USAID OSDBU Small Business Award Nomination for 15th Annual Small Business Conference

Nominations are being solicited! U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Annual Small Business Awards for (FY2023) *Nominations are due by April 12, 2024* USAID's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is pleased to announce the FY23 OSDBU Awards. OSDBU through these awards are an opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding small business owner’s innovation and commitment to customer service and USAID’s staff for their outstanding work and support of small businesses. Nominations are due by no later than April 12, 2024 and must be submitted using these Google form links: 2023 Employees Awards Nomination and 2023 Businesses Awards Nomination. Please read through all instructions below before submitting your nominations. OSDBU NOMINATING AWARD CATEGORIES ● Small Business Contractor of the Year ● Program Official/Contracting Officer Representative (COR) of the Year Award (Washington) ● Mission Program Official/Contracting Officer Representative

(COR) of the Year Award ● Large Business (Prime) Contractor of Year ● Contracting Officer (CO) of the Year (Washington) ● Mission Contracting Officer (CO) of the Year Nominations must be no more than 1 page (double space), and include a project title name, business, or organization name as applicable. Provide examples that demonstrate how the nominated employee or business stands out among their peers. Examples should describe in detail their impact as it relates to the award category criteria. 1. Small Business (SB) Contractor of the Year Description: Recognizes the creative, unique, and extraordinary performance of a small business which has significantly and directly impacted core USAID mission objectives and requirements. Performance work for the Small Business of the Year award includes work done as a Prime Small Business for USAID. Criteria: Recipient excels beyond expectations or contract requirements by: ● Demonstrating creative and unique solutions to USAID requirements ● Extraordinary customer service, and or significant value (ex. Schedule, budget related) ● Innovative ideas to the specific project/task orders companies is performing under ● Cost, time and manpower savings for USAID Who can nominate a small business for the “Small Business of the Year" Award? ● Small Businesses (SB) can self-nominate for this award ● Small Businesses can nominate another small business ● Large Businesses can nominate a small business● USAID staff can nominate a small business Guideline for nominators: The U.S. small business entity must be in good standing with USAID and with all Federal procurement guidelines, including the Excluded Parties Listing System (EPLS). Small Business (candidate) must have an up-to-date or current reporting status in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) that reflects a positive report that is currently noted as a small business for the category for which it is being nominated. Requirements for nominee(s): A nominee for the SB of the Year award category must operate a business, defined as “small” for its primary NAICS Code under the applicable SBA size standards. Nominees must also be residents of the United States or its territories. Small Businesses owned and operated by nominees must comply with applicable federal, state and local laws. 2. Program Official/Contracting Officer Representative (COR) of the Year Description: Individuals that hold the position of Program Official/Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for an independent office or bureau for USAID that has demonstrated advocacy and forward thinking in the utilization of small businesses to support USAID objectives. His or her efforts far exceed expectations in working with, advocating for and assisting in the increased utilization of small businesses. Criteria: Recipient excels beyond expectations or contract requirements by: ● Demonstrating creative and unique solutions in supporting U.S. small businesses ● Innovative ideas in working with U.S. small businesses in the contracts management ● Create and expand small business opportunities when designing procurements Who can nominate a Program Official/COR for the “Program Official/COR of the Year" Award? ● Small Businesses can nominate ● Program and Technical Office personnel can nominate themselves ● Contracting Officers can nominate a COR ● A USAID staff can nominate a COR Guideline for nominators: The candidate must be a USAID COR. Have a direct employee–employer relationship with the U.S. Government that allows him or her to perform inherently governmental functions. The candidate must work for USAID as (an): - Direct-hire employee, - Employee of another U.S. Government agency through an interagency agreement or in detail, or - PSC (U.S. citizen, Foreign Service National or Third Country National). 