Registration Opens for 2011 DOE Small-Business Conference

This just in from the U.S. Department of Energy...

The time has come to register for the the 12th Annual U.S. Department of Energy Small Business Conference & Expo, taking place at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo., from May 10-12, 2011.

Register as an Attendee
Register as an attendee for DOE's 12th Annual Small Business Conference & Expo, where you will build connections with like-minded business professionals; acquire invaluable information from general sessions and educational workshops; and solidify contract opportunities with prime contractors, government agencies, and large companies during the expo and matchmaking sessions.

DOE's last event brought in record attendance, and they want you to get in on the action. Register NOW and take advantage of early-bird registration before the discounts expire.

Attend as an Exhibitor
Attend as an exhibitor to showcase your products or services. Increase your visibility by sponsoring the event.

As an exhibitor or sponsor, your company will appear on the 2011 DOE Small Business Conference website, where more than 30,000 potential clients, customers and business partners will recognize you before, during, and after the event! Additionally, your business’ identity will be present throughout the venue and in the conference guide -- further establishing your place in the minds of folks representing those potential networks.

For more information, and to stay up-to-date on the conference and related news, visit the 2011 DOE Small Business Conference website, and be sure to follow the annual event on Facebook.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Economic Impact and Diversity
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May 10-12: U.S. Department of Energy to Host 12th Annual Small-Business Conference

This just in: The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization will present its 12th Annual DOE Small Business Conference & Expo at the Kansas City Convention Center, in Kansas City, Mo., on May 10-12, 2011.

The event will feature plenaries, educational workshops, an exhibit hall with 200-plus exhibitors and sponsors, as well as matchmaking sessions. Over 1,600 attendees will represent all levels of federal, state and local government agencies, large/prime contractors, small businesses and more.

The largest civilian contracting agency within the federal government, DOE spent over $25 billion in contracts in FY 2010. The 12th Annual DOE Small Business Conference & Expo is a great opportunity for small-business owners and large companies alike to network and partner. Registration for the event will open later this month.

For more information, check the event website http://smallbusinessconference.energy.gov/, or e-mail DOE at: InfoDOE@aetherquest.com.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utililization
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White House Announces New Cybersecurity Coordinator; Tips for Protecting Yourself Online

Today, the White House announced President Barack Obama’s new White House Cybersecurity Coordinator, Howard A. Schmidt. With some 40 years of experience in government, business and law enforcement, Schmidt brings a unique and deep experience to this important issue.

Following, is the full text of the announcement e-mail sent to the White House e-mail list by John Brennan [pictured], Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism:

* * *

Dear Friend,

Cybersecurity matters to all of us. Protecting the Internet is critical to our national security, public safety, and our personal privacy and civil liberties. It’s also vital to President Obama’s efforts to strengthen our country -- from the modernization of our health care system, to the high-tech job creation central to our economic recovery.

The very e-mail you are reading underscores our dependence on information technologies in this digital age, which is why it seemed like a fitting way to announce that the President has chosen Howard Schmidt to be the White House Cybersecurity Coordinator. Howard will have the important responsibility of orchestrating the many important cybersecurity activities across the government.

Howard is one of the world’s leading authorities on computer security, with some 40 years of experience in government, business and law enforcement. Learn more about Howard's background and approach to cybersecurity here.

Howard will have regular access to the President and serve as a key member of his National Security staff. He will also work closely with his economic team to ensure that our cybersecurity efforts keep the Nation secure and prosperous.

Moving forward we will use WhiteHouse.gov, this e-mail program, and our other communications tools to keep you posted about our progress in this important area.

Sincerely,

John O. Brennan
Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

P.S. You can play an important role in cybersecurity as well. Learn more about the issue and steps you can take to ensure your own security.

* * *

Tips for Protecting Yourself Online
Cybersecurity matters to all of us – and it’s our shared responsibility to mitigate the threats in this space. You can take cybersecurity into your own hands with these tips for protecting yourself online:

* Keep your security software and operating system up-to-date. At a minimum, your computer should have current anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a firewall to protect yourself from hackers and malicious software that can steal sensitive personal information. Hackers also take advantage of Web browsers and operating system software that do not have the latest security updates. Operating-system companies issue security patches for flaws that they find in their systems, so it is important to set your operating system and Web browser software to download and install security patches automatically.

