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 2021 Small Business Scorecard

The Small Business Administration announced that the federal government exceeded its small business federal contracting goal, awarding 27.2 percent or $154.2 billion in federal contract dollars to small businesses, an $8 billion increase from the previous fiscal year. The share of contracts going to small businesses equates to 27.2 percent of total federal contracting funds. Combined with $72 billion in subprime contracting goals, this historic spend has supported over one million jobs in the American economy. 

Overall, the federal government exceeded its goal of 23 percent in prime contract dollars and earned an “A” on this year’s Government-wide Fiscal Year 2021 Small Business Procurement Scorecard.  Eleven federal agencies earned an “A+” for their agencies’ achievements in small business contracting, and an additional ten agencies received an “A” grade. SBA sets contracting goals for each agency and works with government buyers to ensure that they prioritize small businesses.

The Department of the Interior contributed to achieving this goal, and received an "A+" overall on the FY 2021 Federal Procurement Scorecard.  DOI celebrates having received an “A” or “A+” on our small business scorecard for thirteen consecutive years. For FY 2021 the Department awarded more than 60 percent of its procurement dollars to small business which equates to approximately $2.5 billion in products and services to support DOI’s programs, and represents over 60% of contract obligations. Small businesses play a significant role in advancing the Department's goals and supports Interior's contributions to the Nation's economy. At DOI, we are committed to maximizing opportunities for small businesses and advancing equity through all of our operations whenever we purchase products and services, and will continue to build on our strong track record in enhancing our program to ensure continued opportunities for all small and disadvantaged businesses.

The Department of the Interior full FY21 scorecard from The Small Business Administration, can be viewed at: https://www.sba.gov/agency-scorecards/scorecard.html?agency=DOI&year=2021

Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA)

The Great American Outdoors Act, P.L. 116-152, established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) to address the maintenance backlog of the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Education.

The Act requires Congress to provide funding for the LRF in each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 with up to $1.9 billion, or an amount equal to 50 percent of all energy development revenues due and payable to the U.S. government from oil, gas, coal, or alternative or renewable energy development on Federal land and water in the preceding fiscal year. Of the $1.9 billion annually, 70 percent is allocated to the National Park Service, 5 percent is allocated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5 percent is allocated to the Bureau of Land Management, and 5 percent is allocated to the Bureau of Indian Education. The remaining 15 percent is allocated to the U.S. Forest Service.

The Act requires Congress to provide funding for the LRF in each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 with up to $1.9 billion, or an amount equal to 50 percent of all energy development revenues due and payable to the U.S. government from oil, gas, coal, or alternative or renewable energy development on Federal land and water in the preceding fiscal year.  The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) encourages small businesses to seek out these opportunities. More information about projects can be found on the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) page. 

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