Accession Number:

AD1151997

Title:

Puerto Rico: Information on Trends and Challenges to Small Business Federal Contracting

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Congressional Report]

Corporate Author:

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Shear, William B.
• Medina, Harry
• Zheng, Weifei
• Diaz, Abiud A.
• Davidson, Pamela
• Kennon, Julia
• McGrail, John
• Mingus, John
• Schwartz, Jennifer
• Sinkfield, Jena

Report Date:

2017-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

55

Abstract:

SBA administers several programs nationwide and in Puerto Rico that provide federal contracting preferences to small businesses. The Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act includes a provision for GAO to review the application and utilization of SBA programs in Puerto Rico. GAO examined, among other things, 1 trends in small business contracting and the use of SBA programs in Puerto Rico that provide contracting preferences to small businesses and 2 stakeholder views on any challenges that small businesses in Puerto Rico face in obtaining federal contracting opportunities. To analyze trends in the use of SBA programs, GAO obtained data on prime contracts for Puerto Rico for fiscal years 2006 through 2016 and used nationwide data as a reference point. GAO interviewed stakeholders such as federal agency contracting officials, industry associations in Puerto Rico, and economic development entities about any challenges small businesses in Puerto Rico face in obtaining federal contracts and steps SBA has taken to promote participation in its programs. Additionally, GAO conducted a literature review to identify challenges cited for the 8a, HUBZone, WOSB, and SDVOSB programs and challenges faced by small businesses in federal contracting in Puerto Rico. GAO makes no recommendations in this report.

Descriptors:

• government procurement
• business administration
• congress
• united states government
• commerce
• economic development
• department of veterans affairs
• united states
• contracts
• department of defense
• governments
• law
• national governments
• small business
• geography
• public administration
• training

Subject Categories:

• Economics and Cost Analysis
• Administration and Management

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]