Congress’ Small Business Advocate Has Harsh Words for DHS
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By Priscilla Ybarra and Sara Peck
If your small business has a beef with the Department of Homeland Security, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, wants to hear about it.
In a monthly newsletter that is coyly titled, “Business Opportunities and DHS,” Thompson calls out DHS for abusing and mismanaging contracts with small businesses, and encourages readers to report when DHS has
treated them unfairly.
“I’m amazed by the level of innovation in small and medium businesses, but they are unsure of how to navigate the minefields of the
procurement bureaucracy in the federal government,” Thompson told
National Defense.
For example, the June edition of the newsletter questioned the
department’s acquisition methods, calling upon vendors to file protests
with the Government Accountability Office. After addressing the readers
as “friends,” Thompson discusses a court case filed against DHS for
poor discretion concerning small, minority-owned businesses. Thompson
also provides a link to the report and reminds readers that “an open
line of communication in one of the fundamental tenants of true
democracy.”
“I’d be less than chair if I didn’t do something to benefit small
businesses,” Thompson said. “I think homeland security can benefit from
the talent I’ve seen in small and medium businesses.”
The newsletter also contains resources for small businesses such as
events, contract opportunities, links to a DHS organizational chart and
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization contract
information. The newsletter reminds small business owners: “OSDBU is
required to advocate, assist and facilitate small business
participation in agency prime and subcontracting opportunities.”
Kevin Boshears, director of the OSDBU, said he has no involvement with
the newsletter.
“(The newsletter) is one of a couple of the steps along the way to
focus on small and medium businesses,” Thompson said. “They just need
some help in their pursuit.”