&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Director's Note
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Office of Small and Disadvantaged
Business Utilization (OSDBU) brings a
renewed commitment and fresh approach to
increasing small business opportunities in
2004. The staff and I are dedicated to ensuring
that small businesses, which represent the
heart of the American economy, are presented
every opportunity to supply the goods and
services needed to support EPA's mission.
We are increasing our outreach effort
to small businesses. The newly designed
OSDBU News is just one of many vehicles we
are utilizing to keep you updated and informed
about the agency's procurement goals and
opportunities. OSDBU News will provide you
with information and tips on how to better
access the EPA marketplace. By keeping you
informed, we as a team can better support and
address the needs of EPA.
The theme of this issue is Preparing For
Opportunity. OSDBU News will continue to
provide information and technical assistance
needed to successfully compete for EPA
contracts. Take advantage of the various
The mission of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's Office of Small and
Disadvantaged Business Utilization is to
support the protection of the environment
and human health by fostering
opportunities for partnerships, contracts,
subagreements, and grants for small
and socioeconomically disadvantaged
concerns.
Winter 2004
outreach efforts and educational sessions
sponsored by our field offices throughout the
country where technical assistance and advice
on enhancing your firm's contractual success
at EPA will be provided.
I encourage you to submit your news items
so we can continue the information sharing
that allows our stakeholders nationwide to
remain connected. Send all information to
HCD International, our newsletter editorial
support, at 1801 McCormick Drive, Suite
130, Largo, Maryland 20774, or via e-mail
at epa-osdbu-hotnews@hcdi.com. The staff
and I stand ready to assist you and we eagerly
look forward to working with you. Another
productive year is ahead for all of us.
Read and Reflect,
Jeanette L. Brown, Director
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Inside This Issue-
Leadership Taking it to Another Level page 2
Supporting EPA's New Strategic Plan page 4
Preparing For Opportunity page 6
The Importance of Central Contractor
Registration (CCR) page 9
New Opportunities for Small Businesses
Through Reduced Contract Bundling page 9
www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Jeanette Brown Elected
the New Director of the
Federal OSDBU Directors
Interagency Council
Leadership Taking it to Another Level:
Jeanette L. Brown was recently selected as the
2004 Chair of the Federal Office of Small and
Disadvantaged Business Utilization Directors
Interagency Council. In her new role, Ms. Brown
is at the helm of one of the government's most
important mandates: the fair treatment of small
businesses, small disadvantaged businesses and
women-owned businesses. "I am honored to have
been selected for this position," said Ms. Brown.
"It will allow me to work with others across the
government who are committed to advancing
the President's small business agenda and who
really want to see small businesses succeed," she
further explained. With more than 97 percent
of all non-farm businesses in the United States
classified as small by current size standards, it is
not surprising that virtually every agency within
the Federal Government has an Office of Small
and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. Charged
with the task of assisting the most disadvantaged
of the country's nearly 20 million small businesses
in doing business with their respective agencies,
OSDBUs play a critical role in the Federal sector.
For more than 25 years the Federal Government
has sought to increase small business procurement.
It has been nearly as long (24 years) since Public
Law 95-507 amended Section 15 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644) mandating the
organization of an OSDBU in each Federal
agency. Mandated by law to report to the Head of
each Federal agency, OSDBUs serve as advocates
for small and disadvantaged businesses to ensure
that they have an opportunity to participate in the
more than $250.2 billion expended by the Federal
Government each year through contracts. The
OSDBU Directors Interagency Council provides a
platform for directors to share and discuss common
concerns, as well as collectively plan new ways to
assist small businesses.
Department of Energy
http://energy.gov/engine/content.do ?BT_
CODE=BUS_SP3
Department of Housing and
Urban Development
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpo/about/
smbizsp.cfm#osdbu
Department of Justice
http ://www.usdoj .gov/j md/osdbu/index. html
Department of Labor
http://www.dol.gov/osbp/welcome.html
Department of the Air Force
http ://www. selltoairforce.org
Department of the Army
http ://www. sellingtoarmy.info/
Department of the Navy
http://www.hq.navy.mil/sadbu/default.htm
Department of Transportation
http://osdbuweb.dot.gov/
Department of Commerce
http://www.osec.doc.gov/osdbu/
Department of Defense
http ://www.acq. osd. mil/sadbu
Defense Contract Management Agency
(DCMA)
http://www.dcma.mil/DCMAHQ/dcma-sb/
index, htm
Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)
http ://www.disa. mil/main/sadbu. html
Defense Logistics Agency
http:www.dla.mil/db/
Department of Homeland Security
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display ?theme=37&
content=3406
Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.va.gov/OSDBU/
U.S. Postal Service
http ://www.usps. com/purchasing/
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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General Services Administration
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/
contentView.do?contentType=GSA_
B ASIC&contentId= 12591
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codek/
Office of Personnel Management
http://www.opm.gov/procure/
Agency for International Development
http://www.usaid.gov/business/small_business/
Department of Agriculture
http://www.usda.gov/procurement/business/
osdbu.html
Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/fund/contract/find/
forecast, html
Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov/osdbu/
Department of State
http://www.state.gOv/m/a/sdbu/
Department of the Interior
http://www.doi.gov/osdbu/
National Science Foundation
http://www.nsf.gov/home/about/contracting/
Executive Office of the President
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
Federal Emergency Management Agency
http://www.fema.gov/ofm/index.shtm
Social Security Administration
http://www.ssa.gov/oag/osdbu/osdbu.htm
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
http://www.nrc.gov/who-we-are/
small-business.html
Smithsonian Institution
http://www.si.edu/oeema/sdbu.htm
Transportation Security Administration
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display ?theme=84&
content=0900051980091025
Department of the Treasury
http://www.treas.gov/offices/management/dcfo/
osdbu/
The OSDBU Directors Interagency Council
includes the directors of the OSDBUs in each
agency of the Executive Branch of the Federal
Government. The Council provides a forum
for OSDBU Directors to discuss common
concerns and work together as a collective unit.
