HBCU/MSI Technology Infusion Road Tour

A new creative initiative was proposed to me not too long ago by one of my Project Managers’, Ms. Tabisa Kalisa, on how we can better increase our partnerships and engagement with Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Serving Institutions (HBCUs/MSIs). The event would be hosted by the Office of Small Business Programs, the Office of Education and the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). The initiative would test out a pilot program called the NASA Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Serving Institutions (HBCUs/MSIs) Technology Infusion Road Tour. At the 2^nd Annual HBCU/MSI Partnerships Meeting at Marshall Space Flight Center there was great interest expressed from colleges and universities that wanted to participate in the pilot program including North Carolina Central University, The University of Texas at El Paso and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University whom were among those selected to participate in FY16. This initiative is two-fold as it is designed to help assist educational institutions integrate new technology that supports the Agency’s mission and it also aids NASA in making and exceeding our 1% goal for HBCUs/MSIs. We are also the only Agency in the government with this goal to date.

Our first event for the NASA HBCU/MSI Technology Infusion Road Tour was held at North Carolina Central University on March 22-24, 2016. I was able to attend the first two days of the event and I have to say I was quite impressed with all the enthusiasm and participation among the attendees. There were about 50 HBCU/MSI attendees and a good amount of NASA prime contractors including Boeing and SAIC that participated in the open forum Q&A. This was a good opportunity to ask questions about the Mentor Protégé Program, STMD’s Small Business Innovative Research/Small Business Technical Transfer opportunities and the Office of Education’s grant and cooperative agreement opportunities. I felt like the event was extremely productive and we took away many lessons learned to make our next event even more beneficial.

The next NASA HBCU/MSI Technology Infusion Road Tour will be on April 19-21, 2016 at The University of Texas at El Paso. Based off our first event, I have no doubt that I will be just as impressed with this one if not more. Our Eventbrite link is open where you can register and find out more details on this upcoming Road Tour. 

I wish everyone a happy and safe spring and thank you for reading my latest post!

2nd Annual NASA Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)/Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) Partnerships Meeting

I am pleased to announce that the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) will be holding the 2nd Annual NASA Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)/Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) Partnerships Meeting.This event is hosted by NASA's Office of Small Business Programs, the Office of Education and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Small Business Office. This event is crucial for targeting NASA's current and future prime and subcontracting opportunities for HBCUs/MSIs. One of our centerwide goals has always been to target this particular socioeconomic category by providing an event for HBCU/MSI representatives to network. NASA's prime contractors such as Aerojet Rocketdyn, Ch2M Hill, Jacobs, Lockeed Martin, United Launch Alliance, SAIC, Orbital ATK, The Boeing Company, Northrop Gruman, Teledyne Brown Engineering and Wyle will be in attendance. This special opportunity will be hosted by Marshall Space Flight Center on September 16, 2015. Please visit this link for further details and to register.

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

2015 Spring NASA Industry Forum (NIF)

The NASA Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) held an engaging and highly successful 3^rd NASA Industry Forum (NIF) meeting. The NIF takes place semiannually and provides members the opportunity to gain insight and perspectives about center issues. The NIF is an agency-wide effort to share center-level information that is of concern to both NASA as well as NASA's contractors. The NIF consists of both small and large contractors representing all NASA centers.

We were honored to have many great speakers present at the 2015 Spring NIF meeting. Our first speaker was Ms. Lesa Roe, Deputy Administrator of NASA Office of the Administrator who briefed us on the Technical Capabilities Assessment Team Overview. Our second speaker was Dr. John Mather, who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006. His presentation focused on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) which was a great sendoff for our tour of Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) on the second day of the NIF. The next speaker was Mr. Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator addressed the NIF stating the importance of small business within NASA before he and I presented the FY2014 NASA Small Business Industry Awards (SBIA).

As the day progressed, Mr. Kenneth Dodds, Director, Office of Policy, Planning & Liaison for the Small Business Administration (SBA) addressed us with a suburb SBA update to the NIF members. Our closing speaker was Ms. Krista Paquin, Deputy Associate Administrator for Mission Support presenting a Business Services Assessment Briefing that we appreciated. I want to thank all of our presenters for attending the NIF meeting.

Dr. John Mather presenting on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

On the second day of the NIF we took a bus to tour GSFC. The tour exceeded my expectations and I continue to be fascinated by how NASA limitlessly acts as the catalyst for aeronautics and deep space exploration. I look forward to another successful NIF coming in the fall of 2015 and I will continue to put forth effort to make the NIF as beneficial for its members as possible.

A look into the Clean Room of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) at

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) tour

The spring 2015 NASA Industry Forum (NIF) members after the Goddard Tour

Small Business Advocate Awards (SBAA)

7 years ago the NASA Small Business Advocate Awards (SBAA) were created to recognize outstanding efforts and innovative practices by NASA civil servants in support of the NASA Small Business Program.The awards categories are Small Business Specialist of the Year, Procurement Person (or Team) of the Year, Technical Person (or Team) of the Year and Program Person (or Team) of the Year.

For FY14 I am pleased to have selected winners for their extraordinary and unwavering work in support of the NASA Small Business Program.

