Challenges with recruiting small business for USCG Ship Repair Contracts in USCG District 8

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) operates a fleet of 24 cutters on the inland rivers and gulf coast to maintain Aids to Navigation (ATON). The drydock maintenance of these cutters is completed by commercial vendors, and the USCG has historically awarded most of the work to one vendor in Tennessee and Alabama. This paper evaluates the value of the contracts awarded in FY 2014-2017 to establish if additional vendors would be attracted by the contract value. Existing industry surveys and the Small Business Administration (SBA) are reviewed to assist in locating additional vendors. Three recommendations are developed: [1] USCG Contracting personnel should coordinate with the SBA to locate vendors [2] SBA personnel should ensure businesses respond to industry surveys [3] Focus should be placed on identifying additional vendors in targeted geographic areas.