Other Small Business Resources

• ****NEW**** DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to incorporate contractual requirements related to the proposed Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 program rule, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Program.  Read the proposed rule and follow the instructions included in the notice to submit comments by October 15, 2024.

• ​DoD's Small Business Programs Cybersecurity webpage : providing small businesses with what they need to know.  Have more questions about complying with the Cybersecurity requirements? Contact DoD OSBP at 571-372-6191.

• DFARS 252.204-7012 Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting

• Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) - Project Spectrum : Designed to help vendors understand CMMC, Project Spectrum is an initiative supported by the DoD OSBP. Project Spectrum provides information, training, and risk assessments to help vendors improve cyber readiness and comply with DoD requirements.

• ​Cybersecurity Resources : are available in the DoD Procurement Toolbox website.

• DoD's Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Program : Learn more about DoD's CUI Program on their website which provides policy, training, desktop aids, CUI registry, and latest news information.  

• APEX Accelerators :  Can assist with understanding compliance with DoD's cybersecurity requirements.  

• NSA Cybersecurity Collaboration Center :  NSA's Cybersecurity Collaboration Center (CCC) provides no-cost cybersecurity solutions for qualifying Defense Industrial Base (DIB) companies such as Protective DNS, attack surface management, and access to NSA non-public DIB-specific threat intelligence.  

• Army Contracting Command Centers : The Army Contracting Command Centers Portal.
   
• Defense Agency's Small Business Program Offices : A list of other Department of Defense Small Business Offices.

• Defense Contract Audit Agency and the Agency's Information to help Small Business Contractors
   
• Department of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement (DFARS) - The official resource for implements and supplements to the requirements of the Federal Acquisition Regulation for the Department of Defense.

• DoD Innovation Pathways Portal - Aims to provide pathways for people to begin getting their innovative ideas to the right DoD audiences.

• DoD Pilot Program to Incentivize Contracting with Employee-Owned Business - DoD has established a new pilot program to incentivize contracting with employee-owned businesses as authorized by section 874 of the FY22 NDAA.

• DoD Subcontracting Program: The Basics of Subcontracting provides information on regulatory, subcontracting, and reporting requirements. It also includes the types of subcontracting plans and the categories included in the subcontracting plan goals.
   
• Doing Business with DoD : A source of information for small businesses that works across the Department of Defense. Additional information is located on the Defense Acquisition University Industry Support webpage which includes the DoD Small Business Strategy.
   
• Facility Clearance information provided by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA)
   
• Navy Electronic Commerce Online (NECO) : The link to Navy Electronic Business Opportunities.

• Bureau Labor of Statistics (BLS) - Producer Price Indexes (PPI) : The official site for BLS and a direct link to their PPI program which measures the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for their output.

• Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS) : The official site for the eSRS.
   
• Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) : The official resource of policies and procedures for acquisitions by executive agencies of the Federal Government.
   
• Federal Contract Opportunities : The official Government Point of Entry for posting Federal Government opportunities.

• Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) : The MEP National Network, through its collaborations at the federal, state and local level, MEP Centers work with manufacturers to develop new products and customers, expand and diversify markets, adopt new technology, and enhance value within supply chains. The MEP Program serves as a bridge to other organizations and federal research labs that share a passion for enhancing the manufacturing community.

• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) : Official source for NAICS code information.

• Product Service Code (PSC) Selection Tool : The Defense Pricing and Contracting (DPC) Office's tool providing PSC information and NAICS associated with the PSCs.

• SAM.gov Information and Guidance  - The General Services Administration's (GSA)  guidance for their SAM.gov system and help with your SAM.gov registration via the GSA's Federal Service Desk .

• U.S. Energy Information Administration : Directs you to the Refinery Capacity Report.

• Small Business Administration : The official website for the Small Business Administration (SBA)

• SBA's Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Program : The program promotes entrepreneurship and small business growth by providing the critical funding, oversight and support needed by the nationwide network of SBDCs. SBDC services include, but are not limited to: 
  • Assisting small businesses with financial, marketing, production, organization, engineering and technical problems and feasibility studies
  • Special SBDC programs and economic development activities including international trade assistance, technical assistance, procurement assistance, venture capital formation and rural development

            Enter your zip code to find your local SBDC .

• SBA's Dynamic Small Business Search Database (DSBS) : As a small business registers in the System for Award Management, there is an opportunity to fill out your small business profile. The information provided populates DSBS. DSBS is another tool contracting officers use to identify potential small business contractors for upcoming contracting opportunities. Small businesses can also use DSBS to identify other small businesses for teaming and joint venturing.

• SBA's Empower to Grow : The Empower to Grow program, formerly known as 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance program, provides eligible disadvantaged U.S. small businesses with free business courses, tailored training, and one-on-one consulting to support their growth, operations, hiring, regulatory compliance, and government contracting competitiveness. The Empower to Grow program uplifts businesses to be procurement ready for federal, state, and local government contracts.

• SBA Loans : SBA-backed loans make it easier for small businesses to get the funding they need. Find a lender through the SBA's Lender Match tool.

  • The 7(a) Loan Program , SBA’s most common loan program, includes financial help for small businesses with special requirements. This is a good option when real estate is part of a business purchase, but it can also be used for: 

    Short- and long-term working capital 
    Refinancing current business debt 
    Purchasing and installation of machinery and equipment
    Purchasing furniture, fixtures, and supplies

  • The 504 Loan Program provides long-term, fixed rate financing for major fixed assets that promote business growth and job creation.

    504 loans are available through Certified Development Companies (CDCs), SBA's community-based partners who regulate nonprofits and promote economic development within their communities. CDCs are certified and regulated by the SBA.

  • The Microloan Program provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses and certain not-for-profit childcare centers start up and expand. The average microloan is about $13,000.

• SBA's Size Standards : Information on SBA's Small Business Size Standards.
   
• SBA's SubNet is a database of subcontracting opportunities posted by large contractors looking for small businesses to serve as subcontractors.
   
• Small Business Administration's Office of the National Ombudsman : Your advocate if facing unfair or excessive federal regulatory compliance or enforcement issues such as repetitive audits or investigations, excessive fines, and retaliation.

• Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) Business Mentoring  is the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, is dedicated to helping small businesses plan, launch, manage and grow.
  • Enter your zip code to find a SCORE mentor  near you.

• Federal Government Grants : The official website for the Federal Government Grants.

• SBIR and STTR Programs : Research and development focused.  If your small business is engaged in scientific research and development, you may qualify for federal grants under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs encourage small firms to undertake scientific research that helps meet federal research and development objectives and have high potential for commercialization if successful. 

• SBA’s 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance program : Management and technical assistance focused. Provides high-quality assistance to SBA-approved small businesses to help them successfully compete for federal, state, and local contracting opportunities as a prime or subcontractor. 

• SBA's State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) : STEP helps small businesses overcome obstacles to exporting by providing grants to cover costs associated with entering and expanding into international markets.