* Protect your personal information online. Millions of people become victims of identity theft each year. One way that cyber criminals convince computer users to divulge their confidential personal information is through fake "phishing" e-mails, which are often cleverly disguised to look like authentic e-mails. Be wary of clicking on links in e-mails that are unfamiliar, and be very cautious about providing personal information online; e.g., your password, financial information, or Social Security number.

* Know who you are dealing with. It is remarkably simple for online scammers to impersonate a legitimate business, so you need to know who you are dealing with. If you are thinking about shopping on an unfamiliar website, do some independent research before you buy. Similarly, before you download software, be sure that the software developer is trustworthy. Cyber criminals will often embed the capability to steal passwords and files into free software.

* Learn what to do if something goes wrong. If your computer gets hacked, the effects may be obvious [e.g., deleted or corrupted files]; or, they may be subtle [e.g., slow computing performance]. As a first step, you should scan your computer with updated anti-virus software. You may wish to get professional assistance through your computer’s manufacturer, computer retail store, or local computer technician. You can also alert the appropriate authorities by contacting your Internet service provider [ISP] or the Internet Crime Complaint Center. The Federal Trade Commission [FTC] can assist if you are subject to identity theft. You can also forward spam or phishing e-mails to the FTC at spam@uce.gov.

SOURCES: FTC, The White House, Wikipedia
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Obama Administration Announces Efforts to Increase Access to Contracting Opportunities for Minority-Owned, Small Businesses

The Obama Administration today reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that minority-owned and small businesses -- including women- and veteran-owned businesses -- have greater access to federal government contracting opportunities.

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke [pictured] and SBA Administrator Karen Mills announced a government-wide plan that includes federal agency procurement officials holding or participating in more than 200 events over the next 90 days to share information on government contracting opportunities -- including those available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"Small and minority-owned businesses must play a significant role in our efforts to restore economic growth," said President Barack Obama. "Small businesses employ half of the nation’s private-sector workforce; create a large share of the nation’s new jobs; and introduce many groundbreaking ideas into the marketplace. It is essential that we provide our nation’s small businesses with maximum practicable opportunity to participate in federal government contracting.

"In order for the federal government to better meet or exceed the goal of 23 percent of prime contracts for small businesses, Vice President Biden and I have tasked Small Business Administrator Karen Mills and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke with leading a federal government-wide initiative to increase outreach. Over the course of the next 90 days, agency officials will take an important step forward by holding or participating in more than 200 events focused on sharing information on government contracting opportunities."

Vice President Joe Biden noted that Recovery Act funding will play a significant role in fueling this far-reaching initiative. "In these tough economic times, the Recovery Act is providing billions of dollars in opportunity and incentives to help businesses grow -- and the President and I are committed to ensuring that small and minority-owned businesses are part of our economic recovery every step of the way," he said. "By taking advantage of the expertise of an array of companies, we are going to be able to build a stronger, more secure foundation for long-term economic growth."

As part of the Commerce-SBA initiative, over the next 90 days:

* Federal agency procurement officials will hold or participate in more than 200 events to share information on government contracting opportunities, including those available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

* SBA and Commerce will expand their outreach to fellow contracting officials across the federal government, passing along best practices for outreach and education to every agency, to ensure they have the tools they need to meet their annual contracting goals.

* Locke and Mills will promote small-business contracting opportunities in remarks, special events and discussions with small-business groups across the country -- including minority, women and veteran groups.

"It has been a priority from Day 1 of this Administration to ensure that small and minority-owned businesses are aware of, and have access to, federal contracts and funding opportunities," said Locke. "Over the past 40 years, minority-owned businesses have grown from 300,000 to nearly 4 million today. Their success, and the success of small American businesses, are vital to our economic recovery."

Beyond the next 90 days, Commerce and SBA will support, monitor and track the impact of these efforts going forward, to help ensure the Administration is maximizing opportunities for small businesses.

Administrator Mills beamed at the potential of this initiative to harness entrepreneurs' innovative energy, ideas and expertise. "Government contracts can play a key role in helping small businesses turn the corner, in terms of expansion and job creation," Mills said. "But, make no mistake, the benefits the government receives are equally as impressive. Working with small businesses allows the federal government to work with some of the most innovative companies in America -- with direct line to CEO."

Small-business owners can find out about federal contracting opportunities by visiting http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. Commerce and SBA officials are also available in local offices across the country to assist small businesses interested in contracting opportunities. Contact information for local offices can be found at http://www.commerce.gov/ and http://www.sba.gov/.

