Mary Wilson
WTIF
Pennsylvania is inviting small businesses that have until now been subcontractors on commonwealth projects to register online to become prime contractors.
Businesses with 100 or fewer employees that meet certain maximum annual revenue levels would get dibs on certain state contracts under a new initiative.
Sheri Phillips, secretary of the Department of General Services, says a range of contracts could be set aside for bidding by small businesses only.
“We’re looking at things such as IT training, IT consultants, uniforms, catering, things like that, where we know that there are businesses that are small businesses that can provide that service to us, or those commodities,” she said.
The commonwealth is also widening the umbrella of one initiative originally designed to benefit small businesses owned by women and minorities.
The altered program will include small businesses owned by military veterans, especially disabled veterans, to ensure they receive ample consideration in state contract bids.