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Opportunities for Minority-Owned Businesses: Becoming a USDA FNS Supplier

Dr. Giorgio Ra’Shadd III, DBA, MPA, LLM, JD, the Small Business Coordinator of the USDA Food Nutrition Service (FNS), presented a webinar in which he emphasized the benefits of minority-owned businesses becoming USDA FNS suppliers. The USDA FNS provides a variety of procurement opportunities for small businesses owned by women, minorities, and veterans, which can help them gain access to new markets and grow their customer base.

Please click here to view the recording

or here to view the slide deck.

The USDA FNS provides resources, such as technical assistance, to help minority-owned businesses navigate the procurement process and identify opportunities to become suppliers. The survey results demonstrated that the recent USDA webinar hosted by EMSDC was highly successful in providing valuable information and meeting the expectations of its attendees.  The webinar was highly informative, and all respondents found it met or exceeded their expectations.

For further information, interested parties can contact Dr. Giorgio Ra’Shadd III or Mrs. LaShaun Thompson, both Small Business Coordinators of the USDA FNS.

USDA FNS Contacts:

Dr. Giorgio Ra’Shadd III, DBA , MPA, LLM, JD

Small Business Coordinator, USDA FNS

Giorgio.Ra’ShaddIII@usda.gov

 

Mrs. LaShaun Thompson, MBA

Small Business Coordinator, USDA FNS

Lashaun.Thompson@usda.gov

To become a USDA FNS supplier, businesses must meet specific requirements, including federal and state compliance, quality and safety standards, and completion of an application process. Refer to the following to learn more:

How to do Business with the Food & Nutrition Service

FNS has four (4) major program areas:

  1. Child Nutrition Programs (CNP)
  2. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)
  3. Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Program (SNAS)
  4. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Two of the Food and Nutrition Service Programs are SNAS and SNAP.

Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Program (SNAS) strives to increase awareness, visibility, and impact of food safety on USDA nutrition assistance programs and represent FNS programs in the wider Federal and State food safety community. We provide food safety technical assistance, education, and training for professionals working in child nutrition programs. OFS works closely with the Center of Excellence for Food Safety Research in Child Nutrition Programs at Kansas State University and the National Food Service Management Institute.  

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. The Food and Nutrition Service works with State agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations to ensure that those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits. FNS also works with State partners and the retail community to improve program administration and ensure program integrity. 

Steps to do Business with the Food & Nutrition Service

  • Step #1: Routinely survey websites for opportunities including but not limited to; Food & Nutrition Service Procurement Forecast; System for Award Management; GSA e-Buy; GSA OASIS; NASA SEWP; etc.
  • Step #2: Participate in all FNS CMD Small Business Outreach Events
  • Step #3: Submit Company Capability Statement to FNS CMD Small Business Coordinator, Dr. Giorgio Ra’Shadd III (Giorgio.Ra’ShaddIII@usda.gov)
  • Step #4: Respond to all Sources Sought Notices you Company’s Capabilities are aligned with
  • Step #5: If you’ve identified an opportunity listed within the FNS-CMD Procurement Forecast which your company’s capabilities align with, contact the specified Government POC assigned to that requirement for more details on the procurement. Additionally, reach out to your FNS CMD Small Business Coordinator for more details.

The Role of Small Business

  • Educate yourself on who is buying what you’re selling
    •  Sam.gov (reports)
    • USASpending.gov
  • Utilize your Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC offices) as much as possible, in conjunction with contacting the USDA

FNS Contract Management Division and Business Units. 

  • Learn to speak the language (FAR, AGAR, LPTA, Tradeoff, Contract Clauses) http://acquisition.gov
  • Learn the strategic contracts the Government uses
  • Sam.Gov is the point of entry to Government contracts
  • Send Capability Statements to Small Business Coordinators
  • Schedule one-on-one meetings

The USDA Forecast of Procurement Opportunities for FY 23 is now available.

  1. Food and Nutrition Service FY2023 Procurement Service
  2. Agricultural Marketing Service FY2023 Procurement Forecast (PDF, 3.6 MB)
  3. ARS FY2023 Procurement Forecast
  4. APHIS FY2023 Procurement Forecast
  5. Departmental Administration FY2023 Procurement Forecast
  6. Farm Production and Conservation FY2023 Procurement Forecast (PDF, 414 KB)
  7. Food Safety and Inspection Service FY2023 Procurement Forecast (PDF, 150 KB)
  8. Forest Service FY23 Procurement Forecast
  9. Office of Inspector General FY2023 Procurement Forecast
  10. Rural Development FY2023 Procurement Forecast

How to Find FNS Requirements

How to Find – FNS Requirements

FY 22 – FNS Upcoming Requirements

  • Requirement Title: CNPP Program Support Services (3rd Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Child Nutrition Database (3rd Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: CNPP Nutrition Promotion Support Services (3rd Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Interview Assistance for Quality Control Reviews (3rd Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Development of Family Style Meal Service Training Resource (English & Spanish) (3rd Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Food Buying Guide Mobile Application and Interactive Tool: (3rd Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Development of Quantity Standardized Recipes for Child Nutrition Programs (4th Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Design of Child Nutrition Labeling for Meat/Poultry/Seafood Products Manual (4th Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Design of Menu Planner for School Meals (4th Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Child Nutrition Technologist (3rd or 4th Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Data Processing, Hosting and Related Services, SNAP Emergency Notification Services (3rd or 4th Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Nutrition Education Guidance: (3rd or 4th Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Program Specialists Development Training (3rd or 4th Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Sodium Nutrition Education Message Testing (3rd or 4th Quarter)
  • Requirement Title: Agency Furniture BPA (3rd or 4th Quarter)