National forum where officials share
                          Aeronautics and Space    ideas and experiences and work
                          Administration, National with interested groups to
                          Science Foundation,      develop solutions to
                          Nuclear Regulatory       procurement issues that affect
                          Commission, Office of    small businesses. The OSDBU
                          Personnel Management,    Directors Council was
                          Smithsonian Institution, established in the late 1980s
                          and Social Security
                          Administration.
    Expand scope of    Twelve participating     Interagency Network of
    services offered   agencies including 5     Enterprise Assistance
    to small           agencies in the          Providers brings together
    businesses through Department of Commerce   federal agencies to explore
    service centers    (International Trade     the concept, feasibility, and
    the agencies       Administration's Export  framework to develop a
    operate            Assistance Centers,      coordinated network of
                          Economic Development     assistance programs that meets
                          Agency, National         the needs of small businesses
                          Institute of Standards   and manufacturers. Group
                          and Technology's         members meet monthly to learn
                          Manufacturing Extension  about each other's programs
                          Partnership, Minority    and discuss mutually
                          Business Development     beneficial opportunities for
                          Agency, and Office of    pilot collaborations. To date,
                          Intellectual Property    the group has discussed such
                          Rights), the Small       topics as successful export
                          Business                 strategies for small
                          Administration's Small   manufacturers, the development
                          Business Development     of a Web site for the
                          Centers as well as the   coordinated network and
                          Export-Import Bank,      available small business
                          Environmental Protection innovation information.
                          Agency, and the
                          Departments of
                          Agriculture, Defense,
                          Energy, and Labor.

    Source: GAO data.

    Table 46: Nine Interagency Efforts Address the Concerns of All Businesses,
    Regardless of Size or Type

