# SBA’s Awards for Staffing Support for COVID-19 Economic Relief Loan Programs
> **Inspection / Evaluation** by Small Business Administration OIG · 2023-07-26
> *About: Small Business Administration*
## Report
- **Title:** SBA’s Awards for Staffing Support for COVID-19 Economic Relief Loan Programs
- **Submitting OIG:** Small Business Administration OIG
- **Component agency:** Small Business Administration
- **Type:** Inspection / Evaluation
- **Publication date:** 2023-07-26

## Summary

We reviewed the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) blanket purchase agreement with Highlight Technologies, LLC for loan support services.To meet the increased demand for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) loan program support services, SBA issued labor hour contracts, e.g. call orders, using an existing blanket purchase agreement. However, SBA contracting officials did not always perform adequate price analyses, awarding contracts that were not the best use of taxpayer funds.


## Recommendations

- **Rec 1** (Open): Establish and implement policies and procedures on how to use appropriate analysis techniques when determining prices are fair and reasonable when GSA scheduled list prices and rates are adjusted, in accordance with FAR 8.
- **Rec 2** (Closed): Establish and implement policies and procedures to document discount requests for applicable call orders to ensure all possible volume order discounts and changing market conditions are considered at the time of each order, in accordance with FAR 8.…
- **Rec 3** (Open): Determine the total additional amount paid to Highlight Technologies, LLC due to using Washington, D.C. labor rates and pursue any applicable remedies to recover costs.
- **Rec 4** (Open): Evaluate all call orders issued under the Highlight blanket purchase agreement for compliance with the Limitation on Subcontracting Rule per 13 CFR § 125.6 and pursue any applicable remedies.
## Source
- [oversight.gov report page](https://www.oversight.gov/reports/sbas-awards-staffing-support-covid-19-economic-relief-loan-programs)
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