• Securing A Government Contract
• SBA Would Offer Grants To Help Small Businesses Battle Fraud
• U.S. Health Care System Scores Low While Costing More

Securing A Government Contract

Working for a small company used to mean it was harder to find government contracts, but one professional says important strides have made it easier for small businesses to compete. Recent calls by the federal government asking contractors to vary who they choose to do subcontracting work is good news for smaller businesses, according to Rebecca Boenigk, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Neutral Posture, Inc.. She says one of the first steps to increasing the likelihood that your business will be seen is to register for a diversity program, such as the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilizations. Boenigk is a member of the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), a federal agency that examines issues faced by female business owners and offers recommendations to the Administration and Congress. Boenigk’s company is a leading producer of ergonomic seating and the only certified business owned by a woman to be traded on a public stock market. She offered these comments during an NWBC Web cast. Panelists also discussed access to affordable health care, tax reform, and lobbying. For information on diversity programs or to register your firm, visit www.ccr.gov. To receive the most up-to-date information about new contracts, go to www.fedbizopps.gov. Bill Would Offer Grants to Help Small Businesses Battle Fraud Small businesses are paying substantially more for audit fees than larger corporations, according to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The study highlighted that smaller firms were paying about nine times more than larger companies for audit fees per $100 of revenue. “Small businesses are often weighed down by these extra costs, which makes it less likely they will grow and continue to build the economy,” said Kristie Darien, executive director of the NASE’s legislative office. In late September, Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., introduced a bill intended to help small businesses offset these costs by awarding federal grants from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The Small Business Sarbanes-Oxley Assistance Act of 2006, S. 3919, would also create a committee to periodically review the compliance process. “The NASE is pleased to see Congress taking steps to help level the playing field because micro-business owners are eager to help fight fraudulent accounting,” said Darien, “They just don’t always have the resources or expertise to do so.” To read more about S. 3919, visit http://thomas.loc.gov/. U.S. Health Care System Scores Low While Costing More The United States received 66 out of 100 on a worldwide survey of health measures, even though the average American is paying more for the services than citizens in the highest ranking countries. The survey was conducted by the Commonwealth Fund’s Commission on a High Performance Health System, an organization that looks for ways to continue improving the national health care system. Results also showed that access to health care was especially poor in the U.S., citing the number of citizens without coverage—46.6 million in 2005—and the fact that about 33 percent of adults under 65 cannot keep up with their medical bills. “Though these numbers are frightening, they’re not surprising,” said Kristie Darien, executive director of the NASE’s legislative office. “Almost two-thirds of the uninsured work in a small business or are supported by someone working in one.” The NASE continues to push for a self-employment tax deduction on health insurance premiums, health care tax credits, and small-business health plans (SBHPs), in order to help more micro-businesses and the self-employed acquire, choose and maintain quality health care programs.