CSA Offers support to the SBA Through its Training Programs

 
The Contract Services Association of America submitted testimony to the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee for its February 17 hearing on the Fiscal Year 2006 budget request of the Small Business Administration. 

In its statement, CSA noted that “SBA provides valuable services through its several assistance programs focused on financial, technical, procurement (of particular value to our small business members), and disaster loan assistance, as well as general small business advocacy. It is because of the strong assistance programs offered by SBA, particularly on procurement and Government contracting issues, that CSA felt it was important to enter into a Strategic Alliance Memorandum with the SBA, which was signed in early November.”  As Administrator Barreto said upon the signing of the agreement, “creating more contracting opportunities for small business is an important priority for President Bush and his Administration. I look forward to working closely with the CSA and member firms, with the goal of generating more contracting opportunities for small business.” 

For CSA, this strategic alliance will help achieve the mutual goal of improving participation of small businesses in Government contracting, and ensuring ready access to information and training programs. This alliance should facilitate improved opportunities for small businesses working with medium and larger sized businesses as well. This agreement will provide access to SBA, including its programs and policies for CSA members of all sizes. It provides an avenue for all CSA members to interact with SBA.  

For both SBA and CSA, training is high priority. CSA’s the only comprehensive Project Manager Certification Program specifically designed for service contractors. The program is designed to "bridge the gap" between knowledge and skills acquired in college or technical school, and those competencies learned in the organization.     

A full copy of the CSA testimony can be obtained on the CSA website at www.csa-dc.org.

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CSA is the nation’s oldest and largest association of service contractors representing over 200 companies that provide a wide array of services to Federal, state, and local governments. CSA members do over $40 billion in Government contracts and employ nearly 500,000 workers, with two-thirds of those employees being members of private sector employee unions. CSA members represent the diversity of the government services industry and include small businesses, 8(a)-certified companies, small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned, HubZone, Native American owned firms and global multi-billion dollar corporations. CSA promotes Excellence in Contracting by offering significant professional development opportunities for government contractors and government employees, including the only program manager certification program for service contractors. For more information on CSA, go to: www.csa-dc.org.