The Council also engages in policy analysis,
information dissemination, outreach, research,
and information sharing.
It i s an honor that Jeanette L. Brown was selected
as the Director of the Council. Encouraged by
the team of Small Business experts who carry
out the day-to-day duties of EPA's OSDBU, Ms.
Brown is now working closely with the Council
in executing a number of new activities in 2004.
Meeting on the third Thursday of each
month, the Council has selected as one of its
first priorities the goal of strengthening agency
relationships. Since all OSDBUs have similar
missions, the Council is aggressively seeking
areas in which its members can partner to support
small and disadvantaged business.
A second priority is the increased involvement
of contractors in the Council's activities. The
Council is, therefore, seeking input from current
and prospective contractors, both large and small.
The Federal OSDBU Directors will increase
their communications with contractors in 2004
by elevating awareness of the Federal OSDBU
Directors web sitehttp ://www. osdbu. gov/. Over
the next year, this website will be aggressively
advertised. Finally, the OSDBU Directors will
strengthen technical skills through an OSDBU
University of Training.
Jeanette Brown looks forward to providing
leadership to ensure the successful execution of
these new goals and objectives.
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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About Disadvantaged
Firms
Which Firms are Considered Disadvantaged?
In the past, EPA/OSDBU's constituency
consisted of companies certified by the SBA's
8(a) program:
certified minority businesses,
women-owned businesses,
businesses in labor surplus areas,
Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, and
Hispanic Association of Colleges and
Universities.
EPA is currently considering restructuring
its Minority Business Enterprise and Women's
Business Enterprise Program and creating a
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program.
This proposed change, which seeks to reconcile
EPAs procurement activities with the Supreme
Court's decision mAdarandConstruction, Inc. v.
Pena, 515 U.S. 200 (1995), will not substantially
change the services we offer our constituency.
For further information, contact David Sutton,
Deputy Director at (202) 564-4444. You may
find more about this change by reviewing the
Proposed Rule in the Federal Register, Volume
68 (page no. 142/Thursday, July 24, 2003).
Will EPA/OSDBU Still Offer Its Services if the
New Rule is Passed?
Yes, we will continue to:
serve as advocates for small and
disadvantaged businesses;
track EPAs procurement outcomes;
develop our Mentor/Protege program;
expand our outreach efforts; and
promote our educational training and
related services.
Supporting EPA's
New Strategic Plan
Doing business with EPA requires on-going
commitment and dedication to ensure that small
businesses are aware of EPA's changing goals
and objectives, proposed and current initiatives,
and the Agency's changing regulations and
operational processes. Every small business
interested in doing business with EPA should
read and become familiar with EPA's 2003-
2008 Strategic Plan. This plan can be viewed
in full on EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/
ocfo/plan/2003sp.pdf Knowing EPA's mission,
purposes and strategic plan allows small
businesses to determine how best to assist EPA
in accomplishing its five strategic goals:
Clean Air and Global Climate Change;
Clean and Safe Water;
Land Preservation and Restoration;
Healthy Communities and Ecosystems;
and
Compliance and Environmental
Stewardship.
As a current or prospective contractor, it is
important to read this document so you can begin
to identify those areas in which your firm may be
able to support EPA's goals.
Organized in 1970 for the purpose of protecting
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
both the health and the physical environment of
America's citizenry, EPA's most recent Strategic
Plan introduces new ways the Agency's long-
term goal can be achieved. In order to determine
how your organization can best support EPA's
Strategic Plan, consider these:
Does your firm bring to EPA the
scientific and/or economic background
that can be used to assess problems of
the environment, human health, and
environmental change?
Is your company familiar with the range
of Environmental Indicators that EPA
utilizes to monitor human health and
environmental change?
Can your company assist in applying
new technology and innovative
environmental management systems to
the solution of the enduring problems
which EPA addresses on a daily basis?
Can your company support EPA's
efforts to recruit and retain a workforce
that embodies key technological and
scientific skills?
While the above EPA needs predate the new
Strategic Plan, they will continue to exist as part
of EPA's new goals and objectives.
As a current and/or prospective contractor,
it is necessary to ask, "What are EPA's goals?"
Figure 1 answers this question.
We encourage you to review the full Strategic
Plan and consider how your firm can support
these goals.
Figure 1 -
Understanding EPA's
New Strategic Plan
The new Strategic Plan highlights several areas:
Strengthening partnerships through
greater collaboration with States,
tribes, and local governments;
Reforming EPA operations through
improvements in the management of
human resources; improved competitive
sourcing; the increased automation
of EPA management functions; the
maximization of financial resources;
and greater linkages between
performance and financial expenditures;
Reviewing and strengthening the
management of the grants that are used
to fund State and local governments, tribal
agencies, educational institutions, and
nonprofit organizations each year; and
Increasing public accountability by
expanding the Environmental Indicators
Initiative so that the outcomes associated
with EPA efforts can be quantitatively
measured.
www.epa.gov/osdbu
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Preparing for
Opportunity...
