The SBA Women-Owned Business Procurement Program

The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 established a 5 percent government-wide goal for contract awards to small women-owned businesses. At the Small Business Administration (SBA) we are determined to both establish aggressive goals and to develop meaningful initiatives in cooperation with other SBA program areas and other agencies to ensure that these new goals are achieved. Establishment of the Women-Owned Business Procurement Program is an example of one such initiative. Each of the 11 Federal agencies, the SBA has identified to participate in the Pilot, has designated a women-owned business "advocate" to act as a liaison. Together, with other resource partners, SBA and these agencies are developing a systematic approach to expand the pool of women-owned firms receiving Federal contract awards. The SBA and the liaisons from each of the agencies provide outreach, training, and marketing assistance to women-owned businesses. They meet regularly to assess the progress of the program, resolve problems, and develop new initiatives. The SBA has prepared an analysis of the Federal Government's buying patterns. The Pilot will use the results of SBA's analysis to determine the industry categories and geographical areas which offer the greatest opportunity for increasing contract awards to women. The SBA will pursue extensive outreach to alert women-owned businesses to the opportunities in Federal procurement. The SBA plans to publish, and make available a directory of all goods and services purchased by the Federal Government. The SBA will also update and distribute publications targeted towards women business owners. The SBA and the Federal agencies will co-sponsor on-site procurement conferences at major buying activities around the country. Each conference will offer: *Training Seminars *Exhibits by Women-Owned Businesses *Networking Opportunities *Current Procurement Solicitations While this is a long term initiative - we have realized some immediate results. Six (6) of the firms that were showcased at a recent Federal Government Women-Owned Business Mini-Marketing Fair received contracts estimated at $21 million. Although the value of these awards may seem modest in comparison to the billions of dollars that must be funnelled to small women-owned businesses if the 5 percent goal is to be met, it does demonstrate that significant tangible results can be achieved through this type of direct marketing intervention by the SBA in coordination with other agencies. Identifying strategies that produce such tangible results is particularly important since there is no specific mechanism, like a set-aside, available to open specific opportunities for women-owned businesses. We are confident that this outreach and hands-on marketing assistance will be an enhancement to the ability of women-owned businesses to pursue and obtain competitive procurement opportunities. --------------------------------- DID YOU KNOW THAT.... The SBA has identified the following key Federal agencies to participate in the Pilot. * U.S. Department of Agriculture * U.S. Department of Defense * U.S. Department of Energy * U.S. Department of Health and Human Services * U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development * U.S. Department of Justice * U.S. Department of Labor * U.S. Department of Transportation * Environmental Protection Agency * General Services Administration * National Aeronautics and Space Administration ______________________________________________________________ * U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DID YOU KNOW THAT....the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Ms. Sharron Harris as the agency's Women-Owned Business Advocate. She can be reached at (202) 720-7117 and her fax number is (202) 720-3001. DID YOU KNOW THAT....USDA negotiated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 1.9 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. USDA's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 2.1 percent of total actual prime contract awards. USDA negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 1.7 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. USDA's actual Fiscal Year 1994 subcontract awards to women-owned businesses were 2.5 percent of total actual subcontract awards. DID YOU KNOW THAT....during Fiscal Year 1994 USDA awarded prime contracts to women-owned businesses totalling $123 million and subcontracts totalling $4.3 million. DID YOU KNOW THAT....USDA negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 3.5 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. USDA negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 2.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DID YOU KNOW THAT....USDA on a quarterly basis hosts Roundtable Discussions at their headquarters building to discuss strategies to enhance women-owned business participation in the procurement process. Point of Contact is Ms. Stella Hughes at (202) 720-7117. DID YOU KNOW THAT....USDA is planning a Women-Owned Business Conference and Procurement Fair for Fiscal Year 1995. Additional information can be obtained through the Women-Owned Business Advocate. * U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DID YOU KNOW THAT....the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has designated Ms. Dora Thomas as the agency's Women-Owned Business Advocate. She can be reached at (703) 697-9383 and her fax number is (703) 693-7014. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOD negotiated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 1.5 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. DOD's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 1.7 percent of total actual prime contract awards. DOD negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 1.6 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. DOD's actual Fiscal Year 1994 subcontract awards to women-owned businesses were 2.3 percent of total actual subcontract awards. DID YOU KNOW THAT....during Fiscal Year 1994 DOD awarded prime contracts to Women-Owned Businesses totalling $1.857 million and subcontracts totalling $1.021 million. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOD negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 1.7 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DOD negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 2.1 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOD is issuing departmental policy to emphasize the importance of the women's program and to ensure maximum support for the program throughout the agency. For further information contact the Women-Owned Business Advocate. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOD is emphasizing in its industry "thrust program" contract awards to women business owners in five major areas (i.e. environmental, health care, manufacturing, telecommunications, and management information simulation). DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOD is requesting that each buying office sponsor at least one "women-owned business fair" or "open house" within Fiscal Year 1995. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOD, U.S. Air Force chairs a Women-Owned Business Council. Meetings are held quarterly around the country. Additional information is available through the Council Chairman, Mr. Tony DeLuca, Director, Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization, (703) 697-1950. * U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DID YOU KNOW THAT....the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has designated Ms. Gloria Smith as the agency's Women-Owned Business Advocate. She can be reached at (202) 586-8383 and her fax number is (202) 586-3075. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOE negotiated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 3.5 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. DOE's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 4.4 percent of total actual prime contract awards. DOE negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 2.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. DOE's actual Fiscal Year 1994 subcontract awards to women-owned businesses were 3.8 percent of total actual subcontract awards. DID YOU KNOW THAT....during Fiscal Year 1994 DOE awarded prime contracts to Women-Owned Businesses totalling $418.2 million and subcontracts totalling $33.9 million. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOE negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 4.7 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DOE negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 2.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. * U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DID YOU KNOW THAT....the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has designated Ms. Y. Angel Graves as the agency's Women-Owned Business Advocate. She can be reached at (202) 690-6670 and her fax number is (202) 690-8772. DID YOU KNOW THAT....HHS negotiated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 4.1 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. HHS' actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 4.8 percent of total actual prime contract awards. HHS negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 1.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. HHS' actual Fiscal Year 1994 subcontract awards to women-owned businesses were 0.5 percent of total actual subcontract awards. DID YOU KNOW THAT....during Fiscal Year 1994 HHS awarded prime contracts to Women-Owned Businesses totalling $149.6 million and subcontracts totalling $1.7 million. DID YOU KNOW THAT....HHS negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 4.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. HHS negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 1.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DID YOU KNOW THAT....HHS and the SBA co-deliver bi-monthly counseling sessions, targeted towards women business owners, on "How To Do Business With HHS". For additional information contact the WOB Advocate at (202) 690-6670. DID YOU KNOW THAT....HHS and the SBA have co-sponsored and will continue to co-sponsor "Women-Owned Business EXPOs". These EXPOs feature exhibits by women-owned businesses and information seminars. DID YOU KNOW THAT....HHS Small Business Managers, in concert with contracting officials, review prospective acquisitions to determine the feasibility of breaking out portions of the requirement in order to make small business set-asides which would include women-owned businesses. DID YOU KNOW THAT....HHS Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization maintains a Source Repository which includes women business owners. For registration information contact Angel Graves on (202) 690-6670. * U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DID YOU KNOW THAT....the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has designated Mr. Joseph Piljay as the agency's Women-Owned Business Advocate. He can be reached at (202) 708-1428 and his fax number is (202) 708-7642. DID YOU KNOW THAT....HUD negotiated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 5.5 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. HUD's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 8.1 percent of total actual prime contract awards. HUD negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 6.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. HUD's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 5.8 percent of total actual subcontract awards. DID YOU KNOW THAT....during Fiscal Year 1994 HUD awarded prime contracts to Women-Owned Businesses totalling $55.5 million and subcontracts totalling $65.9 million. DID YOU KNOW THAT....HUD negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 7.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. HUD negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 7.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. * U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DID YOU KNOW THAT....the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has designated Mr. Joseph K. Bryan as the agency's Women-Owned Business Advocate. He can be reached at (202) 616-0521 and his fax number is (202) 616-1717. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOJ negotiated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 3.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. DOJ's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 2.4 percent of total actual prime contract awards. DOJ negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 4.