Clarity on Small Business Participation in Category Management Act of 2018

Bill 115 hr 6382, also known as the Clarity on Small Business Participation in Category Management Act of 2018, aims to provide greater transparency and opportunities for small businesses in the federal government's category management program.

Category management is a strategic approach to procurement that involves organizing purchases into product categories and managing them as a whole to achieve cost savings and improve efficiency. However, concerns have been raised that small businesses are not adequately represented or given fair opportunities within this program.

The bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance to ensure that small businesses are included in category management initiatives. This includes establishing clear definitions of small businesses and ensuring that they have access to information and resources to participate in the program. Additionally, the bill requires federal agencies to report on their efforts to include small businesses in category management, including the number of small businesses participating and the amount of contracts awarded to them. This will help to hold agencies accountable for their efforts to promote small business participation. Overall, the Clarity on Small Business Participation in Category Management Act of 2018 seeks to level the playing field for small businesses in federal procurement and ensure that they have equal opportunities to compete for government contracts.