What government agencies is responsible for encouraging the development of small business?

Welcome to the Small Business Procurement Power Page, designed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). OSDBU is responsible for promoting procurement opportunities for small businesses in compliance with federal laws, regulations, and policies. This page is meant to support the small business community by providing information on contracting opportunities with the Department of Labor, information that will assist small businesses to comply with DOL laws and regulations, as well as information on additional federal resources for small businesses.

Contact Information

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
200 Constitution Ave NW
Room N-6432
Washington, DC 20210

Procurement Contacts

• Credit Card Holders
• Small Business Specialists

Contracting Information

• Most of the Department's procurement opportunities are supportive of Job Corps. The Job Corps Home Page provides information on Job Corps and its procurements.
• Department of Labor Vendor Communication Plan
• Department of Labor Procurement Forecast
• Federal Business Opportunities
• GSA's eBuy System
• Department of Labor's Strategy for Implementing Executive Order 13360 (to increase SDVOSB contracting opportunities (PDF)

Grants Information

• Grants.gov
• Although the Department does not provide grants specifically to start or run businesses, the Department periodically has grant opportunities related to job training and employment issues. Information on Department grants and various Department contracting information. The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides financial and other assistance for small businesses.

Subcontracting

• The Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS) is the official website that all large prime contractors and large subcontractors should use for submitting both the Individual Subcontracting Report (formerly SF 294) and the Summary Subcontract Report (formerly SF 295).
• The SUB-Net is SBA's Internet-based database of subcontracting opportunities. Prime contractors use SUB-Net to post subcontracting/teaming opportunities. Small businesses can use this Web site to identify opportunities in their areas of expertise.

Vendor Outreach

• Small Business Vendor Outreach Sessions

Compliance Assistance Information

• Any contractor who receives a contract from the federal government in the amount of $150,000 or more, or any subcontractor who receives a contract from such a covered contractor in the amount of $150,000 or more, must file a VETS-4212 Report on an annual basis. Federal Contractor Fact Sheet provides general federal contractor programs information. Frequently Asked Questions addresses the most common questions about contractors' and subcontractors' VETS-4212 reporting requirement. This program is administered by the Veterans' Employment and Training Services (VETS).
• Federal contractors must use equal opportunity and affirmative action methods in hiring and promoting workers who traditionally have been discriminated against in the job market. The Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) enforces Executive Order 11246, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974.
• The Department's Wage and Hour Division enforces several laws applicable to federal contractors including: the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act; the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act; the Davis-Bacon Act; and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act.
• The Department of Labor has created the Wage Determination On-Line Web site which provides a single location for obtaining appropriate Service Contract Act (SCA) and Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) wage determinations for each official contract action.
• The Small Business Regulatory Compliance Assistance page is designed to assist small businesses in complying with rules, regulations, and laws enforced by the Department.
• Department of Labor Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act Small Business Resource Center
• DOL's Workplace Poster Page

Small Business Administration (SBA) Resource Links

• The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides financial, technical, and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses. Information on federal socioeconomic procurement programs, such as HUBZones and the Small Disadvantaged Business program, is also available at SBA's website.
• SBA also offers an online self-paced training program "Building Opportunities: A Guide to Winning Federal Contracts" to help all small businesses understand and participate in federal contract markets.
• The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides a list of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) and Procurement Center Representatives (PCR) which can assist small businesses in obtaining federal contracts and subcontracts. The SBA also has Commercial Market Representatives (CMR), located in area offices, which offer counsel to small businesses on how to obtain subcontracts, conduct matchmaking activities to facilitate subcontracting to small businesses, and provide orientation and training to the Subcontracting Assistance program. https://eweb.sba.gov/gls/dsp_sbabanner.cfm
• SBA's Online Women's Business Center helps women start or expand their businesses.
• The Small Business Administration's E-Business Institute is a virtual campus with free business counseling, training courses, workshops, and management resources, to help small businesses compete in a changing, global environment.
• Apply for 8(a) Certification
• Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
• Women-Owned Small Businesses
• Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS)
• Small Business Learning Center

Other Federal Resources

• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) provides Information for funding to turn your R&D into products & services with global impact.
• FedBizOpps lists federal business opportunities, contract solicitations and amendments, subcontracting leads, contract awards, and other business opportunities.
• The Office of Federal Procurement Policy's Acquisition Reform Network (ARNet) includes the federal acquisition regulation and other federal procurement information.
• General Services Administration (GSA)
• Prospective GSA Schedule Contractors - Are Schedules a Good Fit for Me?
• GSA SmartPay Program
• Minority Business Development Agency
• System for Award Management (SAM)
• Acquisition.gov
• The System for Award Management (SAM) is a single point of entry for vendors that want to do business with the federal government. SAM was created to be the single repository of vendor data to avoid administrative duplication and allow contractors to take responsibility for the accuracy of their own business information by supplying it directly to the government. SAM’s Dynamic Small Business Search function may be used to identify small, disadvantaged, 8(a), veteran and women-owned businesses to fulfill needs.
• Each federal agency with contracting authority is required by the Small Business Act to establish an Office of Small and Disadvantages Business Utilization (OSDBU) to advocate, assist, and facilitate small business participation in agency prime and subcontracting opportunities. The Federal OSDBU Directors Interagency Council Web site provides procurement information on a number of agencies and on key small business issues and topics.
• The Department of Commerce promotes job creation, economic growth, sustainable development, and improved living standards for all Americans. The Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) encourages the creation, growth, and expansion of minority-owned businesses in the U.S.
• The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 provides assistance and opportunities for veteran-owned and service connected disabled veteran-owned small businesses. The Department of Veterans Affairs' Center for Veterans Enterprise provides related information at vetbiz.gov.
• Federal agencies often purchase goods and services from businesses via their contracts on the General Services Administration's (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule. Businesses may find out about getting GSA Schedule contracts by calling GSA at (703) 305-5600.
• The federal government often uses credit cards to make purchases. It is to businesses' advantage to accept government credit cards under the "GSA SmartPay" program.