3. Mission Program Official/Contracting Officer Representative (COR) of the Year Description: Individuals that hold the position of Program Official/Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for a USAID Mission that has demonstrated advocacy and forward thinking in the utilization of small businesses to support USAID objectives. His or her efforts far exceed expectations in working with, advocating for and assisting in the increased utilization of small businesses. Criteria: Recipient excels beyond expectations or contract requirements by:● Demonstrating creative and unique solutions in supporting U.S. small businesses at their Mission ● Innovative ideas in working with U.S. small businesses in contract management. ● Create and expand small business opportunities when designing procurements. Who can nominate a Program Official/COR for the “Program Official/COR of the Year" Award? ● Small Businesses can nominate. ● Program and Technical Office personnel can nominate themselves ● Contracting Officers can nominate a COR ● A USAID staff can nominate a COR Guideline for nominators: The candidate must be a USAID COR. Have a direct employee–employer relationship with the U.S. Government that allows him or her to perform inherently governmental functions. The candidate must work for USAID as (an): - Direct-hire employee, - Employee of another U.S. Government agency through an interagency agreement or in detail, or - PSC (U.S. citizen, Foreign Service National or Third Country National). 4. Large Business (Prime) Contractor of the Year Description: The contract performance of the Large Business (Prime) Contractor of the Year award includes documented excellence in the utilization of small businesses as meaning development partners. This award recognizes large prime contractors for their creative, unique, and extraordinary contribution in directly impacting the success of USAID’s agency mission and objectives. Criteria: Recipient excels beyond expectations or contract requirements by providing: ● Total Small Business Subcontracting Dollar % ● Utilizes small businesses in critical roles in the implementation of USAID programs ● Engage in formal or informal mentorship for the development and growth of small businesses Who can nominate a large business for the “Large Business (Prime) Contractor of the Year" Award? ● Large Businesses can self-nominate for this award ● Small Businesses can nominate a large business 5. Contracting Officer (CO) of the Year (Washington) Description: Individuals that hold the position of Contracting Officer for a USAID independent office or Bureau. The candidate for this award must display leadership and commitment to maximizing small business utilization through market research, contract awards and creating an atmosphere of “small business first” throughout his/her acquisition career at USAID. Criteria: Recipient excels beyond expectations or contract requirements by: ● Demonstrating creative and unique solutions in supporting U.S. small businesses ● Innovative ideas in working with U.S. small businesses in the contracts management ● Create and expand small business opportunities when designing procurements Who can nominate a CO for the “Contracting Officer of the Year" Award?● Small Businesses can nominate ● Contracting Officer can nominate themselves ● Contracting Officer’s Representative/Program Office personnel can nominate a CO ● A USAID staff can nominate a CO 6. Mission Contracting Officer (CO) of the Year Description: Individuals that hold the position of Contracting Officer for a USAID independent office, bureau or mission. The candidate for this award must display leadership and commitment to maximizing small business utilization through market research, contract awards and creating an atmosphere of “small business first” throughout his/her acquisition career at USAID. Criteria: Recipient excels beyond expectations or contract requirements by: ● Demonstrating creative and unique solutions in supporting U.S. small businesses at their Mission ● Innovative ideas in working with U.S. small businesses in the contracts management ● Create and expand small business opportunities when designing procurements Who can nominate a CO for the “Mission Contracting Officer (CO) of the Year" Award? ● Small Businesses can nominate ● Contracting Officer can nominate themselves ● Contracting Officer’s Representative/Program Office personnel can nominate a CO ● A USAID staff can nominate a CO Nominations must be no more than 1 page (double space), and include a project title, business name, or organization name as applicable, contact information, project overview, and address the above stated criteria as it relates to the award category of the nomination. Speak directly to each rating criteria. Failing to respond to any one criterion could prevent an otherwise outstanding nominee from being selected. Nominations are due by no later than April 12, 2024. Please submit all nominations forms using these Google form links: 2023 Employees Awards Nomination 2023 Businesses Awards Nomination Please read through all instructions below before submitting your nominations. All completed nomination forms must be submitted by C.O.B. April 12, 2024. If you have any questions or need assistance with the nomination process, please send your Email to osdbuoutreach@usaid.gov with subject line: FY2023 Award Nominations period.