Government Contracting

Government contracting has always been a competitive space, and with the latest shifts in federal business policies, small businesses—especially those in the Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) and 8(a) programs—are facing new challenges. While changes in priorities and regulations create uncertainty, this is not the time for fear. It’s time to get strategic, double down on business excellence, and become even sharper problem solvers. What’s Changing? Recent executive orders have reshaped the landscape of government contracting, affecting programs that historically provided opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses. Federal agencies and contractors are adjusting policies and procedures to align with the new directives, and the impact is already visible. Larger contractors are revising their commitments and compliance strategies, while smaller firms must determine how to navigate these changes while maintaining their competitive edge. What This Means for Small Disadvantaged Businesses For businesses participating in federal programs like the SBA 8(a) program, these policy shifts mean heightened competition and new regulatory considerations. While some previous initiatives may be scaled back, the demand for strong, capable businesses that can deliver value remains unchanged. Now, more than ever, small businesses must focus on the fundamentals: sound financial management, operational efficiency, and a clear value proposition. How to Strengthen and Protect Your Business 1. Stay Informed and Compliant Regulatory changes can be complex, and misinterpretation can be costly. Ensure that your business stays legally compliant by: Regularly reviewing guidance from the SBA and other relevant agencies. Consulting legal and compliance experts. Engaging with industry and advocacy organizations that monitor policy updates. 2. Reframe and Adapt Your Strategy While certain terms and initiatives may be phased out, the principles behind them—such as talent development, inclusive leadership, and supplier diversity—can still be pursued under different frameworks. Consider: Shifting language from “diversity initiatives” to “workforce development” or “talent pipeline expansion.” Highlighting performance, experience, and problem-solving capabilities as core business strengths. 3. Strengthen Your Financial and Operational Excellence Now is the time to ensure your business is financially sound and operationally strong. Get your financial house in order : Ensure that your books are audit-ready and that your financial reporting is accurate. Optimize business processes : Improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service delivery. Invest in technology : Utilize automation and digital tools to streamline operations and improve productivity. 4. Diversify Your Revenue Streams If your business relies heavily on federal contracts, consider expanding into: State and local government contracts. Private sector partnerships and corporate supplier diversity programs. New service offerings or market segments. Major corporations continue to invest in diverse suppliers, creating opportunities outside of federal contracting. 5. Stay Competitive and Indispensable Excellence is the ultimate differentiator. Focus on delivering high-quality products and services that make your business the best choice—regardless of policy changes. Key strategies include: Pursuing additional certifications like Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), and Veteran-Owned Business (VOSB). Sharpening your business development skills and relationship-building efforts. Continuously improving leadership, problem-solving, and innovation within your company. 6. Find Strength in Networks and Partnerships Navigating change is easier when you have support. Engage with business organizations and advocacy groups that provide resources, training, and networking opportunities. Organizations like the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and local business chambers can help position your company for success. The Bottom Line The business landscape is evolving, but successful businesses know how to adapt. While these policy shifts introduce new challenges, they do not eliminate opportunities. This is the time to sharpen your skills, seek new partnerships, and ensure your business stands out for its excellence and problem-solving capabilities. Entrepreneurs in urban communities have always found ways to rise above obstacles. This is another moment to innovate, refine strategies, and build businesses that thrive—regardless of the administration in office. Policies may change, but excellence and resilience endure.

LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles Business Council today launched the Regional Alliance Marketplace for Procurement (RAMP), a portal that centralizes both public and private procurement opportunities. RAMP will address procurement reform and equitable access to contracting opportunities “Making it easier for small and diverse businesses to have access to more procurement opportunities has always been a core priority to further expand equity in our city,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “RAMP has come together with the support of the business community and local organizations, and we are excited for the new opportunities that will be available to all types of small businesses across the region.” RAMP is a unique solicitation portal designed to provide the small business community with a centralized hub for contracting opportunities with the City of Los Angeles, as well as other public and private entities. RAMP expects to make available more than $10 billion in procurement opportunities in its first year. This initiative was made possible through the collaboration of Mayor Garcetti, the Los Angeles City Council, and Los Angeles business leaders and is led by the Mayor’s Chief Procurement Officer. Many of these opportunities are geared for the small and diverse business communities. “More than six years ago, I initiated the Comprehensive Jobs Plan, which prioritized procurement reform, primarily for the benefit of small and disadvantaged businesses,” said Councilmember Paul Krekorian. “RAMP is an extraordinary upgrade to an outdated system, which simplifies the process for businesses of all kinds to contract with the City of LA, especially those that are small, local, and minority and women-owned. It’s fitting that we celebrate the launch of RAMP during Super Bowl week in Los Angeles, the kind of major event that offers numerous opportunities for businesses across the City.” Procurement opportunities will be posted on RAMP on an ongoing basis by public and private organizations including, the City of Los Angeles; Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Metropolitan Water District; construction and engineering firms including PCL Construction, Suffolk Construction, WSP, and Burns Group; sports and entertainment organizations including AEG, NFL, and the Los Angeles Dodgers; financial institutions including MUFG and City National Bank; and other large contractors. RAMP will launch on February 18, 2022. Businesses currently enrolled in the City of Los Angeles’ BAVN platform will be automatically transferred into RAMP, and will not need to re-register. To learn more or register, go to rampla.org .