To Bid or Not to Bid
Sometimes the procurement process for
relatively small businesses can be a bit
overwhelming with the sheer volume of
contractual opportunities, the preparation for
bidding, and the understanding of the solicitations.
It raises the following questions: Which of the
solicitations should my company bid? Is my
company really qualified to perform this work?
How can we best prepare to respond?
All EPA solicitations can be easily found.
Simply set your browser to www.epa.gov/oam.
For a relatively new business, EPA's list of
business opportunities may be overwhelming as
you review the various procurement options, but
just search for what best suits the services you
offer. You might ask, "Which of these contractual
opportunities are 'right' for my firm?"
Answering this question transcends merely
determining which of the opportunities listed are
small business and/or 8(a) set-asides. A systematic
approach must be used in making the "bid/no bid"
decision. Before investing time and resources
in the bid process, engage in some homework.
Determine whether there is an incumbent and
whether the incumbent is still eligible to bid.
For a disadvantaged firm, seeking to challenge
a highly experienced incumbent may not be the
best decision. Moreover, even partnering with
a more experienced firm may involve its own
difficulties. For example, workstyles, general
approaches, pricing differences, and overall
process differences can make partnering a
cumbersome and complex process.
If it appears that no firm has a marketing advantage,
ask yourself a few questions and answer them as
honestly as possible. Can your firm actually do
the work at a high performance level? If so, if you
were an EPA Program Manager, what evidence
would you want to see to be convinced that a
firm can supply a needed good or service in an
outstanding fashion?
Having the capability to perform on a
solicitation differs from having past experience.
If the solicitation that interests you is competitive,
you will also need to demonstrate that your firm
has past experience that reflects work parallel in
nature, scope, and magnitude to that described
in the service request. If your company has the
capabilities, but not the experience, you may
wish to develop experience by seeking 8(a)
noncompetitive contracts until your firm has
established a track record.
Even with the capability and experience needed,
you may wish to bypass a particular solicitation if
you cannot assemble an appropriate team. Before
soliciting resumes, use the EPA solicitation to
create a checklist for each occupational area
required. Compare each resume to the checklist.
If your checklist has 25 items listed and a given
resume has only 15 of the required items, the
resume is only a 60 percent fit. Find other
candidates because a 60 percent fit will not be
deemed competitive.
Let's say that you have all of the needed
capabilities: documented experience; excellent
staff; a cost-efficient, yet effective staffing
pattern; and excellent management approaches
and resources. Should you apply? Not unless
you have access to a line of credit that can
sustain the contract if you are selected. Your
accounts receivable may not be immediately
paid. However, if you win, your company may
be required to begin services immediately after
the contract is awarded.
As a Person Thinketh
Managing a small business can be quite
frightening. The effort needed to sustain past
performance levels and to achieve new levels of
growth is intense. For some firms, managing the
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
payroll and accounts payable cycle each month
is a tension-filled process. Keeping staff happy
in their jobs and performing well can be quite a
challenge.
However, sitting in the rear lobe of many
business owners' brain is the fear of business
failure. As an entrepreneur, you have heard the
argument so many times that it has reached the
status of the folkloricapproximately four out of
five new businesses will fail within the first five
years. For those of you who are new business
owners, this is a haunting statistic.
Now, there is even better news. Economist
Bruce Kirchoff, Ph.D., using data collected by
Dun and Bradstreet (the very same data that
served as the basis for the 80% failure rate),
concluded that Dun and Bradstreet's methods
were faulty. Entrepreneurs often close one
business to start a new one. They may also
shift from a sole proprietorship to a corporate
form of business organization. Such changes
were previously classified as "business failures."
Using factors such as those cited to re-calculate
the business failure rate, Dr. Kirchoff determined
that only 18 percent of businesses fail within the
first 8 years. Small businesses can now feel less
pressure than in the past. There are also some
guidelines that, if followed, can increase the
probability of success.
Figure 2 (located on page 8) is a little quiz that
you can take and use to calculate your probability
of business success. Be as honest as possible in
your answers. Tally your answers when you have
completed the quiz...
EPA Newsn
The EPA OSDBU News is pleased to announce that
Mike Leavitt was sworn in as EPA's new Administrator.
We offer our congratulations. We also wish to thank
Marianne Lament Horinko who served as Acting
Administrator.
Congratulations, EPA, on achieving a "green" rating
from the Office of Management and Budget for your
outstanding financial performance.
Cybertravel Guide
I know... I know... running a business keeps you busy.
Sometimes you feel as if your business is running
you. Please take the time to ensure that someone in
your business is assigned the task of traveling to key
websites so you can remain knowledgeable about
potential opportunities. We are including as a regular
feature a Cyberspace Travel Guide.
