MICC surpasses small business goals for tenth consecutive year

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (Oct. 18, 2024) – In fiscal 2024, small business experts within the Mission and Installation Contracting Command once again surpassed contracting objectives in every socioeconomic category, marking a decade of consistent achievement.

This fiscal year, MICC contracting professionals awarded contract actions to American small businesses totaling more than $3 billion, accounting for more than half of the command’s $5.5 billion in fiscal actions.

Luis Trinidad, director of the MICC Office of Small Business Programs, underscored the significant economic influence of the MICC’s initiatives. He emphasized the vital role small businesses play in job creation and economic health, crediting the relentless dedication of MICC’s small business experts and contracting staff for their consistent achievements. This synergy between mission and effort highlights the critical importance of small enterprises to the Army. Both the Army and other U.S. government agencies have established targets for awarding contracts to small businesses.

“The MICC’s goal achievements translate directly to successes by small businesses, which are the lifeblood of our economy and account for more than two-thirds of all new jobs created,” Trinidad said. “This reflects the hard work, dedication and commitment to small business displayed by our small business professionals and contracting personnel on a continuous basis.”

The collaborative efforts of small business professionals and MICC offices have significantly advanced the utilization of small businesses in government contracts. By leveraging market research and strategic set-asides.

“Our small business professionals worked closely with MICC offices and assisted with market research to support the use of small business and socioeconomic set asides to the maximum extent possible, resulting in 62.81% of our small business eligible obligations, or approximately $3.09 billion, going to small businesses,” Trinidad said.

He added that achieving the HUBZone goal was particularly challenging this year.

“We have successfully allocated substantial work to HUBZone through the 8(a) program,” Trinidad said. “This shift has predominantly impacted construction and Intergovernmental Support Agreements, resulting in a reduction in our construction budget. Additionally, the Installation Management Command has redirected much of its Facility Investment Plan and Supplier Relationship Management tasks to the Army Corps for awarding, leading to a decrease in these types of projects this year.”

Launched in 2020, the Army’s FIP process strategically aligns infrastructure enhancements—including military construction, restoration, and modernization—with senior leadership priorities and available funding.

The 8(a) Business Development Program is an initiative by the U.S. Small Business Administration designed to help small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The program provides these businesses with training, technical assistance, and access to federal contracting opportunities. The goal is to help these businesses become competitive in the federal marketplace and contribute to the overall growth of the American economy.

The MICC achieved 10.41% of its 10% goal for HUBZone small business awards. The SBA’s HUBZone program allows eligible businesses to compete for set-aside contracts when they meet qualifications including size standards, ownership, principal office location and employee living locations.

Heather Scherer, a small business analyst with the MICC Office of Small Business Programs, reported that small business professionals across the command achieved 62.81%, surpassing their 51.1% small business goal. The command also exceeded goals in other categories: 40.64% against a 35.50% target for small disadvantaged businesses, 12.76% against a 10.5% target for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and 15.87% against an 11.16% target for woman-owned small businesses.

“We have a great group of small business professionals who are passionate and love what they do. They get involved early in the acquisition process and work jointly with our supported customers and contracting professionals to influence the acquisition strategy and ensure small business compliance,” Trinidad said.

Acquisition professionals from throughout the MICC executed 22,000 contract actions during fiscal 2024 ensuring installation readiness requirements across the Army while also meeting the needs of Soldiers and their families.

MICC collaborates with 29 customer teams and resource managers, supported by 30 contracting offices to facilitate and provide oversight for Army contracts that are vital to feed more than 200,000 Soldiers every day, to provide daily base operations support services at installations in countless ways, to prepare more than 100,000 conventional force members annually, to facilitate training for more than 100,000 students each year, and to maintain more than 14.4 million acres of land and 170,000 structures.