Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses in USAID contracts are a vital part of USAID's overall small business participation program. In negotiated acquisitions/sealed bid acquisitions expected to exceed $700,000 ($1,500,000 for construction) and that has subcontracting possibilities, the apparently successful non-small business offeror must submit an acceptable subcontracting plan. Contracting Officers are responsible for reviewing the plans determining if they are acceptable or not. Prior to accepting a subcontracting plan, Contracting Officer/Contract Specialists submit them to OSDBU for review and coordination.

Prime contractors can click here to download a Subcontracting Plan model/template to utilize when responding to USAID solicitations that require subcontracting plans.  

We recommend that prime contractors utilize the Small Business Administration's Sub-Net database as part of their efforts to locate quality subcontractors that will help them achieve their subcontracting goals. Small businesses can review this web site to identify opportunities in their areas of expertise. While the web site is designed primarily as a place for large businesses to post solicitations and notices, it can also be used by Federal agencies, state and local Governments, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, and even Small Businesses for the same purpose. Instead of marketing blindly to hundreds of prime contractors, with no certainty that any given company has a need for their product or service, Small Businesses can use their limited resources to identify concrete, tangible opportunities and bid on them.