Forest Service Small Business Program
The Small Business Program serves as the advocate and point of contact for small business concerns who are seeking contracting opportunities at the Forest Service. The program helps ensure that the Agency has access to a diverse base of procurement ready suppliers able to meet current and future needs. The program’s goal is to connect responsible and reliable small businesses with our procurement professionals to support our National Programs and offices.
About the Forest Service
The Forest Service mission is to achieve quality land management under the sustainable multiple-use management concept to meet the diverse needs of people. The agency is dedicated to maximizing small business participation organization-wide and has consistently done so for over a decade.
There are three kinds of contracts the Forest Service will typically procure:
- Construction: Involves the construction, alteration or repair (including excavating and painting) of buildings, structures or other real property.
- Service: Directly engages the time and effort of a contractor whose primary purpose is to perform an identifiable task.
- Supply: Furnishing of a commodity, product or equipment. This also includes the manufacture, fabrication or processing of raw material into a finished product, and may also include procurement of raw materials.
Forest Service Forecast of Business Opportunities
Search for Opportunities by NAICS
Title V, of Public Law 100-656 requires that Federal agencies make available its Procurement Forecast to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and to interested business owners. Procurement Forecasting is published on the GSA's Forecast of Contracting Opportunities (FCO) located at the Acquisition Gateway. Use this tool to learn about potential opportunities early in the acquisition process. The forecast listing is not intended to be all-inclusive.
All projected procurements are subject to revision or cancellation. Final decisions on the extent of competition, small business participation, estimated value, or any aspect of the procurement action will not be made until each procurement is initiated. Actual solicitation notices will be posted on SAM.gov as prescribed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) For more information about the tool click here
Small Business Information and Resources
Procurement Information
Learn more about the Forest Service and what we buy as an agency.
Finding Opportunities
Learn more about opportunities to do business with the Forest Service
Additional Support
Visit the Department of Agriculture websites for more small business information
FY25 Agency Procurement Goals
The SBA is responsible for ensuring the government-wide goal for participation of small businesses is established annually at the statutory levels, and that the reporting agencies' achievements are relative to the goals. For more information on USDA small business goals visit the USDA OSBDU website.
For more information on SBA’s regulations regarding a concern’s eligibility and recertification, or for a more detailed explanation of these exclusions please see SBA’s Goaling Guidelines.
The prime contracting goal for all categories are as follows:
Small Business Program FAQ
The best way to contact the FS Small Business Program, is by using one of the method listed below:
- Send an email: sm.fs.smallbusiness@usda.gov
- Schedule a meeting: click here
The Forest Service procures a wide variety of supplies, equipment, and services. Some examples include:
- Natural resource services and conservation services
- Construction of structures and facilities
- Maintenance, repair, or alteration of real property (incl. restoration of roads and bridges)
- Housekeeping services
- Transportation and charter services
- Professional, management and administrative support services
- Special studies and analyses
- A&E services
- Information technology
- Fire and aviation support services
The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization maintains the information for opportunities at the USDA. Here are a few places to start:
You may register your business as a Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) if you meet the criteria set by the Code of Federal Regulations.
Once certified, registered SDB’s are eligible to receive certain preferences in federal procurement actions. For more information please visit: Small Disadvantaged Business Program.
The SBA provides several programs to help small businesses win federal contracts. A full list of current programs located here: Contracting assistance programs (sba.gov)
In addition to contracting assistance programs, the government works to make sure small business receive a percent of all federal contracting dollars. Including awarding a certain percentage of all federal prime and sub-contracting dollars to small businesses tat meet certain socio-economic conditions.
All assistance, goals, and other program information is located on the SBA website: Contracting assistance programs (sba.gov)
Yes, current and potential government vendors are required to register in SAM in order to be eligible for contract awards and payments.
For technical assistance for small businesses that want to sell products and services to federal, state, and/or local governments, please contact your local APEX Accelerator (formerly PTAC). Please visit Counseling and help (sba.gov) to learn more and find other support services. To find your local APEX Accelerator visit http://www.aptac-us.org/new/index.php.
Note: If you are starting a small business or improving or expanding an existing small business and are interested in training and educational programs, advisory services, and contract assistance, please contact your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Please visit Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) (sba.gov) for more information on your local SBDC.
A business is considered small if it meets or is below an established monetary or number of employees “size standard.” The size standard is based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. The size standard is determined based on the product or service the Government is buying. To obtain additional information, visit SBA Size Standards.