Are you a Small Business?

Here are 10 Steps to Start Doing Business with the U.S. Department of State provided by the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)

Define Your Product or Service
Know the PSC Codes for your products or services
Know the NAICS Codes for your products or services
Register Your Business
Establish a legal entity within your state
Obtain a Federal Tax ID Number: www.irs.gov
Register with System for Award Management www.sam.gov and complete the ‘Small Business Profile’ at the end
Identify Your Target Market / Customer
Determine which Bureau(s) or Office(s) buy the services and products you provide by reviewing the List of State Department Bureaus and Offices: https://www.state.gov
Past Procurements: www.sam.gov or www.usaspending.gov
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) Procurement Forecast
Current and Upcoming Opportunities: www.sam.gov
DOS Short-Term upcoming opportunities / OSDBU Reviews
Understand the State Department Procurement Rules
Federal Acquisition Regulation
Department of State Acquisition Regulation (DOSAR)
Foreign Affairs Handbook (FAH) & Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM)
Department of State OSDBU Website
Create a Consistent, Solid Market Presence
Develop a capabilities statement that clearly defines your offerings, differentiators, customers, and lists your set-asides (if any) and contact information
Invest in a professional presence with a website and business cards that speak to the government market by demonstrating your knowledge of the market, the challenges, and your solution-oriented approach
Obtain Necessary Security Clearances
Most services contracts will require successful offerors to possess security clearances due to the nature of the Department’s mission.
Understand the requirements and process for obtaining a Facility Security Clearance for your business, and Personnel Security Clearances for employees that will be (1) performing key duties within your company, or (2) assigned to State Department contracts.
Tap into Your Networks
Attend networking events, matchmaking opportunities, industry days, and bidder conferences where your buyer agencies will have a presence.
Participate in peer networks that have common missions, such as small business- focused events, as well as industry associations and customer-focused professional development & training conferences
Market your product and service to your networks – which will include your small business peer networks, large contractors, and government agencies. Realize that relationships take years to build, requirements and budgets get formed through long-term processes, and plan for a strategic, iterative business development process rather than quick transactional engagements.
Start by Subcontracting
It is common for companies that are new to State Department to subcontract to current “primes” to gain experience with the mission, practices, and environment in performing at the State Department.
Research current prime contractors and awarded programs (See Step 3) and identify opportunities where your company could bring value and resources to a current or future effort as part of a team. Reach out to the primes’ Small Business Liaison Officers (SBLOs) and/or Supplier Diversity professionals Page 4 of 11
Some subcontracting opportunities are posted on SBA’s SUB Net • Explore forming Mentor-Protege (MPP) agreements when both partners see mutually beneficial strategic alignment; consider forming MPP Joint Ventures(JVs).
Some subcontracting opportunities are posted on SBA’s SUB Net
Explore forming Mentor-Protege (MPP) agreements when both partners see mutually beneficial strategic alignment; consider forming MPP Joint Ventures(JVs).
Consider Contracting “Vehicles”
Contract Vehicles” is a streamlined method the government uses to buy goods and services. Vehicles are centrally managed by a federal agency, which reduces acquisition administrative costs and creates time and resource efficiencies.
Many State Department procurements are awarded through the GSA Federal Supply Schedules and other like NASA SEWP, NIH CIO-SP3, Army ITES2, GSA, GSA 8aSTARS, NIH NITAAC
Those competitions are only open to companies that have been awarded contracts under the requisite GWACs. If you company is not a contract-holder, teaming/subcontracting is a viable strategy to obtain access to a preferred vehicle
Strategically Set Aside Set-Asides
The Small Business Act and the Federal Acquisition Regulation mandate that federal agencies set aside work for small and disadvantaged businesses through the Small Business, WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB, and 8(a) Programs.
Identify which you may qualify for, to gain additional opportunities to bid in limited competition environments.
Keep in mind that the purpose of any federal agency is to carry out its Mission. Therefore, set aside status alone is insufficient in winning a contract – technical competence, understanding of requirement, industry experience, and ability to perform the technical and business functions are all essential elements of a successful bidder.