Report: Small businesses succeed in A-76

Almost three-quarters of the contractors winning contracts under the Office of Management and Budget's Circular A-76 are small firms, according to a new Small Business Administration report.

The report, prepared by Eagle Eye Publishers Inc. and Jack Faucett Associates Inc. under contract, shows that from fiscal year 2001 through the third quarter of fiscal 2006 795 companies won contracts under A-76 competitions. Of those, 567 were small businesses, or about 71 percent.

The A-76 process requires selected teams of federal employees to compete against private sector firms for certain work that is not deemed inherently governmental.

According to the report, civilian agencies awarded contracts to 678 recipients, of which 72 percent ? 488 companies ? were small businesses. Defense agencies awarded contracts to 117 recipients, of which 79, or 67.5 percent, were to small businesses.

Civilian agencies appeared to be more active, awarding a total of 3,606 contracts to 678 companies. Defense agencies awarded only 129 contracts to its 117 recipients.

Altogether, the agencies spent a combined $5.5 billion through the A-76 contracts.