SOURCES: Recovery.gov, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Small Business Administration, The White House
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Sens. Durbin, Harkin Hold Hearing on Oil Market Oversight; Durbin Promises More Resources to Fight Excessive Oil Speculation and Market Manipulation

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin [D-IL, pictured] and Tom Harkin [D-IA] chaired a hearing today to investigate how excessive speculation in the oil market may be contributing to the historic run on oil and gas prices.

Durbin is the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, the subcommittee responsible for overseeing the budget of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission [CFTC]. Last month, Durbin chaired a hearing on the budget request for the CFTC.

Last week, at a hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee, the agency charged with oversight of the agency, CFTC officials testified that additional resources, including more staff, are needed to help this agency carry out this mission.

Today's hearing, held jointly before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, probed the CFTC's role in regulating the market and what tools and resources the agency needs to ensure it is able to be a robust market watchdog.

"With the economy in a tailspin and with the average price for a gallon of gas topping $4 across the country, people are asking ‘Why is this happening?'" Assistant Majority Leader Durbin said. "Is excessive speculation taking place, or is it simply supply and demand? The answer is that no one knows, and the CFTC lacks the information, resources and, in some cases, the legal authority to tell us."

Testifying before today’s joint panel were the chief executives of the New York Mercantile Exchange [NYMEX] and Chicago Mercantile Exchange [CME], as well as the vice president of IntercontinentalExchange [NYSE: ICE]. Also testifying were representatives of the Consumer Federation of America and the Air Transport Association.

“In the past year, gas costs have risen 30 percent," said Harkin. "Consumers are seeing the results of this increase in rising costs for everything -- from the gas they put in their vehicles, to the loaf of bread at the grocery store. We deserve to know why.

"We rely on the CFTC to tell us whether our commodity markets are working, or whether manipulation or distortion of markets by excessive speculation is causing price bubbles that should be addressed. With CFTC officials testifying previously that additional resources, including staff, are needed to carry out their oversight responsibilities, Congress has a responsibility to provide them with the resources and authorities they need to do their job. We addressed some of this in the Farm Bill, but further resources may be needed."

CFTC is the nation’s leading regulator of futures markets. However, a lack of resources and weakened authorities have prevented them from being able to gather information and effectively monitor the full breadth of the oil market.

Currently, CFTC is only able to monitor the activity that takes place on U.S.-based exchanges – a fraction of the total market for oil transactions. They are unable to gather information about trades which take place on global markets, like ICE, or on over-the-counter exchanges between firms.

In addition, trading in commodity markets has exploded from nearly 500 million trades in 2000 to over 3 billion trades in 2007. CFTC’s staffing levels, however, have not kept pace. Full-time employee [FTE] levels have dropped over that same period of time, from 546 in 2000 to 437 last year – nearly a 21 percent decline. "CTFC simply doesn’t have enough cops on the beat," Durbin noted.

To address these shortcomings, Durbin introduced the Increasing Transparency and Accountability in Oil Prices Act of 2008, which:

*Authorizes new resources, including staff and better information technology, for the CFTC. These 100 new employees would immediately address the staffing shortfalls at the agency, and the technology funding would help the agency update woefully antiquated monitoring and analysis systems. "We could hire 100 people and put them to work tomorrow, given the inflow of trading volume," CFTC Chairman Walter Lukken said just two weeks ago. "We are doing the best we can in difficult circumstances."

* Improves transparency in market. CFTC currently has limited visibility of trades that take place on NYMEX, and very little visibility of over-the-counter trades -- such as trades from one hedge fund to another, or those that take place on ICE in London. Durbin’s legislation would close the so-called “London Loophole” by requiring all U.S. traders on oil futures markets to report transactions in a detailed manner to the CFTC. The bill also directs the CFTC to investigate the impact of these trades on the price of oil.

* Finally, the legislation would move the CFTC’s Inspector General’s office out from under the office of the agency’s chairman, giving it clear independence.

Durbin Promises More Market Oversight Staff and Computer Technology to CFTC to Fight Excessive Oil Speculation
After hearing Lukken's testimony today, Sen. Durbin released the following statement:

"Increasing evidence shows that the run-up in crude oil prices and gasoline is being driven by larger trader banks, pension and hedge funds. Speculation may have as much, if not more, to do with high gas prices than any Saudi sheik.

