A large Prime contractor who has current contracts with the Federal Govt is mandating all suppliers join a 3rd party software program for HSE management. This is a yearly cost of $1,500-$9,000 per year on each subcontractor just to be able to bid and be a current subcontractor. Question are this allowable if the govt does not require this type of service? Does this limit competition and push our small businesses? Is this acceptable to even mandate this requirement?

@Anthony03, I don't know what HSE is or does in relation to the prime contractor's work. If the work contractor does includes HSE management, I don't see an actionable problem that contractor offloads this work to a 3rd party. Just because a government requirement does not require HSE, does not mean the contractor is unable to support its normal practice to comply with HSE management. But the facts are really important, and many questions remain. You may contact the Small Business Administration or your congressional representatives to question this practice impact on small businesses.

Edited August 25Aug 25 by Neil Roberts
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@Anthony03

By HSE are you referring to Health, Safety and Environment?

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Edited August 25Aug 25 by Neil Roberts
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Yes, I meant Health Safety Environmental. This is an onboarding and safety software

On 8/15/2025 at 3:43 PM, Anthony03 said:

A large Prime contractor who has current contracts with the Federal Govt is mandating all suppliers join a 3rd party software program for HSE management. This is a yearly cost of $1,500-$9,000 per year on each subcontractor just to be able to bid and be a current subcontractor. Question are this allowable if the govt does not require this type of service? Does this limit competition and push our small businesses? Is this acceptable to even mandate this requirement?

Emphasis added.

Yes. It is acceptable. And not uncommon.