The FY14 NASA Small Business Administrator’s Cup Award is Announced

Today Administrator Bolden and I took a trip down to Huntsville, Alabama to present the FY14 NASA Small Business Administrator’s Cup Award to Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). This award is presented each fiscal year to the NASA center that has the best overall small business program. This is a great achievement for MSFC since it will be the fourth time that MSFC has been awarded the Administrator’s Cup in the seven years it has been presented. 

I want to recognize Marshall’s Center Director Mr. Patrick Scheuermann and the center Small Business Specialist Mr. David Brock for their tireless commitment to the small business program.

As David Brock, the Marshall small business specialist says, “It is indeed an honor for our Center to have been selected to receive such a prestigious award the fourth time in seven years. Our successes start with our management. Their continuing support has created a positive environment in which to promote small business utilization across all organizations at MSFC. Our large business prime contractors have also contributed immensely to our successes as noted by the high mark in total subcontracting to small businesses in fiscal year 2014 of approximately $375 million. Other major contributors to our successes include the Marshall Prime Contractor Supplier Council consisting of representatives from approximately 50 large businesses, and the Marshall Small Business Executive Leadership Team consisting of representatives from approximately 30 small businesses. Both of these organizations provide strategic guidance to assist the Small Business Program staff in the implementation of NASA’s Socioeconomic Programs at MSFC. The key is teamwork.”

This year, I am pleased, but not at all surprised to present this gallant award to the Marshall team. They continue to build upon their excellence and are definitely setting the precedence for all NASA centers. They show exceptional loyalty to our mission and small business. 

Congratulations on this groundbreaking achievement and keep up the hard work in helping NASA achieve its goals!

From the Left: Marshall Space Flight Center Small Business Specialist Mr. David Brock, NASA Administrator Mr. Charles Bolden and Marshall Space Flight Center Director Mr. Patrick Scheuermann

Read the full press release HERE

FY14 Agency-Level Small Business Industry Awards (SBIA)

This year, NASA Administrator, Mr. Charles Bolden presented the FY14 Agency-Level Small Business Industry Awards (SBIA) at the NASA Industry Forum (NIF). Administrator Bolden discussed NASA’s ongoing missions and the importance of small business to the agency. “Small business is the heart and soul of NASA,” he said before explaining the process of how the agency-level winners are selected in three categories.

The FY14 Agency-Level Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year is a.i. solutions.They are the prime contractor on the Expendable Launch Vehicle Integrated Support 2 (ELVIS 2) contract at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). While providing great customer service and submitting all contract deliverables on time they also assist NASA and the Launch Services Program (LSP) in meeting its mission goals.

From the left: Marisa Achee, Director of Business Development, Chip Greek, Director of Launch Services Division, Bob Sperling, President & CEO, Mark Roberts, Executive Vice President, Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator

The FY14 Agency-Level Subcontractor of the Year is Advanced Aerospace Solutions, LLC (AdvAero). AdvAero is a subcontractor to Engility Corporation on the Traffic Aware Strategic Aircrew Requests (TASAR) Analysis and Development contract. TASAR is new to NASA and having Engility partnered with AdvAero takes concept formulation to operational readiness due to their expertise in this industry.

From the left: Marie-Helen Larose, Flight Test Engineer, John Maris, Chief Executive Officer and Mark Haynes, Chief Operating Officer, Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator 

The FY14 Agency-Level Prime Contractor of the Year is Raytheon Company. Raytheon is an exceptional Large Business Prime Contractor at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The integrated partnership with Earth Observing Systems Data and Information System (EOSDIS) and the Evolution and Development (EED) contract supporting Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) helps provide ten small businesses with growth opportunities that equates to a 42% work share for small business.

From the left: Tim Durham, Raytheon Business Development Manager Global Mission Operations, Timothy Ortiz, EOSDIS Evolution and Development Program, Senior Program Manager, Andrew J. Nappi, Director of Federal Programs, Raytheon Mission Support and Modernization, Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator 

Congratulations to all three centers and SBIA winners for their exceptional accomplishments in FY14.