Laboratory sponsors Northern New Mexico Federal Procurement Day

Contact: Steve Sandoval, steves@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9206 (03-072)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., May 29, 2003 -- Los Alamos National Laboratory is partnering with several agencies to improve procurement opportunities for small regional businesses by sponsoring Northern New Mexico Federal Procurement Day, or "Fed Day," June 4 at San Juan Pueblo.

The city of Española; Northern New Mexico Supplier Alliance, a trade group of more than 400 small businesses in Northern New Mexico; and Regional Development Corp. are cosponsoring Fed Day, which is from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the Convention Center Dome at San Juan Pueblo just north of Española on NM 68.

"The event is designed to attract regional, small businesses that have goods or services to offer, not only to Los Alamos but also to other federal government agencies," explained Tim Martinez of Los Alamos' Community Relations Office. "This is an opportunity for those agencies to meet small business owners and learn about the many services they can provide," said Martinez, adding that the federal Small Business Administration is assisting in the event.

"This is all about featuring regional small businesses. We're always looking for growth opportunities for small businesses here at the Laboratory," said Martinez.

Event organizers will hold "matchmaker sessions" to introduce small businesses to Laboratory organizations and other federal government agencies. "We have small businesses that do work for the Laboratory that certainly could do work for other federal agencies," said Martinez.

The Northern New Mexico Supplier Alliance has taken the lead in putting the event together. The alliance has been assisted by the Los Alamos and Santa Fe County chambers of commerce, Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corp., the Laboratory and the Small Business Administration.

Representatives from about two dozen federal agencies are expected to attend Fed Day, according to Martinez. They will have information booths to network with the 150 small-business owners and operators expected to attend.

Martinez noted that federal agencies are particularly interested in providing procurement opportunities to minority, women-owned, 8a and Historically Underutilized Business, or HUB-zone certified businesses. "This is the perfect opportunity to come into an area rich in HUB-zone certified businesses that have a service or product to offer," said Martinez, noting that are about 50 small businesses in Northern New Mexico that are HUB-zone certified.

The SBA's 8a program was created to help small, disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and access federal procurement opportunities.

Federal agencies that have committed to attending Fed Day, in addition to Los Alamos, include Sandia National Laboratories, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration, Kirtland Air Force Base, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the General Services Administration.

Joseph Montes, Region 6 administrator of the SBA, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the event.

More information about Northern New Mexico Federal Procurement Day, go to http://www.nnmsa.org/fedday.asp?PN=FedDay online or contact Martinez at 667-2390.

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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