Small businesses worried about Native contracting

Wednesday, September 5, 2007  

Small businesses say American Indian and Alaska Native contractors have an "unfair" advantage.

A new federal regulation allows agencies to include all Native-owned businesses in their small business targets regardless of the size of those businesses. "Such credit is taken even where the ANC or Indian tribe may be 'other than small' under the Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations," an August 17 notice in the Federal Register states.

The rule makes it easier for agencies to meet their small business targets. "It’s unfortunately just another of the perks of the Alaska Native program that creates an unfair advantage,” Guy Timberlake, chief executive officer of the American Small Business Coalition, told The Federal Times.

Get the Story:
New rule may alter small-business contracting (The Federal Times 9/4)

Federal Register Notice:
Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2004-017, Small Business Credit for Alaska Native Corporations and Indian Tribes (August 17, 2007)

$rl Native American Contractors Association - http://www.nativeamericancontractors.org

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