Improving Small Business Advocacy Act of 2016

To amend the Small Business Act to clarify the responsibilities of Business Opportunity Specialists, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Small Business Advocacy Act of 2016 2. Responsibilities of Business Opportunity Specialists Section 4(g) of the Small Business Act (as added by section 865 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 ( Public Law 114–92 (1) in the subsection heading, by striking Certification requirements for (2) in paragraph (2), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively (and conforming the margins accordingly); (3) by amending clause (ii) (as so redesignated) to read as follows: (B) Application The requirements of clause (i) shall be included in any initial job posting for the position of a Business Opportunity Specialist and shall apply to any person appointed as a Business Opportunity Specialist after January 3, 2013. ; (4) in clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking paragraph (1) subparagraph (A) (5) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively (and conforming the margins accordingly); (6) in subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by striking paragraph (2) subparagraph (B) (7) by inserting before subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated) the following: (1) Duties The exclusive duties of a Business Opportunity Specialist employed by the Administrator and reporting to the senior official appointed by the Administrator with responsibilities under sections 8, 15, 31, and 36 (or the designee of such official) shall be to implement sections 7, 8, and 45 and to complete other duties related to contracting programs under this Act. Such duties shall include— (A) with respect to small business concerns eligible to receive contracts and subcontracts pursuant to section 8(a)— (i) providing guidance, counseling, and referrals for assistance with technical, management, financial, or other matters that will improve the competitive viability of such concerns; (ii) identifying causes of success or failure of such concerns; (iii) providing comprehensive assessments of such concerns, including identifying the strengths and weaknesses of such concerns; (iv) monitoring and documenting compliance with the requirements of sections 7 and 8 and any regulations implementing those sections; (v) explaining the requirements of sections 7, 8, 15, 31, 36 and 45; and (vi) advising on compliance with contracting regulations (including the Federal Acquisition Regulation) after award of such a contract or subcontract; (B) reviewing and monitoring compliance with mentor-protege agreements under section 45; (C) representing the interests of the Administrator and small business concerns in the award, modification, and administration of contracts and subcontracts awarded pursuant to section 8(a); and (D) reporting fraud or abuse under section 7, 8, 15, 31, 36 or 45 or any regulations implementing such sections. (2) Certification requirements .

Summary: Improving Small Business Advocacy Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act to declare that the exclusive duties of a Business Opportunity Specialist reporting to the senior official (or designee) appointed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) with certain SBA loan responsibilities, including the procurement program for small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans and the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program, shall be to implement specified SBA loan programs, and complete other duties related to contracting programs. Such duties shall include: performing specified functions with respect to small business concerns eligible to receive federal contracts and subcontracts; reviewing and monitoring compliance with mentor-protege agreements; representing the interests of the SBA and small business concerns in the award, modification, and administration of contracts and subcontracts awarded pursuant to the Act; and reporting fraud or abuse.