PlusFor Fed Work, Big Biz Trumps Small FirmsFor Fed Work, Big Biz Trumps Small FirmsThe Associated PressAn Associated Press investigation finds companies near Washington get the bulk of federal contracts awarded to small businesses. But as the AP's Lee Powell reports, many of these firms are not so small. (July 17)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] [Notes:VO sequence of dry cleaners and chocolate shop file]THEY EMPLOY HALF OF ALL PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS ... 26 MILLION SMALL BUSINESSES. [Notes:NATS trails] [Notes:VO Capitol dome beauty shot]BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SMALL BUSINESS *DOING* BUSINESS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LOCATION *MATTERS.* [Notes:VO setup shot White House] THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOUND FIRMS WITHIN 50 MILES OF THE WHITE HOUSE GRAB NEARLY ONE DOLLAR OF EVERY 3 DOLLARS IN FEDERAL CONTRACTS AWARDED TO SMALL BUSINESSES.CONTRACTS THAT TEND TO BE THREE TIMES *LARGER* THAN THOSE WON BY FIRMS OUTSIDE WASHINGTON. [Notes:NATS UP suitcase rolling on concrete on National Mall]JONATHAN SPIEGEL HAS *COME* TO WASHINGTON FROM BELCHERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS. THE CONSULTANT IS AFTER A SLICE OF THE FEDERAL CONTRACT DOLLAR. [Notes:7:18:24]SOT: It's really having the opportunity to compete that I'm talking about. Being able to get in the door to be able to do that ... [Notes:VO still of Belchertown reservoir panorama, fade to Washington file]BUT IT'S A LONG WAY FROM CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS TO CAPITOL HILL. SPIEGEL SAYS THAT DISTANCE MAKES GETTING JOBS DIFFICULT. [notes:1:13:08] [Notes:SUPER: Jonathan Spiegel / ITO Consulting Group]SOT: You don't have daily access, you don't have longstanding relationships with people in government to do the purchasing or contracting work. [Notes:VO maybe data being run on screen using Access?] THE A-P ANALYZED 9 MILLION AWARDS WORTH NEARLY 1 TRILLION DOLLARS HANDED OUT IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. [Notes:VO file of money getting printed]FEDERAL LAW SAYS AT LEAST 23 PERCENT OF CONTRACT DOLLARS MUST GO TO SMALL COMPANIES. BUT THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT TAX DOLLARS BE SPREAD EQUALLY. [Notes:Bridge Standup] [Notes:SUPER: Lee Powell / The Associated Press / Lanham, Md.]BRIDGE STANDUP: So a large chunk of the billions of tax dollars spent on small business contracts ends up here ... At companies clustered in office parks just outside Washington's Beltway. [Notes:VO exteriors of building in Lanham]COMPANIES THAT ARE NOT SO SMALL ... FEDERAL RECORDS SHOW Q-S-S GROUP INCORPORATED IN LANHAM, MARYLAND HAS SNARED SOME 800 CONTRACTS VALUED AT 625 MILLION. IT HAS MORE THAN 14-HUNDRED EMPLOYEES ... AND REVENUES OF 300 MILLION. [Notes:SUPER: Lloyd Chapman / American Small Business League][Notes:16:15] SOT: We've been fighting with the government for five years to simply find out who's getting these contracts and they're not very excited about people knowing some of the biggest companies in the world are actually getting small business contracts. [Notes:VO setup shot at Olney business, cutaway shot]BUT THE SYSTEM HAS ITS CHAMPIONS. SANDY LEVINE (la-VINE) RUNS A PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM THAT SEEKS GOVERNMENT WORK. SHE SAYS TO COMPETE IN WASHINGTON YOU HAVE TO BE IN WASHINGTON. [Notes:10:51:21] [Notes:SUPER: Sandy Levine / Advice Unlimited]SOT: We meet with our customers, we talk with them, we attend the same educational events and we go to the same restaurants. We travel in the same circles. And that's crucial. [Notes:VO: Sequence with small biz admin logo, exteriors of businesses in Chantilly]THE RULES ARE CHANGING ... THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION NOW REQUIRES COMPANIES BE CERTIFIED LARGE OR SMALL. BUT THERE IS THIS LOOPHOLE: BIG FIRMS CAN HAVE SMALL BUSINESS CONTRACTS ... FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS. [Notes:VO Spiegel waiting for cab on National Mall with luggage]JONATHAN SPIEGEL SAYS GETTING THESE CONTRACTS OFTEN AMOUNTS TO A GAME ... [Notes:6:00:19]SOT: And being part of the game is not something that necessarily brings the best service to our government for our people. Often it's that gaming that creates a lot of waste, misdirection, missed opportunity ... [Notes:NATS UP luggage rolling]THE LITTLE GUY ON THE PROWL FOR BELTWAY BUSINESS, WHERE BIG BUSINESS NOW SEEMS TO RULE. Lee Powell, The Associated Press, Washington(****END****) ANCHOR VOICE:-------------------------VIDEO PRODUCER: Lee Powell------------------------------VIDEO SOURCE: AP; file; stills--------------------------VIDEO APPROVAL:------------------------------VIDEO RESTRICTIONS:----------------------------------SCRIPT/WIRE SOURCE: ------------------------------------
Tags: small biz_contractors fed work biz trumps firms
