Small Business Administration

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416

Phone, 202-205-6600. Fax, 202-205-7064

Administrator Aida Alvarez

Deputy Administrator Ginger Lew

Counselor to the Administrator Jeanne Saddler

Chief of Staff Paul Weech

Director, Executive Secretariat Susan Walthall, Acting

General Counsel John T. Spotila

Chief Counsel for Advocacy Jere W. Glover

Inspector General James F. Hoobler

Chief Financial Officer Larry Wilson

Director, National Advisory Council Michael Novelli

Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance Bernard Kulik

Associate Administrator for Field Operations Kenneth Stram

Associate Administrator for Public (vacancy)

Communications, Marketing, and Customer Service

Assistant Administrator for Congressional and Kris Swedin

Legislative Affairs

Assistant Administrator for Equal Employment Erline Patrick

Opportunity and Civil Rights Compliance

Assistant Administrator for Hearings and Appeals Mona Mitnick

Associate Deputy Administrator for Management Antonella Pianalto

and Administration

Assistant Administrator for Thomas Dumaresq

Administration

Assistant Administrator for Human Carolyn J. Smith

Resources

Assistant Administrator for Lawrence E. Barrett

Information Resources Management

Associate Deputy Administrator for Economic Jeanne Sclater, Acting

Development

Associate Administrator for Business Monika Harrison

Initiatives

Associate Administrator for Jane Butler, Acting

Financial Assistance

Associate Administrator for Don Christensen

Investment

Associate Administrator for Small Johnnie Albertson

Business Development Centers

Associate Administrator for Surety Robert J. Moffitt

Guarantees

Assistant Administrator for Eileen Cassidy

International Trade

Assistant Administrator for Native Quanah C. Stamps

American Affairs

Assistant Administrator for Veterans Leon J. Bechet

Affairs

Assistant Administrator for Women's Sherrye Henry

Business Ownership

Associate Deputy Administrator for Government Calvin Jenkins, Acting

Contracting and Minority Enterprise Development

Associate Administrator for Judith A. Roussel

Government Contracting

Associate Administrator for Minority William Fisher, Acting

Enterprise Development

Assistant Administrator for Size Gary M. Jackson

Standards

Assistant Administrator for Daniel O. Hill

Technology

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The fundamental purposes of the Small Business Administration are to aid, counsel, assist, and protect the interests of small business; ensure that small business concerns receive a fair portion of Government purchases, contracts, and subcontracts, as well as of the sales of Government property; make loans to small business concerns, State and local development companies, and the victims of floods or other catastrophes, or of certain types of economic injury; and license, regulate, and make loans to small business investment companies.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) was created by the Small Business Act of 1953 and derives its present existence and authority from the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.). It also derives its authority from the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C.

661). The Secretary of Commerce has delegated to the Administration certain responsibilities and functions under section 202 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3142) and is further authorized to delegate to the Administrator certain responsibilities and functions under chapter 3 of the Trade Act of 1974

(19 U.S.C. 2101).

Activities

Financial Assistance The Administration provides its guaranty to lending institutions which make loans to small businesses to help them finance plant construction, conversion, or expansion and acquire equipment, facilities, machinery, supplies, or materials. It also provides them with working capital. Since enactment of the act of June

4, 1976 (90 Stat. 663), farms are included within the term ``small business concerns.''

The Administration may provide loan guarantees to finance residential or commercial construction or rehabilitation for sale as well as revolving lines of credit, including those for export purposes, to qualified employee trusts. The Administration may finance small firms that manufacture, sell, install, service, or develop specific energy measures including engineering, architectural, consulting, or other professional services connected with eligible energy measures.

The Administration may also provide assistance, through loans and grants to nonprofit organizations, to very small businesses needing small-scale (microloan) financing and technical assistance.

Under the provisions of sections 501-506 of the Small Business Investment Act (15 U.S.C. 695, 696), loans are made to State and local development companies who likewise assist small businesses by providing long-term loans for the acquisition of land and buildings, construction, conversion, or expansion of facilities, and the purchase of machinery and equipment.

For further information, contact the nearest Small Business Administration district office.

Disaster Assistance The Administration serves as the Federal disaster bank for nonfarm, private sector losses. It lends money to help the victims of floods, riots, or other catastrophes repair or replace most disaster-damaged property. Direct loans with subsidized interest rates are made to assist individuals, homeowners, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations. In addition, low interest long-term loans are available to small businesses and small agricultural cooperatives without credit elsewhere that have sustained substantial economic injury resulting from natural disasters.

For further information, contact the Office of Disaster Assistance. Phone, 202-205-6734.

Investment The Administration licenses, regulates, and provides financial assistance to small business investment companies and section

301(d) licensees (formerly minority enterprise small business investment companies). The sole function of these investment companies is to provide venture capital in the form of equity financing, long-term loan funds, and management services to small business concerns.

For further information, contact the Investment Division. Phone, 202-

205-6510.

Surety Bonds Through its Surety Bond Guarantee Program, the Administration helps to make the contract bonding process accessible to small and emerging contractors who find bonding unavailable. It will guarantee to reimburse a qualified surety up to 90 percent of losses incurred under bid, payment, or performance bonds issued to small contractors on contracts valued up to $1.25 million. The contracts may be for construction, supplies, manufacturing, or services provided by either a prime contractor or subcontractor for governmental or nongovernmental work.

For further information, contact the Office of Surety Guarantee. Phone,

202-205-6540.

Government Contracting The Administration works closely with purchasing agencies of the Federal Government and with the Nation's leading contractors in developing policies and procedures that will increase the number of contracts going to small business.

The Administration provides a wide range of services to small firms to help them obtain and fulfill Government contracts and subcontracts. It sets aside suitable Government purchases for competitive award to small business concerns and provides an appeal procedure for a low-

bidding small firm whose ability to perform a contract is questioned by the contracting officer. The Administration develops subcontract opportunities for small businesses by maintaining close contact with prime contractors and referring qualified small firms to them. It cooperates with Federal agencies in setting procurement goals for small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, and small women-owned businesses for prime contracts and subcontracts.

The Administration maintains a computerized small business source referral system that provides qualified sources for Federal Government and large business procurements. It cooperates with Government agencies in ensuring that small firms have an opportunity to procure a fair share of Government property, such as timber, royalty oil, strategic materials, and mineral leases, that is sold to the private sector. The Administration also works with Federal agencies to ensure that

small firms have a fair opportunity to acquire surplus Government property.

For further information, contact the Office of Government Contracting. Phone, 202-205-6460.

Business Initiatives The Administration develops and cosponsors counseling, education, and training for small businesses. The Administration has forged ongoing partnerships with resource partners to deliver most of the business education and training programs offered annually at low cost. One-on-one counseling is provided free of charge by the Service Corps of Retired Executives.

The Business Information Center (BIC) program is...