The U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Opportunities for Small Business Annual Small Business Confe

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA)Opportunities for Small BusinessAnnual
Small Business ConferenceDepartment of
EnergyAugust 2009

• Quinton N. Robinson, Director
• Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
  Utilization
• U.S. Department of Agriculture

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The USDA Organization

• Large, decentralized cabinet-level agency
• Over 100,000 employees
• 29 agencies and staff offices
• Offices located throughout the U.S. major
  embassies around the world
• Many programs serving the American people

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USDAs OVERALL PURCHASING ENVIRONMENT

• Purchase a broad array of products and services
• 11 major buying agencies
• Spend approximately 5 billion annually
• Large buyer of
• Commodities food products approx. 60
• Information technology 20
• Environmental services 5
• Architecture engineering/construction/real
  property 10
• Other services and supplies, including
  professional/ administrative/management services
  - 5

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USDAs BUYING AGENCIES

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• Agricultural Research Service
• Animal Plant Health Inspection Service
• Farm Service Agency
• Food Safety Inspection Service
• Food Nutrition Service
• Forest Service
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Office of Procurement and Property Management
• Office of the Inspector General
• Rural Development

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USDA A STRONG SUPPORTER OF SMALL BUSINESS

• 54 of our total contract spending in 2008 was
  with Small Business
• On track for similar goal achievement in 2009

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USDA Energy Opportunities

• Contracting,
• Grants,
• Loans, and
• Partnerships
• www.USDA.gov

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USDA Energy Programs

• USDA's energy related programs are large in
  scope, and extends among many USDA agencies and
  mission areas.
• These programs assist farmers, rural residents,
  and the nation to respond to energy-related
  issues and opportunities.
• They range from basic scientific research to the
  development and commercialization of new
  technologies.
• They include outreach and education, technical
  assistance programs, financial support for
  infrastructure, and the adoption of energy-saving
  products by USDA itself.

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USDA Energy Programs

• The Energy Matrix
• USDA's one-stop-shopping matrix serving the
  public, private businesses and the government.
• www.energymatrix.usda.gov
• Comprehensive information on energy-related
  programs, funding opportunities, and technical
  support across all USDA agencies and offices.
• Search by agency, technology type, and program.
• Search for alternative and affordable energy
  solutions, funding for projects, available
  programs and program information, or research and
  development.

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The BioPreferred Program Support the Energy and
Environmental Agenda

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the
  lead agency for the Federal Governments
  BioPreferred Program www.biopreferred.gov
• A biobased products initiative
• demonstrating environmental leadership and
• creating green jobs and new markets for
• farmers,
• manufacturers, and
• vendors.

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The BioPreferred Program Support the Energy and
Environmental Agenda

• A low-cost, high-return venture, the BioPreferred
  Program offers 3 major benefits
• Climate change impact reduction. The use of
  qualifying biobased products reduces the
  introduction of new fossil carbon into the
  atmosphere.
• Energy/environmental security. Biobased products
  replace petroleum products, helping to increase
  U.S. energy and environmental security and
  independence. Many biobased products are
  sustainable, renewable, and compostable.
• Economic development. Biobased products create
  jobs by increasing demand for agricultural and
  forestry materials and by increasing new product
  development, manufacturing, and ultimately sales.

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The BioPreferred Program Support the Energy and
Environmental Agenda

• Section 9002 of the Food, Conservation, and
  Energy Act of 2008, otherwise known as the 2008
  Farm Bill (Public Law 110-234), requires every
  Federal Agency to give procurement preference to
  designated items composed of biobased products
  unless those items (1) are not reasonably
  available, (2) do not perform adequately, or (3)
  are not reasonably priced.

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The BioPreferred Program Support the Energy and
Environmental Agenda

• USDA's goal is to increase Federal procurement of
  biobased products governmentwide and to develop
  Government and public markets through a voluntary
  labeling program.
• USDA tests and evaluates biobased products and
  designates items for preferred Federal
  procurement.

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Impact on Purchasing and Small Business

• USDAs BioPreferred Program is a Governmentwide
  Program.
• In February 2009, Secretary Vilsack requested the
  assistance of each Cabinet Member to implement
  the initiative and to provide procurement
  preference to biobased products.

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Impacts and Opportunities for Large and Small
Business

• When Applicable --
• USDAs Annual Procurement Forecast identifies and
  specifies biobased products. FY 2008 identified
  42 opportunities primarily from the Forest
  Service and Agriculture Research Service.
• USDAs Contract Solicitations identify and
  require biobased products.
• USDAs contract awards contain requirements for
  the biobased products bid.

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Impacts and Opportunities for Large and Small
Business

• USDA Walking the Walk
• USDA Green Purchasing Plan (GPAPP)
• Examples
• USDA biobased product useGreen Bottle spring
  water in cafeteria
• BioGreenfertilizer applied to Whitten Building
  lawn
• Biobased roof coating on West Virginia
  Agricultural Research Service facility

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Impacts and Opportunities for Large and Small
Business

• ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES -
• Small Business Innovations Research (SBIR)
  Program
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009
• USDA Proposed Biobased Product Consumer Label
  Rule New Label will make it easier for
  consumers to identfy biobased products (USDA News
  Release No. 0356.09)

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USDA Energy Opportunities

• Again, USDA's energy related programs are large
  in scope, and extends among many USDA agencies
  and mission areas.
• Business should continually explore USDAs
• Contracting,
• Grants,
• Loans, and
• Partnerships
• to identify impacts and opportunities
• www.USDA.gov

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AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT (ARRA
RECOVERY ACT)

• www.Recovery.gov

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USDA RECOVERY ACT
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USDA RECOVERY ACT

• The following USDA agencies received funding
• Departmental Administration
• Agricultural Research Service
• Office of the Inspector General
• Farm Service Agency
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Rural Development
• Food Nutrition Service
• Forest Service
• Agricultural Disaster Assistance Transition
• Foreign Agricultural Service

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RECOVERY ACT INFORMATION

• Websites
• Government-wide Information -- Recovery.gov
• USDA Information -- USDA.gov click on USDA
  American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 and
  USDA Recovery GEO-Spatial Map (contains
  state-specific information)
• FedBizOpps -- FBO.gov click on Recovery
• (contains Recovery Act actions)

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USDA Small Business

• For additional information regarding USDAs
  Small Business Programs and our Forecast of Small
  Business Opportunities visit our
• website at www.usda.gov/osdbu or
• contact us at [phone]
• For Biobased opportunities, click Y for yes on
  the Forecast of Small Business Opportunities.
• For additional information regarding USDA and
  its programs visit our website at www.usda.gov