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What We Do:

As the lead U.S. Foreign Affairs agency, the Department of State helps to shape a freer, more secure, and more prosperous world through formulating, representing, and implementing the President’s foreign policy. The Department of State uses diplomacy to promote and protect American interests. We:

  • Manage diplomatic relations with other countries and international institutions.
  • Promote peace and stability in regions of vital interests.
  • Bring nations together to address global challenges.
  • Create jobs at home by opening markets abroad.
  • Help developing nations establish economic environments that provide investment and export opportunities

Support for U.S. businesses is a core function of the State Department at home and abroad. We provide assistance and support to businesses seeking to tap into the worldwide resources of the Department.

Who We Are:

U.S. Department of State (DoS), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) ensures our prime contracts and subcontracts are including small business to the maximum extent possible.  OSDBU conducts several annual outreach activities, including a subcontracting workshop/networking session; we also participate in in small business procurement fairs, conferences, workshops, and seminars. Additionally, OSDBU conducts internal training with the DoS contracting workforce to ensure awareness of, and compliance with, small business requirements.

See Small Business Goals by the Numbers for details on our Small Business Goal performance, annual Order of Preference for Small Business Set-Asides.

OSDBU staff:

George Price, Director
Rich Vinnacombe, Deputy Director
Anthony Josey, Senior Procurement Analyst, Small Disadvantaged Business / 8(a) Program
Thelma Edmunds, Procurement Analyst, Women-Owned Business Program
Martina Williams, Senior Procurement Analyst, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program
Ideia Sutton, Procurement Analyst, HUBZone Small Business Program
TiLynn Coleman-Scott, Executive Assistant (Contractor)
Julio Chavez, Procurement Analyst (Contractor)

U.S. Department of State

The Lessons of 1989: Freedom and Our Future