&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Director's Note
Your small business may be top notch
in the products and services it offers. You
may have put together an unbeatable team.
Yet those attributes alone will not ensure
success without an effective, well-thought-out
marketing plan. Don't expect the government
to come clamoring at your door with contracts
in hand.
That sounds a bit scary, doesn't it?
Especially if your expertise is technical, and
marketing is a foreign word for you. All is
not lost, however. There are many resources
available to help you. Some are free of
charge. You don't even have to go it alone, if
you prefer to team up with another company.
There are numerous teaming arrangements
possible, as we highlight in this issue.
I think you'll find our Spring/Summer issue,
with the theme Marketing Your Way to Success,
especially valuable. This issue offers tips on
finding opportunities; sharpening your skills at
successfully responding to opportunities and
Spring / Summer 2004
raising the odds of being awarded a contract;
and acquiring the expertise and experience
you lack to successfully compete.
David Rockefeller is quoted as having said:
"Success in business requires training and
discipline and hard work. But if you're not
frightened by these things, the opportunities
are just as great today as they ever were." I'd
just like to paraphrase Mr. Rockefeller, if I
may. Success in business requires training and
discipline and hard work, in marketing as well
as in your technical field. Getting both areas
right can open up a world of opportunities. I
encourage you to read this edition and gain
new insight on how to take your company to
its next level of marketing success.
Read and Reflect,
Jeanette L. Brown, Director
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Inside This Issue^
Scope Out the Possibilities
Staying Ahead of the Competition
Acquiring Additional Expertise
EPA Indirect Procurement
Regional News
page 2.
page 7
page 8
page 14
page 16
www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Scope Out the Possibilities
In order to be
awarded a contract,
you first need to bid
on it. Priority #1
is checking out the
possibilities.
Have you assigned responsibility to someone
in your small business, or do you personally
set aside time to regularly check out business
opportunities? In order to keep your business
on a growth track, this needs to be a priority and
must become a regular activity.
Network
If you already have one or more government
contracts, make use of your contacts to find out
if any other potential opportunities are "coming
down the pike." You've heard it before
Network! This cannot be overstated. It may be
your finest opportunity to obtain new business.
By learning early what additional needs the
government has, you can get a head start on
acquiring any skills you lack to best supply the
products and services to meet these needs. By
getting into the loop early and finding out when
new awards will be announced, you can also get
a head start on preparing your response to the
upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP).
If you are an 8(a)-certified firm, you may be
able to convince the government to award your
firm a sole source contract. Demonstrating your
firm's financial condition and ability to perform
the work, with limited competition, is certainly
far simpler than responding to a Request for
Proposals. Your chances of being awarded a
contract are far greater as well, since you won't
be competing against a much larger group of
competing firms.
Even if your firm is just starting out and has
no prior or existing contracts, networking doesn't
have to be an impossible task. Both novice
and more experienced small businesses can
gain valuable leads and contacts by attending
the annual OSDBU Procurement Conference.
Remember to network and then to always follow
up on your networking opportunities.
Prime Contracting vs.
Subcontracting
Should you attempt to go after a contract as the
prime contractor, or settle for a smaller piece of the
pie and less control by subcontracting to another
firm? Prime contractor requirements, whether
technical, financial, or staffing, may exceed the
capabilities of many small businesses.
One way a small business can get its foot in
the door of prime contracting, and gain valuable
experience, is to enter into a joint venture
arrangement with a more experienced firm as
part of a Mentor-Protege agreement. This allows
a small business to assume prime contracting
responsibilities on contracts where it wouldn't
otherwise be eligible. See the section entitled
Mentor-Protege Programs beginning on page
11 for more information.
Or a small business may decide to take it
more slowly and gradually gain experience and
expertise by subcontracting to another firm.
Don't forget that EVERY business wanting to
do work for the U.S.Government must first go to
www.CCR.gov and register.
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Federal Subcontracting
Opportunities
To identify contractors who have been awarded
contracts for specific goods or services, visit
www.FedBizOpps.gov and search the archived
records for the specific types of goods/services
that your company offers. Information under
awarded contracts includes the name and address
of the prime contractor, as well as points of
contact and phone numbers.
SBA's SUB-Nef
;'',.'.«.".
The SBA's SUB-Net website http:
//web.sba.gov/subnet/ maintains a list of prime
contractors who are seeking subcontractors to
help them fulfill their government contract work.
