Mission Statement - Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)

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MISSION

The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization is responsible for the implementation and executive of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) activities on behalf of small businesses, minority businesses, businesses owned and controlled by disadvantaged persons, and firms, in accordance with Section 8 and 15 of the Small Business Act (SBA), as amended. The Office has functional direction and oversight of Department of Housing and Urban Development personnel to the extent that the functions and duties of such personnel relate to Sections 8 and 15 of the SBA. For the functions and responsibilities required by P.L. 95-507, the Director shall be responsible only to, and report directly to, the Secretary or Deputy Secretary. The Director shall cooperate, and consult on a regular basis, with the Small Business Administration with respect to carrying out functions of the Office, and apprise the Secretary of needed changes in policy and procedures, and of opportunities to better serve the small business community.

FUNCTIONS

Establishes policy for, develops and manages, the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Small Business Program, and Small Disadvantaged Program, and Women Business Program.

Responsible for insuring that executive and legislative mandates and policy, regarding the above-mentioned programs, are implemented within the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

• Ensures the effective implementation of minority/ disadvantaged contracting programs and the related vendor selection and contract execution in each program and buying officer.
• Establishes the Department's goals/targets for small, small disadvantaged businesses, and women-owned businesses utilization; and monitors the process of such goals and/or clauses, unless exempted by law.
• Ensures that all contracts, solicitations, and subcontracts over $550,000 (or $1 million if public facility construction) include the mandatory plans, goals and/or clauses, unless exempted by law.
• Responsible for implementing and insuring execution of various "set-aside" procedures for each program as required by Legislation, Executive Orders, and/or regulations.
• Provides functional direction, monitors, and evaluates performance of Department of Housing and urban Development personnel to the extent their duties relate to Sections 8 and 15 of the Small Business Act, as amended.
• Establishes and maintains outreach and liaison functions with businesses of all sizes for the purpose of insuring that small, minority, and other disadvantaged firms are adequately considered for HUD procurement transactions; provides support functions such as training, source listings, business liaison with trade associations and other constituent groups, etc., required for the effective implementation and execution of Sections 8 and 15 of the Small Business Act, as amended.
• Coordinates and consults with Departmental procurement staff which exercises oversight program management over the agency's procurement activities.
• Responsible for intra and inter-agency liaison and representation activities relating to small and small disadvantaged business matters.
• Evaluates performance, prepares documentation and reports to SBA, OMB, Executive Office of the President, Congress, and other agencies, as required, concerning the success of set-aside and other program efforts with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• Assists small businesses and small disadvantaged businesses who have been rejected for nonresponsiveness and nonresponsibility, with aide, counsel and assistance in understanding the requirements for responsiveness and responsibility so that the firm may be able to qualify for future awards.
• Participates in government/industry conferences to assist small businesses and small disadvantaged businesses.
• Participates in the development, implementation and review of automated contracting systems to assure that the interests of small disadvantaged business and women-owned firms are fully considered.
• Assists program managers as early as possible in the development cycle of major system acquisitions and system programs as pertains to the small business program.
• Assists contracting officers in establishing criteria for and determining acceptability of small business and small disadvantaged business concerns subcontracting plans submitted by prime contractors.
• Assures that small business and small disadvantaged business programs are frequently publicized in the appropriate media.
• Assures that HUD maintains a list of products and services which have been placed on competitive small business set-aside.
• Provides information to small and small disadvantaged businesses regarding assistance available from Federal and state agencies, trade and other associations; is responsible for establishing an education and training program for personnel whose duties and functions affect HUD's small and small disadvantaged business overall utilization goals.
• Implements the Department's policies and procedures for developing goals and monitoring procedures for the Women Business Enterprise Program.
• Advises and assists contracting officers in discharging their responsibilities by:
• Monitoring and reviewing contractor performance to determine compliance with small and small disadvantaged business subcontracting plans;
• Developing and maintaining records and reports that reflect such compliance or non-compliance.