Thesis (M.S. in Contract Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2004. / Thesis advisor(s): Richard Doyle. Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-73). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2004. / Mode of access: Internet via the World Wide Web. Title from title screen (viewed May 10, 2005). "December 2004." Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-73). Also issued in paper format.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This thesis investigates the effect that acquisition reform has had on small business participation in the Federal contracting arena. As a result of the transformation of the Federal acquisition process through acquisition reform legislation and the reduction in the acquisition workforce, small business contractors are faced with new challenges to compete for and win Federal contracts. This paper concentrates on examining contract bundling, reverse auctions, electronic commerce and multiple award schedules. It concludes that contract bundling has had a negative effect on small businesses by excluding them from many competitions. It also finds that electronic commerce has had a positive effect on small businesses by giving them greater access to Federal contract opportunities and by speeding up the acquisition process. Regarding multiple award schedules, the research supports benefits for small businesses when they are given the chance to compete through multiple award schedules. It also finds negative implications for small businesses in that multiple award schedules often favor large established businesses at the expense of small businesses. The paper finds a lack of awareness on the part of small business concerning reverse auctions and finds no major impact on small businesses resulting from reverse auctions. / Civilian, Department of the Army PEO-EIS

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This study examines the effects of acquisition reform on Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) and Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) who contracted with DOD during the 1990s through 2002 timeframe. Review and analysis of DOD data for fiscal years 1992 through 2002, an analysis of websites and acquisition literature, and interviews with DOD contracting and small business specialists provided the basis for this study. It identifies acquisition reform legislation enacted in the 1990s that has had a direct impact on WOSBs and SDBs and examines the charge that the practice of contract bundling has negatively impacted the ability of small businesses to win DOD contracts. An analysis of contract bundling data from the Small Business Office of Advocacy, Congress and DOD demonstrates that the data is insufficient and inconsistent to prove or disprove that contract bundling is negatively impacting small businesses. However, DOD data for fiscal years 1992 through 2002 indicates that DOD contracting with WOSBs improved consistently, particularly after enactment of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA) of 1994 which mandated that the federal government, inclusive of DOD, award five percent of total yearly procurement dollars to WOSBs. / Civilian, United States Army