SPAWAR offers big hand to small businesses

There’s a good reason the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center last month scored history-making marks with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

During fiscal 2004, which ended Aug. 4, the Navy’s Hanahan-based high tech engineering center nationally dished out more than $477 million in small business contracts. During the past three fiscal years, SPAWAR has averaged more than $400 million a year in contracts with the nation’s small businesses. That’s why SPAWAR became the first federal agency ever to receive the SBA’s award for outstanding work with small businesses.

“I’m very proud of our program,” says Ann Howell, SPAWAR’s deputy for small businesses.

The pride is justified. In July, the Navy selected SPAWAR to oversee the government’s Manufacturing Technical Assistance Production Program, which identifies small manufacturers capable of supplying the Navy and other Defense Department agencies with parts and equipment. To accomplish this, SPAWAR awarded a $1.9 million contract with an Alaska-based small business that will help small manufacturing firms train employees, upgrade management and production techniques and make other improvements necessary for landing government contracts.

Getting more small businesses to compete for government contracts is one of Howell’s priorities. In January she hopes to launch an initiative encouraging small businesses to come to SPAWAR and do what she calls “five-five-five” presentations—five slides in five minutes covering five points explaining why SPAWAR should do business with them.

“We want to help grow businesses of all sizes,” Howell says.