Small businesses are at the heart of our work. Find out why.
June 21, 2013
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This week as the nation celebrates the 50th annual Small Business Week, we celebrate our ‘small business first’ philosophy and policy at the Department of Energy.
Small businesses are at the heart of our work. From professional program management and facilities operations to environmental restoration and security services they provide to running our daycares and cafeterias -- small businesses keep the day-to-day movement of the Department on track and enable us to focus on mission success.
Over the past fiscal year, we awarded $6.3 billion in contracts to more than 7,000 small businesses across the country -- including small businesses owned by women, service-disabled veterans and minorities -- who have leveraged their unique skills, talents and experience to help the Department achieve our mission. Of the Department's top 100 contractors over the past fiscal year, 30 were minority-owned, women-owned, tribal government-owned, veteran-owned or participants in the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) business development program.
We also set aggressive small business contracting goals with the Management & Operating contractors that run our national labs and our federally funded research and development centers. Last year, these entities accounted for more than 80 percent of our subcontracting awards to small businesses, supporting jobs and economic growth across the nation.
While all small businesses we contract with are carefully selected to bring the best value and expertise to the agency, every year there are some that stand out in their achievement. We congratulate our Department of Energy contractors who have been honored this week for National Small Business Week at the Small Business Administration (read one business’ story here).
For more information on the steps we’re taking to support small businesses, visit the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity website.
Small Business Resources
Take a look at our Small Businesses 101 page for more resources.