For Contracting Opportunities Anywhere
in the Federal Government, Visit...
www.fedbizopps.gov
For Contracting Information Within EPA, Visit...
www.epa.gov/oam
For Contracting Information on the Brown field's
Program, Visit.. .www.epa.gov/brownfields
For General Information and Support, Visit...
www.epa.gov/osdbu and/or www.sba.gov
For Online Courses on Entrepreneurship, Visit...
www.sba.gov/classroom
For Information on SBA's Disaster Recovery
Program, Visit...
www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/index.html
We will see you next quarter with more websites to
add to your Cybertravel Guide.
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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We did not simply "plunge" into the world of entrepreneurship. We tested the waters on a
small scale first.
We do not underprice or overprice our services.
Our firm did not underestimate how much time is needed to build a relationship with
clients such as EPA.
We do not try to operate our firm with too little capital.
We do not operate our business in such a way that we are careless in the use of capital.
Our company is staffed by people who fully understand each industry and market in
which we operate.
Our company never borrows money without planning exactly how and when we will be
able to pay it back.
Our company controls its growth and we do not try to conduct too much business with too
little capital.
Our firm always allows for unanticipated setbacks and expenses.
We rarely use credit.
We manage our accounts receivable so that our credit period is only 30-60 days.
When possible, we negotiate small advance payments in order to properly manage our
cash flow.
We keep complete and accurate records.
We regularly review our records so that our business cannot drift into trouble without our
knowledge.
We do not possess any habits of personal extravagance that we carry over into our
business.
We plan for the upsand downs of the business cycle.
We carefully manage our taxes, insurance, legal fees, and other costs associated with
doing business.
We ensure that tardiness and absenteeisms at our company are below the national
average.
We ensure our survival by providing extraordinary customer service and directing
personal attention to each contract.
We have identified at least two ways to differentiate our services from those of our
competitors.
We offer enough services so that our firm can appeal to a large range of public and
private clients.
Our firm is located in an area that is typically used for the type of services offered.
We regularly analyze our competition.
We routinely monitor the overall business environment.
Our business is a part of a high growth industry.
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osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Give yourself 4 points for every question to
which you answered "yes." If your score is 92-
100, you are in the "excellent" range. If your
score is 84-88, you are in the "good" range and
have a strong chance of business success. If your
score is between 72-80, you are in the "fair" range
and should obtain technical assistance to improve
your chance of success. If your score is below
72, visit our OSDBU office and/or your closest
Small Business Office for technical assistance.
The Importance of
Central Contractor
Registration (CCR)
One of the most important steps that can be
taken by businesses who wish to participate in
business opportunities at the Environmental
Protection Agency is CCR Registration. The term
"CCR" means Central Contractor Registration.
The logic of CCR is quite simple. Numerous EPA
programs may have contractual opportunities that
are suitable for your firm. At one time, your firm
would have been required to prepare materials
for submission to each separate program. Such
a duplicative process was both inefficient and
expensive to EPA and to vendors. CCR corrects
this process.
By registering your company with CCR,
your information will become a part of a single
database that can be accessed and reviewed by all
EPA Program Managers.
The importance of CCR Registration
transcends convenience and cost savings. If you
fail to register with CCR, you will not be able to
participate in the EPA procurement process as a
prime contractor. CCR registration is required
before the award of a contract, general contractual
agreement, blanket purchase order, basic ordering
agreement, or other direct procurement offers can
be made to you. Subcontractors, however, are
exempt from CCR registration. In addition, the
following awards are also exempt:
Purchases completed by Program
Managers using a Government-wide
commercial purchase card;
Contracts with foreign business suppliers
for goods and services provided beyond
the boundaries of the United States;
Procurements that are classified;
Procurements that accrue from deployed
Contracting Officers who are part of a
military operation; and
Purchases that are required as a part of
an "unusual and/or compelling need."
To register your company with CCR, visit
http://www.ccr.gov. You must verify your
company information using your DUNS
number provided by Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. For
additional assistance, please call (888) 227-2423.
Registering with CCR is just another way to be
prepared to become a successful contractor for
EPA.
New Opportunities for
Small Businesses Through
Reduced Contract
Bundling
The Federal Government is engaged in an
urgent effort to increase its overall operational
efficiency. One strategy that has been used to
achieve this goal is contract "bundling." Contract
bundling involves a process of consolidating
several smaller contracting opportunities into
one large contract.
The rationale for contract bundling is a
straightforward one - in the Federal Government,
as well as in the private sector, efficiency gains
can be achieved through economies of scale.
Economies of scale are a basic platform of a
market economy. The concept of economies
of scale asserts that as more and more units
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
of a product are made, the total per unit cost
decreases, creating overall cost savings.
A greater quantity of output reduces total
costs because average fixed costs fall as they
are allocated over a larger quantity of goods.
A simple example is one's office space. Each
business pays a flat monthly fee for office space.
If that fee is $2,500 per month and the company
produces only 10 units of service, the average
fixed costs of the services are $250 per unit.
If that same business produces 2,500 units of
service per month, average fixed costs then fall
to $1 per unit. Thus, as this example indicates,
the basic principle of increasing returns through
economics of scale is a simple one.
As is true with products, contracting costs
can be decreased by applying the concept of
economies of scale. When the Federal sector's
contracting staff are required to write one
bundled solicitation rather than five unbundled
ones, and monitor bundled contracts rather than
five separate ones, cost savings can be significant.
Additional benefits that have accrued from
contract bundling include service improvements
and a reduced time span for obtaining needed
goods and services.
However, an unanticipated consequence
of contract bundling has been decreased
contracting opportunities for small businesses.
