OSDBU - Help - Frequently Asked Questions - (Contracting)
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Frequently Asked Questions
(Contracting)
1. How does a small business
become officially designated as
a Small Disadvantaged Business? A. Small businesses may
be certified as Small Disadvantaged
Businesses by the Small
Business Administration (SBA).
Small Disadvantaged Businesses
are eligible to receive certain
preferences in federal procurement
actions. Information on certification
and procurement preference programs
is available from SBA. It is significant
to note that a small business
need not necessarily be owned
by a minority individual(s) to
qualify for the Federal
Small Disadvantaged Business Program.
2.
What business opportunities does
the Department of Agriculture have
for my business?
A. The Department of Agriculture
publishes its current and planned
procurements in its Annual Procurement
Forecast. You may obtain
additional information by attending
monthly Vendor Outreach Sessions
hosted by the Office of Small and
Disadvantaged Business Utilization.
Registration for the Vendor Outreach Sessions
at the following url: You must pre-register
to participate.
3. How
do I become a Department of Agriculture
vendor?
A. Vendors are free to market
at monthly Vendor Outreach Sessions,
follow-up on opportunities in the
Procurement Forecast,
and to communicate directly with
Agency Small Business Contacts.
The Vendor Outreach Sessions are
particularly beneficial to vendors
because they can meet several USDA
agency personnel in one visit.
4.
Does USDA offer small business grants
? A. USDA does not offer small
business grants. A centralized list
of federal grants is located at
FedGrants.
Information about Rural Small Business
Development loans is located at:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/bpdir.htm.
The Small
Business Administration
has a number of programs to financially
and technically assist developing
small businesses. The SBA may be
reached by phone at 202-205-6600,
or toll-free at 1-800-UASKSBA. The
Department
of Commerce also has
programs to assist small businesses
(phone 202-482-2000).
6. Does
USDA buy from General Services Administration
(GSA) Schedules?
A. The USDA takes advantage
of the efficiencies of procuring
goods and services from GSA's Schedule
Contracts. Information on becoming
a GSA Schedule vendor is available
from the General
Services Administration (GSA)
. GSA is available by phone at 202-708-5082.
8. What
is the best way to market to the
federal government? A. Each federal agency has
an Office
of Small and Disadvantaged Business
Utilization (OSDBU).
B. Small businesses are advised
to advertise their attributes and
capabilities on the Small Business
Administration's Central
Constract Registry .
C. Small businesses seeking opportunities
with the federal government should
also visit FedBizOpps
.
The Department
of Commerce also provides
assistance to small businesses.
In addition, the U.S.
Business Advisor (managed
by the Small Business Administration)
was created to be a one-stop shop
for Federal assistance to businesses
of all types.
10. How
can a small business learn of subcontracting
opportunities at the Department
of Agriculture?
A. Large current contracts and
the contractors are identified in
the Department of Agricultures Procurement
Forecast. Large businesses file
subcontracting plans for contracts
over $500,000, and contracting officers
are responsible for ensuring the
contractors perform in accordance
with those plans. However, the prime
contractor chooses with which businesses
it specifically subcontracts.
The Small Business Administration
has established SUB-Net
for prime contractors to use
for posting subcontracting opportunities.
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