Text/HTML

Small Business News

Small Business News

March 22, 2024

Why America Needs The Defense Industrial Base

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks made the case at the Reagan Institute's National Security Innovation Base Summit on Wednesday that we all have a responsibility to foster a broad national security innovation base.

March 22, 2024

Mentor Firms Invited to Participate in Broad Agency Announcement

The Army Mentor Protégé Program (MPP) Office is now inviting applications for participation in the Department's MPP.

March 22, 2024

SBTW 2024 Keynote Speaker Announced

Don't miss the opportunity to hear from HON Dilawar Syed, SBA Deputy Administrator. HON Syed has driven civic efforts at the federal, state, and local level focusing on economic growth and entrepreneurship.

March 22, 2024

Upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity for APEX Accelerators Program

This is a special notice to provide information about the upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity to establish APEX Accelerators in Fiscal Year 2025.

March 8, 2024

Small Businesses and National Security a Focus at Federal Procurement Institute Conference

Mr. David Busigo, Senior Advisor, Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), participated in a panel discussion session focused on the role of small businesses in the Defense Industrial Base and what the DoD is doing for small businesses at the American Bar Association’s (ABA) annual Federal Procurement Institute Conference on March 7 in Annapolis, MD.

Feb. 16, 2024

Congressional Small Business Fireside Chat

The Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) hosted the first Small Business Fireside Chat of 2024 yesterday with members from the House Small Business Committee as part of National Entrepreneurship Week.

Feb. 16, 2024

OSBP Director Interview: How the DoD is Helping Michigan Small Businesses

In advance of a small business and industry engagement roundtable at Schoolcraft College on Friday, Feb. 16, Mr. Farooq Mitha was on News/Talk 760 WJR Radio-Detroit discussing ways the United States Department of Defense, in collaboration with The U.S. Small Business Administration and other local partners such as APEX Accelerators and Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), help small businesses acquire the knowledge to compete and win government contracts.

Feb. 16, 2024

Project Spectrum Presents at WEST Conference

This week, Derrick Davis, Director for Industrial Cybersecurity, Office of Small Business Programs, spoke about Project Spectrum at WEST 2024, the premier sea services conference and exposition on the West Coast that brings military and industry together to explore current and future naval platforms and technologies.

Feb. 9, 2024

Defense Pricing and Contracting Year in Review Released

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment's Defense Pricing and Contracting (DPC) team undertakes key initiatives to support the DoD pricing and contracting community in their ability to acquire and deliver capabilities to meet Warfighter needs.

Feb. 9, 2024

Small Business Training Week Registration Now Open

Registration for the 10th Annual Small Business Training Week is open at www.SBTW24.com.

Feb. 9, 2024

Georgia Tech APEX Accelerator Hosts OSBP Leaders

Mr. Farooq Mitha, Mr. Khalil Mack, and Mr. Derrick Davis participated in a roundtable discussion about maximizing opportunities for businesses to become suppliers to the DoD and other governmental organizations at the GT APEX Accelerator earlier this week.

Feb. 2, 2024

Rule of Two: OMB Issues Guidance to Increase Small Business Participation on Multiple Award Contracts

On January 25, the Office of Management and Budget issued guidance on strategies federal agencies should adopt to enable small businesses to participate in multiple-award contracts.

Feb. 2, 2024

Defense Innovation Board Updates

The Defense Innovation Board (DIB) delivered updates on two studies at the January 26 meeting, "Lowering Barriers to Innovation" and "Building a DoD Data Economy," and heard from experts across the defense innovation ecosystem.

Feb. 2, 2024

OSBP Training Materials Added to Website

The Office of Small Business Program offers a comprehensive page of training materials and videos aimed at supporting both small businesses and acquisition professionals.

Jan. 19, 2024

National Defense Industrial Strategy Released

The Department of Defense released its inaugural National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS) on Jan. 11, 2024. The NDIS will guide the Department's engagement, policy development, and investment in the industrial base over the next three to five years.

Jan. 19, 2024

Small Business Training Week 2024 Announced

Same Commitment, New Energy: Mark your calendars for April 29-May 3 for Small Business Training Week 2024.

Jan. 5, 2024

DoD Mentor-Protégé Program Participation Can Help Advance Your Goals

If your New Year's resolution involves conquering the challenges of navigating the intricate world of government contracts, while increasing your growth in contract awards, then look no further than the Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé Program.

Dec. 15, 2023

Tri-State Matchmaker Event Connected Buyers and Sellers

APEX Accelerators from New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio joined forces to host the Tri-State APEX Accelerator Matchmaker virtual event on Dec. 5-6.

Dec. 15, 2023

SBA Road Tours Coming to 16 States and Territories to Engage Entrepreneurs Creating Cutting-Edge Technologies

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced it will launch a live road tour connecting entrepreneurs developing advanced technologies to America’s Seed Fund.

Dec. 15, 2023

Featured Resource: Policy Guidance on Small Business Programs

Bookmark this page for relevant policy guidance on DoD Small Business Programs and U.S. Small Business Administration socioeconomic programs.

Dec. 15, 2023

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024

Congress passed its defense policy bill late on Dec. 13 and forwarded it to the White House for President Biden’s signature.

Dec. 8, 2023

OSBP Helps Advance Diverse Businesses to Join DIB and GIB

On Dec. 6, Mr. Farooq Mitha, Director, Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), was a guest speaker for the Economic Opportunity Session at MARKETPLACE, the Wisconsin Governor’s Annual Conference on Diverse Business Development.

Dec. 8, 2023

NDAA FY24 Conference Report Released

The U.S. Senate and House Armed Services committees released a final agreement on the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) late Wednesday night.

Dec. 8, 2023

Small Business Scam Alert: "United States Business Regulations Department" Letters

Recently, we heard from several small business owners about deceptive letters claiming to be from a government agency. As we dive into the festive season and year-end activities, it's crucial to stay vigilant and protect your business from potential scams.

Nov. 17, 2023

Department of Commerce Hosts First National Muslim American Leaders Convening

Mr. Farooq Mitha, Director of the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), joined leaders from across the federal government and industry this week for the first National Muslim American Leaders Convening hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

OSBP and NIST Partner for Small Businesses

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense on small business matters, and  U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) signed a memorandum of agreement on May 02, 2021 to collaborate on strengthening the national security of the small business industrial base.

The new partnership links two DOD organizations with a common mission to assist small businesses and  to achieve shared objectives:

  • Provide training and technical support to small-and-medium U.S. manufacturers engaged or planning to engage with the defense sector.
  • Promote and co-sponsor joint training events beneficial to national security, with an emphasis on cybersecurity for defense manufacturing.
  • Establish direct and consistent relationships at multiple organizational levels within both Parties to document and share complementary assistance best practices.  
  • Develop clear objectives, benchmarks and goals to measure success, added value, and synergy of collaborations between NIST MEP and OUSD(A&S) OSBP.

The OSBP and NIST partnership enables more DOD collaboration and support of small and medium manufacturers (SMMs). They will Collaborate to support the ongoing development and security of the Defense and Industrial Base.

This partnership will combine OSBP’s expertise in leveraging small businesses to close capability gaps for our armed forces with the MEP National Network.  The MEP operational base provides an opportunity for OUSD(A&S) OSBP to serve as a resource for the MEP Program of MEP Centers engages defense sector and defense-relevant manufacturing clients to promote and provide technologies, prototypes and products for National Security missions.