SmallBusinessNewz

The US Small Business Administration released its annual Procurement Scorecard today, and revealed that small businesses won a record $93.3 billion in federal prime contracts in Fiscal Year 2008, an increase of almost $10 billion from 2007.

Small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses increased their share of federal contracting dollars by at least $1 billion to $3 billion, according to the SBA.

"This record $93.3 billion in contracts to small businesses is significant, however, across the federal government we are committed to ensuring that the 23 percent goal is met and even exceeded going forward," says SBA Administrator Karen Mills. "Especially during these tough economic times, federal contracts for small businesses can be just the opportunity they need to continue to grow and create jobs. At the same time, the federal government gets access to some of the most innovative and best products and services."

Some more stats worth noting from the scorecard:

- Agriculture, Education, Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Interior, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Transportation, SBA and Veterans Affairs all met small business contracting goals.

- The departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, SBA, Social Security Administration, State, Transportation, Treasury and Veterans Affairs all met goals for contracts to small disadvantaged businesses.

- The departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, General Services Administration, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Transportation, Treasury, and SBA all met goals for women-owned small businesses.

- The departments of Agriculture, Energy, General Services Administration, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Transportation and SBA met HUBZone contracting goals.

- The departments of the Environmental Protection Agency, GSA, Labor and Veterans Affairs met goals fro small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.