Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

The Department of the Interior's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) advises the Secretary of the Interior on all matters related to small business and collaborate with leadership throughout the Department to maximize opportunities for small businesses in our acquisitions.  The OSDBU implement's policies, procedures, and training programs for the Department to emphasize our commitment to contracting with small businesses. Our mission also includes outreach to small and disadvantaged business communities, including Indian economic enterprises, small disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran-owned, service disabled veteran owned, and small businesses located in historically underutilized business zones (HUBZone) areas.

 

What's New at OSDBU

The Small Business Administration Awards DOI an "A+" in Annual FY 2023 Small Business Procurement Scorecard

The Department of the Interior (DOI) earned an “A+” rating on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Small Business Procurement Scorecard released today by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Interior earned an “A” or higher rating for maximizing opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses for the 15th consecutive year.  Interior awarded more than $2.1 billion in products and services to small businesses to support its priorities during FY 2023, representing 60% of contract obligations and showing an increase in contract dollars to small businesses for the second straight year. The score card represents the Department's commitment to assisting small and disadvantaged businesses with understanding and participating in DOI contracting opportunities.

The Department of the Interior encourages small businesses to leverage the many education and training resources available to prepare them to participate in federal, state, and local government contracts. DOI’s FY 2023 scorecard can be viewed at: https://www.sba.gov/agency-scorecards/

 

DOI is seeking information about small business vendors interested in doing business with DOI

A positive experience with the Department of the Interior's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is paramount to ensuring the services and resources we provide meet the needs of small business vendors.  In 2022, the DOI OSDBU developed a Draft Small Business Vendor Journey Map. The purpose of the Journey Map is used to inform the OSDBU's continued engagement with small businesses vendors interested in Federal contracting, improve communication and capitalize new innovative methods to reaching small business vendors with the capabilities to compete on DOI acquisitions, and ensure our products/services meet the unique needs of Small Business Vendors. The Journey Map is also intended to be a tool to help small businesses find relevant DOI-specific resources that are tailored to their needs.  The Draft DOI Vendor Journey map is a continual work in progress, intended to be refined as more information becomes available and evolve as technology, processes, and the businesses we work with evolve. As we launch this effort, we hope you will take a moment to tell us about your business by clicking here and provide feedback on this journey map by clicking here.

 

Non Discrimination Notice to U.S. Department of the Interior Contractor, Subcontractors, and Lessors

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) - Notice of Non-Retaliation

Under SBREFA, the SBA has established an SBA Ombudsman and SBA Regional Fairness Boards. The Office of the National Ombudsman of the U.S. Small Business Administration has asked all Federal agencies to make clear that, if a small business entity requests Ombudsman assistance on a matter or otherwise questions or complains about a Federal agency action, the agency will not retaliate in response.

The Department of Interior will not retaliate against you in any fashion if you question or lodge a complaint regarding a policy or action of the Department of the Interior or any of its bureaus. This policy applies if you complain or comment to us or to anyone else, or if you seek outside help in dealing with a Department or bureau policy or action. This policy does not affect the right of the Department or any of its bureaus to impose penalties allowed by a contract or agreement or to terminate for unsatisfactory performance any contract or agreement. This policy does not require the Department or its bureaus to enter into or continue any contract or agreement that is not satisfactory to the Department.

If a business or individual believes that Department of Interior has not complied with SBREFA the business or individual should send written, signed complaints about DOI enforcement actions to 409 3rd Street SW, Suite 7125, Washington, DC, 20416. You also may call the Ombudsman at 1-888-REG-FAIR. Please note that any obligation you might have to comply with the enforcement or compliance actions is not affected by the filing of your comments with the Ombudsman; and the filing of your comments with the Ombudsman is not a substitute for any legal options you believe are in your best interest. Click the link to see the full DOI policy on SBREFA Non-Retaliation .

 
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
U.S Department of the Interior - Main Interior Bldg/ms.4214
1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 2024
Phone: 202-208-3493 toll free