SUB-Net is a free online database used by prime
contractors to post subcontracting opportunities.
Small businesses can review this website to
identify opportunities in their areas of expertise.
While the website is designed primarily as a
place for large businesses to post solicitations and
notices, it is also used by Federal agencies, State
and local governments, nonprofit organizations,
colleges and universities, and even foreign
governments for the same purpose.
The website has shifted the traditional
marketing strategy from the shotgun approach
to one that is more focused and sophisticated.
Instead of marketing blindly to hundreds of
prime contractors, with no certainty that any
given company has a need for their product
or service, small businesses can now use their
limited resources to identify concrete, tangible
opportunities and then bid on them.
To find this list of prime contractors, visit the
SBA website at http://www.sba.gov/businessop/
basics/subcontracting.html and click on the
SBA SUB-Net button at the bottom of the page.
Then click on Subcontracting Opportunities
Directory and select the state in which you are
interested.
As a small business engaged in subcontracting,
be sure you understand the terms and conditions
of your contract with the prime contractor before
agreeing to serve as a subcontractor. Ask:
How much work will you give me?
How and when will I receive
compensation from the prime
contractor?
How much can I rely on the prime
contractor for special tools, engineering
advice, information on manufacturing
methods, etc.?
How will quality control and
inspection procedures be applied to my
subcontract?
EPA Subcontracting
Opportunities
^ ''"^
To locate prime contractors on EPA contracts
only, go to http://www.epa.gov/oam. Click on
Active Contracts. Then click on EPA Active
Contracts Report by Prime Vendor Name.
U.S. Department of
Commerce Prime
Contractor Directory
The U.S. Department of Commerce Prime
Contractor Directory is prepared to assist all
small businesses with their marketing efforts in
obtaining suitable subcontracting opportunities
and presenting their capabilities to Commerce
prime contractors. The goal of this endeavor is
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
to enable Commerce contractors to find more
qualified small business concerns, and, therefore,
increase the subcontracting dollars to small, small
disadvantaged, (8a), HUBZone, veteran-owned,
service disabled veteran-owned small firms, and
women-owned small businesses.
This Prime Contractor Directory lists
Commerce's contractors with approved
subcontracting plans, and whose progress and
compliance toward achieving their subcontracting
goals is monitored by the OSDBU.
All contractors, other than small businesses,
receiving Federal awards in excess of $500,000
($1,000,000 for construction) are required
by Public Law 95-507 to submit acceptable
subcontracting plans prior to contract award.
These subcontracting plans must specify
goals and demonstrate contractors' best efforts
to subcontract to small, small disadvantaged,
(8a), HUBZone, veteran-owned, service disabled
veteran-owned small firms, and women-owned
small businesses.
The subcontracting program creates many
opportunities for small firms. Commerce also
requires contractors to establish aggressive
goals for subcontracting with small businesses.
Commerce contractors are required to
conduct successful outreach efforts to expand
opportunities for all small businesses.
The Department of CommercePrime Contractor
Directory became available the first week in June
2004. For more information, set your browser
to http://www.osec.doc.gov/osdbu/Primes.htm,
Information on Commerce opportunities can be
found in the Forecast of Contract Opportunities
(http://www.osec.doc.gov/osdbu/ForecastFY04_
FY05.htm) or by contacting George Ralis at
(202)482-1472.
OSDBU
Procurement Conference
The OSDBU Procurement Conference is
"A national conference fostering business
partnerships between the Federal Government,
its Prime Contractors, and small, minority,
service-disabled veteran-owned, veteran-owned,
HUBZone, and women-owned businesses." This
is a unique marketing environment that enables
your firm to:
Make New Contacts: This marketing
opportunity allows your sales staff
to meet with hundreds of potential
customers, suppliers or contractors in
one day, in one place.
Meet Major Purchasers: Over 40
Federal, State and local government
agencies and large businesses
exhibited this year to discuss
their contracting/subcontracting
requirements.
Market Your Company: Exhibit in
the trade fair and market your company
to government buyers, corporate buyers
and local businesses.
Newcomers to theFederal marketplace canlearn
how to make their way through the procurement
process for prime contracts and subcontracts with
large business contractors. Seminars are available
throughout the day exploring many aspects of the
changing procurement process.
Tips for Attendees
Study the list of exhibitors carefully
before venturing into the Exhibit Hall.
