Innovated Online Contracting System Launched

Limited Number of Low-Dollar Contracts Now Available Through Online Marketplace.

The U. S. Small Business Administration, in conjunction with the White House's Presidential Innovation Fellows, has launched a "beta" version of RFP-EZ. This new system is an online marketplace designed to streamline the government contracting process by making it easier for small businesses to find and bid on low-dollar contracts from federal agencies. The new program allows the government to source low-cost, high-impact solutions from innovative tech companies. A limited number of contracts through RFP-EZ are now available at http://rfpez.sba.gov. If the programs is successful, the pilot will be expanded to include more contracts for a broader group of innovative start-ups. The streamlined process helps save significant amounts of time for all types of businesses, especially high-growth startups. A company can simply create a company profile on the site which will allow them to search and bid for contracts relevant to the business. The company can easily search for an opportunity, see a scope of work, and bid all within the RFP-EZ interface. The Presidential Innovation Fellows program launched in August 2012. The program pairs top innovators from the private sector, non-profits, and academia with top innovators in government to collaborate on solutions that aim to deliver significant results. RFP-EZ is the first of five high-impact projects aimed at supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and the economy, which significantly improving how the Federal Government serves the American people. The other Presidential Innovation Fellow projects include:MyGov, Open Data Initiatives, Blue Button for America, and the 20% Initiative. To learn more about the fellowship and the projects, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/innovationfellows. BusinessUSA is a Presidential initiative designed to make it easier for small businesses and entrepreneurs to access federal services and other resources. To learn more visit http://business.usa.gov.