Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization

Mission, Functions, and Activities

To support the Secretary’s priorities by enabling Veterans to gain access to economic opportunities by developing policies and programs, informed by customer feedback, that improve market research, increase direct access, and maximize the participation of procurement ready Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses in federal contracting.

Vision

OSDBU is trusted by Veterans and VA staff to be responsive to customers’ needs with policies and programs that successfully leverage the federal procurement system to enable Veterans to gain access to economic opportunities.

Leadership Biographies

Chanel Bankston-Carter Acting Executive Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA)

This memorandum communicates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) policy on non-retaliation and small entities’ rights under SBREFA, including the right to file a comment with the Small Business Administration's (SBA’s) Office of the National Ombudsman (ONO). VA prohibits retaliatory actions by VA employees against any small business regarding SBA’s ONO assistance, or questions or complaints about VA regulatory enforcement actions, requirements or policies.

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Program Areas

Acquisition Support

VA OSDBU gathers market research, oversees VA subcontracting, provides overall direction on small business program policies and procedures, and works with contracting staff to help small businesses maximize VA procurement opportunities.

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Strategic Outreach and Communications

The Strategic Outreach and Communications empowers the success of Veteran Owned and other small and disadvantaged businesses in successfully navigating the Federal procurement landscape. We facilitate procurement readiness and provide resources and support to businesses endeavoring to sell their products and services to VA. We do this by:

• Conducting education sessions on all aspects of Government contracting.
• Engaging with Veteran Owned, Women Owned, Disadvantaged, and other small businesses by participating in outreach events and conferences.
• Fostering small business access to Procurement Decision Makers through Business Opportunity Sessions with VA, other federal agencies, and large prime contractors.
• Communicating meaningful information on Federal contracting and VA initiatives to the Veteran and Small business community

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