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Guide to Doing Business With the Department of State -Contents
Released by the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
July 2003
Acquisition Program Profile
The mission of the Department of State is the conduct of foreign policy. The Department seeks qualified small businesses, minority-owned businesses, female-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, and HubZone businesses to participate in the acquisition process in support of this mission.
Major procurements include the Automated Data Processing Distributed Systems; Worldwide Diplomatic Security Support, Narcotics Eradication, Communications Equipment; and Furnishings for Embassies and Consulates. The contract spectrum includes the following:
Research and Development
A small research and development program (less than $5 million annually) is conducted in support of such programs as physical security, operation of worldwide telecommunications networks, and computer applications. Research and Development is not a major component of the State Department’s acquisition program.
Supplies and Equipment
There are ongoing requirements for the following types of supplies and equipment. Many of these procurements are suitable for small business participation and some offer subcontracting possibilities.
(a) Telecommunications equipment for use worldwide.
(b) Computer software/hardware equipment and applications. Software and programming requirements are particularly suited to small business participation.*
(c) Security equipment for the physical protection of diplomatic personnel and installations.
(d) Household furnishings for embassies and consulates.
Services
(a) Continuing requirements for maintenance services for communication equipment.
(b) Requirements for packing and storage of household goods provide an excellent opportunity for small business participation.
(c) General labor services, i.e., moving, messenger, clerical.
(d) Management studies and surveys relating to mission activities.**
(e) Facilities maintenance services.
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** The State Department commissions studies and special projects to examine a wide range of subjects in response to requests from Congress, recommendations by the General Accounting Office and the Office of the Inspector General, or at the behest of management. These studies are either performed by internal working groups or contracted out. Unlike recurring services, however, it is difficult to plan for or predict when the Department might have need for such external studies.
The centralized Office of Acquisitions located in Rosslyn, Virginia conducts all of the procurement activities described previously. Listed below are the Department’s 16 major acquisition activities:
- Office of Acquisitions (A/LM/AQM)
Department of State
P.O. Box 9115, Rosslyn Station, Arlington, VA. 22219
Customer Service Center Tel. (703) 516-1706
This is the Department’s principal procurement office, buying a full range of services and personal property in support of DOS activities worldwide.
1a. Overseas Buildings Operations (A/LM/AQM)
Department of State
Room L600, SA-6
P.O. Box 12248, Rosslyn Station, Arlington, VA 22219
Tel. (703) 875-6297
Performs acquisition services, which include support of design, engineering, construction, renovation, and/or rehabilitation of U.S. Embassies worldwide.
- Office of Language Services (A/OPR/LS)
Department of State
Room H1400, SA-1, Washington, D.C. 20037
Tel. (202) 261-8777
Limited small purchase authority involving the services of translators, interpreters, escorts, and related language support.
- Office of Overseas Schools (A/OPR/OS)
Department of State
Room H328, SA-1, Washington, D.C. 20522
Tel. (202) 2618200
Small purchases and grants involving overseas schools assistance activities.
- Diplomatic Telecommunications Service (DTS-PO/ADM/ACQ)
Department of State
3920 Pender Drive, SA-43, Fairfax, VA 22030
Tel. (703) 302-7878
The Diplomatic Telecommunications Service, Program Office (DTS-PO) supports Telecommunications Services for all US Government activities conducted out of diplomatic and consular establishments abroad.
DTS-PO is located in Fairfax, Virginia. The majority of their purchases are commercial services totaling $100,000 or more. Supplies include telecommunications equipment and supplies, computer equipment and peripherals, software, expendable and non-expendable office supplies, office furniture and office electronics. Services include telecommunication services, circuitry installation, support personnel, cleaning services, consulting services, hardware/software support, shipping and other miscellaneous goods and services.
Firms interested in selling to the DTS-PO should send descriptive literature on their product line(s), including prices, shipping terms and prices, and product support and warranty information, to the Chief, DTS-PO/A/ACQ, at the following address: U.S. Department of State, 3930 Pender Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. Small, disadvantaged, and small women-owned businesses, service-disabled veterans and HUBZone firms should indicate their size and ownership status when sending product information to the DTS-PO. (FAX 703-302-7892).
- Office of Foreign Missions (DS/OFM)
Department of State
Room 357, SA-33, Washington, D.C. 20520-3301
Tel. (202) 895-3507
Majority of the acquisitions are from in-country sources ensuring reciprocity of treatment between U.S. mission overseas and foreign hosts. Limited domestic acquisitions involve professional services and personal property.
- Foreign Service Institute (NFATC)
Department of State
4000 Arlington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22204-1500
Tel. (703) 302-6770
Acquisitions involving instructors, linguists, other academic and training specialists, and personal property as needed to support the Institute’s training mission.
- Office of International Conferences (IO/OIC/A)
Department of State
Room 1428A, M.S., Washington, D.C. 20520-6319
Tel. (202) 647-1771
Limited small purchase authority involving annual international conferences.
- Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM/C)
Department of State
Room 1215, SA-1, Washington, D.C. 20522-0112
Tel. (202) 663-1022
Small purchases, grants, and cooperative agreements supporting worldwide refugee matters.
- United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN)
799 UN Plaza, Room 312
New York, N.Y. 10017
Tel. (212) 667-4095
Small purchases involving services and personal property supporting the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
- Regional Procurement and Support Office
Florida Regional Center
Department of State
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309-5242
Tel. (954) 630-1166
Procurement for services and personal property procured in the United States in support of posts in Central and South America.
Other specialized procuring activities are described below:
- Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement (INL/RM)
1st Floor, SA-4S, Washington, D.C. 20520
Tel. (202) 776-8718
Has authority to enter into small purchases, orders against GSA schedule contracts, and personal services contracts pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.
- The Library, Office of IRM Programs and Services (A/RPS/IPS)
Business Center Staff
Department of State
Room 2442, M.S., Washington, D.C. 20520
Tel. (202) 647-2196
Has authority to enter into small purchases and orders against GSA schedule contracts for acquisitions such as newspapers, books, maps, and periodicals.
- The Regional Procurement Support Centers in Frankfurt, Ft. Lauderdale, andTokyo (RPSOs).
Full range of commodities and services for posts in each RPSO’s geographical area of support; worldwide medical acquisitions.
- State Department Foreign Service Posts: Designated employees at State Department’s Embassies and Consulates abroad have Certificates of Appointment from the Procurement Executive. These certificates, or warrants, provide authority to execute procurement actions up to $100,000, and in some cases, at higher levels, without further approval from the Procurement Executive. Although services are generally obtained on the local market, posts often purchase goods from U.S. vendors, either directly or from GSA schedule. Firms interested in marketing their product to U.S. posts abroad may send a line card and price list or similar information directly to posts using the APO addresses listed.
NOTE: Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts is available at http://www.foia.state.gov/mms/KOH/keyofficers.asp.
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