Los Alamos receives Eisenhower Award for Excellence in Small Business Operations

Contact: Steve Sandoval, steves@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9206 (02-043)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., May 1, 2002 -- The National Nuclear Security Administration's Los Alamos National Laboratory has received the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence in small-business operations.

The Laboratory received the award from the federal Small Business Administration in the research and development category, one of four categories the SBA recognizes. The other categories of Eisenhower awards are for manufacturing, service and construction.

The Laboratory will be honored at the 35th annual Industry and Small Business Administration business and procurement expo awards ceremony May 9 in Washington, D.C.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence is presented to large federal government contractors who operate outstanding small-business subcontracting programs, according to information from the SBA Web page.

"The Award recognizes the efforts of our technical, procurement and Small Business Office staff in furthering small-business opportunities," said Bennie Gonzales, Los Alamos' Small Business Office program manager. "Without the support of our technical and scientific community to help us achieve our goals and the support of our procurement staff to make things happen, we would never have come close to being considered for this award.

"Being acknowledged for our small-business initiatives is important to the Laboratory. However, being recognized by the Small Business Administration is especially important because the Award of Excellence is a direct comparison to all other management and operating [contractors] and major government contractors," Gonzales continued. "This award is the highest level of recognition that the Laboratory can receive in the small-business area. There are many other awards, but this is the one that management and operating contractors covet."

Gonzales said he was pleased that Laboratory organizations have demonstrated their support of the Small Business Program Office and its efforts to increase procurement activities in Northern New Mexico. He cited the support that his office is receiving in establishing a Laboratory Small Business Advocacy Program, which will identify technical division members to serve as their division's small business point of contact on small business related issues.

Los Alamos' Small Business Program Office has in place a number of programs that support small business and economic development in the region. One such program is the Northern New Mexico Preference Program, part of Los Alamos' Regional Purchasing Program designed to strengthen regional business enterprises, stimulate greater regional employment and infrastructure, increase the business tax base in Northern New Mexico and reduce regional dependence on the federal government.

For more information about the Small Business Program Office, go to http://buynorthern.lanl.gov , call 7-4410 or write to sbo@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, developing technical solutions to reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and national security concerns.

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