Federal Subcontracting: Linking Small Business Subcontractors to Prime Contracts Is Not Feasible Using Current Systems
Abstract
In fiscal year 2013 the federal government awarded about $460 billion on contracts, many of which involve subcontracts. Federal regulations require prime contractors to report on their subcontracting with small businesses. The Joint Explanatory Statement for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 mandated that GAO review the feasibility of linking small business subcontractors to particular prime contracts when there is a subcontracting plan that pertains to multiple contracts. This report (1) assesses the feasibility of using contract reporting systems to link small business subcontractors to particular contracts and (2) identifies actions executive agencies are taking that might help facilitate linking small business subcontractors to prime contracts. To address these objectives, GAO reviewed four government-wide contract reporting systems and extracted data using contract information from previously reviewed defense programs to attempt to link small business subcontractors to prime contracts. In addition, GAO met with officials who are responsible for the management of, or are users of, the contract systems to validate the methodologies used and determine actions being taken to facilitate linking small business subcontractors to prime contracts. GAO is not making any recommendations in this report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- AD1176458
Entities
People
- J. K. Keener
- James R. Jr Sweetman
- John Crawford
- John Kump
- Julia Kennon
- Ozzy Trevino
- Peter Anderson
- Ramzi Nemo
- Willliam T Woods
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office