David E.

Steitz
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. November
30, 1993
(Phone: 202/358-1730)

RELEASE: 93-214

NASA EXCEEDS MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS GOAL AHEAD OF

SCHEDULE

NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin announced today that

NASA has awarded 8.5 percent of it's 1993 fiscal year
contracting budget to socially and economically disadvantaged
firms -- achieving a Congressionally mandated goal of 8 percent
for FY 1994 a year early.

"Even before coming to NASA I was committed to Small

Disadvantaged Business (SDB) contracting," Goldin said. "I felt
it was good for the country, good for the company, and good for
the customer. In meeting the will of Congress, NASA has
exemplified a level of teamwork among its contractors, top-level
managers and employees that reflects the high standards of the
Agency."

Upon his arrival at NASA in April 1992, Goldin took

immediate steps to strengthen the opportunities for meeting the
8 percent goal. Actions taken were based on a six point plan
developed by Goldin that included the following:

* Primary responsibility for achieving the goal was placed

on the technical community. Center Directors and NASA top
management were evaluated in their yearly performance plans on
how well they did in meeting the goal.
 * In the past, contract consolidations had a detrimental
effect on prime contract awards to SDBs. New contracts which
involve consolidations now require the approval of the Chief of
Staff before implementation.

* Under a Determinations and Findings approved by Congress,

NASA was able to set aside $310 million for competition
restricted only to SDBs.

* Institutional Associate Administrators were asked to

review the SDB contracting/subcontracting programs of their
respective centers in order to increase SDB subcontracting on
the Agency's top 100 contracts.
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* An award recognition program was developed for technical,
small business, and contracting civil service personnel for
their contributions in achieving the goal.

* The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., was

challenged to double their SDB subcontracting in 1993.

In addition to these guidelines, the Administrator formed

the NASA Minority Business Resources Advisory Committee, whose
purpose was to eliminate barriers in doing business with NASA
and to broaden the SDB contractor base.

For the first time in history, NASA's awards to minority

businesses approached $1 billion. In addition, NASA met or
exceeded all of its 1993 small business goals that are
negotiated with the Small Business Administration. The
achievement of the goal includes NASA's total value of prime and
subcontract awards to small disadvantaged (including women
owned) businesses, Historically Black Colleges and Universities
and other minority educational institutions.

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