Agencies miss small biz goals

Federal agencies missed their aim of sending 23 percent of prime contracting dollars to small businesses for the third straight year, according to the annual scorecard produced by Democratic members of the House Committee on Small Business.

The 21 agencies that spend 96 percent of federal contracting dollars sent 22.6 percent of those dollars to small businesses in 2002. Small businesses lost out on $900 million in opportunities because the goal wasn't met, according to the report, "Federal Agencies: Closed to Small Business."

Agencies also missed goals for small disadvantaged, women-owned, HUBZone businesses, costing small businesses an additional $9.45 billion in contracting opportunities.