Legislation seeks to reform business-program standards

A recently introduced bill aims to reform the standards used for the Department of General Services’ (DGS) Small and Disadvantaged Business Program.

The program provides small and disadvantaged businesses with specialized considerations. These considerations include targeted outreach by procurement officials, access to business assistance offices within agencies, and alternative bonding and progress payments.

Businesses must have a 100-employee limit to qualify. The bill would allow the DGS to set maximum employee limits according to industry.

“The blanket 100-employee limit is not rational for every industry. For certain industries, a 100-employee business is very large; in others, it is very small,” Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana), who introduced the bill, said. “Reforming these employee limits would allow DGS take this into account when determining eligibility for this program, which will help these businesses succeed by making them eligible for more programs and assistance.”

The bill also would re-establish DGS’ authority to promote regulations for the Veteran-Owned Small Business Program.

Reps. Mark M. Gillen (R-Berks/Lancaster counties), Louis C. Schmitt Jr. (R-Blair County) and David H. Zimmerman (R-Lancaster County) cosponsored the bill.

DGS oversees the procurement of goods and services for the state government and maintains and protects buildings owned by the state.