USDA Office of Small and Disadvantaged
Business Utilization (OSDBU) "An
Outstanding Federal Small Business Advocate"
Small Businesses The Engines
that Drive the Nations Economy
OSDBU leads USDAs department-wide
Small Business Programs and ensures
a dynamic, diverse and reliable small
vendor pool. OSDBU:
- Assists USDA in achieving its Small
Business Procurement Goals for prime
and subcontracts awarded to:
Small,
Small Disadvantaged,
8(a),
Woman-Owned,
Historically Underutilized Business
Zone (HUBZone), and
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small
businesses.
- Works with other federal agencies and
public/private partners, to increase the
number of small businesses participating
in the federal contracting arena.
- Monitors the development and implementation
of contracting policies to prevent barriers
to small business participation.
- Evaluates USDA Agency small business
programs annually.
- Serves as USDAs central point
of contact for inquiries from small
businesses, the Small Business Administration,
other Federal Departments, Small Businesses,
Industry and others.
- Collaborates with contracting personnel
to ensure that a fair proportion of
contracts for supplies and services
are placed with small business.
- Utilizes USDA contracting requirements
to build the capacity of the small businesses
that create two thirds of the net new
jobs in our economy and employ half
of all private-sector workers.
- Sponsors innovative outreach activities
- Meets one-on-one with small businesses
to ascertain how we can best help them
and tailor assistance.
- Partners with other federal agencies,
state and local governments, local chambers
of commerce, trade associations and
other organizations to expand opportunities
for small minority business.
- Provides guidance and technical assistance
to small businesses, to increase and
expand the number and variety of small
firms doing business with USDA.
- Works with USDA purchasing agencies
Small Business Specialists to locate
contracting opportunities.
OSDBU Delivers Quality Small Business
Assistance Programs
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) Business
Program: OSDBU provides the important
guidance and technical assistance SDBs
require to locate and participate in
USDA opportunities and enhances the
ability of USDA agencies to achieve
program results and their small business
goals.
Section 8(a) Business Development
Program: OSDBUs 8(a) Business
Development program is intended to help
small businesses be successful now and
in the future. We continuously seek
USDA requirements that match the capabilities
of 8(a) approved firms.
Woman-Owned Small Business (WOB)
Program: OSDBU works to raise the
visibility of women-owned businesses
in USDA procurement activities and monitors
agency women-owned business goal achievements.
To facilitate the participation of
WOBs in USDA procurement opportunities,
OSDBU has appointed a WOB advocate to:
- Network with the women-owned business
community.
- Encourage each USDA procurement
office to consider women- owned small
businesses for all procurement opportunities.
Historically Underutilized Business
Zone (HUBZone) Empowerment Contracting
Program: This Program stimulates
economic development and creates jobs
in distressed urban and rural areas
with high levels of unemployment.
- Contracting assistance is provided
to small businesses that
obtain HUBZone certification and employ
staff who live in
a HUBZone.
- The company must also maintain a
principal office in the HUBZone area.
The USDA Service Disabled Veteran-Owned
Small Business (SDVOSB) Program: OSDBU
provides the quality contracting assistance
essential for expanding the ability
of these men and women to contract with
USDA. To increase chances for success
OSDBU has:
- Developed new approaches for improving
the ability of SDVOSBs to do business
with USDA.
- Created a Strategic Plan to address
the special needs of SDVOSBs.
- Designed new policies and innovative
approaches for expanding
outreach, technical assistance and contract
opportunities for SDVOSBs.
- Designated a staff member to serve
at the USDA SDVOSB Advocate.
Subcontracting Program:
- Any federal contractor receiving a
contract for more than the simplified
acquisition threshold must agree 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.
- Large prime contractors receiving
a federal contract exceeding $500,000
($1 million for construction), and which
offers subcontracting opportunities,
must establish subcontracting plans
with goals that provide maximum opportunities
to these small businesses.
To Increase the Number of Small
Businesses Participating in USDA Subcontracting
Opportunities OSDBU:
- In conjunction with the resident SBA
Procurement Center Representative, evaluates,
reviews and make recommendations
on subcontracting plans.
- Assists large prime contractors
in identifying potential small businesses
(including veteran-owned, service-disabled
veteran-owned, HUBZone, disadvantaged,
and women- owned businesses) to assist
in subcontracting goal attainment.
- Publishes an Annual Subcontracting
Opportunities Directory.
- Dedicated Professional Staff
- Committed Leaders
- Responsive USDA Agencies
CONTACT US AT:
(202) 720-7117
OR AT OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER 1-877-99OSDBU