Input sought by SBA on size standards for small businesses

Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004 | 11:02 a.m.

The Small Business Administration is seeking public comment on its size standards, which are used to determine whether a firm fits the definition of "small" for government contracts and SBA loans.

Specifically, the SBA wants comments on how to simplify the size standards, calculate employment size and designate size standards for federal procurements.

It also wants input on whether to use receipts to measure a firm's size, establish a separate set of size standards for federal procurements, establish tiered size standards for small-business subcategories and grandfather existing small businesses from the revised standards.

The SBA said it wants to know what the impact of revised standards would be before adopting new rules. In March, the SBA asked for public comment on reducing the number of size categories from 37 to 10 and the public raised numerous concerns so the proposal was withdrawn in July for revision.

Comments are due by Feb. 1 and should contain the code RIN 3245-ZA02. The public can provide input by e-mail at restructure.sizestandards@sba.gov or by fax at (202) 205-6930. For more information, contact the SBA's Office of Size Standards at (202) 205-6618 or sizestandards@sba.gov.