Doing Business with Health And Human Services When You’re a Small Business

In 1953 the Department of Health, Education and Welfare became a cabinet level department in the United States. In 1979 the Department of Education Organization Act split HEW into the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for the health, safety and well-being of residents of the United States. This mandate also extends internationally for cross-border health and safety issues.

HHS administers over 300 programs with a budget of over $737 billion. The Department’s mission includes a wide range of human issues, including substance abuse, Medicare and Medicaid, childrens health, health disparities, disease prevention and health promotion. It is the largest grant-making department within the Federal Government.

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.

These Specialists work every day with staff from the Contracting and Program Office; these people work to decide what the best strategy for acquisition will be and also strive to unify their approach so that vendors dealing with HHS can benefit from this unity.

At present, Health And Human Services doesn’t give grants or loans to help small businesses start up, but it is the largest organization of the federal government to make grants. With over 300 grant programs today, it also deals with topics that are mission specific, and in turn these topics are spread out among the various operating agencies of the Health and Human Services Department. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance profiles all Federal grant programs, which provide financial assistance. This includes Health and Human Services programs as well. Besides that described previously, additional information or specific points of contact for obtaining applications are also given here.

HHS does not require any special certifications for vendors interested in doing business with the HHS. The Small Business Administration certifies firms under their 8(a) Business Development Program, the Small Disadvantaged Business Program and the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program. Small, Women-Owned, Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned businesses rely on self-certifications. Self-certification is not questioned until a competitor or other interested party protests. A Contracting Officer with the Department may also request a size determination from the SBA.

Grants and Scholarship Tips

• Finding Federal Government Grants – Using the CFDA
• The New Face of Internet Advertising
• Jump-Start Your Government Business with the SBA 8(a) Program
• The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance – Starting Point for Federal Government Grants
• CFDA – Where to Begin to Look for Federal Grant Money