    Focus of                                       Description of interagency
    interagency effort  Participating agencies     effort
    Forum to raise      Twenty-six participating   Recognizing the potential
    bioengineering      agencies including NIH     benefits to human health to
    issues              Institutes Centers and     be realized from applying
                           Offices (National          the field of
                           Institutes for Cancer;     bioengineering, the NIH
                           Biomedical Imaging and     Director formally
                           Bioengineering; Allergy    established the
                           and Infectious Diseases;   Bioengineering Consortium
                           Eye; Heart, Lung, and      (BECON) was an interagency
                           Blood; Aging; Alcohol      group convened by the NIH
                           Abuse and Alcoholism;      Director in February 1997.
                           Arthritis and              BECON is the focus of
                           Musculoskeletal and Skin   bioengineering issues at
                           Diseases; Child Health and the NIH and is composed of
                           Human Development; Drug    senior-level
                           Abuse; Deafness and Other  representatives from each
                           Communication Disorders;   of the NIH centers,
                           Dental and Craniofacial    institutes, and divisions.
                           Research; Diabetes and     The Consortium also
                           Digestive and Kidney       includes representatives of
                           Diseases; Environmental    other federal agencies
                           Health Sciences, General   concerned with biomedical
                           Medical Sciences; Mental   research and development.
                           Health; Neurological       The BECON is administered
                           Disorders and Stroke; NIH  by the National Institute
                           Centers for Scientific     of Biomedical Imaging and
                           Review; Information        Bioengineering at the NIH.
                           Technology; Research
                           Resources; NIH Offices for
                           Intramural Research;
                           Research Services; as well
                           as the Human Genome
                           Research Institute,
                           Clinical Center, and
                           National Library of
                           Medicine), the Department
                           of Energy, National
                           Institute of Standards and
                           Technology in the
                           Department of Commerce,
                           and the National Science
                           Foundation.
    Develop a single    Twenty-two participating   Business Gateway is a
    electronic point of agencies including the     partnership of federal
    contact for federal Departments of             agencies that provide a
    information to help Agriculture, Commerce,     single online access point
    businesses          Defense, Education,        for government services and
                           Energy, Health and Human   information that can help
                           Services, Homeland         businesses, called
                           Security, Housing and      Business.gov. Launched in
                           Urban Development,         2004, Business.gov
                           Interior, Justice, Labor,  initially focused on
                           State, Transportation,     starting, growing and
                           Treasury, and Veteran      financing small businesses.
                           Affairs and the            In October 2006, its focus
                           Environmental Protection   shifted to helping
                           Agency, General Services   businesses comply with
                           Administration, Office of  federal regulations.
                           Personnel Management,
                           National Aeronautics and
                           Space Administration,
                           National Science
                           Foundation, Small Business
                           Administration and Social
                           Security Administration.
    Coordinate efforts  Thirteen participating     Federal Laboratory
    to transfer         agencies including the     Consortium for Technology
    federally developed Departments of             Transfer (FLC), formed in
    technology to the   Agriculture, Commerce,     1974, is a nationwide
    private sector      Defense, Energy, Health    network of federal
                           and Human Services, the    laboratories. FLC provides
                           Interior, Justice,         a forum to develop
                           Transportation, Treasury,  strategies and identify
                           Veterans Affairs, as well  opportunities to link the
                           as the Environmental       laboratories' mission
                           Protection Agency,         technologies and expertise
                           National Aeronautics and   with the marketplace. It
                           Space Administration, and  serves as an interagency
                           National Science           forum to develop and
                           Foundation.                strengthen nationwide
                                                      efforts to transfer
                                                      federally developed
                                                      technology to the private
                                                      sector.
    Coordinate efforts  Eleven participating       The Interagency Working
    to transfer         agencies including the     Group on Technology
    federally developed Departments of             Transfer is a longstanding
    technology to the   Agriculture, Commerce,     interagency effort that
    private sector      Defense, Energy, Health    includes senior policy
                           and Human Services,        officials from most of the
                           Homeland Security,         federal science and
                           Interior, Transportation,  technology agencies. The
                           Veterans Affairs, as well  group's activities are
                           as the Environmental       coordinated through the
                           Protection Agency and      Office of Technology Policy
                           National Aeronautics and   in the Department of
                           Space Administration.      Commerce. The group meets
                                                      monthly to discuss policy
                                                      issues and related topics
                                                      of significant interest to
                                                      the federal laboratory
                                                      technology transfer
                                                      community. One of the
                                                      continuing discussion
                                                      interests over the last
                                                      several years has been the
                                                      extent to which existing
                                                      federal technology transfer
                                                      mechanisms and programs
                                                      work effectively to
                                                      facilitate interaction with
                                                      the private sector in such
                                                      areas as the transfer of
                                                      intellectual property
                                                      rights, cooperative
                                                      research and development
                                                      relationships, and new
                                                      technology development
                                                      activities.
    Share information   Thirteen participating     GIDEP is a cooperative
    on the development  organizations including    activity between government
    of information      the Army, Navy, Air Force, and industry participants
    technology systems  and Defense Logistics      that seek to share
                           Agency in the Department   technical information
                           of Defense, National       during research, design,
                           Aeronautical and Space     development, production and
                           Administration, Department operational phases of the
                           of Energy, Department of   life cycle of systems,
                           Labor, National Institute  facilities and equipment
                           of Standards and           for the development,
                           Technology in the          thereby reducing or
                           Department of and          eliminating expenditures of
                           Commerce, Federal Aviation resources, lowering total
                           Administration, General    ownership cost, and
                           Services Administration,   increasing reliability,
                           National Security Agency,  readiness and safety.
