Function

The Office of Small Business is a small business advocacy and advisory office responsible for insuring that small business, small disadvantaged business, HUBZone, veteran-owned small business, and women-owned small business concerns, including historically black colleges and universities and minority institutions (HBCU/MIs), participate in ONR's acquisition program both as prime contractors and as subcontractors. The office is also responsible to facilitate achievement of the Small Business Program Targets in accordance with the Navy’s Small Business Improvement Plan.

The office maintains an active outreach program to identify potential small business program participants by attending and participating in government-industry conferences throughout the United States. In addition, the office provides individual and group procurement advisory counseling to the small business community. Procurement advisory counseling includes advice concerning acquisition procedures, information regarding proposed Acquisition, instructions on preparing proposals, interpretation of standard clauses, certifications and representations, obtaining payment, and obtaining financial assistance within the procurement regulations.

A major role in the implementation of the Small Business Program at ONR involves advising and assisting contracting officials and program managers in acquisition planning and reviewing all Acquisition for possible small business program set-asides, subcontracting opportunities and subcontracting administration. The office provides assistance to ONR's contracting officials regarding the determination of the acceptability of prime contractor subcontracting arrangements.

Information on selling to the Navy is available from the Department of the Navy (DoN) Marketing Information Service that can be found on the DoN web site at www.hq.navy.mil/sadbu under Marketing the Navy.

Small Business Subcontracting Programs as described at FAR 19.7.

Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)

Small businesses wanting to take advantage of the SDB Program must be certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA). You can obtain more information about the SDB Program by contacting any SBA district office or visit the SBA Homepage.

Women-owned Small Business

Visit the SBA Online Women’s Business Center and the Department of Defense Women Owned Small Business Website for current program updates, training, networking etc.

HUBZone Small Business

Prime contractors, other than small business concerns, are required to include HUBZone small business concerns in their subcontracting goals as well as incorporating the HUBZone small business program initiatives throughout the subcontracting plan.

The SBA determines status as a qualified HUBZone small business concern. In addition to being located within a HUBZone, a small business must have its principal place of business within the HUBZone and at least 35 percent of its employees must live in a HUBZone. SBA issues a certification to a qualified HUBZone small business and includes the concern on its List of Qualified HUBZone Small Business Concerns. The firm must appear on the list to be a HUBZone small business concern.

The firm must appear on the list to be a HUBZone small business concern.

This program is part of the Small Business Subcontracting Program described at FAR 19.7. Prime contractors, other than small business concerns, are required to include HUBZone small business concerns in their subcontracting goals as well as incorporating the HUBZone small business program initiatives throughout the subcontracting plan.

Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Prime contractors, other than small business concerns, are required to include service disabled veterans concerns in their subcontracting goals as well as incorporating the veteran-owned small business program initiatives throughout the subcontracting plan. The Federal Acquisition Regulation was modified on October 11, 2000 in Federal Acquisition Circular #97-20 to incorporate veteran’s business program clauses, provisions and guidance for contracting officers.

To represent your firm as a service-disabled veteran owned business or veteran-owned small business, 51% of the ownership and control of the business must be maintained by veteran(s) to be classified as a service disabled veteran-owned small business or to be classified as a veteran-owned small business. For more information see the Department of Veterans Affairs web site.