NASA Space Missions Possible Because of Small Businesses

TL;DR

NASA recognizes the importance of small businesses and their contribution to its mission, awarding billions in contracts and actively promoting small business participation.

Transcript

Hello, I’m Krista Paquin, NASA’s deputy associate administrator, and I want to invite everyone to join NASA in celebrating National Small Business Week April 29th to May 5th. Small businesses are a core contributor to NASA’s mission, and support for them has always been at the forefront of the senior leadership strategy for our agency. Nationwide, ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍💼 Small businesses are a significant contributor to NASA's mission and employ a large portion of private sector employees nationwide.
• 👨‍💼 NASA awarded a substantial amount of contracts to small businesses in Fiscal Year 2017, both in prime contracts and subcontracts.
• 👨‍💼 The agency actively promotes small business awareness and engagement through non-traditional venues and targeted areas.
• 🥅 NASA is increasing its engagement with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions to exceed its diversity goals.

Questions & Answers

Q: How much did NASA award to small businesses in prime contracts in Fiscal Year 2017?

In Fiscal Year 2017, NASA awarded approximately $2.7 billion directly to small businesses in prime contracts.

Q: What is NASA's Mentor-Protégé Program?

NASA's Mentor-Protégé Program is an innovative program that supports small businesses and has received approval from the Small Business Administration to continue operating until February 2023.

Q: How does NASA engage with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions?

NASA actively increases its engagement with HBCUs and Minority Institutions through programs like the NASA Technology Infusion Road Tour, which assists in exceeding the Agency's 1% HBCU/MI goal.

Q: Who were the winners of the NASA Agency FY17 Small Business Advocates Award?

The winners of the NASA Agency FY17 Small Business Advocates Award were Joyce C. McDowell (Small Business Specialist of the Year), Kimberly A. Cannon (Small Business Technical Advisor/Coordinator of the Year), Alicia S. Carroll (Technical Person of the Year), the Environmental Support Services Procurement Team (Procurement Team of the Year), and The Advanced Composites Project Team (Development Team of the Year).

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Small businesses are essential to NASA's mission and employ about half of all private sector employees nationwide.

• In Fiscal Year 2017, NASA awarded approximately $2.7 billion in prime contracts and $2.8 billion in subcontracts to small businesses.

• NASA actively promotes small business awareness and engagement, including increasing their engagement with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.