Goals mandated by Congress are consistently missed by the federal government. In 2002 small businesses missed out on an estimated $900 million in contracting opportunities because the federal government did not ensure an open competition for contracts. In 2003 small businesses lost out on an estimate $1 billion in federal contracting opportunities.

Federal agencies often use loopholes in the mandate to claim small businesses are being awarded contracts, but rarely are the winners of these contracts considered small by any reasonable standard.

The National Association of Government Contractors supports enforcement of the 23 percent small-business contracting goal mandated by Congress. Small businesses must be allowed to compete for the over $200 billion in annual government purchases.