NASA Vendor Database Online

I hope everyone had a great new year. I know we did here at the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and cannot wait to get started working hard with small businesses across the country in 2013.

On that note, I’m happy to announce that the NASA VendorData Base (NVDB) is back up and running. For those unfamiliar with this powerful tool, it is a database for both large and small vendors who wish to do business with NASA. The NVDB is accessible to all NASA employees to assist them in conducting thorough market research during the early phase of acquisition planning and is used to decide if the procurement will be a small business set-a-side or full and open.

Through the NVDB, businesses are able to post capability briefs for review, sign up for e-mail notifications regarding Sources Sought Notices, Requests for Information (RFI), and Request for Proposals (RFP). A quarterly newsletter is also sent out to all those with an account.

OSBP uses the database as a tool to reach out to small businesses on a regular basis. Upcoming outreach events, including industry days and conferences, are often announced to members of the NVDB. Other pressing information regarding small business at NASA may be sent out as well.

I highly recommend that any small business interested in doing business with NASA visit https://vendors.nvdb.nasa.gov/ and create an account. And for both new and old members, don’t forget to subscribe to the OSBP emails!

Update to NASA's Consolidated Acquisition Forecast

Last year, NASA Procurement introduced an incredible new tool for small businesses, the Consolidated Acquisition Forecast. This powerful Excel spreadsheet took forecasts from each of NASA’s center and put them in one place so that both small and large businesses had a quick, easy and useful way to see upcoming acquisitions at NASA. I’m happy to say that this forecast has quickly become an industry best practice and is only getting better with recent improvements.

Those familiar with the forecast will quickly notice some of the improvements that have been made. These changes stem from suggestions from the Small Business Council and NASA Vendor Database users. Updates include:

·      Updated information as of April 2012

·      A list of expiring contracts to help Centers identify requirements

·      Expanded “Acquisitions by Value” levels for more cost specificity

·      Updated chart formats for usability

·      Removal of the Product Service Codes (PSC)

The Acquistion Forecast can always be found at http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/forecast/index.html or NASA's Office of Procurement and OSBP websites. We’re always looking to improve on ways to reach small businesses. The Acquisition forecast is a great way to view upcoming procurements, but if you have a suggestion on how we can make it even better, feel free to comment. 

2012 NASA Agency Honor Awards

Fiscal Year 2012 has brought some great accomplishments for NASA in the small business area. In August, the NASA Small Business Council (SBC) received a well-deserved Group Achievement Award during the 2012 NASA Agency Honor Awards Ceremony for outstanding performance in executing NASA’s Small Business Program in Fiscal Year 2011.

Displaying the SBC’s commitment to excellence, NASA exceeded its small business goal in FY11 with its highest prime small business metric, 17.7%, since 2006. The Council accomplished countless innovative endeavors for reaching out to small businesses across the country, including establishing several new Small Business Industry Days, Joint Counseling Sessions, and a renewed interest in the use of social media. I felt pride for each and every individual who made this award happen. Congratulations to all.

I am optimistic about Fiscal Year 2013. We face a higher Small Business goal than we have in previous years and there are always new challenges, but I have faith in our Agency acquisition community not only to meet our new goals, but to exceed them once again.  

NASA/KSC HUBZone Industry Day & EXPO 2012

The NASA/Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Industry Day and EXPO 2012 proved to once again be a great success. Held on Tuesday, October 16 in Port Canaveral, Florida, EXPO 2012 featured approximately 175 business and government exhibits, including representatives of NASA, the 45th Space Wing, prime contractors, and other Government agencies.

I spoke at the event about the importance of small business to attaining NASA’s mission. Our small business partners play a pivotal role at NASA every day and I hope that events like EXPO 2012 will help create new, successful partnerships in the future. The NASA Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and the Small Business Council attended the event as well.

We had a great showing of businesses and agencies interested in the small business program at NASA and were thrilled to talk to countless representatives at our booth and counseling sessions. These outreach events are invaluable to improving our small business programs. Nothing can compare to the face-to-face interaction between our small businesses specialists and the small business community.

I urge companies that are interested in doing business with NASA to attend these events for immeasurable networking and informational opportunities. Please take a look at NASA OSBP's website, http://osbp.nasa.gov/, for upcoming events. Finally, I’d like to extend a sincere thank you to KSC Director Robert D. Cabana and Small Business Specialist Larry Third for hosting another successful event. 

The speakers and presenters of EXPO 2012

NASA Small Business Specialists provide information at EXPO 2012