Northwest/Arctic (10) -->

Office of Small Business Utilization

The Northwest/Arctic Office of Small Business Utilization (OSBU) serves as the regional liaison and advocate for small businesses within Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Contact us about the following services:

  • How to obtain a GSA Schedule Contract: This workshop is available to small businesses interested in obtaining a GSA Schedule contract. This course is a half day. Content includes: determining if GSA is right for you, how to obtain a GSA contract and identifying the tools available to you in developing a successful partnership with GSA.
  • How to do business with PBS: Learn more about the Public Buildings Service’s mission, protocol, partnerships and projects in the Northwest/Arctic Region. Receive a better understanding of PBS procurement requirements, protocol for background security clearances, differences in prime and subcontractor relationships and project opportunities.
  • One-on-One Consulting: Don’t know where your product or services fit? Not sure if the federal government market is for you? Contact us, using the contact information located on the upper right side of this page.

GSA, like all federal agencies, has procurement preference goals for contracting with small businesses. Procurement preference goals are a performance measure that GSA strives to achieve through its various programs. The procurement preference categories are (links to Small Business Association pages): small, small disadvantaged, Section 8(a), woman-owned small, HUBZone small, veteran-owned small, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

Companies looking for education about the federal government, opportunities with the federal government, or seeking networking information on how to serve as a prime or subcontractor for the federal government, should contact us.

GSA consults with local procurement personnel to identify contract opportunities available to small business. The mandated preference goals are measured by contracts awarded by GSA's Public Building Services (PBS) for our region. PBS manages an inventory of owned and leased buildings in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington - a total of 650 buildings containing 15.5 million square feet of space. Our federal customers represent thirty Federal agencies with operations in the four state region.

The OSBU is also able to work closely with the Management Services Center (MSC), in Auburn WA. This working relationship enables us to educate one another on policy, procedures and frequently asked questions, so that we can provide the most current information to our potential vendors at any time. The MSC has contracted with small business and 8(a) firms, as well as nationally recognized leaders in their fields. The MSC Acquisition Center manages six GSA schedules: Language Services, Environmental Services, LOGworld (logistics), Professional Engineering Services, MOBIS (Mission Oriented Business Integrated Services), and the Consolidated Schedule. Comprehensive yet flexible, GSA Schedules are designed to assist government customers achieve their goals.

Last Reviewed 4/21/2009