MEMORANDUM
FOR THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
FROM:
Sally
Katzen
Deputy Director for Management
SUBJECT:
Executive
Order 13157, "Increasing Opportunities for Women-Owned Small
Businesses"
Pursuant to
Section 4 of Executive Order 13157, entitled "Other Responsibilities
of Federal Agencies," each federal agency is required to designate
a Senior Acquisition Official who will work with the Small Business
Administration (SBA) to identify and promote contracting opportunities
for women-owned small business (WOSB) firms. The designated individual
should be at a sufficient level within the organization to affect
the acquisition strategy relative to procurement opportunities.
In addition, your agency is strongly encouraged to establish similar
positions at subordinate commands or activity levels.
To achieve
the expectations of the Executive Order, it is recommended that
at least the following responsibilities be incorporated in the role
of the Senior Acquisition Official:
Develop
an Agency-wide long term WOSB strategic plan;
Implement
special initiatives, including outreach, training, and technical
assistance efforts to enhance WOSB participation in prime contracting
and subcontracting opportunities;
Evaluate
the prime contracts and subcontract awards to WOSB concerns;
Serve as
the Agency liaison with the Assistant Administrator for the Office
of Federal Contract Assistance for Women Business Owners (CAWBO)
at the SBA;
Serve as
a resource to the Director, Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Office in review and development of acquisitions that enhance
opportunities for WOSB concerns; and
Report agency
progress in implementing the Executive Order on a semi-annual
basis to the Assistant Administrator of the Federal CAWBO at the
SBA.
Please provide
the name of your Senior Acquisition Official by November 30, 2000,
to the following address:
U.S.
Small Business Administration
Attn: Luz Hopewell, Associate Administrator for Government Contracting
409 Third Street, SW
Washington, DC 20416
Attachment
Attachment
Pursuant to
Section 4 of Executive Order 13157, Departments and Agencies are
required to take specific steps in working with the SBA to enhance
procurement opportunities for women-owned small businesses. Accordingly,
SBA requests that each Department/Agency report the following information
on a semi-annual basis. SBA will develop and provide to each reporting
Department and Agency an interactive reporting system to simplify
reporting and increase accuracy and timeliness of reports.
Reporting
requirements shall include the following:
Policies
and procedures in place that require contracting officers to include
WOSBs in competitive acquisitions.
Agency tracking
procedures for contracting activity with WOSBs.
Implementation
of mentor-protégé programs, which include WOSB firms.
Industry-wide
as well as industry-specific outreach, training and technical
assistance programs for WOSBs offered.
Training
and technical assistance programs for WOSBs.
Use of government
acquisitions forecasts to assist WOSBs in developing their products,
skills, business planning practices and marketing techniques.
Steps taken
to develop procedures to increase compliance by prime contractors
with subcontracting plans involving WOSBs.
Number of
contract actions and total contracting dollars awarded to WOSBs
for the last FY.
Status of
meeting WOSB goal for current FY.
Steps Department/Agency
have taken to consult with and seek information and advice from
state and local governments, WOSBs, other private-sector partners,
and other experts in developing the long-term comprehensive strategies.