Research conducted by the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) for the 7-year period from
FY 1992 to FY 1999 indicated that for every $1
awarded to suppliers under a bundled contract,
there is a 33 cent decrease in awards to small
businesses. This same report indicates that the
widespread use of contract bundling has created
a draconian decrease in the number of new
contracting opportunities for small businesses.
According to this study, there were 26,506 new
contracts awarded to small businesses in FY
1991, but only 11,651 in FY 2000.
In response to these and other concerns,
President Bush, on March 19, 2002, introduced
a new Small Business Agenda that opens
new opportunities for small businesses. The
President's Small Business Agenda also requested
that the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, an
agency in the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), implement strategies to mediate the
adverse impact of bundling on small businesses.
EPA/OSDBU and other OSDBUs are a critical
element in this process.
Within EPA, for example, senior managers
have taken actions to reduce unnecessary
bundling. Moreover, EPA submits data on
bundled contracts to OMB and the SBA, as
well as the President's Management Council.
The President's Management Council includes
Deputy Secretaries and Administrators from 26
Executive Branch Departments and Agencies.
The contract bundling review process has also
been augmented within EPA and other agencies.
For example, EPA/OSDBU reviews contract
bundling proposals for new contracts over $2
million. We require that alternative acquisition
strategies be considered when a bundled contract
is being considered by a Program Manager. In
cases where bundled contracts appear warranted,
the use of small business subcontractors is
included as criteria for awarding points to bidders.
Indeed, we are actively assisting businesses in
developing teams that include small businesses.
We also review the actions of other agencies
to identify "best practices" that allow the
government to optimize the benefits of bundling
while providing maximum opportunities for
small businesses. Thus, we are fully dedicated to
the President's Small Business Agenda. Through
these and other actions, we are maximizing
opportunities for small businesses.
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Successful Business
Development:
A Resource Guide
EPA is an
excellent
agency with
which to do
business.
As the EPA
Strategic
Plan
indicates,
EPA is a
performance-
based
organization.
Thus, if awarded a contract, the standards you
must meet will be high. The good news is that
the Federal and private sectors offer businesses
many services to promote their success. Some
of these resources are listed on pages 11 and 12.
Does your firm need additional financial capital in
order to compete for funding opportunities?
To seek private individuals who are
looking for investment opportunities,
visit:
www.vfinance.com
www.garage.com
If you are seeking $5 million or more
and are willing to give up as much as 60
percent ownership in your company in
exchange for cash, visit:
www.nvca.org
If you need a relatively small amount
of capital, you may wish to apply to the
U.S. Small Business Administration,
Microloan Demonstration Program.
Founded in 1992, this program does
not base its loan qualifications on credit
worthiness, collateral, or experience.
Rather, it uses the business idea and
the borrower's integrity as assessment
variables.
Small Business Investment Companies
(SBICs) are privately-owned entities
that borrow dollars from the Small
Business Administration to lend to
small businesses. SBICs also offer other
support services.
A Small Business Development Center
can assist businesses in completing
applications for Small Business
Administration loans.
If you simply wish to educate yourself
on how Loan Officers will judge your
SBA-guaranteed loan application, call
the American Bankers Association at
(800) 338-0626 and order the book,
SB A Lending Made Easy. (You will pay
$69.00 for this document.)
Numerous other sources of financial assistance
are also available through the United States Small
Business Administration.
Visit SBA at 1441 L Street NW,
Washington, DC 20005 or one of its 10
regional offices, which are located at:
SB A Region I Office
10 Causeway Street, Suite 812
Boston, MA 02222-1093
(617) 565-8415 Phone
(617) 565-8420 Fax
SB A Region II Office
26 Federal Plaza, Suite 3108
New York, NY 10278
(212)264-1450
SB A Region III Office
Robert N C Nix Sr, Federal Building
900 Market Street, 5th Floor
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215)580-2807
SB A Region IV Office
233 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 1800
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 331-4999 Phone
(404)331-2354 Fax
SBARegionVOffice
500 West Madison Street
Citicorp Center, Suite 1240
Chicago, IL 60661-2511
(312) 353-0357 Phone
(312) 353-3426 Fax
SB A Region VI Office
4300 Amon Carter Boulevard
Suite 108
Fort Worth, TX 76155
(817) 684-5581 Phone
(817) 684-5588 Fax
(817) 684-5552 TTY / TDD Number
SB A Region VII Office
323 W. 8th Street, Suite 307
Kansas City, MO 64105-1500
(816) 374-63 80 Phone
(816) 3 74-63 3 9 Fax
(816) 374-6312 TTY / TDD Number
SB A Region VIII Office
721 19th Street, Suite 400
Denver, CO 80202-2599
(303) 844-0500 Phone
(303) 844-0506 Fax
(303) 844-0507 TTY / TDD Number
SB A Region IX Office
455 Market Street, Suite 2200
San Francisco, CA 94105-2445
(415) 744-2118 Phone
(415) 744-2119 Fax
(415) 744-2021 TTY / TDD Number
SB A Region X Office
1200 Sixth Avenue Park Place
Building, Suite 1805
Seattle, WA 98101-1128
(206) 553-5676 Phone
(206) 553-4155 Fax
Call the SB A Answer Desk at
(800) U-Ask SBA (800) 827-5722.
