DOI-Bureau of Land Management

Business and Economic Development Program

The U.S. Department of Interior’s (DOI) mission is “to protect and provide access to our Nation’s natural and cultural heritage and honor its trust responsibilities to American Indians and Alaska Natives and island communities. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is one of the eight bureaus located within DOI. We are responsible for managing the nation’s public lands and resources in a combination of ways that best serve the needs of the American people. Annually, the bureau spends approximately $95-110 million in acquisitions and some of the contracting opportunities include: information technology, professional services, fire fighting services and equipment, construction, other supplies/equipment and land treatment projects.

BLM is committed to supporting programs that identify and eliminate barriers which may have unfairly resulted in reduced participation of any of the socioeconomic groups in the Federal procurement process. The Business and Economic Development Program (BEDP), as authorized, is established to foster business ownership and development within the small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), women, historically underutilized business zones, service-disabled and veteran owned small business community. The primary goals of the BEDP are to ensure that:

(1) All small businesses receive a fair share of Federal acquisition dollars, and

(2) All supplies and services are obtained at a price that is fair and reasonable to the Bureau

Two examples of the Bureau’s efforts to foster business ownership and development with small businesses include the Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with:

(1) The National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) and

(2) The National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NHCC)

The Bureau's various Business Utilization and Development Specialists (BUDS) are responsible for implementing the goals of the BEDP program within the acquisition organization. However, questions regarding the Bureau’s overall BEDP should be directed to:

Ms. Barbara Gaines
Bureau of Land Management
1620 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240
Telephone Number (202) 785-6586
Fax Number (202) 452-5141
Email: Barbara_Gaines@blm.gov

NOTE: As of October 1, 2003, all businesses must be registered on the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) website @ http://www.ccr.gov to receive new contract awards (which include purchase orders). Each vendor is responsible for their own registration.