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Telecommunications: GSA Should Improve Oversight of Small Business Contracting

IMTEC-91-57 Published: Jul 09, 1991. Publicly Released: Sep 06, 1991.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed small and small disadvantaged business subcontracting opportunities for major telecommunications contracts, focusing on whether the Federal Telecommunications System (FTS) 2000, Technical Assistance and Management Services (TAMS), and Washington Interagency Telecommunications System (WITS) contracts afforded such businesses maximum practicable opportunity for subcontracting, as the Small Business Act required.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
General Services Administration To help ensure that small and small disadvantaged businesses are provided maximum practicable opportunity, the Administrator of General Services should strengthen oversight of contractor activities under the FTS 2000, WITS, and TAMS contracts, especially as related to development of subcontracting plans by large contractors, to ensure compliance with the Small Business Act.
Closed – Implemented
GSA instructed the prime contractors to negotiate plans with their subcontractors. Also, GSA is now requiring the prime contractors to submit periodic reports on the achievements of their subcontractors in providing small business subcontracting opportunities.

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Full Report (16 pages)

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Topics

Business Regulation and Consumer Protection
Federal regulationsNoncompliancePrime contractorsSmall business assistanceSmall business contractorsSubcontractorsTelecommunicationsSmall businessSubcontractingSubcontracts