From: yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: GOLDIN announces more steps to help small business [Release 92-137] (Forwarded)
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Followup-To: sci.space
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 20:31:10 GMT

Bill Livingstone
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. 
(Phone:  202/453-1898)                           August 28, 1992

RELEASE:  92-137

GOLDIN ANNOUNCES MORE STEPS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS

	NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin has announced that he will
upgrade the position of Small and Disadvantaged Business Director to
Assistant Administrator, equal to directors of program and
administrative offices.

	Goldin called the decision "a strong signal" in a series of
moves to insure that the nation's small firms, including those owned by
members of minorities  and women, win a larger share of NASA
contracts.  He made the announcement at a small business conference in
Nashua, N.H.

	"In the past, we have focused much of our attention on working
with the giant aerospace companies with the big hardware contracts and
comparatively little on working with small business," Goldin said.

New Orientation

	"We must change our orientation," he declared, stating that
NASA has begun the process through a series of procurement
initiatives.

	One of the most important changes, Goldin said, is an action
to reduce drastically the amount of paperwork and other administrative
tasks now required to win smaller contracts.

	"We are looking at 10-page requests for proposals and contracts
versus 90-to-100 page documents," Goldin said.

	The biggest change to help small businesses could come in
mid-range procurements between $25,000 and $500,000, Goldin said.
Although they represent only 15 percent of NASA's contract dollar, they
account for more than 80 percent of the procurement actions.

Other Steps Outlined

	Other steps Goldin has directed the agency to take to bolster
awards to small firms include:

	o  Requiring prime contractors to increase the percentage of
subcontracts with small and disadvantaged businesses (SDBs).

	o  Establishing a firm agency percentage for SDB awards in
competitive procurements instead of a mere goal.

	o  Making subcontracting to small firms an important evaluation
factor in source selection.

	o  Rewarding primes that exceed their subcontracting goals.

	o  Establishing a "Minority Business Resource Advisory Committee"
within NASA to help SDBs deal with the agency.

	o  Pursuing statutory authority to allow the agency to make
SDB set-asides.

Obstacles Must Come Down

	"NASA must take down the obstacles that discourage so many
small businesses from engaging in government contracting," Goldin said.
"We must make our requirements and our contracting process more 
accessible.  We cannot bury you in forms, certifications, contract
clauses and reporting requirements."

	Goldin stated that NASA made direct awards to small firms of
$870 million in fiscal year 1991, while another $1.4 billion flowed
to small firms through subcontracting.  

	"We are convinced we can do more," he declared.

	NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla., currently is
evaluating proposals for a $2.7 billion base operations contract
and has declared that 30 percent of this must be subcontracted to
small, disadvantaged or women-owned businesses.

	Recently, KSC selected a minority-owned firm for a $75
million contract with options up to $150 million.  


High-Tech Activities

	"The contract is not for routine support services," Goldin
noted.  "It is for applied research and technology, including tasks
involving telerobotics and development of a highly sensitive
spectrometer to detect hazardous gas."

	The Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., expects
to award a $35 million contract to a minority firm in late September,
he said.

	Goldin said that small firms have been great sources of
innovation for NASA.  He disclosed that a recent recipient of a NASA
Small Business Innovative Research contract had developed "three
dimensional packaging technology" for integrated circuit dies.

	"This may ultimately lead to a sugar cube sized personal
computer," Goldin said.  "That company is now working with IBM to
develop this product for the commercial marketplace."

	NASA's Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization
is headed by Eugene D. Rosen, who has the title of Director.
Newsgroups: sci.space.news