Report: Small Business, Acquisition, And Project Management printable pdf download

Report: Small Business, Acquisition, And Project Management

: S

, A

EPORT

MALL

USINESS

CQUISITION

AND

ROJECT

ANAGEMENT

Background

In FY 2007 EMAB was tasked to dialogue with the Office of Acquisition and Project

Management (EM-50) on the topic of Small Business and provide advice and

recommendations drawn from EMAB members’ experience in commercial industry.

Additionally, EMAB continued to review and discuss the topics of Acquisition and

Project Management during its public meetings and in exchanges with EM senior

personnel.

Discussion

In FY 2006, EM’s small business prime contract goal of $208 million was exceeded by

well over $100 million. The FY 2007 goal was $198 million, and once again, the

program was poised to exceed that mark. Statistically, EM’s execution of its small

business acquisition strategy is commendable; however, EMAB has a number of

concerns regarding the selectivity and complexity of the program’s small business

contracts.

EM’s small business selection process should be rigorous and address whether the

eligible organizations possess effective quality assurance programs, core competencies,

histories, and bench strength to successfully and safely execute EM’s projects on time

and on budget. The Board believes that EM will benefit in the long-term by

implementing right-sizing practices in its small business selection to ensure that the

chosen organizations are a good fit for the work they propose to execute. Allowing a

company of 500 people to take on an award that requires 1,000 may ask too much for an

organization, regardless of whether its management and shareholders are desirous.

EMAB plans to continue discussions on the concepts of right-sizing and selectivity with

the EM-50 staff throughout FY 2008.

With regard to the greater topics of Acquisition and Project Management, the Board

commends Assistant Secretary Rispoli and Deputy Assistant Secretary Jack Surash,

EM-50, for their leadership and numerous acquisition achievements.

During the Board’s March 2007 meeting, Mr. Surash reported that his office was working

to streamline EM’s acquisition processes for handling contract changes, specifically with

regard to their review, approval, and thresholds or levels of authorization. The Board

will continue to monitor progress in this area and provide advice and support in order to

bring the critical matters of classical changes in scope, site conditions, and agreements

with stakeholders up to date. As EM works to improve similar acquisition processes, the

Board emphasizes the need for EM to also proactively hold contractors accountable and

use lessons-learned to achieve its objectives.

Report: Small Business, Acquisition, And Project Management

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