Business and Economic Development Program

Business and Economic Development Program Manager: Vicki Cook
Address: D-7800, PO BOX 25007, Denver CO 80225-0007
Phone: (303) 445-2443
Fax: (303) 445-6344
Internet: vcook@do.usbr.gov

PRINCIPAL MISSION

Bureau of Reclamation is an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior and operates in the 17 western states. Reclamation is dedicated to managing, developing, and protecting water resources in an environmentally sound manner in the interest of the American public.

To accomplish its program activities, Reclamation purchases a wide range of products and services. We are dedicated to providing continuous outreach and assistance to small business, small disadvantaged businesses, and women-owned small businesses in support of Federal socioeconomic development programs.

Central Contractor Registration

TYPES OF PURCHASES:

Commodities

Information Processing Resources - hardware and software including personal computers, off-the-shelf software, and telecommunication equipment; Equipment - hydraulic turbines, pumps and valves, motors, transformers, turbines, office machines, safety and drilling equipment; Supplies - laboratory, chemical, and engineering supplies, along with office and equipment supplies.

Services

Research - applied science; Services - systems design, computer maintenance, data processing, janitorial, grounds maintenance, refuse removal, appraisal and title, laboratory and office equipment maintenance, earth science data gathering and studies, telecommunications, architectural and engineering, professional and administrative services associated with functions and mission of Reclamation; for example, water resources planning and development, hydraulics, and facilities management services.

Construction

New construction, repair, operation and maintenance of existing structures, including: aqueducts; canals; dams; drainage facilities; electric transmission facilities; levee erosion control; powerplants; switch yards; water distribution facilities; office remodeling; highway, railroad, and utility relocation; and recreation facilities, and associated access roads.

CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION (CCR):

Reclamation contracting personnel use the CCR as the single validated source of data on vendors. Prospective vendors must be registered in CCR prior to the award of a contract, purchase order, delivery order, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchase agreement. Prime contractors are not required to have their subcontractors register in CCR. However, if a prime's subcontractor wants to bid directly for contracts, they should register in the CCR. The CCR contains a variety of links including the SBA's PRO-NET and Dun and Bradstreet. It also provides helpful guidance to prospective vendors on registration, database search, and update capabilities. The Interior Department Electronic Acquisition System (IDEAS ) does not currently interface interfaces with the CCR; however, the information from CCR is used to create the vendor in IDEAS. Through IDEAS, the CCR is used by acquisition and finance personnel as a source of a wide variety of vendor information, including product/service data, addresses, and payment information. Go to the CCR website at http://www.ccr.gov for registration information.

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE:

Many of Reclamation=s simplified acquisition requirements (valued between $2,500 and $100,000) are purchased electronically via Electronic Commerce (EC). Requests for Quotations (RFQ) are posted on an electronic bulletin board and awarded electronically. In addition, delivery orders issued under General Services Administration=s Federal Supply Schedules are performed electronically. Vendors may access requirements for Reclamation=s contracting requirements at http://eps.gov/ or go directly to the IDEAS Business Opportunities webpage located at http://ideasec.nbc.gov/ecprod/owa/ecmenu$.firstcount/. Only vendors registered in CCR are authorized to submit quotations on posted RFQ requirements. (Vendors that require a DUNS number may contact Dun & Bradstreet at 1-800-333-0505.) Search features are available by using some or all of the following options: the issue date, closing date, Product and Service Code (PSC), Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code, North American Industrial Code System (NAICS) code, or DUNS number. The IDEAS Business Opportunities site has been written using HTML 4.0 extensions which are not supported by all browsers. For best results it is recommended that vendors use the latest version of either Internet Explorer or Netscape. Any questions regarding IDEAS Business Opportunities may be directed to Wai See Moy at (703)648-6690.

WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER:

SBA's Online Women's Business Center (http://www.onlinewbc.org) is a free, interactive training site on the World Wide Web. It offers beginning and advanced business principles and practices, management techniques, networking, industry news, information about SBA services, market research and technology training.

PREFERENTIAL ACQUISITION PROGRAMS:

Small Business Set-Asides: Acquisitions are reserved for participation by small business firms in cases where it is anticipated that 1) offers will be received from at least two responsible small businesses offering the products of small business concerns and, 2) awards will be made at fair market prices.

