Small-Business Access to the Federal Marketplace: Relative Costs of Small and Large Businesses in Supplying Products and Services for Federal and Private Sector Markets

摘要

The purpose of this study is to present the findings of a study of the relative costs of small and large businesses in supplying goods and services to federal and private sector markets. Conducted under a contract from the Small Business Administration, the study sought to explore the reasons for small firms' relatively low rate of participation in federal contracting, as compared to their representation in the larger economy. Current thinking on this issue, as reflected in the literature, has been that small firms may face somewhat different obstacles in the federal marketplace than large firms, and that the costs associated with doing business with the federal government may fall more heavily upon small firms.