Production specialists are available in SBA regional offices to help individual small business concerns with technical production problems. These problems frequently arise where a firm is making items for the Government not directly along the lines of its normal civilian business or where the Government specifications require operations that the firm did not understand when it undertook the contract. Production assistance often takes the form of locating tools or materials which are urgently needed. Advice is given also on problems of plant location and plant space.

The property sales assistance program is designed to assist small business concerns that may wish to buy property offered for sale by the Federal Government. Under this program, property sales specialists in the Small Business Administration regional offices help small business concerns to locate Federal property for sale and insure that small firms have the opportunity to bid competitively for surplus personal and real property and certain natural resources, including timber from the national forests.

SBA works closely with the principal property disposal installations of the Federal Government in reviewing proposed sales programs and identifying those types of property that small business concerns are most likely to be interested in purchasing. Proposed property sales of general interest to small business concerns are publicized through SBA regional news releases, and by ``flyers'' directed to the small business concerns. Each SBA regional office also maintains a ``want'' list of surplus property, principally machinery and equipment, desired by small business concerns in its area. When suitable equipment is located by the SBA representative, the small business concern is contacted and advised on when, where, and how to bid on such property.