According to a recent Government Executive article, some of the largest existing federal government contractors are collecting the majority of the stimulus contracts.
“During the past five months, 17 of the largest government contractors have won more than $1.6 billion in Recovery Act contracts — more than all small businesses combined” according to a new spending analysis conducted by Government Executive. The data, which is updated through July 15, was obtained through USASpending.gov.
Although nearly $7 billion in stimulus contracts have been awarded, nearly one-quarter of that money is going to large, well-connected federal contractors.
According to Government Executive, a significant number of these contracts were issued by the Energy Department, “primarily for construction, demolition and environmental cleanup projects at its laboratories.”
”These contracts go against the grain of what the stimulus is all about,” said Guy Timberlake, CEO of the American Small Business Coalition. “How much of a stimulus do these companies need?” The list of Recovery Act awardees Government Executive examined reads like a “Who’s Who” in federal contracting.
Is the problem that small businesses are not stepping up to the plate to claim their share of the stimulus contracts? How can small business start to claim their share?
Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, ARRA, federal government contract, government small business, recovery plan, small business contracting, small business opportunities, Stimulus Act, stimulus plan