                           U.S. Postal Service, as
                           well as, the Canadian
                           Department of Defense.
    Coordinate efforts  Seven participating        The Multi-Agency Tissue
    on tissue           agencies including the     Engineering Science (MATES)
    engineering         National Institute of      Interagency Working Group
                           Standards and Technology   helps keep federal agencies
                           in the Department of       involved in tissue
                           Commerce, Department of    engineering informed of
                           Energy, Defense Advanced   each other's activities and
                           Research Projects Agency   helps the agencies better
                           in the Department of       coordinate their efforts in
                           Defense, two agencies in   this rapidly growing field.
                           the Department of Health   The MATES Interagency
                           and Human Services (Food   Working Group was organized
                           and Drug Administration    under the auspices of the
                           and National Institutes of Subcommittee on
                           Health), the National      Biotechnology of the
                           Aeronautics and Space      National Science and
                           Administration, and the    Technology Council.
                           National Science
                           Foundation.
    Coordinate federal  Twenty-eight federal       The National Nanotechnology
    nano-technology and agencies participate in    Initiative (NNI) is a
    nano-science        the NNI including the      federal research and
    related research    Office of Science          development (R&D) program
    and development     Technology Policy, Office  established to coordinate
    (R&D) efforts       of Management and Budget,  multi-agency efforts in
                           Consumer Product Safety    nanoscale science,
                           Commission, Environmental  engineering, and
                           Protection Agency,         technology. Thirteen
                           Intelligence Technology    participating agencies have
                           Innovation Center,         an R&D budget for
                           International Trade        nanotechnology. Other
                           Commission, National       Federal organizations
                           Aeronautics and Space      contribute with studies,
                           Administration, National   applications for the
                           Science Foundation,        results from agencies that
                           Nuclear Regulatory         perform R&D, and other
                           Commission, two agencies   collaborations. The NNI is
                           within the Department of   managed within the
                           Agriculture (Cooperative   framework of the National
                           State Research Extension   Science and Technology
                           and Education Service and  Council, the Cabinet-level
                           Forest Service), the       council that coordinates
                           Department of Defense,     science, space, and
                           four agencies within the   technology policies across
                           Department of Commerce     the federal government. In
                           (Bureau of Industry and    addition to funding
                           Security, National         research, federal support
                           Institute of Standards and through the NNI provides
                           Technology, Technology     crucial funds for the
                           Administration, and U.S.   creation of university and
                           Patent and Trademark       government nanoscale R&D
                           Office), the Departments   laboratories, and helps
                           of Education and Energy,   educate the workforce
                           three agencies within the  necessary for the future of
                           Department of Health and   nanotechnology. The NNI
                           Human Services (Food and   also plays a key role in
                           Drug Administration,       fostering
                           National Institutes of     cross-disciplinary networks
                           Health, and National       and partnerships, and
                           Institute for Occupational disseminating information.
                           Safety and Health), one    Finally, it enables small
                           agency within Department   businesses to pursue
                           of the Interior (U.S.      opportunities offered by
                           Geological Survey), and    nanotechnology, and
                           the Departments of         encourages all levels of
                           Homeland Security,         business to exploit those
                           Justice, Labor, State,     opportunities.
                           Transportation, and
                           Treasury.
    Develop and build   Six participating agencies Commerce has a leading role
    acceptance of       within the Department of   within the federal
    standards for a new Commerce including the     government to ensure that
    technology          Technology Administration, RFID is understood, that
                           the National Institute of  both industry and consumer
                           Standards and Technology,  concerns and views are
                           the National               heard, and that accurate
                           Telecommunications and     information about the
                           Information                features and abilities of
                           Administration, the        RFID are disseminated.
                           International Trade
                           Administration, the
                           Economics and Statistics
                           Administration and the
                           U.S. Patent and Trademark
                           Office.
    Streamline federal  Twenty participating       The Trade Promotion
    export services     agencies including the     Coordinating Committee
                           Departments of             (TPCC) is composed of all
                           Agriculture, Commerce,     the federal government's
                           Defense, Energy, Homeland  agencies involved in export
                           Security, Interior, Labor, promotion. The present TPCC
                           Transportation, and        was formed in 1993 by
                           Treasury, and the Council  Executive Order No. 12870,
                           of Economic Advisors,      58 Fed. Reg. 51753 (Sept.
                           Environmental Protection   30, 1993), pursuant to the
                           Agency, Export-Import Bank Export Enhancement Act of
                           of the United States,      1992, Pub. L. No. 102-429 S
                           National Economic Council, 201, 106 Stat. 2186 (Oct.
                           National Security Council, 21, 1992); 15 U.S.C. S
                           Office of Management and   4727. The Trade Promotion
                           Budget, Overseas Private   Coordinating Committee
                           Investment Corporation,    (TPCC) is composed of all
                           Small Business             the federal government's
                           Administration, U.S.       agencies involved in export
                           Agency for International   promotion. The Secretary of
                           Development, U.S. Trade    Commerce is the designated
                           and Development Agency,    chairperson. The TPCC is
                           and United States Trade    mandated to streamline
                           Representative.            export programs, leverage
                                                      resources across agencies,
                                                      develop a national export
                                                      strategy, and report
                                                      annually to Congress.
                                                      Recent initiatives include
                                                      joint marketing such as
                                                      Export.gov; joint training
                                                      such as the TPCC
                                                      Interagency Trade Officer
                                                      Training Program; program
                                                      integration such as through
                                                      the Small Business
                                                      Administration and
                                                      Export-Import Bank
                                                      Co-Guarantee Program;
                                                      strategic partnerships to
                                                      broaden business outreach,
                                                      such as with states,
                                                      associations, and corporate
                                                      partners; and coordination
                                                      in priority markets, such
                                                      as in key emerging markets.

