Pennsylvania Governor Corbett Expands State Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today announced new efforts to provide equal footing for small businesses and small veteran-owned businesses in competing for state contracting opportunities and bidding as prime contractors.

Announcing the creation of the Small Business Procurement Initiative and the expansion of the Small Diverse Business Program, Corbett praised the contributions of small businesses to the economy and those of veterans to the nation.

"There is no denying small businesses are the engines of our economy," Governor Corbett noted. "With more than 300,000 small businesses in Pennsylvania, we have a responsibility to create opportunities for the development of new businesses and ensure the continued success and growth of established businesses. The Small Business Procurement Initiative helps us to meet that responsibility."

The Small Business Procurement Initiative reserves certain procurements for competition among only self-certified small businesses – those that employ 100 or fewer employees ­­and meet maximum revenue requirements – and enables them to participate in state contracting opportunities as prime contractors.

Small businesses interested in bidding on contracting opportunities for supplies, services, information technology, and construction through the Small Business Procurement Initiative can find more information on the program and self-certification process online at www.smallbusiness.pa.gov.

Governor Corbett also announced the expansion of the Small Diverse Business Program – formerly the Small Disadvantaged Business Program­– to include small veteran-owned businesses.

"Veterans have selflessly given of themselves, and continue to do so, to protect the citizens of the United States and Pennsylvania," Corbett said. "We know from the departments of Military and Veteran Affairs and Labor & Industry that many servicemen and servicewomen return from duty and start their own businesses."

The Small Diverse Business Program­ encourages and ensures open and equitable contracting practices are used by prime contractors in soliciting and contracting with small diverse businesses, and will now afford small veteran-owned businesses the same opportunities as their small minority- and women-owned counterparts.

"By expanding the Small Diverse Business Program to include small veteran-owned businesses, we can directly assist these businesses on the path to success by encouraging prime contractors to identify, solicit and subcontract with them, thus increasing their opportunities to participate in state contracting."

For information on the Small Diverse Business Program, contact the Department of General Services' Bureau of Small Business Opportunities at 717-783-3119.

Media contacts:

Eric Shirk, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116
Troy Thompson, Department of General Services; 717-787-3197

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor