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H.R. 1641House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

To amend the Small Business Act to clarify the responsibilities of Business Opportunity Specialists, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by Maxine WatersRep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Introduced March 20, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 1:55 PM UTC

The bill changes the Small Business Act to spell out exactly what a Business Opportunity Specialist (BOS) does. It sets clear duties for BOS staff who work for the Small Business Administration and defines how the job’s qualification requirements must be posted. The changes affect SBA employees and the small‑business firms that seek SBA‑helped federal contracts.

Key Provisions

  • Amends the heading of the relevant section and renumbers subparagraphs for clarity.
  • Requires that the qualification requirements for a BOS be included in any initial job posting for appointments made after Jan. 3, 2013.
  • Specifies the exclusive duties of a BOS, including providing guidance, counseling, and referrals to help small businesses become more competitive.
  • Mandates that BOS staff identify reasons for a small business’s success or failure and conduct comprehensive assessments of strengths and weaknesses.
  • Requires BOS to monitor and document compliance with contracting rules (sections 7, 8, 15, 31, 36, and 45) and to explain those rules to businesses.
  • Calls for BOS to advise businesses on Federal Acquisition Regulation compliance after a contract is awarded.
  • Tasks BOS with reviewing and monitoring mentor‑protege agreements under section 45.
  • Requires BOS to represent both the SBA’s and small businesses’ interests in contract award, modification, and administration.
  • Obligates BOS to report any fraud or abuse related to the contracting programs.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.

Small Business Committee

March 20, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 20, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.

Small Business Committee

March 20, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 20, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1641

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 20, 2017

Ms. Maxine Waters of California (for herself and Ms. Velázquez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business

A BILL

To amend the Small Business Act to clarify the responsibilities of Business Opportunity Specialists, and for other purposes.

1.

Responsibilities of Business Opportunity Specialists

Section 4(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 633(g)) is amended—

(1)

in the subsection heading, by striking Certification Requirements for;

(2)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively (and conforming the margins accordingly);

(B)

by amending clause (ii) (as so redesignated) to read as follows:

(ii)

Application

The requirements of clause (i) shall be included in any initial job posting for the position of a Business Opportunity Specialist and shall apply to any person appointed as a Business Opportunity Specialist after January 3, 2013.

; and

(C)

in clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking paragraph (1) and inserting subparagraph (A);

(3)

by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively (and conforming the margins accordingly);

(4)

in subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting subparagraph (B); and

(5)

by inserting before subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated) the following:

(1)

Duties

The exclusive duties of a Business Opportunity Specialist employed by the Administrator and reporting to the senior official appointed by the Administrator with responsibilities under sections 8, 15, 31, and 36 (or the designee of such official) shall be to implement sections 7, 8, and 45 and to complete other duties related to contracting programs under this Act. Such duties shall include—

(A)

with respect to small business concerns eligible to receive contracts and subcontracts pursuant to section 8(a)—

(i)

providing guidance, counseling, and referrals for assistance with technical, management, financial, or other matters that will improve the competitive viability of such concerns;

(ii)

identifying causes of success or failure of such concerns;

(iii)

providing comprehensive assessments of such concerns, including identifying the strengths and weaknesses of such concerns;

(iv)

monitoring and documenting compliance with the requirements of sections 7 and 8 and any regulations implementing those sections;

(v)

explaining the requirements of sections 7, 8, 15, 31, 36, and 45; and

(vi)

advising on compliance with contracting regulations (including the Federal Acquisition Regulation) after award of such a contract or subcontract;

(B)

reviewing and monitoring compliance with mentor-protege agreements under section 45;

(C)

representing the interests of the Administrator and small business concerns in the award, modification, and administration of contracts and subcontracts awarded pursuant to section 8(a); and

(D)

reporting fraud or abuse under section 7, 8, 15, 31, 36, or 45 or any regulations implementing such sections.

(2)

Certification requirements

.