• 2014 Small Business Specialist of the Year: Mr. Robert E. Watts, SSC
• 2014 Procurement Person of the Year: Mr. Craig W. Bowers, HQ
•      2014 Technical Person of the Year: Mr. Jeffery A. Chambers, GRC
• 2014 Program Team of the Year: Repair Aircraft Hanger Fire Protection Systems Team, AFRC, the team members are Ms. Andrea C. Basham, Mr. Brain G. Bowman and Mr. Justin D. Reid
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I want to take the time to congratulate each and every one of these awardees and look forward to having them and their peers continued support of the NASA Small Business Program.

For more information on past awardees and selection criteria please visit the link to our website: SBAA

Small Business Specialists Make the Difference

As many of you know, NASA has centers throughout the country. Each center has its own Small Business Specialist (SBS) and Procurement team. While we here at the NASA Office of Small Business Programs are always happy to give advice and guidance, for questions regarding specific acquisitions - many of which can be found on the NASA Acquisition Forecast  - reaching out to the centers is a great way to find out details regarding small business opportunities. 

Below, you’ll find a quick information guide to our centers with locations and Small Business Specialist contact information. Also included is a link to the top NAICS code purchased at each center, which is a great way to focus your efforts as a small business. For an overview of the NASA Centers and their missions, please visit our website at http://osbp.nasa.gov/about-centers.html.

Ames Research Center

Moffet Field, CA

SBS POC:

Christine Munroe

christine.l.munroe@nasa.gov

Tel: 650-604-4695

Dryden FlightResearch Center 

Edwards, CA

SBS POC:

Robert Medina

robert.medina-1@nasa.gov

Tel: 661-276-3343

Glenn Research Center 

Cleveland, OH

SBS POC:

Teresa L. Monaco

Small Business Specialist

Tel: 216-433-8293

Fax: 216-433-5489

teresa.l.monaco@nasa.gov

Goodard Space FlightCenter 

Green Belt, MD

SBS POC:

Ann Haase

elizabeth.a.haase@nasa.gov

Tel: 301-286-3443

Fax: 301-286-9319

Gilberto Del Valle

gilberto.delvalle-1@nasa.gov

Tel: 301-286-8136

Fax: 301-286-3041

Jennifer Perez

jennifer.d.perez@nasa.gov

Tel: 301 286-43793

Fax: 301 286-0237

Donna Broderick

donna.j.broderick@nasa.gov

Tel: 301-286-4679

Fax: 301-614-3965

Jet PropulsionLaboratory 

Pasadena, CA

SBS POCs:

Steven Alfery

Steven.c.alfery@jpl.nasa.gov

Tel: 818-354-4715

Fax: 818-393-1746

Mary Helen Ruiz

maryhelen.ruiz@jpl.nasa.gov

Tel: 818-354-7532

Fax: 818-393-1746

Edgar M. Murillo

edgar.m.murillo@jpl.nasa.gov

Tel: 818-354-4550

Fax: 818-393-1746

Jasmine Colbert

jasmine.n.colbert@jpl.nasa.gov

Tel: 818-354-8689

Fax: 818-393-1746

Johnson Space Center 

Houston, TX

SBS POCs:

Charles Williams

charles.t.williams@nasa.gov

Tel: 281-483-5933

Fax: 281-483-4326

Kelly Rubio

kelly.l.rubio@nasa.gov

Tel: 281-483-7890

Fax: 281-483-4326

  

Kennedy Space Center 

KSC, FL

SBS POC:

Larry M. Third

Small Business Specialist

Tel: 321-867-7357

Fax: 321-867-7999

larry.m.third@nasa.gov

Langley ResearchCenter 

Hampton, VA

SBS POC:

Randy A. Manning

Small Business Specialist

Tel: 757-864-6074

Fax: 757-864-8541

randy.a.manning@nasa.gov

Marshall Space FlightCenter 

MSFC, AL

SBS POC:

David E. Brock

Small Business Specialist

Tel: 256-544-0267

Fax: 256-544-0267

david.e.brock@nasa.gov

NASA Shared ServicesCenter 

SSC, MS

SBS POC:

Robert E. Watts

Small Business Specialist

Tel: 228-813-6577

Fax: 228-813-6315

robert.e.watts@nasa.gov

Stennis Space Center 

SSC, MS

SBS POC:

Michelle M. Stracener

Small Business Specialist

Tel: 228-688-1720

Fax: 228-688-1141

michelle.m.stracener@nasa.gov

OSBP Social Media

Over the past couple of years, the NASA Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) has ramped up efforts to use social media as another powerful tool to reach small businesses and those interested in OSBP. These new outreach methods are an exciting way to reach those who we may not get direct contact with on a regular basis.

Our Facebook page has gained steady popularity since its inception and now reaches over 7000 individuals worldwide. The OSBP Facebook page gives a unique look into the workings of our office, including photos from outreach events and tips on how to do business with NASA. It also provides another direct way to reach our office.

Our Twitter page reaches out to over 300 small businesses, government agencies and interested parties on a regular basis. This platform allows us to disseminate information regarding sources sought notices, requests for proposals, upcoming events, etc. quickly and efficiently. If you have a small business hoping to do business with NASA, I highly recommend following us.

And, while not social media in the traditional sense, I’d like to remind everyone that our NASA Vendor Database (NVDB) is back up and running. The NVDB allows businesses to post capability briefs for review and to sign up for notifications regarding RFIs, RFPs and Sources Sought Notices. More information about the database can be found in an earlier blog post at http://nasaosbp.blogspot.com/2013/01/nasa-vendor-database-online.html.