# Defense Industry Urges SBA to Preserve Mid-Tier Primes

An opinion article argues that the Small Business Administration’s planned size-standard changes should preserve a role for mid-tier defense primes alongside small businesses. It says mid-tier primes can provide small-business teammates with workshare, access to major contract vehicles, operational support, and financial stability when funding is delayed. No specific solicitation, award, contract value, or implementation date is identified.

- Contractors should follow the SBA policy process because changes to size standards could affect how defense firms qualify and how small businesses team with larger primes.
- Defense contractors can strengthen small-business teaming and mentor-protégé arrangements to support workshare and access to contract vehicles.
- The article identifies prompt-payment practices as one way primes can support small-business partners during funding delays.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Policy, Contracting Vehicles
**Published:** November 10, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

### Vendors
- Odyssey (Prime contractor)

### Sources
- [A stronger defense industry base needs both small and mid-tier players to ensure American resilience - Washington Technology](https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/11/stronger-defense-industry-base-needs-both-small-and-mid-tier-players-ensure-american-resilience/417163) - Washington Technology