"The announcement at our hearing that CFTC it is now going to require more complete disclosure of speculative trading information is critical to stopping the excessive speculation and market manipulation that is driving up gasoline prices.

"Now, we need to give this agency the professionals and computer tools they need to stop any market manipulation. As chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee which oversees the agency’s budget, I will work to secure a substantial increase in CFTC’s funding to make sure it has the resources to keep excessive oil speculation in check."

GoodBiz113's take: Now that gas has topped the $4-per-gallon tipping point in many U.S. markets, the oversight efforts of Sens. Dick Durbin and Tom Harkin are greatly needed and appreciated -- by consumers, small-business owners [e.g., farmers, independent truckers], air transport carriers, plus countless other entities. We applaud the senators for investigating the roles that CFTC and other entities play during this unprecedented run on oil and gas prices [oh, and the fattest paychecks that Big Oil CEOs have ever received], and for taking action to halt the excessive speculation and market manipulation that's driven those prices sky-high.
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Kerry Proposes Economic Help for Small Businesses

Sen. John Kerry [D-Mass.] will introduce legislation this week to provide much-needed assistance and an economic stimulus for small businesses facing tightening credit markets. His bill would provide targeted tax incentives to small businesses to encourage new investments, reduce fees on loans, and double funding for microloans. Kerry will work with his colleagues on the Committee on Finance to try and include the small-business tax provisions in the committee’s stimulus package.

"We need to look at ways to create jobs, and providing help to small businesses through targeted tax incentives and increased access to capital is one of the best steps Washington can take," said Kerry, chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. "Small businesses already employ more than half of our country’s workforce, so we need to make sure that entrepreneurs have money in their pockets to continue to grow their businesses."

Sen. Kerry’s bill will increase from $125,000 to $200,000 the amount small businesses can write off their taxes for new investments for 2008 in order to encourage new investments this year. The bill increases the net operating carryback period for losses arising in taxable years ending in 2007 and 2008 from two years to five years. This will help struggling businesses with their cash flow.

In addition, Kerry’s legislation will reduce fees on borrowers and lenders to make credit more affordable, and provide incentive for lenders to make small-business loans. The bill will provide additional funding to leverage nearly $20 million in microloans, which proportionally benefit underserved communities, including women and minorities, more than traditional loan programs.

With banks and lenders becoming more risk-averse, the federally backed loans -- which provide guarantees of anywhere from 50 to 85 percent -- will be increasingly important to spurring economic lending in the small-business sector, so that entrepreneurs aren’t forced to finance their businesses with high-interest credit cards.

According to the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, loans are down 12 percent from this time last year in the largest government-backed small-business loan program, known as 7[a]. The Small Business Administration's 7[a] lending program is the largest source of long-term capital to small businesses in this country. SBAExpress loans — which are approved in weeks, not months, and therefore reflect current economic conditions more accurately — are down 23 percent.

SOURCES: Peace Corps Online [file photo], U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Small Businesses Gain More Access to Federal Contracting Opportunities Under Kerry, Snowe Legislation

Today, by a vote of 19-0, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship passed bipartisan legislation which will make it easier for small businesses to obtain federal contracts.

The Small Business Contracting Revitalization Act [S. 2300] improves the oversight of unbundling contracts for small firms, increases enforcement of protections for subcontractors, and expands opportunities for minority, women and service-disabled entrepreneurs.

“Passing this legislation out of committee is just the first step towards making sure that small businesses -- especially those owned by minorities, women, and veterans -- are treated fairly in the contracting process,” declared Sen. John Kerry [D-Mass.], chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

“This legislation will help ensure that the Bush administration identifies opportunities for small businesses to compete for contracts, and gives small businesses that subcontract with a large firm more recourse if they are mistreated,” Kerry noted. "Small businesses are the lifeblood of America, and we need to eliminate all barriers that stand in the way of their success in order to keep the American economy healthy.”

“The Federal government is not aggressive enough in fulfilling its statutory small-business contracting goaling requirements and in assisting small businesses to access federal contracting dollars,” said Sen. Olympia Snowe, [R-Maine], ranking member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

“Currently, small businesses are eligible for $340 billion in federal contracting dollars, yet they receive only $77 billion,” Snowe explained. “The legislation the committee approved today will help ensure that small businesses no longer miss out on billions of dollars in contracting opportunities by taking steps to provide the federal government with additional tools it needs to consistently meet, and exceed, its small-business contracting goals. I look forward to the enactment of this bipartisan, small-business contracting legislation.”

