Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act

This bill makes federal contracting clearer for small businesses. When an agency posts a contract opportunity that small businesses can bid on and then cancels it, the agency must explain why, say if and when it will be posted again, and whether the work will be folded into another contract. This information has to be posted publicly on the government’s main contracting site. If the agency won’t repost the opportunity, it must have a process to refer any small business that prepared a bid to the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization for help finding similar contracts. The Small Business Administration must issue these rules within 180 days. A “covered” opportunity means one where at least two small businesses were eligible to bid, and the bill does not authorize extra funding to carry this out.

In short, the goal is more transparency and quicker guidance so small firms don’t waste time and money when a contract gets pulled after they’ve prepared a bid.

• Who is affected: Small businesses that bid on federal contracts; federal agencies; agency small business offices (OSDBU).
• What changes: Agencies must post clear reasons and next steps after cancellations, and refer affected small firms for help if the work won’t be reposted.
• When: The SBA must set these rules within 180 days of the law taking effect.