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. DOJ's actual Fiscal Year 1994 subcontract awards to women-owned businesses were 6.0 percent of total actual subcontract awards. DID YOU KNOW THAT....during Fiscal Year 1994 DOJ awarded prime contracts to Women-Owned Businesses totalling $47.2 million and subcontracts totalling $30.6 million. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOJ negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 3.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DOJ negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 6.5 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. * U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DID YOU KNOW THAT....the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has designated Ms. June Robinson as the agency's Women-Owned Business Advocate. She can be reached at (202) 219-9148 and her fax number is (202) 219-9167. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOL negotiated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 4.2 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. DOL's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 2.0 percent of total actual prime contract awards. DOL negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 5.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. DOL's actual Fiscal Year 1994 subcontract awards to women-owned businesses were 4.6 percent of total actual subcontract awards. DID YOU KNOW THAT....during Fiscal Year 1994 DOL awarded prime contracts to Women-Owned Businesses totalling $17.3 million and subcontracts totalling $6.7 million. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOL negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 5.2 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DOL negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 5.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOL has implemented a cooperative agreement with the National Association of Women in Construction to foster increased participation of women, including women-owned businesses, in all aspects of the construction workforce. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOL apprises on a regular basis agency program officials of new women-owned business concerns with expertise in their areas of concern. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOL monitors on a monthly basis DOL agencies' initiatives to meet women-owned business goals. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOL and the SBA co-sponsored a seminar for women-owned businesses (200 attendees) regarding procedures for contracting with DOL and methods for identifying contracting opportunities. A six (6) month follow-up is planned to determine successes in marketing and resulting contract awards. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOL meets with women business owners monthly to provide counseling and technical assistance on procurement opportunities within the department. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOL's Women's Bureau Director, Karen Nussbaum, was appointed by the Secretary, DOL, to serve on the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOL's Women's Bureau is conducting workshops on microenterprises as part of its 75th anniversary. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOL's Women's Bureau is conducting regional outreach through symposia and speeches at regional functions planned for Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, and Kansas City. * U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DID YOU KNOW THAT....the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has designated Ms. Luz Hopewell as the agency's Women-Owned Business Advocate. She can be reached at (202) 366-1930 and her fax number is (202) 366-7228. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOT negotiated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 2.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. DOT's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 2.2 percent of total actual prime contract awards. DOT negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 2.5 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. DOT's actual Fiscal Year 1994 subcontract awards to women-owned businesses were 6.8 percent of total actual subcontract awards. DID YOU KNOW THAT....during Fiscal Year 1994 DOT awarded prime contracts to Women-Owned Businesses totalling $55.1 million and subcontracts totalling $17.4 million. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOT negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 2.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DOT negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 3.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOT's contracting requirements are mandated by the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987 and the Airport and Airway Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1987. Specifically, these acts require that, except to the extent that the Secretary of Transportation determines otherwise, not less than 10 percent of federal assistance grant dollars provided to state and local agencies by each of DOT's Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Federal Aviation Administration are to be disbursed to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs). Women are included in the acts' DBE definition. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOT hosts women-owned businesses at its monthly Marketing Fairs. These fairs provide women business owners the opportunity to showcase their capabilities to procurement and program staff. Contact Ms. Pat Hodge for additional information at (202) 366-1930. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOT has developed and implemented a Marketing Presentation Program to assist women business owners in marketing their firms to the Department. This program is designed to assist firms located outside the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, whose representatives have limited time during their marketing visits. Approximately every six (6) weeks, the DOT Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) schedules presentations for three (3) firms to present their capabilities to procurement and program staff from all of DOT's Operating Administrations. Contact Ms. Pat Hodge for additional information at (202) 366-1930. