Navy Likes Small Businesses

Navy acquisition chief Sean Stackley wants his service to make sure it employs small businesses on contracts whenever possible.

In a Jan. 12 memo, Stackley writes that "the evidence is overwhelming that where affordability is paramount, a strategy that includes Small Business creates more affordable outcomes and promotes innovation and technical advancement. Accordingly, the [Navy's] sweeping success in meeting its goals for Small Business in 2014 bodes well for execution in 2015."

Stackley notes that "there is wide variance in the employment of Small Business across the" Navy. Consequently, he calls on each of the service's Head of Contracts Activity and program executive offices "to formulate their Small Business strategy for 2015 and 2016, clearly identifying how they will incorporate and promote Small Business participation as prime contractors and through sub-contract provisions across the breadth of contracts under their purview. This Small Business strategy should include measurable performance objectives, such as contract type, estimated value, schedule for award, and plan for competition."