Suffolk Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY), the Chair of the Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure, and Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) have introduced the bipartisan Plain Language in Contracting Act. The aim of this bill is to ensure that federal contracting opportunities are written in plain language, ultimately making it easier for small businesses to secure government contracts.

LaLota emphasized the importance of simplifying the contracting process, stating, “Government bureaucracy and red tape have held back countless small businesses nationwide for too long. Small businesses should have the same opportunities as large businesses with access to high-price lawyers." He further added, “By simplifying the contracting process, we can provide more opportunities to mom-and-pop shops across the United States. Small businesses are the backbone of this nation’s economy, and we should be doing everything we can to support them."

The bill comes as a crucial step towards leveling the playing field for small businesses in federal contracting. LaLota and Thanedar's previous DOE and SBA Research Act, which unanimously passed the House earlier this year, aimed to support increased joint research and development activities between the Department of Energy (DOE), National Laboratories, including Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the Small Business Administration.

Small businesses often face challenges in navigating the complex federal contracting landscape due to the lack of resources compared to larger corporations. The current contracting process, filled with difficult-to-understand language, has been a deterrent for many small businesses from participating. This has led to a decrease in the number of small businesses winning government contracts.

The bipartisan Plain Language in Contracting Act seeks to address these issues by ensuring that federal contracting opportunities are presented in clear and concise language, ultimately increasing access and opportunities for small businesses across the nation.

To access the full text of the Plain Language in Contracting Act, interested parties can click HERE.