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOT presents an Annual Minority Enterprise Development Week Awards Ceremony which recognizes the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of women and minority business owners to the Department's programs. DID YOU KNOW THAT.... DOT issues a monthly newsletter, THE TRANSPORTATION LINK, updating its small business readers on current events taking place at the Department. To add your name to the mailing list, contact the Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization Office at (202) 366-1930. DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOT has included two (2) women-owned firms in its Liaison Outreach and Services Program (LOSP) to serve in areas not covered by current LOSPs. The request for proposal targeted women-owned businesses in an attempt to obtain a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) trade association/chamber of commerce to serve as a DOT regional representative. The two (2) WBEs are: The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, Bridgewater, NJ (Region II); and Women Construction Owners & Executive USA, Washington Chapter, Seattle, WA (Region X) DID YOU KNOW THAT....DOT OSDBU liaison offices regularly hold meetings with marketing representatives from women-owned firms and during advance acquisition planning phases try to match WBE qualifications with procurement requirements to enhance their opportunities to compete for DOT contracting opportunities. In addition the liaison offices work to increase the overall DOT/WBE program, as well as work to increase both the number and dollar value of DOT direct and federally-assisted awards to WBEs. * ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY DID YOU KNOW THAT....the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated Ms. Margie Wilson as the agency's Women-Owned Business Advocate. She can be reached at (703) 305-7305 and her fax number is (703) 305-6606. DID YOU KNOW THAT....EPA negotiated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 2.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. EPA's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 1.4 percent of total actual prime contract awards. Although EPA negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal it did not report achievement towards that goal. DID YOU KNOW THAT....during Fiscal Year 1994 EPA awarded prime contracts to Women-Owned Businesses totalling $18.5 million. DID YOU KNOW THAT....EPA negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 5.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DOT negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 5.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DID YOU KNOW THAT....EPA has two legislatively mandated procurement requirements that include women-owned businesses among the targeted groups. Amendments to the Clean Air Act, enacted in November 1990, mandate that the Administrator, EPA, to the extent practicable, ensures that not less than 10 percent of total federal funding for clean air research activities authorized by the amendments be made available to concerns owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, which include women. The second requirement applies to EPA's entire appropriations and requires that the Administrator, EPA, to the fullest extent possible, ensures that at least 8 percent of federal funding for prime contracts and subcontracts, awarded in support of authorized programs, be made available to business concerns and organizations owned or controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, a category that includes women. DID YOU KNOW THAT....EPA is developing an agency database of women-owned businesses who have relevant capabilities related to EPA requirements. For registration information contact Ms. Margie Wilson at (703) 305-7305. DID YOU KNOW THAT....EPA's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) serves as an advocate and information resource to promote the increased utilization of women-owned businesses in all aspects of the agency's acquisition activities. DID YOU KNOW THAT....EPA's OSDBU promotes the development of Multiple Scopes of Work for increasing more small business set-asides, which has the potential to involve more women-owned businesses. DID YOU KNOW THAT....EPA recognizes program officers, contracting personnel and participating prime contractors who make outstanding contributions to utilizing women-owned businesses in their respective buying activities (i.e. EPA's OSDBU Annual Awards Ceremony). DID YOU KNOW THAT....EPA is aggressively monitoring the efforts expended by the Agency's large prime contractors to assure that 5 percent of their planned subcontract dollars are placed with women-owned businesses as well as the meaningful utilization of these concerns in significant subcontract work. EPA is also actively pursuing potential teaming arrangements for women-owned businesses. DID YOU KNOW THAT....EPA assures that women-owned businesses are fully apprised of the Small Purchase Data Interchange (SPEDI) for purchases up to $100,000 as well as for their maximum utilization. DID YOU KNOW THAT....EPA has established the Mentor-Protege program in order to stimulate and positively impact the number of small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) in agency contracts. Protege firms must be SDBs which EPA defines as business concerns which are: at least 51 percent owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individual; or, in the case of a publicly traded company, a business concern in which at least 51 percent of the stock is owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individual. EPA considers women owning small businesses as socially disadvantaged. For further information contact the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization at (703) 305-7305. * GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION DID YOU KNOW THAT....the General Services Administration (GSA) has designated Ms. Liz Ivey as the agency's Women-Owned Business Advocate. She can be reached at (202) 501-4466 and her fax number is (202)208-5938. DID YOU KNOW THAT....GSA negotiated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 5.9 percent (Federal Supply Schedule) and 1.8 percent (Non-Federal Supply Schedule) for Fiscal Year 1994. GSA's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 6.3 percent (Federal Supply Schedule) and 2.0 percent (Non-Federal Supply Schedule) of total actual prime contract awards. GSA negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 2.2 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. GSA's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 2.3 percent of total actual subcontract awards. DID YOU KNOW THAT....during Fiscal Year 1994 GSA awarded prime contracts to Women-Owned Businesses totalling $34 million (Federal Supply Schedule) and $129.2 million (Non-Federal Supply Schedule) and subcontracts totalling $63.3 million. DID YOU KNOW THAT....GSA negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 6.3 percent (Federal Supply Schedule) and 3.0 percent (Non-Federal Supply Schedule) for Fiscal Year 1995. GSA negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 3.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. * NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION DID YOU KNOW THAT....the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has designated Ms. Rae Martel as the agency's Women-Owned Business Advocate. She can be reached at (202) 358-2088 and her fax number is (202) 358-3261. DID YOU KNOW THAT....NASA negotiated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 1.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. NASA's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 1.2 percent of total actual prime contract awards. NASA negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 2.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. NASA's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 5.0 percent of total actual subcontract awards. DID YOU KNOW THAT....during Fiscal Year 1994 NASA awarded prime contracts to Women-Owned Businesses totalling $118.4 million and subcontracts totalling $213.9 million. DID YOU KNOW THAT....NASA negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 1.05 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. NASA negotiated with the SBA a Women-Owned Business Federal Subcontracts Goal of 4.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DID YOU KNOW THAT...specific legislation mandates that NASA annually award a minimum of 8 percent of its procurements to Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs). NOTE: women are included as SDBs. As such, women-owned businesses are included in all SDB initiatives: All NASA outreach conferences include women as a focus group; SDB Training and Development Program includes women; the NASA Mentor-Protege Program defines "protege" to include women-owned firms; and Women-Owned Business Associations are included as regular members of the NASA Conference of SDB Trade Associations. DID YOU KNOW THAT....the NASA Minority Business Resource Advisory Committee (MBRAC) was established in July 1992 to assist NASA with innovative ideas to develop new sources, identify training programs, eliminate unnecessary obstacles, and improve the capabilities and opportunities of economically and socially disadvantaged businesses to be viable competitors. MBRAC membership includes a number of women entrepreneurs. As part of their charter MBRAC assists NASA by identifying SDB and women-owned firms which could potentially do business with NASA. DID YOU KNOW THAT....over the last five (5) years, high tech women-owned firms were selected as the NASA Minority Contractor of the Year. DID YOU KNOW THAT....the value of NASA awards to women-owned businesses has doubled since Fiscal Year 1991. * SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DID YOU KNOW THAT...the Small Business Administration (SBA) has designated Ms. Nancyellen Gentile as the agency's Coordinator for the Women-Owned Business Procurement Pilot Program. She can be reached at (202) 205-7307. DID YOU KNOW THAT....the SBA Office of Procurement and Grants Management (OPGM) negotiated with the SBA Office of Government Contracting (GC) a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 3.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1994. SBA's actual Fiscal Year 1994 prime contract awards to women-owned businesses were 6.1 percent of total actual prime contract awards. DID YOU KNOW THAT....during Fiscal Year 1994 SBA awarded prime contracts to Women-Owned Businesses totalling $32.832 million. DID YOU KNOW THAT....SBA's OPGM negotiated with the SBA GC a Women-Owned Business Federal Prime Contracts Goal of 5.0 percent for Fiscal Year 1995. DID YOU KNOW THAT....access to procurement opportunities continues to be one of the greatest challenges facing women business owners. This barrier is reinforced by many factors, one of which is women business owners' lack of knowledge about the Federal procurement system. The Pilot is dedicated to assisting women entrepreneurs to overcome this and other barriers in order to succeed in business. As part of the Pilot, the SBA has launched a national training program, Federal Dollars and Sense for Women-Owned Businesses designed to make the SBA more responsive to the procurement needs of women business owners. The SBA would like to invite you to participate in a series of monthly workshops targeted toward women on how to do business with the Federal Government. Pilot sites include: Boston, Newark, Philadelphia, the District of Columbia, Richmond, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Miami, Columbus, Dallas, Little Rock, El Paso, Kansas City, Denver, Phoenix, and San Francisco. For additional information contact Nancyellen Gentile at (202) 205-7307. DID YOU KNOW THAT....a pilot program to enhance the business capabilities of women-owned businesses via a specialized market development process has been launched in the Dallas Houston areas. To date 103 women business owners have received marketing and technical assistance. Forty-six of the 103 firms are participating in the "parallel alignment" phase of the program which matches women-owned businesses with senior private and public sector purchasing officials. DID YOU KNOW THAT....Fiscal Year 1995 legislation created an Interagency Committee on Women's Business to ensure that women's economic issues are addressed in every agency. The group will specifically consider ways to increase women's access to procurement opportunities. For more information regarding the Interagency Committee please contact Janine Stanzione in the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership at (202) 205-6673.