Assuring Contracting Equity Act of 2015

To assure equity in contracting between the Federal Government and small business concerns, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Assuring Contracting Equity Act of 2015 2. Federal contracting goals (a) Increase in certain goals Section 15(g)(1)(A) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 644(g)(1)(A) (1) in clause (i), by striking not less than 23 percent not less than 25 percent (2) by striking not less than 5 percent not less than 10 percent (3) by striking not less than 3 percent not less than 6 percent (b) Limitation on number of categories for which a small business may qualify Section 15(g) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 644(g) (4) Limitation on number of categories for which a small business may qualify (A) Definition In this paragraph, the term specified category (B) Limitation Except as provided under subparagraph (C), a Federal agency may include a business concern in not more than 2 specified categories for purposes of determining whether the Federal agency has met the Governmentwide goals under this subsection for the award of contracts to business concerns in specified categories. (C) Rule of construction A Federal agency may not include a small business concern that is participating in the program under section 8(a) in any specified category except the category small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals . 3. Improving transparency to assist small business concerns Section 15(h)(2) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 644(h)(2) (1) in subparagraph (E)(viii)(VIII), by striking and (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the following new subparagraph: (G) for the Federal Government, the percentage of participation by small business concerns for the total value of all prime contract awards and subcontract awards for a fiscal year, including the value of each prime contract and subcontract awarded for the fiscal year. . 4. Compliance with small business subcontracting goals The Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall consult with the heads of other Federal agencies to develop and implement standards for procurement officers to take into consideration the past compliance of potential contractors with small business subcontracting goals when making contract awards.

Summary: Assuring Contracting Equity Act of 2015 This bill increases from: (1) 23% to 25% the government-wide small business procurement contract goal, (2) 5% to 10% the government-wide procurement goal for small disadvantaged businesses and women-owned businesses, and (3) 3% to 6% the government-wide procurement goal for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and HUBZONE (historically underutilized business zone) small businesses. The number of categories is limited for which a small business may qualify under such goals. The Small Business Administration (SBA) must include in its annual report to the President and Congress on these goals the percentage of participation by small businesses for the total value of all prime contracts and subcontracts awards for a fiscal year, including the value of each contract awarded. The SBA must consult with the heads of other federal agencies to develop and implement standards for procurement officers to take into consideration the past compliance of potential contractors with small business subcontracting goals when making contract awards.