The SBA uses small business set-asides to help small businesses get a fair share of government property sales and leases. Set-asides limit bidding on the products exclusively to small businesses first. That way, small businesses get a chance to bid with limited competition before the products are offered to other businesses in the open market.
Sometimes, agencies will divide materials into smaller parcels to make it easier for small businesses to afford. The SBA also provides counseling and other assistance to small businesses on government sales and leasing.
The program covers five categories of federal resources. They are:
- Timber and related forest products
- Strategic materials
- Royalty oil
- Leases involving rights to minerals, coal, oil, and gas
- Surplus real and personal property