Use the links below
to navigate the Doing
Business with USDA kit. This
kit has been prepared
to assist businesses
that are interested
in selling their products
and services to the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Procurement
Procedures and Policies
- USDA buys goods and
services on a decentralized
basis. A list of the
major procurement offices
of the various USDA
agencies, "Directory
of Purchasing Office,"
is included in this
kit. Vendors are urged
to contact the procurement
offices listed for more
information on the specific
products and services
being purchased.
Types
of Products and Services
Purchased -
On an annual basis,
USDA obligates approximately
$4.1 billion for products
and services (including
subsistence/agricultural
(food) commodities).
Government commercial
purchase card transactions
account for about $470
million of this amount.
Special
Procurement Programs
- To ensure that all
businesses have an
equitable opportunity
to participate in
federal procurement,
a number of special
assistance programs
have been established.
These include various
types of preference
programs, such as
small business set-asides
and programs exclusively
for socially and economically
disadvantaged companies,
as well as other forms
of assistance generally
designed to help companies
that otherwise might
not be able to compete
for a share of government
contract awards.
The mission of the
OSDBU is to provide
maximum opportunity
for small, small disadvantaged
and small women-owned
business to participate
in USDA's contracting
process. The OSDBU
serves as USDA's central
point of contact for
general inquiries
from industry and
the Small Business
Administration (SBA).
The Vision of OSDBU
is to fully integrate
small business into
all aspects of USDA's
contracting and program
activities.
The U.S.
Department of Agriculture
procures the products
and services it needs
on a highly decentralized
basis. Procurement of
subsistence/agricultural
(food) commodities by
the Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) and the
Kansas City Commodity
Office of the Farm Service
Agency (KCCO/FSA) accounts
for over 60 percent
of what USDA buys. On
an annual basis, USDA
obligates approximately
$4.1 billion for products
and services (including
subsistence/agricultural
(food) commodities).
Government commercial
purchase card transactions
account for about $470
million of this amount.