The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is an advocacy and advisory office responsible for promoting the use of small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), women-owned, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and HUBZone small businesses within the U.S. Department of Commerce's acquisition process. This involves promoting small business prime and subcontracting opportunities in accordance with Federal laws, regulations, and policies and the utilization of products from the National Industries for the Blind and services provided by SourceAmerica.

The goals of the OSDBU are to institutionalize the use of small businesses and to fully integrate them into Commerce's competitive base of contractors. The OSDBU itself is not a procurement office but serves as a liaison between the small business community and Commerce procurement offices. The Small Business Act of 1953, as amended by Public Law 95-507, established the OSDBU.

The OSDBU focuses on the following:

• Increasing contract and subcontract awards to small businesses
• Sharing information via the Internet
• Identifying potential small businesses for use by Commerce, its bureaus, and prime contractors
• Negotiating Commerce contract goals with the Small Business Administration in an effort to continually increase awards to small business
• Publishing the annual 'Forecast of Contract Opportunities', which lists upcoming procurements
• Reviewing procurement requisitions to maximize small business participation
• Monitoring small business legislation
• Establishing partnerships with internal customers and industry to obtain feedback, improve customer service, achieve goals, and disseminate information
• Creating awareness of the benefits of working with small businesses through in-reach/marketing and training, and;
• Giving special recognition and awards to individuals and bureaus that have made outstanding contributions to the success of Commerce's Small Business Program.

Leadership

• Virna Winters, VWinters@doc.gov, Acting Director, OSDBU
• Yvonne Vines, Business Industry Specialist

Additional Information

Small Business

Subcontracting

Report Forms