The Director, Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and the Directors of OSBP from the Army, Air Force, and Navy visited Capitol Hill March 22 to brief the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support on their specific offices and to discuss the DoD Small Business Strategy and the decline in small business participation from the defense industrial base.
DD witnesses Ms. Kimberly Buehler, Director OSBP, United States Army; Mr. Farooq Mitha, Director, Office of SBP, D of; Mr. Jimmy Smith, Director OSBP, Department of the Navy and Mr. Scott Kiser, Director, OSBP, Department of the Air Force met with seven members of the subcommittee and were asked a myriad of questions on their interactions with small businesses to the success of the Mentor Protégé and Small Business Innovative Research(SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer(STTR) Programs to why there has been a decline in small business participation in OSBP programs.
Both Subcommittee Chairman Sen. Mazie Hirono and the Ranking Member Sen. Dan Sullivan expressed concern with the decline in small business participation among the OSBP’s and asked what circumstances caused this trend. Both agree the lack of small businesses limits opportunity and innovation and increases acquisition costs.
Sen. Sullivan focused on the decline in small businesses operating within the DoD, acknowledging the complexity and bureaucracy involved in dealing with the Department. He also asked about what the services are doing to deepen relationships with 8(a) contractors (Native Americans/Alaskan Native Corporations/Small Disadvantage Businesses).
Sen. Hirono emphasized that service members and the military community must have the support needed to defend our nation. Chair Hirono asked the witnesses to highlight the vital work of small businesses and the approach each service is taking to encourage participation. She also questioned whether the SBIR and STTR programs are being utilized to its full capacities.
Other senators taking part in the hearing included Sens. Tim Kaine, Richard Blumenthal, Deb Fischer, Tommy Tuberville and Markwayne Mullin.
Social Sharing