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Who We Are

The mission of the AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) is to advance the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms. The objectives of the AIA SFx are three-fold:

1. Advocate the value of small firms, the national SFx, and local SFx groups, both within the AIA and to the public.

2. Curate and disseminate the most pertinent resources and information, from the AIA & elsewhere, that benefit small firms.

3. Inform the AIA of current issues facing small firms and areas in which current resources/information are lacking.

Approximately 75% of all firms within the AIA are small firms (less than 10 employees), which equates to 14,459 small firms within the organization.

~26.8% = sole practitioners = 5,173

~33.5% = 1-5 employees = 6,459

~14.7% = 5-10 employees = 2,827

For context, small firms share of staff is 16.0% and share of billings is 12.0%

We need to find ways to leverage that size for collaboration and influence, just like the individual large firms do.

   

  

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Small Firm Round Table Position Paper on SBA

  • 1.  Small Firm Round Table Position Paper on SBA

    Posted 04-25-2011 11:32 AM

    To Small Firm Round Table Members and Others of Interest:

    Attached is a Small Firm Round Table (SFRT) position paper on the Small Business Administration's (SBA) proposal to raise the gross income level classification of small architectural firms.  The Executive Committee of the AIA Board asked me to form a task group to prepare a small firm's response to SBA's requested increase.  I formed such a task force and we initially corresponded by emails and concluded with two telephone conversations finalizing the position paper.  I chose task group members from those attending the Round Table meeting in Dallas and those who have competed for and performed services for the Federal government.  All of us felt that the existing $4.5 million gross was too large, however, we felt that at this time we would have a better chance of fighting an increase rather than demanding a decrease.  In the end the attached paper was submitted to the Executive Committee.  If we are successful it is my believe that the SFRT should continue lobbying the Executive Committee to work with SBA for a more reasonable maximum gross income that truly defines the small firm.


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    Jeffrey Rosenblum, FAIA, Chairperson
    Small Firm Round Table
    Rosenblum Coe Architects, Inc.
    Charleston SC
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  • 2.  RE:Small Firm Round Table Position Paper on SBA

    Posted 04-25-2011 02:23 PM
    Thank you for doing this. As you note it is not simply that big firms will scoop up even more of the small business set-asides, but procurement officers make their life easier by bundling projects to avoid set-asides altogether. Ironically it seems by increasing the limit it might make it more of a stretch to bundle the really small projects into logical units.

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    Allan Baer AIA
    Associate
    Lloyd & Associates Architects
    Santa Fe NM
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