“GSA, along with more than 90 federal agencies, unveiled its equity plan on Thursday. GSA’s plan highlighted the role it plays in overseeing $75 billion worth of annual contracts and said it plans to center its equity efforts on three areas: federal procurement, federal buildings and federal technology design and delivery.
The plan identifies five major barriers impacting small, disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) from achieving equitable outcomes in the federal marketplace, including the lack of a centralized portal for opportunities in which new entrants can assess potential awards. A lack of resources and knowledge around the complexities of navigating and complying with federal procurement requirements also impacts SDBs in winning task or delivery orders, according to GSA…”
“’This plan lays out how GSA intends to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility as a priority in everything we do, from delivering projects to designing websites,’ said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. ‘For government to work, it needs to work for everyone. That’s why we’re focused on improving how we at GSA, and our federal partners, can improve how we deliver services to all of America’s communities.’
GSA also says it will award all remaining cohorts for 8(a) STARS III, Polaris and women-owned small business pools this year, part of an effort to support the White House goal of increasing federal contract spending on SDBs by 50% over five years. Last month, the agency announced a four-fold increase in its contracting opportunity goals for SDBs from the year prior…” Read the full article here.
Source: Federal procurement featured in new equity action plans – By Chris Riotta, April 14, 2022. FCW.
