Notice2026-08554
Scaling Critical Suppliers in Domestic Supply Chains
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 1, 2026
Issuing agencies
Small Business Administration
Abstract
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) requests public input to inform the design of near-term initiatives intended to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity for critical components, subcomponents, materials, tooling, and specialized capabilities essential to economic resilience and national security. This request focuses on identifying opportunities to rapidly scale existing domestic supplier capacity in areas characterized by supply chain constraints or choke points. SBA is particularly interested in gaps where qualifying domestic small businesses have a demonstrated operating history but are unable to reach a specific near-term milestone due to a capital shortfall. Information received in response to this Request for information (RFI) will inform the development of SBA innovation programs and initiatives, including potential prize competitions designed to deliver measurable increases in production capacity, supplier participation, and supply chain resilience within a compressed execution window.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 84 (Friday, May 1, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 84 (Friday, May 1, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23523-23525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08554]
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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Scaling Critical Suppliers in Domestic Supply Chains
AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) requests public
input to inform the design of near-term initiatives intended to
strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity for critical components,
subcomponents, materials, tooling, and specialized capabilities
essential to economic resilience and national security. This request
focuses on identifying opportunities to rapidly scale existing domestic
supplier capacity in areas characterized by supply chain constraints or
choke points. SBA is particularly interested in gaps where qualifying
domestic small businesses have a demonstrated operating history but are
unable to reach a specific near-term milestone due to a capital
shortfall. Information received in response to this Request for
information (RFI) will inform the development of SBA innovation
programs and initiatives, including potential prize competitions
designed to deliver measurable increases in production capacity,
supplier participation, and supply chain resilience within a compressed
execution window.
DATES: Submit comments on or before May 18, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by subject line ``RFI
Response: Strengthening Domestic Supply Chains and Critical Supplier
Competition'' to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#375e59415244435e595958415643527744555619505841"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="95fcfbe3f0e6e1fcfbfbfae3f4e1f0d5e6f7f4bbf2fae3">[email protected]</span></a>.
Instructions: Please include the subject line, ``RFI Response:
Strengthening Domestic Supply Chains and Critical Supplier
Competition''. Your response should include a cover sheet with the
following:
<bullet> Individual or Organization Name
<bullet> (If applicable) Organization/Individual Point of Contact
<bullet> (If applicable) Organization UEI
Comments are strictly voluntary.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rikki Jones, Program Analyst, Office
of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bdd4d3cbd8cec9d4d3d3d2cbdcc9d8fdcedfdc93dad2cb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0e6760786b7d7a67606061786f7a6b4e7d6c6f20696178">[email protected]</span></a>, 202-205-6156. This phone number may also be
reached by individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who have
speech disabilities, through the Federal Communications Commission's
TTY-Based Telecommunications Relay Service Teletype service at 711.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
SBA administers programs to support small business development,
access to capital, and innovation pursuant to the Small Business Act,
as amended (15 U.S.C. 631, et seq.), the Small Business Investment Act
of 1958, as amended (15 U.S.C. 662, et seq.), and the America COMPETES
Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 3719), including:
<bullet> 15 U.S.C. 634(b) (General Powers of the Administrator);
<bullet> 15 U.S.C. 662-697g (Small Business Investment Company (SBIC)
program);
<bullet> 15 U.S.C. 638 (Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs); and
<bullet> 15 U.S.C. 3719 (prize competitions).
SBA's investment and innovation programs are implemented in part
through regulations at 13 CFR parts 107 and 121, as well as through
sub-regulatory guidance, including Standard Operating Procedures and
program notices. The Office of Investment and Innovation (OII)
administers SBA's Innovation Network Programs, including the Growth
Accelerator Fund Competition, the Regional Innovation Cluster Program,
and the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program. These
programs support the development of regional and sector-
[[Page 23524]]
based networks that help small businesses and technology firms scale.
Consistent with SBA's statutory authorities, SBA is seeking input
to inform the design of future initiatives, including potential prize
competitions authorized under the America COMPETES Act, 15. U.S.C.
3719.
II. Purpose and Scope
SBA seeks input on how to most effectively accelerate the immediate
scaling of existing domestic small business suppliers and proven
solution providers that support expanded production capacity, and
address supply chain choke points through the achievement of measurable
near-term milestones.
SBA is also interested in understanding how targeted actions
described in this RFI can improve supplier coordination and
participation across industries and through vertical integration,
particularly where such improvements would enable rapid expansion of
domestic production by small business participants in the U.S.
industrial base.
III. Key Areas of Interest
This RFI focuses on the following key areas:
<bullet> Supply chain gaps where an infusion of capital could
measurably scale production capacity or rapidly implement a new
technology solution that supports this scaled production;
<bullet> Identification of suppliers and solution providers that
are ready to execute a near-term milestone (approximately 1-3 months);
<bullet> The required incremental capital investment to achieve the
stated near-term milestone, including description of the full capital
stack required that could include a combination of federal funding and
expected non-federal cost share (equity, debt and cashflow from
operations, etc.); and
<bullet> Non-capital related support and actions that could
mitigate execution risk and deliver measurable, near-term improvements
in output, cost, lead time, and domestic small business supplier
participation.
