The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) utilizes U.S. small businesses in support of its mission to partner to end extreme poverty and to promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing U.S. security and prosperity.  The Agency continually seeks ways to promote U.S. small businesses and identify opportunities to expand their use in its programs.  Last year, USAID established and tracked a worldwide small business indicator to increase small business participation in the programs implemented by its missions abroad as an Agency Priority Goal.  The goal for fiscal year (FY) 2014 was to obligate 6.5 percent of prime contract acquisition dollars to U.S. small businesses worldwide.

USAID more than doubled the percentage of prime contract acquisition dollars obligated worldwide to U.S. small businesses from 5.6 percent in quarter one of FY 2014 to 12.1 percent by the fiscal year’s end.  Due to this success, the Agency revised its target for FY 2015 from 9 percent to 10 percent.  Contributing to this accomplishment, the Ukraine and Ethiopia missions are using U.S. small businesses to build capacity in local organizations.  USAID/Ukraine awarded a contract to a U.S. small business to build the financial and operational capacity of local partners to improve their ability to manage awards and implement USAID programs.  Similarly, USAID/Ethiopia recently made an award to a U.S. small business to build organizational capacity for local implementing partners in financial management, project management, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability.