The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Opportunities for Small Business
U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
USDA • Large, decentralized cabinet-level agency • Over 100,000 employees • 29 agencies and staff offices • Offices located throughout the U.S. & major embassies around the world • Many programs serving the American people
USDA’s Purchasing Environment • Purchase a broad array of products and services • 11 major buying agencies • Spend approximately $5 billion annually • Large buyer of – – – –
Commodities & food products – approx. 60% Information technology – 20% environmental services – 5% architecture & engineering/construction/real property 10% – Other services and supplies, including professional/ administrative/management services - 5%
USDA’s Buying Agencies • • • • • • • • • • •
Agricultural Marketing Service Agricultural Research Service Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service Farm Service Agency Food Safety & Inspection Service Food & Nutrition Service Forest Service Natural Resources Conservation Service Office of Procurement and Property Management Office of the Inspector General Rural Development
USDA is a Strong Supporter of Small Business – 54% of our total contract spending in 2008 was with Small Business 6.7% of our total contract spending in 2008 was with Women-Owned Business
SOME OUTSTANDING EXAMPLES OF SERVICE TO USDA BY WOMENOWNED BUSINESSES
ONE STOP ENVIRONMENTAL • USDA WOB Contractor Of Year 2008 • Debris removal after Hurricane Katrina • Use of heavy equipment was restricted to limited areas • Rated most technically competent contractor
KW ENTERPRISE • USDA WOB Contractor of the Year 2009 • Completed road and bridge construction projects in San Juan, PR National Forests • Worked on Campground renovations • Operated heavy equipment for fire suppression • Customer service was best-ever received
COMPU-CURE OF NEW ORLEANS • Supported National Finance Center with telecommunications, invoice data processing, desktop and printers, and other IT services • After Hurricane Katrina, returned to New Orleans with three employees, but expanded from data processing to desktop and network support • Three years after Katrina, doubled their financial position and increased employment to 40 employees
OUT OF THE SHELL • A poultry manufacturer that sells to wholesalers, retailers, and commercial concerns • Processes raw thigh and drum meat into high quality meal items such as Kung Pao, Mandarin orange, sweet and sour and barbeque teriyaki chicken items • USDA buys these popular items to support the National School Lunch Program
RADMAN AERIAL SURVEYS, INC. • An aerial service business providing private and government sectors with mapping services • Has 10 employees, two aircraft and their own photographic laboratory and very sophisticated computer systems • Completed every project within budget and time constraints despite snow, fires, restricted air space complications and other unpredictable conditions
A few words about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) http://www.Recovery.gov
USDA – Recovery Act
USDA – Recovery Act The following USDA agencies received funding: • • • • • • • • • •
Departmental Administration Agricultural Research Service Office of the Inspector General Farm Service Agency Natural Resources Conservation Service Rural Development Food Nutrition Service Forest Service Agricultural Disaster Assistance Transition Foreign Agricultural Service
Recovery Act Information • Websites: – Government-wide Information -- Recovery.gov – USDA Information -- USDA.gov – click on USDA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 and USDA Recovery GEO-Spatial Map (contains state-specific information) – FedBizOpps -- FBO.gov – click on Recovery (contains Recovery Act actions)
USDA & Small Business For additional information regarding USDA’s Small Business Programs and our Forecast of Small Business Opportunities visit our web site at www.usda.gov/osdbu or contact us at (202) 720-7117 For additional information regarding USDA and its programs visit our website at: www.usda.gov