9th Annual Small and Disadvantaged Business Virtual Matchmaking Event
August 16, 2023
President Biden announced a bold goal of increasing the share of contracts designated to small, disadvantage businesses by 50% (by the year 2025). This is an unprecedented goal, one that is intended to translate to an additional $100B to small disadvantaged businesses over the next two years. Executive Order 13985 directs agencies like the FAA to make contracting opportunities more readily available to eligible firms, while removing barriers faced by under-served individuals and communities.
The FAA and the Aeronautical Center have been instrumental in making dedicated commitments to Small and Disadvantaged Businesses. Gerald Lewis kicked off the event and Marvin Poindexter, Director of the Acquisition Policy and Oversight Office provided opening remarks. Kevin O’Connor, Deputy Director of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center welcomed participants to the event, informing attendees about the Center’s business operations. "Most of our procurement and contracting activities are in the form of various support services, National Airspace System sustainment activities, construction and renovation, security, facility maintenance, and human factors research," explained O’Connor.
Participants in the event were required to complete a Buyer Profile/Template from Govmates, a woman-owned small business. Once completed, this information will be used to match a small business with the capabilities and expertise that best fits the mission requirements of the agency. The Small and Disadvantaged Business Virtual Matchmaking Event was scheduled to work in 15-minute increments so that businesses can be best-matched with the needs of the FAA.
The FAA as a whole – each year – on average handles 16,700 contract actions for more than $4.8 billion in goods and services. A significant number of their procurements and contracts have historically been performed by Small and Disadvantaged Businesses.
At the Aeronautical Center alone – the average annual total contract expenditures are in the $500M range. In FY-22, $641M was spent, ($346M or 54%) of those dollars went to small businesses; and ($221M or 34%) went to Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs). The agency’s small business goal is 25%, and the SDB goal is 13% respectively. And for the past 11 years, the FAA has exceeded all of its Small Business Goals -- including Women-Owned, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned, and Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Owned Small Business.