Today, President Obama issued a memorandum announcing strong steps for his Administration to learn how federal agency spending can be more fair and open to small business contractors, bring greater transparency to the contracting process and data, and act to invigorate federal spending with small firms.

Unfortunately, this announcement most likely comes as an early warning of sub-par FY 2009 achievement of small business federal contracting goals (this data has not yet been publicly released) and continued pressure by small businesses and trade association leaders to end the long standing failure of the federal government to assure a fair and open marketplace inclusive of small businesses including businesses owned by women, minorities, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and service-disabled veterans.

Even if these steps are being taken now to lessen the impending bad news, we can be heartened by the seriousness of President Obama's response. As detailed below, Mr. Obama is bringing together a very senior level Task Force from a wide range of federal agencies and policy leaders to provide proposals and recommendations within 120 days, and is establishing within 90 days a website to bring greater accountability and transparency, allow for the oversight of the Federal Government's progress in small business contracting, and to bring improved collection, verification, and availability of Federal procurement data.