DVIDS – News – Small businesses are the backbone of USACE mission delivery

Small businesses are the backbone of USACE's mission

To help accomplish its mission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leverages the unique expertise of small business experts. Their job, led by the Office of Small Business Programs, is to integrate small business capabilities into his USACE projects.

The Mission of the Small Business Specialist – To make support for small businesses bigger and better and engage them to add more value to the projects the Corps of Engineers is working on. To accomplish this task, we leverage outreach to bring small business programs into the future.

Through outreach, the team focuses on two important tasks. We help small businesses of all types have the opportunity to win government contracts and ensure disadvantaged small businesses have a fair chance.

What makes this happen is a team of incredibly dedicated people. Since federal fiscal year 2021, more than $350 million has been disbursed to small businesses, with the Buffalo District accounting for 61.71% of the funds disbursed.

Of that amount, more than $198 million went to disadvantaged small businesses, which the U.S. Small Business Administration defines as:

– More than 51% owned and controlled by one or more disadvantaged people

– Disadvantaged people must be socially and economically disadvantaged

– According to SBA size standards, businesses must be small

Dorothy Jones is the first permanent Small Business Specialist/Procurement Analyst appointed exclusively to the USACE Buffalo District and is dedicated to providing opportunities for small businesses.

“I have been in this position since May 4, 2023,” Jones said. “Former small business professionals wore double hats: being responsible for Pittsburgh and Buffalo.”

Jones said small business professionals have a responsibility to succeed in the Department of Defense's small business programs under the Small Business Act, a federal law.

“I work with small and medium-sized businesses to help them win government contracts and explore acquisition strategies,” Jones said. “Then I prepare monthly reports for the statistics and performance commanders to ensure we are achieving the goals we have set for ourselves.”

“For the Buffalo area, we are focusing on companies that work on dredging projects, building and grounds maintenance and repairs, archaeological services, and stone supply, just to name a few,” Jones said.

The Small Business Administration establishes small business standards for each of the 689 unique industries it certifies. For small businesses, it can be difficult to take advantage of what the government has to offer.

“It's educational because I learned there are a lot of small businesses of all kinds,” Jones said. “It's rewarding because I feel that way when I can provide information, direction, names of facilities, etc. that will help them move forward.”

Jones explained that part of working with small businesses is reaching out to underserved communities. A community is a community or population that has traditionally faced barriers to accessing credit, capital, or anything else needed to start growing a business.

Those communities may include women, minorities, veterans, tribal groups, and more.

“In carrying out our mission, small business experts conduct market research through contractor engagement and outreach in the form of open hours, industry days, or small business conferences,” says the USACE Small Business Program. said Bonita Carroll, assistant director of the bureau. Great Lakes and Ohio River Division.

“We offer prospective contractors the opportunity to compete for procurement in the form of ‘forecasts’ and connect these companies with resources to help them ensure timely payment and fairness. '' said Carroll.

In the past, Mr. Jones worked with the USACE Detroit District to host an Industry Day event that brought together contractors from across the country who wanted to do business with the government.

“They were plumbers, electricians, builders…some had never worked with the government, and some were already working with the government,” Jones said. “The publicity for these support events actually reaches businesses in underserved communities.”

The scope of work the Buffalo District will be doing requires a wide variety of contractors, Jones explained. She went on to talk about everything from architecture and radionuclides to computer and ink cartridge providers.

“I learned that small businesses are the backbone of this country. There are a lot of small businesses that are just starting out, but they have no idea about the demand, how hard it will be, and the risks they are taking on. '' Jones said.

“Government can help them prosper and grow, but some of them don't know it,” she continued.

Jones helps connect contractors to SBA resources. They have a number of programs designed to help small businesses in a variety of ways. They range from financing, advice and counseling to programs specific to women, minorities and veterans.

Jones explained that even if a large company signs a contract, there is a provision that requires small businesses to also submit subcontract plans in order to be included in the project.

“Even though the big companies win the jobs, they can help by hiring qualified subcontractors,” Jones said.

Jones' success in the role is due to his extensive experience, having served 20 years in the U.S. Army as a logistics personnel, equal opportunity officer, and contract manager, retiring as a sergeant first class.

“Dorothy was instrumental in securing data for Maj. Gen. Mark C. Quander’s 2023 SAME Federal Small Business Conference Emergency Management and Response Briefing,” Carroll said. “We are looking for Dorothy to continue the great work she does for the Buffalo area.”

“The most fun part of this job for me is meeting people and learning how many different types of businesses are out there,” Jones said. “When we met again at another event, I heard them greet me by name because I knew I could help them on their path to success.”

Since 2021, 61.71% of all USACE Buffalo District contract expenditures have gone to small businesses, totaling $354,242,366. Of that amount, $198,677,499 will go to disadvantaged small businesses, $36,607,503 will serve businesses serving disabled veterans, $11,713,753 will go to women-owned businesses, and $130,327,399 will go to women-owned businesses. Dollars were donated to businesses in the hub zone. To learn more about these small businesses, visit https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs.