Program Activities
Direct Procurement
Description
The Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) develops,
in collaboration with the Director of the Office of Acquisition Management
Division (OAM), the Office of Administration and Resources Management
(OARM), and EPA senior-level officials, programs to stimulate and improve
the involvement of small business, minority business, labor surplus areas
and women-owned business enterprises in the overall EPA procurement process.
OSBP monitors and evaluates Agency performance in achieving EPA goals
and objectives in the above areas, and recommends the assignment of EPA
Small Business Representatives of the Small Business Administration to
carry out their duties pursuant to applicable socioeconomic laws and mandates.
Activities
- Develops policy and procedures impacting socioeconomic businesses
-
Establish and monitor direct procurement and subcontracting goals for:
- Small Business
- Small Disadvantaged Business 8(a)
- Minority 8(a) Business
- Women-Owned Businesses
- Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
- Veteran-Owned Small Business
- Hubzone Business
- Compile, collect and assemble statistical data on socioeconomic programs
- Mentor-Protégé Program
- Subcontracting Reviews and Approvals
- Outreach Efforts (Economic Development Programs for Selected Urban Centers)
- Educational Training Programs-Cosponsorship of Workshops, Seminars and Trade Fairs
- Provide technical and management assistance to small, disadvantaged business
- enterprises and women-owned entities, and HBCUs, HACUs and Native American Colleges && Universities
- Liaison with Trade Associations, and Federal Agencies, including: Small Business
- Administration, Minority Business Development Agency of Department of Commerce, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, OMB, Congress, General Services Administration, on Socioeconomic matters
Description
The OSBP is also responsible for establishing policy and providing procedural
guidance for the utilization of small, minority and women-owned businesses
under the Agency's financial assistance programs.
It is EPA's policy (40 CFR Sec. 31.36(e)) that recipients of EPA financial assistance through grants and cooperative agreements award a "fair share" of subagreements to small, minority and women-owned businesses. Since each is a separate entity, the objective is to assure that each of three business entities is given the opportunity to participate in subagreements awards under EPA financial assistance agreements. This policy applies to all subagreements for supplies, construction and services under any EPA grant or cooperative agreement. Additionally, OSBP is responsible for the collection of data, monitoring the effectiveness of the program and serves as the principal focal point between EPA and the Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Activities
- Develops and monitors policy and procedures
- Regions establish "Fair Share" objectives with recipients of financial assistance
- Recipients report to delegated States or to Regional Offices
- EPA reports data to the Cabinet council for Commerce and Trade through the Minority
- Business Development Agency
- Provides technical and management assistance to minority and women-owned businesses
- Compile, collect, analyze and assemble data on DBEs, HBCUs and IAGs
- Report on financial assistance program to various entities, including Congress