In accordance with Public Law 95-507, The Subcontracting Program requires prime
contractors (except
small businesses)
with contracts over
$500,000 ($1 million
for construction)
to establish subcontracting
plans that provide
the maximum utilization
of small business
concerns. Goals for
subcontracting awards
to small, SDB, HUBZone,
and women-owned firms
are negotiated with
prime contractors.
The subcontract goal
achievements are monitored
semiannually, with
annual reports submitted
through SBA to the
President of the United
States.
The successful offeror
or bidder on contracts
exceeding $500,000
must submit, before
an award is made,
an acceptable subcontracting
plan setting percentage
and dollar goals for
the award of subcontracts
to small and disadvantaged
businesses. The OSDBU
reviews all subcontract
plans submitted by
prime contractors
to ensure compliance
with the requirements
of Section 211.
Subcontracting
can provide small businesses
with opportunities to
participate in USDA
contracting opportunities
by participating in
contracts that they
cannot win on their
own. The Department
awards billions of dollars
annually to prime contractors.
Requirements over the
simplified acquisition
threshold must agree
in the contract that
small businesses (including
veteran-owned, service-disabled
veteran-owned, HUBZone,
disadvantaged, and women-owned
businesses), will have
the maximum practicable
opportunity to participate
in the contract consistent
with it's efficient
performance. Furthermore,
large prime contractors
receiving a Federal
contract exceeding $500,000
($1 million in the case
of construction), and
which offers subcontracting
opportunities, must
establish subcontracting
plans with goals that
provide maximum opportunities
to these small businesses.
OSDBU staff and the
Small Business Administration,
Procurement Center Representative
review contracts, subcontracting
plans and recommend
qualified small business
concerns to assist prime
contractors in their
subcontracting goal
attainment.
The USDA Subcontracting
Directory will be posted
on the OSDBU
web site.
The Small Business Administration
(SBA) has a Subcontracting
Network web site called
Sub-Net at that
is used by prime contractors
to post subcontracting
opportunities. These
opportunities are often
reserved for small business
and they may include
either solicitations
or other notices - for
example, notices of
sources sought for teaming
partners and subcontractors
on future contracts.
The site is designed
primarily as a place
for large businesses
to post solicitations
and notices. On Sub-Net
you can search for opportunities
by SIC code, NAICS code,
generic description
or solicitation number.
Active membership in
a Chamber of Commerce
and trade associations,
as well as attendance
at procurement conferences
and seminars, will help
you meet representatives
of companies that might
be a good match for
you, or help you meet
people who might refer
you to another firm
that is a good match
for you.
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