Doing Business with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

http://www.usace.army.mil


We appreciate your interest in working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Our goal is to help you succeed in your quest to do business with us. Knowing what opportunities are available to you will help you market to the Small Business Deputies who can help you obtain a contract.



Did you know that hundreds of firms call each month to introduce their business? Which firms get priority?

Depending on what you offer (services, supplies, information technology, debris removal, dredging, construction, etc.) there may be several active opportunities for you within the Corps. These opportunities are posted on the www.SAM.gov website. We look forward to meeting with you, but please review this information and our contract opportunities before requesting a meeting with the District and Center Small Business Advocates.


specific www.SAM.gov opportunity.

You can differentiate yourself from the hundreds that call by contacting us about a

Our highest priority is to look for small firms to propose on the work we have on the street right now, before those requests for proposals (RFPs) close. Hundreds of small firms call each month seeking appointments and wanting to learn how to do business with us. However, we make the firms that need assistance regarding the specific opportunities posted on www.SAM.gov our top priority. We enjoy hosting meetings with firms to learn about their capabilities, but we must focus our attention on effectively attaining proposals for our open RFPs first and foremost.


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To search for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-only contract opportunities in the New Orleans

District, please go to https://sam.gov/content/opportunities and search


  1. Marketing to the Corps 101. In order to make the most of your time as you market your business, please look at the www.SAM.gov website before you contact a Small Business advisor for assistance. Mass emails without indicating a specific solicitation or announcement from www.SAM.gov have proven to be ineffective to the many small businesses desiring to do work with the Federal Government.


    If you've sent several emails to federal small business advocates without a response, try contacting them about a specific solicitation or opportunity, and indicate the solicitation # in the subject line of your email. This is very effective, but it requires you to do the research on www.SAM.gov first.

    Again, our top priority is to get a response on the actions currently listed on www.SAM.gov.

    Please review those actions, and contact us to let us know which specific action you can propose on. If at all possible, AVOID using aol.com, yahoo.com, gmail.com, comcast.net, etc. when marketing your firm for official government business.


  2. You Must Register In SAM.gov In Order To Do Business With the Federal Government. In order to receive a contract directly from the federal government, you must be registered to do business in the System for Award Management (SAM) website. You can register your Entity (business, individual, or government agency) to do business with the Federal Government (it’s a


    Register Here!

    FREE service, at no charge to you). Some fake websites are charging to register…don’t be fooled.

    If you are interested in registering, you must first create a user account. Go to -- https://www.sam.gov, click "sign in" at the top right, accept the terms, then click "Create an account". Hint- your local PTAC can assist you with this for FREE!


  3. Start-up Firms. Congratulations on starting your business! If you are a brand new start-up company, and you have not yet received your first DoD contract opportunity, please contact your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). PTAC's are funded through cost sharing cooperative agreements between DLA and eligible program participants, including states, local governments and nonprofit organizations, to assist our small businesses in preparing to do business with us and how to respond to solicitations. Learning how to read solicitation requirements and to respond to them with the right forms in the right format is critical. To find a PTAC near you, go to: https://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac/


  4. To locate Corps District Small Business Contact Information for our 60 Small Business Professionals, please go to their corresponding District website.


    (4 cont.) Some of us work directly with contract opportunities, and have the ability to recommend firms to program managers and contracting officers for contract actions. Some of us are policy, oversight, and management focused, and we don’t work directly with contracting officers and program managers. However, all of us can explain the process of doing business with the Corps.


    Headquarters – Washington, DC. The Chief of the SB Program and Headquarters Small Business Office Leaders oversee policy and overall management of the Small Business Program and staff, and are not involved in awarding contracts or recommending small businesses for contracts. The Chief sets the vision for the organization, and oversees implementation of policies and regulations that impact the small business program across the entire Corps of Engineers. The Chief provides direction and guidance to the 60 plus small business advocates working for the Corps of Engineers. The HQs staff is not involved in recommending small firms for specific contract opportunities (this is done at the District and Center Level two levels below the headquarters). The HQs has an open-door for meeting small business firms, but the meetings do not lead to contract awards or any recommendation to a PM or Contracting Officer regarding the small business (introductions of firms to our PMs and for specific projects happens at the District level and Center level). Firms that are experiencing difficulty with payments, performance, terminations, or other issues that will negatively impact the small business should reach out to HQs for intervention when unable to resolve the issues at the District or Division level – we are here to support you.


    Divisions – 9 each across the country. The Division Small Business Leaders are senior advisors to the nine (9) Corps Division Commanders (1-2 Star Commands), Regional Contracting Leaders, and the HQs SB Office. They serve as leaders to the District SB Deputies. Division Leaders can discuss and advise on all areas of the small business program and how to do business with the Corps, but they are not directly involved in recommending small businesses to contracting officers and program managers. The attached sheet provides clarity on the locations of the Districts under each Division Leader.


    Information for Firms

    Districts and Centers – over 48 each across the country. The District and Center SB Deputies work side-by-side with Contracting Officers, Program Managers, District Commanders, and Center Directors (GS-15, Colonels, SES) to determine which specific acquisitions should be set-aside for competitive small business award to SBs, SDBs, SDVOSBs, WOSBs, and HUBzone firms. For example, these SB Deputies help find 8(a) firms and make recommendations for sole source 8(a) awards. The District and Center SB Deputies have the day-to-day visibility over purchases within their respective District or Center. Again, all contracts are awarded at the District Level and Center levels. Contract Opportunities are here!!!


    FAQ: Who should I contact in order to get contract work with the Corps of Engineers?


    Answer: District and Center SB Deputies are where the contract opportunities are. But first, visit SAM.gov so you can be prepared to discuss a specific contract opportunity that is of immediate interest to the SB Deputy. The SB Deputy’s priority is to look for small firms to propose on the work they have on the street right now before the RFP closes.


    FAQ: I’ve sent 50 emails to USACE personnel , and I’ve left messages to tell them that I’m an 8(a) firm looking for contract opportunities. Why is it so difficult to reach someone to schedule an appointment to brief my capabilities?


    Answer: Read Marketing to the Corps 101 (above). If you've sent several emails to federal small business advocates without a response, try contacting them about a specific solicitation or opportunity, and indicate the solicitation # in the subject line of your email. This always works, but it requires you to do the research on www.SAM.gov first. Again, our top priority is to get a response on the actions currently listed on www.SAM.gov. Please review the actions, and contact us to let us know which specific action you can propose on.


  5. Effective Outreach Events and Conferences. Please be careful about signing up for costly conferences that may not provide you a decent return on your investment. You are encouraged to look for conferences that have a heavy presence of government attendees, or are co-hosted or put on for or by specific Federal agencies. Some examples are:



US Army Corps of Engineers Official Website: http://www.usace.army.mil