The bill was drafted by Sens. Kerry and Snowe, and cosponsored by Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin [D-Md.]. Specifically, the bill addresses challenges faced by small businesses by:

* Reducing contract bundling by improving oversight of bundling regulation compliance by the Small Business Administration [SBA];

* Preventing misrepresentations in subcontracting by prime contractors by increasing oversight and establishing enforcement mechanisms;

* Helping service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses gain government contract and subcontract opportunities by expanding the authority for sole-source awards;

* Directing the SBA to implement the women-owned small business program – enacted into law in 2000, but which the Bush administration has failed to implement – within 90 days;

* Strengthening the government’s ability to enforce the size and status standards for small business certification.

* Extending the 8[a] contracting program through 2012, and improving it, by:
1] Allowing the Small Disadvantaged Business [SDB] certifications issued by other agencies to be accepted by the SBA;
2] Adjusting for inflation the personal income and net worth requirements for 8[a] program participants; and
3] Prohibiting qualified retirement plans from being used by the SBA to determine an individual’s net worth.

GoodBiz113's take: This bipartisan legislation is most impressive and far-reaching across diverse demographics. S. 2300 deserves to be passed by the full U.S. Senate and Congress ASAP -- to benefit all small businesses and our stakeholders. Once again: Hats off to the do-something 110th Congress!

Sources: Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Cardin Chairs Small-Business Field Hearing on Improving Government Contracting

On Monday, Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin [D-Md.] chaired a field hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to investigate federal government contracting problems and legislative remedies that will help small and minority-owned businesses compete for federal contracts.

“Small business is the engine that drives our economy and sustains our technological lead in the global marketplace,” said Cardin, a member of the committee. “The federal government has a responsibility and interest in fostering and promoting a business climate that supports small-business growth.”

For the past six years, the federal government has consistently failed to meet its small-business contracting goals. According to the Small Business Administration [SBA], in 2006, the federal government failed to meet any of its small-business contracting goals. The SBA report also showed that its goals for women and minorities fell below the 5% objective.

Another recurring theme of those testifying at the hearing was that many of the contracts that were intended for small businesses end up going to large corporations. In 2005, at least six of the top 30 small-business vendors doing business with the federal government were actually large corporations.

Representatives from the SBA, U.S. Department of Defense, General Services Administration, plus several small and minority business leaders in Maryland testified at the hearing. Sen. Cardin announced that he is working with members of the committee on legislation that will deal with barriers that make it difficult for small businesses competing for federal contracts.

“Small business plays a vital role in the federal contracting system,” Cardin noted. “It ensures competition and supplies the federal government with a constant supply of new entrants who bring new ideas and novel approaches for doing the job at hand and supplying services at a competitive rate.”

Source: U.S. Senate Committee for Small Business and Entrepreneurship

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Kerry Marks Katrina's Two-Year Anniversary

Today, Sen. John Kerry [D-Mass.], chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, made the following statement on the eve of the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina:

“Two years after Hurricane Katrina, there is still a long way to go to get the Gulf Coast region back on its feet. Too many families and businesses are still struggling with too much red tape and an incompetent federal response that put our kids in toxic trailers and mismanaged billions of taxpayer dollars.

“Two years ago, Katrina pulled back a curtain and showed the world the true extent of poverty and inequality that still exists in our country. Remembering this tragedy with photo ops isn’t enough. We must finally force accountability and action from the federal government that will get our families and small businesses back on track.

“When Katrina hit, there was no effective safety net to help the individuals and small businesses that were devastated by the storm. And two years later, we still lack a plan that ensures that a Katrina-like response never happens again.

“I’ve worked with Sen. Mary Landrieu [D-La.] and others on a bipartisan basis for two years to provide the government with critical tools to respond more quickly and effectively in the case of future disasters. We passed a disaster loan reform bill in the Senate, and we need to get this legislation on the President’s desk and signed into law.

“Many families and businesses owners have put themselves back on track, and the Gulf Coast region is making progress because of their own hard work and determination. It’s long past time that Washington gives the victims of Katrina a policy that equals their incredible perseverance and hope.”

For more information about the Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2007 [S. 163], please visit: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-163.

Sources: GovTrack.us, Peace Corps Online [file photo], U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

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