TSA Required to Set Goals for Small Business Procurement

The Transportation Security Administration will be required to setgoals for small business procurement under the 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act that was signed by President Bush.

TSA has been exempted from the Small Business Act, as are such agencies as the Federal Aviation Administration and the CIA.

An amendment to the appropriations bill sponsored by Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) was adopted in the House-Senate conference committee that wrote the final language. It makes TSA accountable to the Small Business Act for purposes of contracting with outside vendors, Kerry's office said.

"By every account, TSA has abused procurement privileges granted in the aftermath of September 11th," said Kerry, the ranking Democrat on the Small Business Committee. "As a result, capable qualified small businesses are left out of the federal procurement process."

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