Our History

United Indian Development Association (UIDA) was developed in 1969 and incorporated in 1970. UIDA is one of the foremost Indian Economic Development Specialists in the country and has worked with over 300 tribes since its inception in 1969.

Training courses have strengthened the managerial skills of over 2,700 tribal members, and permitted UIDA some unique insights into the depths and nature of tribal procurement needs. UIDA’s expertise in government procurement is unparalleled having been responsible for $92 million in procurement programs since 1969.

In October of 2000, UIDA Consulting Group (UCG), a for-profit subsidiary of UIDA, was awarded a grant from the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to operate an American Indian Procurement and Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) to cover the Eastern United States. UCG established this office in Marietta, Georgia to provide services to Eastern and Minneapolis BIA Service Areas, covering 13 states and 49 tribes.

In 2002, the PTAC operated by UCG was transferred to UIDA Business Services (UBS), a supporting non-profit to the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. There were no changes in the program staff or goals or objectives. However, in order to maintain the high level of support from corporate America, a not-for-profit vehicle was needed.

Under the DoD/DLA agreement, UBS provides American Indian owned businesses and tribal enterprises with prime contract or subcontract opportunities with DoD, other federal, state and local government agencies, and prime contractors. UBS seeks to extend its accomplishments to help more reservation Indians secure jobs in the defense and related industries, thereby decreasing unemployment and increasing the economies of the reservations serviced.