**NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS: December 18, 2007**

**Walter Perry/DiAnn Fields, ORO, (865) 576-0885**

**Steven Wyatt, NNSA, (865) 576-9918**

**[www.oakridge.doe.gov](http://www.oakridge.doe.gov/)**

**SMALL BUSINESSES CONTRIBUTE TO SUCCESS OF DOE/NNSA OAK RIDGE
MISSIONS**

***More Than a Half Billion Dollars Awarded to Small Businesses in
2007***

**OAK RIDGE, Tenn. --** Contracts with small businesses supporting the
U.S. Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration's
missions in Oak Ridge totaled \$521 million in Fiscal Year 2007,
demonstrating the Federal agencies' commitment of utilizing small
businesses in accomplishing science, environmental management, nuclear
fuel supply, and national security missions in Oak Ridge.

"We continued to see a steady increase each year in contracting to small
businesses," said Gerald Boyd, Manager of the Department of Energy's
(DOE) Oak Ridge Office (ORO). "With the support of our prime
contractors, our commitment is clear as \$521 million was awarded to
small businesses providing goods and services across the Oak Ridge
Reservation."

Contracting dollars for Fiscal Year 2007 were included from ORO and the
National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Y-12 Site Office along
with prime contractor dollars from B&W Y-12 Technologies, which operates
NNSA's Y-12 National Security Complex, UT-Battelle, which operates the
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge Associated Universities,
which operates the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, and
Bechtel Jacobs Company, which is the Reservation's environmental cleanup
contractor.

Ted Sherry, Manager of the NNSA's Y-12 Site Office said, "In FY 2007,
Y-12's total procurements were \$288.2 million, of which \$127.8 million
or more than 43 percent was with small businesses. This represents our
continued strong commitment to encouraging and supporting small business
procurement in helping to achieve NNSA's national security mission at
Y-12."

DOE, NNSA, and other Federal agencies must ensure that small businesses
have the opportunity to provide goods and services to the Federal
government as procurements become available.

"Our small business program continues to thrive based on our staff
identifying opportunities within our programs," Boyd said. "And, coupled
with entrepreneurs bringing their skills and capabilities to meet those
needs, our successes are notable and many." Some examples of contracts
awarded this fiscal year for performance in the current and upcoming
years include:

-   Turnkey Transportation Services, LLC, a Woman-Owned Small Business,
    for Logistic Support Services;

-   REDE, Inc., a Small Disadvantaged Business/8(a), for Information
    Technology Support Service for ORO;

-   Protection Strategies Inc., a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small
    Business, for Information and Personnel Security Administrative
    Support Services; and

-   SCI Consultants, a Woman-Owned Small Business/Small Disadvantaged
    Business, for Reservation-wide Information Technology Support
    Services.

In addition to the large volume of contracting opportunities, ORNL
received the prestigious 2007 Frances Perkins Vanguard Award for
Exemplary Utilization of Women-Owned Small Businesses. The Award,
presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), honors
Federal government agencies and industry for their excellence in the use
of women-owned small businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors.
UT-Battelle's interaction with more than 270 women-owned small
businesses, totaling more than \$45.1 million in subcontract work in FY
2006, enabled them to receive this national award.

According to statistics from the SBA, small businesses play a vital role
in America's economy with more than 26 million nationwide. Firms wishing
to be designated small businesses for contracting opportunities in
government programs must meet size standards, which vary by industry as
specified by the SBA. More information on these criteria along with
small business opportunities within ORO may be obtained by contacting
Freda Hopper, Small Business Program Manager, at (865) 576-9430 or
<hopperfh@oro.doe.gov>. Information on Y-12 small business contracting
opportunities may be obtained by contacting Gloria Mencer at (865)
576-2090 or <mencergd@y12.doe.gov>.

DOE activities in Oak Ridge employ more than 13,000 people and have an
annual budget of \$2.8 billion, with programs making national
contributions in the fields of science, national security, nuclear fuel
supply, and technology development, while accomplishing environmental
cleanup, reindustrialization, and economic development for the benefit
of the regional economy. More information about the Department's
missions in Oak Ridge is available online at
[www.oakridge.doe.gov](http://www.oakridge.doe.gov/) or
[www.yso.doe.gov](http://www.yso.doe.gov/).

-DOE-

*Photo available by calling the DOE Public Affairs Office at (865)
576-0885.*

**R-07-051**