    Source: GAO data.

    Appendix XXII: Studies of Programs that Support Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing

    List of Studies

    Studies on Programs at the Department of Commerce

    Davila, Natalie A. "Evaluating Manufacturing Extension: A Multidimensional
    Approach." Economic Development Quarterly. Vol. 18, no. 3 (2004): 286-302.

    Ehlen, Mark A. "The Economic Impact of Manufacturing Extension Centers."
    Economic Development Quarterly. Vol. 15, no. 1 (2001): 36-44.

    Feldman, Maryann P., and Maryellen R. Kelley. "Leveraging Research and
    Development: Assessing the Impact of the U.S. Advanced Technology
    Program." Small Business Economics. Vol. 20, no. 2 (2003): 153-165.

    Commerce Information Technology Solutions Next Generation Governmentwide
    Acquisition Contract. [49]GAO-06-791R . Washington, D.C.: June 14, 2006.

    Trade Adjustment Assistance: Experiences of Six Trade-Impacted
    Communities. [50]GAO-01-838 . Washington, D.C.: August 24, 2001.

    Trade Adjustment Assistance: Impact of Federal Assistance to Firms Is
    Unclear. [51]GAO-01-12 . Washington, D.C.: December 15, 2000.

    Reeder et al. The National Institute of Standards and Technology's
    Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program - Report 1: Re-examining the
    Core Premise of the MEP Program. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of
    Public Administration, 2003.

    Shapira, Philip. "US Manufacturing Extension Partnerships: Technology
    Policy Reinvented?" Research Policy. Vol. 30 (2001): 977-992.

    Voytek, Kenneth P., Karen L. Lellock, and Mark A. Schmit. "Developing
    Performance Metrics for Science and Technology Programs: The Case of the
    Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program." Economic Development
    Quarterly. Vol. 18, no. 2 (2004): 174-185.

    Studies on Programs at the Department of Defense

    Ahmad, Mohamad, Radostin Krastev, and Arkadiusz Puciato. Military Business
    Success. MBA Professional Report. Monterey, CA: Naval Postgraduate School,
    2004.

    Contract Management: Benefits of the DoD Mentor-Protege Program Are Not
    Conclusive. [52]GAO-01-767 . Washington, D.C.: July 19, 2001.

    Defense Commissaries: Additional Small Business Opportunities Should Be
    Explored. [53]GAO-03-160 . Washington, D.C.: December 12, 2002.

    Defense Manufacturing Technology Program: More Joint Projects and Tracking
    of Results Could Benefit Program. [54]GAO-01-943 . Washington, D.C.:
    September 28, 2001.

    Green, Gregory Sean. Army Small Business Innovation Research: A Survey of
    Phase II Awardees. Thesis. Monterey, CA: Naval Postgraduate School, 2001.

    Peete, Danny A., and Paul J. Componation. "Predicting USMC SBIR Phase I to
    II Transition Success by Evaluating Use of Systems Engineering
    Capabilities." Engineering Management Journal. Vol. 15, no. 3 (2003):
    21-27.

    Studies on Programs at the Department of Energy

    Department of Energy: Achieving Small Business Prime Contracting Goals
    Involves Both Potential Benefits and Risks. [55]GAO-04-738T . Washington,
    D.C.: May 18, 2004.

    DOE Contracting: Improved Program Management Could Help Achieve Small
    Business Goal. [56]GAO-06-501 . Washington, D.C.: April 7, 2006.

