Edward Markey (D-MA)
Protecting Small Business Competitions Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Protecting Small Business Competitions Act of 2025," aims to amend the Small Business Act. The primary purpose is to codify the "Rule of Two." This rule establishes specific conditions under which contracts, task orders, or delivery orders should be reserved for small business concerns. It specifically applies to purchases of goods or services with an anticipated value exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. The provision relies on the contracting officer's reasonable expectation regarding competition and pricing.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +6
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill codifies the Rule of Two to ensure small businesses have a dedicated mechanism to compete for government contracts.
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides more predictable opportunities for small business owners to secure government procurement contracts.
- Scored +3
Is this likely to create jobs?
By reserving federal contracts for small businesses, the bill likely fosters growth and job creation within the small business sector.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Reservation of contracts for small businesses: This provision ensures that contracts, task orders, or delivery orders are reserved for small business concerns when specific criteria are met (Section 2). This could benefit small business owners by guaranteeing opportunities when competition and pricing are predictable.
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Requirement for competitive offers: The bill requires a reasonable expectation that the officer can obtain offers from 2 or more responsible small business concerns (Section 2, Subsection A). This helps ensure that small businesses have a dedicated space to compete for government work.
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Price stability and fairness: The bill mandates that the contracting officer expects to award the contract at a fair market price (Section 2, Subsection B). This protects the integrity of the procurement process by linking small business reservations to market fairness.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill codifies the Rule of Two to ensure small businesses have a dedicated mechanism to compete for government contracts. Is this likely to create jobs? — By reserving federal contracts for small businesses, the bill likely fosters growth and job creation within the small business sector.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides more predictable opportunities for small business owners to secure government procurement contracts.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Codifying the Rule of Two provides a clearer standard for how contracting officers reserve opportunities for small businesses.
- 8/1/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska
Dan SullivanRepublican · Alaska