Laboratory's Small Business Office unveils new World Wide Web page; promotes economic development

Contact: Steve Sandoval, steves@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9206

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., April 12, 2001 -- As part of a broader commitment to improve the economy of Northern New Mexico, the Small Business Office of the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory recently unveiled a new World Wide Web page.

The "Buy Northern" Web page has information about contract opportunities for small businesses in the area interested in doing business with the Lab. It also has information for Lab workers who make purchases for their organization.

The new Web site -- http://buynorthern.lanl.gov -- was launched last year. It contains information on training opportunities and workshops for small business owners conducted by Los Alamos' Small Business Office, updated information on the Northern New Mexico Supplier Alliance, a calendar of Small Business Administration events in New Mexico and the number of "hits" to the site. There's also an electronic mail address, which the Small Business Office uses to communicate with small business owners and to send out messages to local businesses in a seven-county region about opportunities to provide goods or services to the Laboratory.

Goods and services range from computers and office equipment, to furniture, machine shop fabrications, office supplies and furniture, and support services performed for Los Alamos by Johnson Controls Northern New Mexico and Protection Technology Los Alamos, the Laboratory's two largest subcontract companies.

The Northern New Mexico Supplier Alliance was formed in 1997 under the name Tri-County Supplier Alliance. The purpose of the alliance is to increase business opportunities for the suppliers in Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos counties, with the objective of meeting a portion of the Laboratory's procurement and outsourcing needs.

The new web site was developed in part through an agreement between the Laboratory and small business owners and operators in Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Rio Arriba counties to increase economic development opportunities, said Small Business Program Office Manager Bennie Gonzales.

"As part of the Laboratory's Appendix J contract provisions, we are mandated to work closely with businesses in the region to increase buying opportunities [at the Laboratory] and promote regional economic development," said Gonzales. "The new Web site is providing more, updated information for local businesses as well as helping Lab procurement officers identify those businesses out there who have goods or services the Lab can use."

In addition to the "Buy Northern" Web page, the Small Business Office also publishes a monthly, hardcopy Buy Northern newsletter for businesses that don't have Internet access. It includes much of the same information, in a condensed version, that is found on the web page. It also includes a short news-style feature story on a local business and the Laboratory procurement officers who worked closely with that small business owner.

"The Laboratory annually spends millions of dollars purchasing goods and services from businesses in Northern New Mexico and we will continue to do so," said Gonzales. "But there are other things we can do to engage and grow local businesses. This is all part of the Small Business Office's plan to continue being a good corporate citizen."

More information about Los Alamos' Small Business Office is available by calling 667-4410, 800-472-9861, or writing to sbo@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Additional news releases from the Business Operations (BUS) Division