    Small Business Participation in the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Project.
    GAO-05-860R. Washington, D.C.: August 4, 2005.

    Technology Transfer: Several Factors Have Led to a Decline in Partnerships
    at DOE's Laboratories. [57]GAO-02-465 . Washington, D.C.: April 19, 2002.

    Study on Programs at the Department of Health and Human Services

    Toole, Andrew A., and Dirk Czarnitzki. Biomedical Academic
    Entrepreneurship Through the SBIR Program. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau
    of Economic Research, 2005.

    Study on Programs at the Department of Transportation

    Disadvantaged Business Enterprises: Critical Information Is Needed to
    Understand Program Impact. [58]GAO-01-586 . Washington, D.C.: June 1,
    2001.

    Studies on Programs at the Appalachian Regional Commission

    Greenwood Consulting Group, Inc. A Survey of Business Incubators in
    Appalachia. A report prepared at the request of the Appalachian Regional
    Commission. July 2005.

    Plishker, Laurie, Gary Silverstein, and Joy Frechtling. Evaluation of the
    Appalachian Regional Commission's Vocational Education and Workforce
    Training Projects. A report prepared by Westat at the request of the
    Appalachian Regional Commission. January 2002.

    Study on Programs at the Export-Import Bank

    Export-Import Bank: Changes Would Improve the Reliability of Reporting on
    Small Business Financing. [59]GAO-06-351 . Washington, D.C.: March 3,
    2006.

    Studies on Programs at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

    Archibald, Robert B., and David H. Finifter. "Evaluating the NASA small
    business innovation research program: preliminary evidence of a trade-off
    between commercialization and basic research." Research Policy. Vol. 32,
    no. 4 (2003): 605-619.

    U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Commercial Technology
    Division. Office of Aerospace Technology. NASA SBIR Program: Commercial
    Metrics. Washington, D.C.: 2002.

    Studies on Programs at the Small Business Administration

    Major Management Challenges and Program Risks: Small Business
    Administration. [60]GAO-03-116 . Washington, D.C.: January 1, 2003.

    SBA Disaster Loan Program: Accounting Anomalies Resolved but Additional
    Steps Would Improve Long-Term Reliability of Cost Estimates.
    [61]GAO-05-409 . Washington, D.C.: April 14, 2005.

    Small Business: HUBZone Program Suffers From Reporting and Implementation
    Difficulties. [62]GAO-02-57 . Washington, D.C.: October 26, 2001.

    Small Business: More Transparency Needed in Prime Contract Goal Program.
    [63]GAO-01-551 . Washington, D.C.: August 1, 2001.

    Small Business: Status of Small Disadvantaged Business Certifications.
    GAO-01-273. Washington, D.C.: January 19, 2001.

    Small Business Administration: Actions Needed to Provide More Timely
    Disaster Assistance. [64]GAO-06-860 . Washington, D.C.: July 28, 2006.

    Small Business Administration: Disaster Loan Program. [65]GAO-02-210R .
    Washington, D.C.: November 16, 2001.

    Small Business Administration: Improvements Made, but Loan Programs Face
    Ongoing Management Challenges. [66]GAO-06-605T . Washington, D.C.: April
    6, 2006.

    Small Business Administration: Management Practices Have Improved for the
    Women's Business Center Program. [67]GAO-01-791R . Washington, D.C.: June
    13, 2001.

    Small Business Administration: Model for 7(a) Program Subsidy Had
    Reasonable Equations, but Inadequate Documentation Hampered External
    Reviews. [68]GAO-04-9 . Washington, D.C.: March 31, 2004.

    Small Business Administration: New Service for Lender Oversight Reflects
    Some Best Practices, but Strategy for Use Lags Behind. [69]GAO-04-610 .
    Washington, D.C.: June 8, 2004.

    Small Business Administration: Observations on the Disaster Loan Program.
    [70]GAO-03-721T . Washington, D.C.: May 1, 2003.

    Small Business Administration: Response to September 11 Victims and
    Performance Measures for Disaster Lending. [71]GAO-03-385 . Washington,
    D.C.: January 29, 2003.

    Small Business Administration: Section 7(a) General Business Loans Credit
    Subsidy Estimates. [72]GAO-01-1095R . Washington, D.C.: August 21, 2001.

    Small Business Administration: SBA Followed Appropriate Policies and
    Procedures for September 11 Disaster Loan Applications. [73]GAO-04-885 .
    Washington, D.C.: August 31, 2004.

    Small Business Administration: Small Business Government Contracting
    Programs; Subcontracting. [74]GAO-05-268R . Washington, D.C.: January 24,
    2005.

    Small Business Administration: The Commercial Marketing Representative
    Role Needs to Be Strategically Planned and Assessed. [75]GAO-03-54 .
    Washington, D.C.: November 1, 2002.

    Waivers of the Small Business Administration's Nonmanufacturer Rule Have
    Limited Effect. [76]GAO-03-311R . Washington, D.C.: December 19, 2002.

    Ong, Paul M. "Set-aside contracting in SBA's 8(a) program." The Review of
    Black Political Economy. Vol. 28, no. 3 (2001): 59-71.

    Studies on Programs at Multiple Agencies

    Anonymous. "Analyzing SBIR." Regulation Magazine. Vol. 23, no. 4 (2000):
    14-15.

    Audretsch, David B., Juergen Weigand, and Claudia Weigand. "The Impact of
    the SBIR on Creating Entrepreneurial Behavior." Economic Development
    Quarterly. Vol. 16, no. 1 (2002): 32-38.

    Contract Management: Impact of Strategy to Mitigate Effects of Contract
    Bundling on Small Business Is Uncertain. [77]GAO-04-454 . Washington,
    D.C.: May 27, 2004.

    Export Promotion: Government Agencies Should Combine Small Business Export
    Training Programs. [78]GAO-01-1023 . Washington, D.C.: September 21, 2001.

    Export Promotion: Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee's Role Remains
    Limited. [79]GAO-06-660T . Washington, D.C.: April 26, 2006.

    Federal Procurement: Trends and Challenges in Contracting With Women-Owned
    Small Businesses. [80]GAO-01-346 . Washington, D.C.: February 16, 2001.

    Federal Research: Observations on the Small Business Innovation Research
    Program. [81]GAO-05-861T . Washington, D.C.: June 28, 2005.

    Federal Research and Development: Contributions to and Results of the
    Small Business Technology Transfer Program. [82]GAO-01-867T . Washington,
    D.C.: June 21, 2001.

    Federal Research and Development: Contributions to and Results of the
    Small Business Technology Transfer Program. [83]GAO-01-766R . Washington,
    D.C.: June 4, 2001.

    Information on the Number of Small Business Set-Asides Issued and
    Successfully Challenged. [84]GAO-03-242R . Washington, D.C.: November 1,
    2002.

    International Trade: Experts' Advice for Small Businesses Seeking Foreign
    Patents. [85]GAO-03-910 . Washington, D.C.: June 26, 2003.

    Small and Disadvantaged Businesses: Most Agency Advocates View Their Roles
    Similarly. [86]GAO-04-451 . Washington, D.C.: March 22, 2004.

    Small Business Contracting: Concerns About the Administration's Plan to
    Address Contract Bundling Issues. [87]GAO-03-559T . Washington, D.C.:
    March 18, 2003.

    Small Business Innovation Research: Agencies Need to Strengthen Efforts to
    Improve the Completeness, Consistency, and Accuracy of Awards Data.
    [88]GAO-07-38 . Washington, D.C.: October 19, 2006.

    Small Business Subcontracting Report Validation Can Be Improved.
    GAO-02-166R. Washington, D.C.: December 13, 2001.

    Pretorius, Jacob V.R., and Christopher L. Magee. "Observations on
    collaborative practices and relative success of small
    technology-innovating firms supported by the US SBIR initiative."
    Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management. Vol. 5, nos. 1/2 (2005): 4-19.

    van der Vlist, Arno, Shelby Gerking, and Henk Folmer. "What Determines the
    Success of States in Attracting SBIR Awards?" Economic Development
    Quarterly. Vol. 18, no. 1 (2004): 81-90.

