The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) was established in October 1979 pursuant to Public Law 95-507, which assigned it the task of fostering the use of small and disadvantaged businesses as Federal contractors.  To accomplish this task, the OSDBU develops and implements appropriate outreach programs aimed at heightening the awareness of the small business community to the contracting opportunities available within SSA.  Outreach efforts include activities such as sponsoring small business fairs and procurement conferences, as well as participating in trade group seminars, conventions, and other forums which promote the utilization of small and disadvantaged businesses as contractors.  

The OSDBU encourages buyers and program officials to consider small businesses, and to support all the socio-economic contracting programs in place under the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

If you have any questions concerning SSA's contracting opportunities under the socio-economic programs, please contact Wayne McDonald (410) 965-7467 or Pat Bullock (410) 965-9457.

The FY 2009 Small Business Forecast is currently available.

SSA's Small Business Subcontracting Directory, published as a marketing aid for small business, disadvantaged business, and woman-owned business concerns seeking subcontracting opportunities with SSA prime contractors.

If your firm is a small business or minority business enterprise, we encourage you to register in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) Database.  SSA uses CCR as the primary database to identify small and disadvantaged businesses to fulfill our requirements.