Visit the SBA on the internet at
www.sba.gov
Visit the following Federal Small
Business Resource websites:
Air Force Small Business Online
http ://www. selltoairforce.org/
ARNET Reform Network
http://159.142.1.210/index.html
AMES Procurement Site
http://server-mpo.arc.nasa.gov/
Services/Proc/home.tml
Dept. of Energy e-Center
http: //www. pr. doe. gov/
Dept. of Labor Office of Small
Business Programs
http://www. dol .gov/osbp/
welcome.htm
FEMA Small Business Page
http ://www.fema.gov/ofm/
Commerce Business
Development CBDNet
http://cbdnet.gpo.gov/
NASA Acquisition
Internet Service (NAIS)
http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/
nais/index.cgi
National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST)
http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/
contract/contract, htm
If you don't need financial assistance,
but need technical assistance instead,
there are also numerous sources for
assistance.
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Regional News
New Colorado WBE
Certification Program
Maurice Velasquez, EPA's Region 8 Small
and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Officer,
participated in the Colorado Women's Chamber
of Commerce's (CWCC) Women Business
Enterprise (WBE) Certification Program
Steering Committee. The committee established
the foundation and guidelines for the WBE
Certification Program and was responsible for
the development of the program's procedures and
standards.
In the process of developing the WBE
Certification Program, the CWCC collaborated
with the City and County of Denver, the Colorado
Department of Transportation, and the Regional
Transportation District. This cooperative effort
resulted in a blended application process that
will enable an applicant to apply for DBE, SEE,
and WBE certifications through a single process.
The applications will be processed according to
each entity's regulations, and each will make
determinations of certification independently.
Visit http://wbecertification.org for more
information.
The first five MBE applicants to be certified as
WBEs by the CWCC were recognized at a special
breakfast ceremony on March 10, 2004, which
also acknowledged the many program sponsors.
The CWCC is the largest women's Chamber of
Commerce in the nation, with a membership
of 1,600. Its new WBE Certification Program,
through the guidance of the Steering Committee,
is creating economic opportunities for women-
owned businesses, and is enabling companies to
diversify their supplier bases.
Region 6 Environmental
Science Partnership (ESP)
Program
The objective of the Agency's Environmental
Science Partnership (ESP) Program is to
strengthen environmental science capacity at
postsecondary educational institutions that
receive limited funding to build such capacity,
particularly institutions that have substantial
minority student enrollment. Under the ESP
Program, Region 6, EPA signed a Memorandum
of Agreement (MOA) with Texas Southern
University (TSU) in February 2004. The purpose
of the MOAis to further cooperation between EPA
and TSU in order to enhance the education and
training of students and increase the relevance of
university research to EPA's mission. The MOA,
however, does not establish financial obligations
on the part of either EPA or TSU. All activities
EPA undertakes in furtherance of the MOA are
subject to the availability of appropriated funds
and Agency procedures for competing grants and
contracts.
From the Director:
A Post Script
Well, you've completed reading our
informational tidbits for this quarter. Please
e-mail your news items, questions, and letters
to the editor at epa-osdbu-hotnews@hcdi.com.
If there are particular informational areas that
interest you, let us know. Our theme for the next
issue will be Marketing Your Way to Success!
Share with us your marketing successes. What
tips have worked for you?
Jeanette L. Brown, Director
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Agency Goals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) goals for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004/2005
are based on estimated contract obligations of $1.2 billion for direct and $200 million for subcontract.
EPA FY 2004/2005 PRIME CONTRACT GOALS
Small Businesses
8(a) Businesses*
Non 8(a) Small Disadvantaged
Businesses
Women-Owned Small Businesses
Service Disabled Veterans
FY '04/05 Goal
27.0%
*6.3%
*3.0%
5.0%
3.0%
3.0%
*Since 8(a)s are SDBs, EPA in essence has an SDB goal of 9.3%.
EPA FY 2004/2005 SUBCONTRACTING GOALS
Subconfracf
Small Businesses
Small Disadvantaged Businesses
Non 8(a) Small Women-Owned
Businesses
Service Disabled Veterans
FY '04/05 Goal
50.0%
20.0%
7.5%
3.0%
3.0%
The Federal Government purchases billions of dollars in goods and services each year that range
from paper clips to complex space vehicles. It is the policy of the United States, as stated in the Small
Business Act, that all businesses have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in providing
goods and services to the government. To ensure that small businesses get their fair share, the SBA
negotiates annual procurement preference goals with each Federal agency and reviews the results.
Small Business Vendor Profile System
EPAs Small Business Vendor Profile System is designed to collect and display information
concerning businesses registered with EPAs Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
(OSDBU). The system captures information on the following types of small businesses: small; small
disadvantaged; 8(a) certified; women-owned; Hubzone; veterans; service disabled veterans; and tribal
businesses (Federally or State recognized). Information is also available on Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACUs), and minority
servicing institutions.
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Small Business Vendor Profile System
If you would like to be included in EPA/OSDBU's automated database go to: cfpub.epa.gov/sbvps, or complete the following
form and fax it to Denean Jones at (202) 501-0756.
Date:
Company Name*:.
Contact*:
Title:.
Address*:,
City*:
Phone**:.
E-mail Address*:.
Internet Address:
NAICS Code(s)*:
State*:.
Fax#:_
Zip Code*
Capabilities:.
