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Best Practices of Prime Contractors

Real-world approaches shared by DCMA prime contractors that have proven effective at expanding opportunities for small, disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses within their supply chains.

Utilization of a manufacturing engineer to visit SDBs that had contacted the SBLO regarding business opportunities

A form was developed to allow clear rating of the capabilities of each prospective source visited. A high rating resulted in business opportunities on both commercial and Government contracts, and increased buyer confidence that new companies being added to the bid list will perform.

Appointment of a business advocate

A woman employee is appointed to a temporary, one-year term as the women-owned small business advocate for the company. The advocate attends procurement conferences and meetings; this rotational assignment increases awareness among employees.

SBLOs formed a committee to better prepare subcontractors to do business with their companies

The group provides free training to small businesses on business etiquette, how to fill out interest applications, and other topics identified to help attendees. A graduation ceremony is held for small businesses that attended five of the six scheduled training sessions, with company Vice Presidents of Purchasing attending and small businesses given an opportunity to give an oral presentation of their company to the audience.

Inclusion of small, disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses in every procurement

Company procedures require solicitation of at least one company from each small business category on every procurement. If a buyer doesn't solicit at least one, authorization to proceed can only be obtained by going through the SBLO.

Identification of where expenditures occur, so everyone — not only the buyer — knows to look for small business sources in those areas

The procurement cycle was analyzed and purchases and suppliers were categorized. Opportunity areas were identified, and outreach efforts were focused to optimize spending impact.

Approval to award to SDBs that were not the low bidder

Approval was given by a Corporate Vice President committed to the success of the SDB program to award to SDBs that weren't the low bid — not an open checkbook, but a reasonable application of judgment.

Formation of a re-sourcing team to establish policy and procedures for resourcing materials from one supplier to another

A team consisting of members from quality assurance, purchasing, and the SBLO evaluates parts to be re-sourced, analyzes the impact to subcontract goals, and attempts to include at least one supplier capable of qualifying in each small business category.

Technology utilization

Outreach to small businesses using the internet and electronic application processes to do business.