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Contract process full of pitfalls for small firms
Government specifications, timelines often overwhelming
Valerie Lilley‘s Navy coat contract was part of a government set-aside program aimed at growing small businesses. Since 1997 Congress has had a goal of awarding 23 percent of government contracts to small businesses.
But a study by a business credit card unit of American Express found that on average it takes a small business nearly two years of trying before it wins its first contract.
n this sputtering economy, the situation Toluca Tailoring found itself in wasn’t uncommon. Small businesses are more likely to count on winning a single big order after they run out of options, said Scott Testa, a professor of business administration at Cabrini College. That’s why he said small businesses should carefully read a contract to account for any potential payment lags.
“Some of these decisions that may be important from the small business owner’s perspective may not be a priority for these huge government agencies,” Testa said.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/feed/ct-biz-1010-toluca-side–20101010,0,3775650.story