Have you done business with the EPA before*: Q NO Q Yes, as a Prime Q Yes, as a Subcontractor
Classification Q SDB Ethnicity
Large Q Small WOB Q African American
Mid-Size |~~| 8(a) Certified Q Asian-Indian
Small n Service Disabled Veteran Q Asian-Pacific
Caucasian American
Female
Tribal
Q Federally Recognized
[_) State Recognized
SDB
Small WOB
8(a) Certified
Service Disabled Veteran
HUBZone
HBCU
HACU
Tribal College/
University
Q Other Minority
The fields marked by * are required and must be filled in.
Hispanic
Native American
Other Minority
None
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Small Business Ombudsman
As the small business gateway for EPA, the Ombudsman's function falls into three main categories: (1) Developing and
providing compliance assistance and tools for small businesses; (2) Providing information about small businesses to EPA;
and (3) Identifying small business needs for EPA rules, enforcement and policy development.
EPA Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation - Small Business Division
Small Business Ombudsman Regulatory Assistance and Outreach Program
EPA Employees:
Karen Brown
Angela Suber
Daniel Eddinger
Elsa Bishop
Catherine Tunis
Bridgette Dent
Joyce Billious
Eileen Mayer
SEE Enrollees:
James Malcolm
Larry Tessier
Tom Nakley
Howard Boddie
Esther McCrary
Peggy Alexander
Title
Division Director & Small Business Ombudsman
Program Analyst
Program Analyst
Program Analyst
Regulatory Impact Analyst
Program Assistant
Secretary
Program Analyst
Chemical Engineer, Toxic Substances and Haz Mat
Civil Engineer, Asbestos, Radon, and Lead
Civil Engineer, CWA, SDWA and General Assistance
Computer Specialist
Senior Secretarial Support Staff
Senior Secretarial Support Staff
Contact #
(202) 566-2816
(202) 566-2827
(202) 566-2820
(202) 566-2814
(202) 566-2830
(202) 566-2819
(202) 566-2813
(202) 566-2812
(202) 566-2821
(202) 566-2829
(202) 566-2826
(202) 566-2815
(202) 566-2824
(202) 566-2811
Major Functions/Products:
Serve as a port of entry for small businesses to EPA;
Advocate for small business regulatory issues and relief inside EPA;
Coordinate small business issues with program offices, regions, and states;
Focus on asbestos regulatory requirements/handle questions and complaints;
Operate and maintain a Small Business hotline;
Participate on regulatory development workgroups representing small business interests;
Prepare semi-annual Newsletter;
Organize meetings with the Deputy Administrator and Small Business Trade Associations;
Oversee and prepare Report to Congress on the status of CAAA State Section 507 Programs;
Manage contracts, grants and cooperative agreements to strengthen State Small Business Ombudsman Technical
Assistance Programs;
Sponsor Annual Small Business Regional Liaison Conference;
Develop guidance and policies for small businesses;
Resolve disputes between small businesses and EPA dealing with policies and regulations;
Distribute small business publications, regulations, guidance, and tools.
Small Business Ombudsman Toll Free Hotline: (800) 368-5888 Local: (202) 566-2855 Main Line: (202) 566-2822
Fax: (202) 566-0954
It
Contact information current as of 04-23-04.
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Name:_
Firm:_
Request For Publications
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (1230A)
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 564-4100
(202) 501-0756 (Fax)
Address:
City:.
Phone #:
Fax#:
State:
Zip Code:.
Please Check Publications Requested
Q Doing Business with EPA
Q Mentor-Protege Program
Q Forecast of Contract Opportunities
Q Finding Your Way Through EPA
Q Contract Opportunities Under Superfund (five basic categories)
Q The 8(a) Program
Q HUBZone Fact Sheet
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Calendar of Events
DATE
May 3 - 5
May 3 - 7
May 5 - 7
May 10 -13
May 11 - 12
May 12
May 12 -16
May 13
May 19 -21
May 24 - 28
June2-3
June2-5
June 9
June 9
June 9- 11
June 22 - 24
June 22 -25
July 6- 9
Minority Development Supplies
Conference
RCRA Contracting Conference
16th Annual Asian American
Business Conference - CELEBR
Asian 2004
2004 GSA Expo
2nd Annual Contracting with The
Department of Homeland
Security
Capability Statement Analysis &
Remedial Recommendations
9th Annual Black Enterprise/
General Motors Entrepreneurs
Conference
IT Small Business Counseling
Day
SBA Expo 04
Celebrating National Small
Business Week
2nd Annual Conference for Nego-
tiating Contracts with the Federal
Government
FACE 2004- Federal Acquisition
Conference Expo 2004
EPA SBO/SBAP National Small
Business Conference
Instructions and Strategies on
How To Do Business with EPA
National Association of Hispanic
Publications Foundation
2004 Annual Diversity
Conference
Women in Business 2004
Sharing the Vision Conference
Superfund SRMAC Meeting
5th Annual Small Business
Conference
SPONSOR/LOCATION
Virginia Business Opportunity Fair
Richmond, VA
Las Vegas, NV
US PAN ASIAN American
Irvine, CA
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL
Crystal Gateway Marriott
Arlington, VA
EPA - Outreach Center OSDBU
Conference Room
Sponsored by:
Howard University
Wyndham Anatole Hotel
Dallas, TX
EPA - OSDBU U.S. Department of
Agriculture Jefferson Auditorium
SBA- Orange County
Orlando, FL Convention Center
MBDA Conference/Department of
