Font Size : Increase font size Increase font size Decrease font size
The tax, vat and accounting Blog

«     »

by Michael Saunders

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 the Department established the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization to develop and implement outreach to the small business community. The Office performs its mission through small business fairs, procurement conferences, trade group seminars, conventions and forums.

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.

Currently, Small Business Specialists report to The Office of Small Business Development’s Director, and this is currently the only executive agency where Specialists report to the Director. The 11 agencies of HHS house the Small Business Specialists.

Every day, these Specialists work with Contracting and Program Office staff, so as to determine the best acquisition strategy; they also work to make their approach unified so that when vendors deal with Health And Human Services, this unity will benefit them.

HHS does not provide grants or loans to start businesses, however HHS is the largest grant-making organization in the Federal Government. With over 300 grant programs the Department covers mission specific topics handled by the various operating agencies of HHS. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) profiles all Federal grant programs, which provides financial assistance, including HHS programs, and list a specific point of contact for obtaining additional information and applications.

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:

Related posts:

  1. Payroll Preparation Services Help Small Businesses Be More Efficient
  2. Ten Important Steps To Starting A Small Business
  3. Keys to Obtaining Business Loans for Small Businesses
  4. Successful Small Business Loan Tips in This Bad Economy
  5. Successful Small Business Loan Tips in This Bad Economy

Post a Comment