Outreach & Technical Assistance

Services

• Monthly Vendor Outreach (Reservation Required) - The purpose of these sessions is to continually make available for small businesses, the opportunity to meet on a regularly scheduled basis with USDA contracting officials. At these sessions, USDA is introduced to new businesses that procurement offices may use to increase their small business resource base. Additionally, small businesses are provided marketing strategies and information on how to market their capabilities to USDA in one central location.
• Publish the annual 'Forecast of Contract Opportunities,' which lists upcoming procurements.
• Champion U.S. small business interests in the Department's acquisition process.
• Promote the use of small business, 8(a), HUBZones and service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-asides. Review procurement requisitions to maximize small business participation.
• Provide training and counseling to USDA Acquisition Offices with information on Federal Small Business Programs to help identify opportunities for direction to small businesses to make purchasers aware of the benefits of working with small businesses.
• Identify potential small businesses for use by USDA agencies and prime contractors.
• Provide training and counseling to small businesses on strategies for marketing to USDA agencies to expand the base of small business firms selling to the Department.
• Update small businesses on contracting regulations and certification requirements.
• Conduct OSDBU Annual Small Business Awards Program.
• Establish public/private partnerships to leverage the ability of small businesses to succeed.
• Conduct one-on-one counseling sessions.
• Participate in expos, conferences and trade fairs to increase small business access to USDA procurement opportunities.