Commerce
Condado Plaza Hotel
San Juan, PR
Federal Acquisition Council, GSA,
DOD
Washington, DC
Holiday Inn Capital Plaza
Sacramento, CA
EPA - Outreach Center
OSDBU Conference Room
Sponsored by:
Howard University
Washington, DC
New York, NY
Marriott Hotel
Hilton New Orleans Riverside &
Morial Convention Center
Albuquerque, NM
Department of Energy
Philadelphia, PA
Jeanette Brown
www.VMSDC.org
David Sutton
www.uspaacc.com
www.expo.gsa.gov
Thomas K. Billington
Billington@pf.com
Frank Carpenter
(202) 564-4584
(800) 543-6786
Patricia Durrant
Jeanette Brown
www.sba.gov
jeanette@puertoricomboc.com
www.fai.gov/face
Jeanette Brown
www.sacberc.org
Frank Carpenter
(202) 564-4584
www.nahp.org
www.conference-board.org/
diversity.htm
www.wbenc.org/wib2004
David Sutton
Region 3
(888) 246-2460
mm
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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DATE
July 12
July 14
July 14
July 29 -31
EVENT
POCO Conference
HubZone Business Counseling
Day
Identification of Corollary
Sources of Technical Assistance
12th Annual Convention
SPONSOR/LOCATION
Chicago, IL
EPA-OSDBU
EPA East, ICC Building,
Room 1153
1201 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC
EPA- Outreach Center
OSDBU Conference Room
Sponsored by:
Howard University
National Black Chamber of
Commerce
Washington, DC
CONTACT
David Button
Patricia Durrant
Frank Carpenter
(202) 564-4584
halford@nationalbcc.org
OSDBU has identified meetings, conferences, and forums being provided across the country that may be of interest
to the small business community. Events that OSDBU will sponsor or support are identified with lead OSDBU staff
for additional information. The Calendar of Events is maintained by Tammy Thomas. Ms. Thomas can be reached
at (202) 564-4298.
OSDBU Employee Contact List-
Jeanette L. Brown, Director
David Sutton, Deputy Director
Susan Galliher, Special Assistant
Kimberly Patrick, Attorney Advisor
Patricia Durrant, Soc., Program Officer
Denean Jones, Info. Mgmt. Specialist
Tammy Thomas, Management Analysis
Natalie Twyman, Secretary
Elnora Thompson, Office Automation Assistant
LaTanya Henderson, Student Intern
Ansley Turner, Student Intern
Thelma Harvey, Secretary - Contractor
Barbara Overton, Secretary- Contractor
Contact information current as of 04-23-04.
(202)564-4100
(202) 564-4444
(202) 564-0403
(202) 564-5386
(202) 564-4738
(202)564-4142
(202) 564-4298
(202)564-2314
(202)564-4139
(202) 564-4586
(202)564-4100
(202)564-4138
(202) 564-0999
brown.jeanettel@epa.gov
sutton.david@epa.gov
galliher.susan@epa.gov
patrick.kimberly@epa.gov
durrant.patricia@epa.gov
jones.denean@epa.gov
thomas.tammy@epa.gov
twyman.natalie@epa.gov
thompson.elnora@epa.gov
henderson.latanya@epa.gov
turner.ansley@epa.gov
harvey.thelma@epa.gov
overton.barbara@epa.gov
osdbu news winter 2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Regional MBE/WBE Coordinators
REGION I
(CT, ME, Rl, MA, NH, VT)
Sharon Molden (617) 918-1062
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Region
One Congress Street (MGM), Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114-2023
REGION II
(NJ, NY, PR, VI)
Otto Salamon (212) 637-3417
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
290 Broadway- 27th Floor
New York, NY 10007-1866
REGION III
(DE, VA, MD, PA, DC, WV)
Romona McQueen (215) 814-5155
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
REGION IV
(AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)
Rafael Santamaria (404) 562-8110
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303-8960
REGION V
(IL, IN, Ml, MN, OH, Wl)
Sharon R. Green (312) 353-5661
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
77 West Jackson Boulevard (MC-10J)
Chicago, IL60604-3507
REGION VI
(AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)
Debora N. Bradford (214) 665-7406
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
First Interstate Bank Tower at Fountain Place
1445 Ross Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
REGION VII
(MO, NE, IA, KS)
Cecil Bailey (913)551-7462
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
REGION VIM
(CO, MT, WY, SD, ND, UT)
Maurice Velasquez (303) 312-6862
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
999 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202-2405
REGION IX
(AZ, HI, CA, NV)
Joe Ochab (415) 972-3761
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street (PMD-1)
San Francisco, CA94105
REGION X
(AK, ID, OR, WA)
Marie McPeck (206) 553-2894
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
CINCINNATI
Norman G. White (513) 487-2024
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Contracts Management Division
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
NORTH CAROLINA
Jerry Dodson (919) 541-2249
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Contracts Management Division
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
HEADQUARTERS
Lupe Saldana (202) 564-5353
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Grants Administration Division
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue (3903R)
Washington, DC 20460
(1230A)
Washington, DC 20460
First Class Mail
Postage and Fees Paid
EPA
G-35
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA180-N-01-002
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