News and Events
Cross-reference Federal Supply Schedule Numbers by North American Industry Classification System Codes
The VA seeks ideas from Small Businesses on how to tackle some of our greatest challenges. Please access the “Supplier Relationship Transformation” web site and see the 13 Greatest Challenges facing the VA. You can access the “Idea Portal” at the bottom of that web page to submit your ideas. We know that many great ideas and proposals come from small businesses and encourage small businesses to utilize this new process.
The OSDBU Procurement Conference is a national conference fostering business partnerships between the Federal Government, its Prime Contractors, and small, minority, service-disabled veteran-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone, and women-owned businesses.
Welcome to the Veterans Affairs
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) serves as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) advocate, to assist and support the interests of small businesses. A related mission of this office is to provide outreach and liaison support to businesses (large and small) and other members of the private sector concerning acquisition related issues. In addition, the office is responsible for monitoring VA implementation and execution of the socioeconomic procurement programs.
Our Mission, Functions and Activities
Mission
The mission of the OSDBU is to advocate for the maximum practicable participation of small, small disadvantaged, veteran-owned, women-owned and empowerment zone businesses in contracts awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs and in subcontracts which are awarded by VA’s prime contractors.
Functions and Activities
OSDBU is responsible for the development of Department-wide policies, programs and practices relating to small business concerns, including:
- Educating and training VA staff;
- Negotiating prime and subcontracting goals with contracting activities;
- Monitoring achievements and managing information system reports to VA executives;
- Advising contracting officials on procurement strategies to ensure equitable opportunities for small business concerns;
- Conducting market research to identify small business sources for competitive actions;
- Reviewing and approving procurements to assist concerns in SBA’s special business development program. As the small business advocates for the Department,
- OSDBU staff: Train, counsel and assist small businesses in their understanding of federal and agency procurement procedures.
- Advise businesses on marketing their products and services to VA and other federal agencies.
- Serve as the liaison office when small businesses encounter payment problems or other difficulties in working with VA offices.