An examination of an SBA contract program to aid socially or economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs and its impact on the Navy shore facilities construction and maintenance procurement system

Abstract

This thesis examines the Small Business Administration (SBA) program to use the authority granted by section 6(a) of the 1956 Amendment to the Small Business Act to aid socially or economically disadvantaged persons, and its impact on the Navy shore facilities construction and maintenance procurement system. The origin of the SBA's 6(a) authority and the consistency of its present use with the intent of Congress in granting that authority is examined including court challenges to that use. The current operational procedures followed by the SBA and the Navy in obtaining and providing support for the program are described and evaluated. A proposed method for evaluation of the Navy's support to the 6(a) program, and in particular the support provided by its shore facilities construction and maintenance manager, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, is introduced Also, recommendations for improvement in present operational procedures are presented and a possible alternative to the 8(a) program is discussed.