WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - February 01, 2016) - Beginning February 1, 2016, the federal definition of what qualifies as a small business has changed. These U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)-approved changes revise the number of employees a business can have and still be "small" and also how much a for-profit can be worth and still qualify for small business loans and federal contract set-asides.
To remain compliant with the 2010 Small Business Jobs Act, the SBA evaluated employee-based size standards for 364 industries in three manufacturing sectors of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), along with 57 wholesale and retail trade industries.
"The new size standards will enable nearly 1,650 more businesses in those industries to obtain or retain small business status; will give federal agencies a larger pool of small businesses from which to choose for their procurement programs; and will make more small businesses eligible for SBA's loan programs," SBA said in a release.
With these changes, the SBA increases size standards for 209 industries, increased employee-based size standards for 30 industries and three exceptions, and decreased these standards for three industries that are not in the classification system. The SBA also added a requirement that the supply (i.e., computer hardware and software) component of small business set-aside Information Technology Value Added Resellers contracts comply with the nonmanufacturing performance requirements. For these businesses, having 150 employees or less qualifies them as small businesses.
"[The] SBA estimates that more than 8,400 additional businesses will gain small business status under the adjusted size standards and become eligible for SBA's financial and federal government procurement programs," the agency said. "These changes can possibly lead to $150 million to $200 million in additional federal contracts and 80 additional loans, totaling about $30 million, to small businesses."
The SBA advised businesses that may now be eligible to qualify as a small business to recertify themselves on the System for Award Management (SAM). US Federal Contractor Registration, the world's largest third-party government registration firm, can help businesses recertify as "small," based on these rule changes. Once recertified, these businesses are eligible to bid on contracts set-aside for small businesses. Government agencies must set aside 23% of all contracts for small businesses, and businesses that also meet specific socioeconomic criteria are eligible to bid on even more of these set-aside contracts.
The Small Business Act "states that unless specifically authorized by statute, no other federal department or agency may prescribe a size standard for categorizing a business concern as a small business concern, unless such proposed size standard meets certain criteria and is approved by the administrator of SBA."
For more information, or for help recertifying as a small business, call US Federal Contractor Registration at 877-252-2700.
Contact Information:
US Federal Contractor Registration
877-252-2700