NASA honored by small business administration

Marta Metelko/Doc Milerson
Headquarters, Washington April 27, 2005
(Phone: 202/358-1642/1600)

RELEASE: 05-107

NASA HONORED BY SMALL BUSINESS ADMINSTRATION

NASA's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization was
presented with the prestigious Frances Perkins Vanguard Award at a luncheon
hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration yesterday afternoon. The
award was presented to NASA for excelling in its utilization of women-owned
small businesses.

The Frances Perkins Vanguard Award honors government agencies, government
officials and corporations in the private sector that use women-owned small
businesses as prime contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.

"This was a well-deserved award," said Ralph Thomas, NASA's Assistant
Administrator for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
Utilization. "Our entire agency has worked hard to involve outstanding
women-owned businesses in every facet of NASA's mission -- the proof is in
the pudding," he added.

During FY 2004, NASA awarded a total of $847 million to women owned small
businesses; $323 million in prime contracting and $524 million in
subcontracting, setting agency records in both categories. This amount is
nearly a $200 million increase over dollars awarded to women-owned firms in
FY 2003. It also represents NASA's highest total dollars ever awarded to
women owned small businesses.

For information about NASA's Small Business Office on the Internet, visit:

http://www.osdbu.nasa.gov

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

-end-


--
--------------

Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info