The retail division of CVS Health will seek diverse businesses and evaluate opportunities in line with its ongoing work to meet the needs of customers. WOONSOCKET, R.I., Feb. 10, 2022 -- CVS Pharmacy today announced its second annual Supplier Diversity & Minority Owned Summit, hosted from April 5 - 8, in partnership with ECRM and RangeMe. This summit is part of CVS Pharmacy's ongoing efforts to bring a broader assortment of products from diverse suppliers and brands to customers – and work with those suppliers and brands to ensure mutual success through customized support and resources. CVS Pharmacy currently carries more than 100 diverse-owned brands across front store categories and is committed to increasing that selection with enhanced merchandising protocols for diverse suppliers. Within beauty and personal care, for example, CVS Pharmacy has made significant strides in amplifying its commitment to build out diverse-owned assortments. It has recently added several new Black-owned brands and nearly 200 items from new and existing Black-owned brands, with many more launching across the category in 2022. "We're at our best when our priorities and actions reflect the needs of the communities we serve," said Andrea Harrison, VP of Merchandising, Beauty & Personal Care at CVS Health. "We'll continue to feature the brands and trends that speak to the diversity of our customers while simultaneously offering the value, innovation and trust they expect from the products across our aisles." The 2022 summit will focus on products across beauty, grocery, personal care, health, wellness, household and general merchandise. Vendors can learn more and apply to join the virtual event by visiting www.rangeme.com/cvsdiversity through February 14, 2022. To further support CVS Pharmacy's commitment to increasing its selection of diverse-owned brands, new tools and processes have been created to ensure increased diverse spend and a more inclusive supplier and product landscape, including: CVS Merchandising, in partnership with the CVS Health Enterprise Procurement Supplier Diversity team, has hosted a Supplier Diversity in Merchandising program annually for the past four years to identify new diverse suppliers and assist in eliminating barriers to starting in retail. CVS Health's Supplier Diversity program hosts an annual Executive Learning Series, which provides training in a wide variety of skills around pitching and landing expanded retail distribution of products, including the opportunity to engage in individualized executive coaching. CVS Pharmacy merchandisers attend supplier diversity advocacy conferences, such as National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), to meet with diverse suppliers. CVS Pharmacy works to reinforce the diversity of both product assortment and suppliers throughout its planogram process to deliver relevant offerings to the communities it serves. Additionally, with the goal of achieving mutual success, CVS Pharmacy offers unique opportunities to smaller diverse suppliers entering mass retail, including: Providing resources, training and mentoring for new and/or growing diverse suppliers as they gain a foothold in the retail environment. Developing refreshed intake forms to ensure specific supplier needs are appropriately flagged and accommodated. At this Supplier Diversity & Minority Owned Summit, all sourcing and product submissions will be made through RangeMe , the industry-standard online product discovery and sourcing platform. ECRM will then create curated meeting schedules and facilitate face-to-face virtual meetings with the merchants, so that suppliers can present new and innovative products and solutions for CVS Pharmacy customers. All meetings will be conducted on ECRM's virtual meeting platform, ECRM CONNECT, on April 5 - 8. ECRM's team will help ensure that the meetings are executed with the utmost efficiency. About CVS Pharmacy CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health , is America's leading retail pharmacy with nearly 10,000 locations, including over 1,700 pharmacies inside of Target and Schnucks grocery stores. We are committed to delivering innovative health solutions that create a simpler, more accessible experience for patients, customers, and caregivers. CVS Pharmacy is the only national pharmacy to remove tobacco products from its shelves and has taken a leadership role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by making testing and vaccinations available at locations across the United States. For the latest product and service offerings, visit www.cvs.com or download the CVS App .