USAID Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)

The USAID Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is dedicated to expanding opportunities for small businesses to participate in Agency procurements. As the Agency’s primary advocate for small and disadvantaged businesses, OSDBU plays a critical role in promoting diversity, equity, and innovation across USAID’s supply chain.

OSDBU faced mounting pressures as its responsibilities grew. The office needed to support a diverse range of internal stakeholders and external small business partners, manage a surge in outreach events (across virtual, in-person, and hybrid formats), and keep executive administration running smoothly—all while responding to urgent, high-priority requests from agency leadership and the Small Business Administration. Keeping up with shifting legislative requirements and agency initiatives required specialized communications and flexible, high-level administrative support.

To meet these demands, OSDBU partnered with Civility Management Solutions. The firm provided a civility-driven Communications Director, Communications Specialist, Senior Conference Manager, and a dynamic Executive Assistant, each bringing a strategic and hands-on approach to daily operations, communications, and event management.

Civility Management Solutions worked closely with OSDBU leadership to embed its team within the office and address challenges head-on. The Executive Assistant overhauled administrative processes, improving scheduling, correspondence, travel logistics, and records management, which freed leadership to focus on long-term strategy. Meanwhile, the Communications Director sharpened OSDBU’s internal and external messaging and boosted engagement with creative digital content. The team consistently delivered high-quality event logistics for both virtual and in-person outreach, ensuring each event reflected OSDBU’s mission and brand. When urgent projects and “surge” needs arose, Civility’s team responded quickly, keeping workflows on track.

With the support of Civility Management Solutions, OSDBU reached new heights. Outreach events drew a record number of participants from small businesses, and communications resonated more effectively with target audiences. Leadership gained valuable time to drive strategic initiatives, rather than being mired in paperwork or day-to-day details. When deadlines tightened, surge support ensured priorities stayed on track. The office operated more efficiently and had a greater impact—advancing its mission to build a more inclusive and effective small business program within USAID.