8(a) Program: This program is available to socially and economically disadvantaged business firms certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Contact your local SBA office for more details.

Subcontracting Programs: On prime contracts expected to exceed $500,000 ($1,000,000 for construction), large businesses must submit and comply with subcontracting plans. These plans contain the prime contractor's goals for subcontracting with small, small disadvantaged, and women-owned small businesses.

Mandatory Source Program: If competitively priced, Federal agencies must purchase goods and services from the following sources before considering open market sources: The National Industries for the Blind and Severely Handicapped, the Federal Prison Industries, and certain items under schedules issued by the U.S. General Services Administration Federal Supply Service, and the Defense Logistics Agency Supply System.

Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns - Price Evaluation Adjustment

Federal Acquisition Regulations (Subpart 19.11) now provide for a price evaluation adjustment for small disadvantaged business concerns in competitive acquisitions greater than $100,000. For more information concerning the applicable factor (percentage) to be applied, contact Reclamation's local Business Utilization Development Specialist.

HUBZone Contracting Program

This program provides a program of federal contracting assistance for qualified small business concerns located in distressed communities in an effort to increase employment opportunities, investment, and economic development in these communities. The program provides for set-asides for firms that meet the definition of a HUBZone small business concern, sole source awards to HUBZone SBCs, and price evaluation preferences for HUBZone SBCs in acquisitions conducted using full and open competition. For more information on this program, visit the following webpage: http://www.sba.gov/certifications/index.html#hubzone .

PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE:

The publications listed below are available from the Department of the Interior, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240-0001.

INTERNET Address: http://www.doi.gov/osdbu

- Current Forecast of the Department of the Interior Acquisitions, Guide for Small Business
- Introduction to Interior Acquisitions, Guide for Small Businesses
- Department of the Interior Business Utilization and Development Specialists
- Department of the Interior Prime Contractor Directory

RECOMMENDED VENDOR MARKETING TECHNIQUES:

- Become a participating merchant for Department of the Interior=s NationsBank MasterCard, which Bureau of Reclamation utilizes for purchasing some of its smaller-dollar value requirements.
- Market to Federal small business advocates (BUDS) or to purchasing/contracting personnel.
- Do not assume that Reclamation operates the same as other Federal agencies.
- Check Reclamation's bid boards (onsite and Internet) for contracting opportunities at.
- Don't hesitate to ask questions!
- Register with SBA PRO-NET, Internet address http://www.pro-net.sba.gov .
- Learn as much as possible about the Federal acquisition system by reviewing information on the Acquisition Reform Network at http://www.arnet.gov/ and the Small Business Administration=s website homepage a http://www.sba.gov.

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION BUSINESS UTILIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS (BUDS):

Robert McMillen Bureau of Reclamation Denver Office PO BOX 25007, D-7810 Denver CO 80225-0007 Phone: (303) 445-2446 Fax: (303) 445-6345 Internet Address: Rmcmillen@do.usbr.gov	Karen Happ Upper Colorado Region, UC-823 Bureau of Reclamation 125 South State Street, Rm 6107 Salt Lake City UT 84138-1102 Phone: (801) 524-3675 Fax: (801) 524-5499 Internet Address: khapp@uc.usbr.gov
Andy Fox Great Plains Region Bureau of Reclamation PO Box 36900 Billings MT 59107-6900 Phone: (406) 247-7811 Fax: (406) 247-7793 Internet Address: afox@gp.usbr.gov	Marsha Gay Lower Colorado Region Bureau of Reclamation PO Box 61470 Boulder City NV 89006-1470 Phone: (702) 293-8149 Fax: (702) 293-8648 Internet Address: rmgay@lc.usbr.gov
Dion Steele Mid-Pacific Region Bureau of Reclamation 2800 Cottage Way RM-E2711 Sacramento CA 95825-1898 Phone: (916) 978-5142 Fax: (916) 978-5175 Internet Address: dsteele@mp.usbr.gov	John Hedeen Pacific Northwest Region, Bureau of Reclamation 1150 North Curtis Road, PN 3702 Suite 100 Boise ID 83706-1234 Phone: (208) 378-5105 Fax: (208) 378-5108 Internet Address: jhedeen@pn.usbr.gov