USC Small Business Development Office

The Small Business Development Office (SBDO) assists academic and research units in developing small, minority, women, and disabled veteran-owned business enterprise (Sm/M/W/DVBE) goals for research and service proposals on the federal level; and disabled veteran-owned business enterprise (DVBE) goals on the state and local levels.

It is responsible for developing government subcontract plans in compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFARs); reporting contract compliance of Sm/M/W/DVBE goals; monitoring for compliance with goals and preparing "Good Faith Effort" proposals; and submitting quarterly and semi-annual reports on the status of Sm/M/W/DVBE goal compliance to appropriate agencies.

USC regularly contracts with local small business vendors, with contracts totaling $45.4 million in business last year alone.  Of this $45.4 million, approximately $18.1 million was documented as going to minority business enterprise.  Through an ongoing partnership with the SBDO, the LA Metro MBEC is developing procurement channels that will facilitate client contracting with USC.

The LA Metro MBEC is working diligently with highly qualified minority vendors to assist them in becoming part of the USC vendor pool.  The LA Metro MBEC is also working with existing minority vendors that supply goods and services to USC to increase their participation in the purchasing networks. 

The LA Metro MBEC will also collaborate with the SBDO on its Annual Vendor Fair in October which attracts over 160 high-growth businesses and its annual Awards Dinner that rewards the top USC vendors.  Both of these events will be in conjunction with the MED Week celebration that is held at the USC Davidson Executive Conference Center.