Staff Office

Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

To provide maximum opportunities for small businesses to participate in USDA’s contracting process.

The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) mission is to provide maximum opportunities for small businesses to participate in USDA’s contracting portfolio.

What We Do

The OSDBU was created as part of the Small Business Act, as amended by Public Law 95-507 and subsequent supporting legislation. The USDA OSDBU was established on June 26, 1979. OSDBU provides leadership to the Department to attain its federally mandated small business goals for USDA’s contracting portfolio.

OSDBU is assigned the task of fostering the use of Small, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a), HubZone, Woman-Owned Small Business, and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business federal contracts.

OSDBU has specific responsibilities under:

The Small Business Act
The Veterans Benefits Act
The AbilityOne Program
Other supporting legislation and Executive Orders
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)

Division Breakdown

OSDBU has two major areas:

Oversight and accountability to the contracting authorities within USDA. This includes Policy Development; Departmental Regulations; and Intervention between Contractors and Contracting Officers; Procurement Forecast; Subcontracting Directory
Outreach and Small Business Assistance. To include Vendor Outreach Sessions; Hosting Rural Small Business Outreach Events; Small Business Connections; Training for agency Contracting Officers and Program Managers; Attend, exhibit and participate by presenting on small business contracting opportunities and provide one-on-one guidance.