What Small Businesses Can Do to Do Business with HHS
Previous to 1953, the Department Of Health And Human Services and the Department of Education first became one cabinet level department in the United States, then called the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. In 1979, this one large department was split into the two smaller departments we see today. Specifically, today's Department of Health And Human Services, or HHS, is responsible for the well being, health and safety of the United States' citizens. It also serves on an international level for those health and safety issues that reach across the border.
At present, Health and Human Services currently manages over 300 programs, with a budget of more than $737 billion. Its wide-ranging mission deals with a number of problems and situations in the human arena, including Medicaid, Medicare, children's health, promotion of health and disease prevention, substance abuse, and health disparities. It is also the single largest department to make grants within the federal government itself.
In 1979, HHS first established the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. Its intent was to implement and develop outreach programs to the small business community. This Office works mostly through procurement conferences, small business fairs, conventions, forums, and trade group seminars.
The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization hosts bi-monthly Vendor Outreach Sessions that are designed to educate vendors on the small business program and to provide information on how to effectively market products and services to the Department of Health and Human Services.
At the present time, the Office of Small Business Development's Director has Small Business Specialists report to him or her. Currently, this is the only executive agency whereby these Specialists report to the Director. HHS' 11 agencies house these Small Business Specialists.
The Small Business Specialists work daily with the Contracting and Program Office staff to determine the best acquisition strategy and provide a unified approach to benefit vendors dealing with HHS.
Currently, HHS does not provide grants or loans to help small businesses get going, but it is in fact the largest organization to make grants within the federal government. It has over 300 grant programs today, and it handles mission-specific topics, which are in turn delegated among the various HHS operating agencies. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance profiles all Federal grant programs; these provide financial assistance and include HHS programs. In addition, specific points of contact for obtaining applications or additional information are also provided.
Vendors who are interested in doing business with Health And Human Services do not have to have any special certification, but instead, the Small Business Administration provides certification to firms under the Business Development Program, the Historically Underutilized Business Zone Program, and the Small Disadvantaged Business Program. Businesses that are Women-Owned, Veteran Owned, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, or Small Businesses are generally managed with self-certification. Self-certification is not challenged unless or until an interested party or competitor provides protest to it. In addition, an HHS Contracting Officer may request that the SBA provide a size determination.
At present, Health and Human Services currently manages over 300 programs, with a budget of more than $737 billion. Its wide-ranging mission deals with a number of problems and situations in the human arena, including Medicaid, Medicare, children's health, promotion of health and disease prevention, substance abuse, and health disparities. It is also the single largest department to make grants within the federal government itself.
In 1979, HHS first established the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. Its intent was to implement and develop outreach programs to the small business community. This Office works mostly through procurement conferences, small business fairs, conventions, forums, and trade group seminars.
The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization hosts bi-monthly Vendor Outreach Sessions that are designed to educate vendors on the small business program and to provide information on how to effectively market products and services to the Department of Health and Human Services.
At the present time, the Office of Small Business Development's Director has Small Business Specialists report to him or her. Currently, this is the only executive agency whereby these Specialists report to the Director. HHS' 11 agencies house these Small Business Specialists.
The Small Business Specialists work daily with the Contracting and Program Office staff to determine the best acquisition strategy and provide a unified approach to benefit vendors dealing with HHS.
Currently, HHS does not provide grants or loans to help small businesses get going, but it is in fact the largest organization to make grants within the federal government. It has over 300 grant programs today, and it handles mission-specific topics, which are in turn delegated among the various HHS operating agencies. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance profiles all Federal grant programs; these provide financial assistance and include HHS programs. In addition, specific points of contact for obtaining applications or additional information are also provided.
Vendors who are interested in doing business with Health And Human Services do not have to have any special certification, but instead, the Small Business Administration provides certification to firms under the Business Development Program, the Historically Underutilized Business Zone Program, and the Small Disadvantaged Business Program. Businesses that are Women-Owned, Veteran Owned, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, or Small Businesses are generally managed with self-certification. Self-certification is not challenged unless or until an interested party or competitor provides protest to it. In addition, an HHS Contracting Officer may request that the SBA provide a size determination.
About the Author:
Michael Saunders has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He edits a Website on Government Grants for Small Business and another on Latest Home Business Ideas. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.