IV. Information Requested
SBA invites responses from entrepreneurs, small and large
businesses, suppliers, manufacturers, entrepreneur support
organizations, investors, and other industry stakeholders. Respondents
are encouraged to provide concise, operational, and time-bound
responses, include quantitative estimates and near-term projections,
and identify assumptions and execution risks.
1. Supply Chain Gaps and Choke Points. What supply chain gaps or
choke points and/or applicable solutions relating to manufacturing and/
or production processes most constrain domestic production or U.S.
economic resilience?
a. Respondents may address:
i. Industry, sector, or application (including defense, commercial
or dual-use relevance);
ii. The subject component, material, or solution and its position
and/or impact in the supply chain or;
iii. An assessment or quantification of the impact of such supply
chain gap or lacking solution on cost, lead time, or dependency;
iv. Whether the constraint is driven by insufficient production
capacity, outdated production processes or increased cost or lack of
supply of upstream components;
v. Any single points of failure or highly concentrated supply
segments that could be effectively addressed by U.S. small businesses;
and
vi. Whether such domestic firms could achieve a near-term milestone
(1-3 months) with targeted support (financial and non-financial).
2. Supplier Readiness to Scale. What suppliers and/or solution
providers are currently positioned in the near term to scale, address a
vital supply chain choke point, or facilitate advanced and more
efficient production processes?
a. Respondents may address:
i. Evidence of existing production capability and/or tested or
proven solutions;
ii. Current utilization and surge capacity, as applicable;
iii. Customer demand, contracts, or near-term pipeline; and
iv. Ability to address supply chain chokepoint or implement
solution(s) within a compressed timeframe (1-3 months).
3. Constraints to Near-Term Scaling. What factors are preventing
capable suppliers and solution providers from expanding production in
the near-term?
a. Respondents may address:
i. Capital requirements (equipment, materials, working capital);
ii. Workforce availability and training;
iii. Certification or qualification requirements for both
commercial and government contracts;
iv. Demand uncertainty;
v. Infrastructure or equipment limitations;
vi. Price fluctuations and availability of upstream inputs; and
vii. Other risks that could adversely affect near-term execution.
4. Effective Interventions for Rapid Scaling. What types of actions
most effectively enable rapid near-term supplier scaling?
a. Respondents may address:
i. Financial support mechanisms that can be deployed quickly;
ii. Demand commitments or procurement alignment;
iii. Technical assistance or validation support;
iv. Innovations and solutions that facilitate near-term growth and/
or efficiencies;
v. Partnerships or coordinated actions; and
vi. Role of service providers or intermediaries in removing
bottleneck.
5. Investment, Milestones, and Expected Outcomes. What level of
capital infusion would be required to achieve measurable increases in
production capacity within a short timeframe?
a. Respondents may address:
i. Estimated level of funding required;
ii. Expected non-federal cost share or private investment;
iii. Specific milestones achievable within 1-3 months;
iv. Anticipated increases in output and throughput; and
v. Expected improvements in cost, lead time, or supplier
participation.
6. Data and Measurement. What data sources and metrics should SBA
use to assess impact?
a. Respondents may address:
i. Methods for estimating current and near-term production capacity
growth;
ii. Metrics for tracking short-term output increases;
iii. Indicators of reduced lead times, or cost performance;
iv. Metrics for measuring a specific supply chain's resilience or
vulnerability; and
v. Metrics or indicators relating to improving national or economic
security through the implementation of the applicable solution or
scaled production.
V. Potential Program Design Considerations
SBA is considering approaches that may include:
<bullet> Direct support to small businesses to scale production
capacity and/or implement solutions that serve supply chain resiliency;
<bullet> Support to entities that enable supplier scaling by
addressing bottlenecks;
<bullet> Milestone-based funding structures tied to measurable,
near-term outcomes;
<bullet> Requirements for demonstrated production capability and/or
solution implementation and readiness to execute; and
<bullet> Consideration of creditworthiness, sources of capital
(other than the
[[Page 23525]]
government), ability to deploy funds rapidly, likelihood of achievement
of stated milestones (execution risk), management team qualifications
and track record demonstrating success, overall impact applicable to an
award of incremental capital towards economic and national security
priorities.
This section is provided to inform responses and does not represent
final program design.
VI. Use of Information
Responses to this RFI will inform the development of SBA
initiatives, including SBA's Innovation Network Programs and potential
prize competitions designed to deliver rapid, measurable increases in
domestic production capacity through solutions that improve
efficiencies and through scale and strengthened resiliency with respect
to critical supply chains.
VII. Disclaimer
No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with
providing information in response to this RFI or any follow-up
information requests. Moreover, any and all information shared in
response to this RFI is protected by SBA's deliberative process and
will not be associated with any single entity, person, and/or
organization.
VIII. Authority
This request is issued pursuant to:
<bullet> 15 U.S.C. 631 et seq. (Small Business Act);
<bullet> 15 U.S.C. 634(b) (General Powers of the Administrator);
<bullet> 15 U.S.C. 662-697g (Small Business Investment Company
(SBIC) program);
<bullet> 15 U.S.C. 638 (Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs);
<bullet> 15 U.S.C. 3719 (Prize Competitions); and
<bullet> Implementing regulations at 13 CFR parts 107 and 121 and
related authorities.
Joshua Carter,
Associate Administrator for the Office of Investment and Innovation.
[FR Doc. 2026-08554 Filed 4-30-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8026-09-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 1, 2026.
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