    Appendix XXIII: GAO Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments

    GAO Contact

    Anu Mittal, 202-512-3841 or mittala@gao.gov

    Staff Acknowledgments

    In addition to the contact named above, Cheryl Williams, (Assistant
    Director); Stephen Cleary; Bernice Dawson; Holly Gerhart; Cindy Gilbert;
    Nicole Harris; Matt Michaels; Rosario Montemayor; Alison O'Neill; and
    Jerome Sandau made key contributions to this report.

    (360715)

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    Highlights of [97]GAO-07-714 , a report to congressional requesters

    May 2007

    SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    Information on Federal Programs and Interagency Efforts That Support Small
    Businesses Engaged in Manufacturing

    Small businesses engaged in manufacturing, typically those with 500 or
    fewer employees, comprise about 90 percent of all U.S. manufacturers and
    employ 6 million workers. Recent studies have shown that small
    manufacturing businesses face a number of challenges in their efforts to
    remain competitive, including the inability to obtain operating and
    investment capital, a lack of familiarity with new business practices, and
    difficulty in finding independent advice and skilled employees. To help
    these businesses overcome such challenges, many federal agencies provide
    financial and nonfinancial technical services through targeted or general
    programs or create interagency work groups to better coordinate their
    efforts and more effectively support these businesses.

    In this context, GAO identified (1) federal programs that provide services
    to support small businesses engaged in manufacturing and (2) federal
    interagency efforts that focus on issues of concern to small manufacturing
    businesses. To identify these programs and efforts, GAO obtained
    documentation from 19 federal agencies.

    In commenting on a draft of this report, 18 of the 19 agencies made
    technical comments that we have incorporated as appropriate.

    GAO is not making recommendations in this report.

    GAO identified 254 federal programs that provide services to support the
    business sector, of which 5 provide services specifically to small
    businesses engaged in manufacturing and an additional 15 target
    manufacturers, regardless of their size. Seven of the 20 programs had data
    on the level of services provided to small manufacturing businesses, and
    between fiscal years 2004 through 2006 these programs provided over $35
    million and served from about 8,000 small manufacturing businesses in 2004
    to over 9,000 in 2006. The 5 programs that target small businesses engaged
    in manufacturing provide primarily nonfinancial technical assistance to
    help firms improve the efficiency of their manufacturing operations and
    their quality control processes as well as to solve specific manufacturing
    problems. These 5 programs also offer small manufacturing businesses
    general assistance with their strategic and business planning, accounting
    and financing, and sales and marketing. In addition, 1 of the 5 programs
    offers financial assistance. Of the 15 programs that provide services to
    manufacturers, regardless of their size, 9 offer only nonfinancial
    services similar to the 5 that target small manufacturing firms, and 6
    also provide financial services. Small businesses engaged in manufacturing
    also can obtain services from 127 other federal programs that are
    available to all small businesses, regardless of their business type. Many
    of these programs provide general business and management services, and
    about 35 percent also offer financial services, such as loans or grants.
    Finally, small manufacturing businesses can obtain general business,
    export, and financial services from an additional 107 federal programs
    designed to help the business sector in general, regardless of the size or
    type of the business involved. Because not all of these programs gather
    data on the size of the businesses they serve, it is unclear how many
    small manufacturing firms received services from these general programs.

    GAO identified 20 federal interagency efforts that focus on supporting the
    business sector. Of these 20 efforts, 4 were created specifically to focus
    on the challenges that small businesses engaged in manufacturing face, and
    2 were created to focus on issues relevant to manufacturers in general,
    regardless of their size. The agencies involved in 3 of the 4 interagency
    efforts that focus on the concerns of small manufacturing businesses
    collaborate to expand and coordinate their services through national
    networks of technical assistance centers. The 4^th effort involves efforts
    to help small manufacturing businesses improve the efficiency of their
    operations. The 2 interagency efforts that focus on issues relevant to
    manufacturers in general focus on developing strategies to improve the
    competitiveness of manufacturers and resolving issues associated with
    manufacturing-related research and development policies, programs, and
    budgets. The remaining 14 interagency efforts that GAO identified focus on
    the concerns of small businesses or of all businesses in general, which
    may include some issues that also are of concern to small manufacturing
    businesses.

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