Target your potential clients and
speak with them first. Get as
much information about their
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
contracting/subcontracting procedures as
possible. Research their websites.
Prepare a one-page flyer indicating who
your customers are and what you do for
them.
Bring lots of business cards and hand
them out liberally.
Get the contact's name, phone number
and e-mail address to follow up on
potential business.
Take advantage of the seminars. The
information is timely and can prepare
you for bidding on available business.
Participate in the One-on-One
Counseling Sessions where
representatives from Federal
Government procurement and program
offices and large business prime
contractors meet for 15 minutes in pre-
scheduled appointments with small
businesses.
Preview the conference "Procurement
Opportunities" page to find out who is
buying what you sell.
Ask about current on-site procurement
opportunities. Many of the exhibitors
have information at their booth.
As evident above, successful networking is
more than just handing out business cards and
company brochures. It requires a lot of initial
"homework" and diligent follow-up. The goal is
to find a match between what your firm can offer
and what the government and prime contractors
seek.
The 14th annual OSDBUProcurement Conference
took place on April 20, 2004 in Upper Marlboro,
Maryland, not far from Washington, DC. HCD
International attended the conference as a roving
reporter for EPAs OSDBUNews. In many cases,
this year's conference attendees reported leaving
the conference with "a bag full of contacts"
that they hoped to pursue in the future. Several
Federal Government agencies and a large business
reported having "made a match" with the small
businesses they met with during the one-on-one
counseling sessions. If you're not familiar with
the OSDBU Procurement Conference, check out
their website for information on the conference:
http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/management/
dcfo/osdbu/outreach/conference/index.html.
Mark your calendar for the 15th Annual OSDBU
Procurement Conference, which will be held
Thursday, April 21, 2005, in Upper Marlboro,
MD.
Sources Sought
In addition to networking, scan sources
announcing upcoming contracts. There are many
possibilities. We'll cover a few of the larger
sources here.
For EPA solicitations, check out the EPA's
Sources Sought website at http://www.epa.gov/
oam/sources.htm. Can you realistically consider
doing work for another Division or Office other
than where you currently do work? For example,
if you do business for EPA Headquarters, would
it make sense to explore working for one of the
Regional Offices? At the EPA's Sources Sought
website, you'll find opportunities offered by:
Headquarters Procurement Operations
Division (HPOD)
Superfund/RCRA Regional Procurement
Operations Division (SRRPOD)
RTF Procurement Operations Division
(RTPPOD)
Cincinnati Procurement Operations
Division (CPOD)
EPA Regional Procurement Offices
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
Peruse the FedBizOpps
Do you
want to
widen your
search to
include other
Federal
Government
agencies?
Search the
notices in
the FedBizOpps (FBO), formerly the Commerce
Business Daily (CBD), for Federal procurement
bidding opportunities. FedBizOpps.gov is the
single government point-of-entry for Federal
Government procurement opportunities over
$25,000. Government buyers are able to publicize
theirbusiness opportunitiesby posting information
directly to FedBizOpps via the Internet. Through
one portal - FedBizOpps (FBO) - small and
large businesses seeking Federal markets for
their products and services can search, monitor
and retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire
Federal contracting community.
Businesses can log onto this Federal
Government website free of charge to search
for pre-solicitations, special notices, combined
synopses, all synopses, modifications, foreign
government standards, and amendments to
combined synopses. Full text searches can be
conducted on active or archived documents in
the FBO database. These searches can be further
refined by solicitation/award number, dates, zip
code of the place of performance, set-aside code,
procurement classification code, NAICS code,
and Agency.
The FedBizOpps system also includes an e-mail
notification service called the Vendor Notification
Service. After subscribing, the subscriber will
receive the following announcements by e-mail:
Presolicitation and their modification
Notices of solicitation and solicitation
amendment releases
General procurement announcements
Three options are available:
1. Register to receive all notices from
solicitation number.
2. Register to receive all notices from
selected organizations and product
service classifications.
3. Register to receive all procurement
notices.
To register for the Vendor Notification
Service, go to www.fedbizopps.gov and
click on Vendor Notification Service.
Improved Ways of
Searching for Federal
Opportunities
,, ;.;,» v
Searching for just the right opportunity to bid
onthat is tailored to the products and services
you offer, in the location where you operatecan
be an exhaustive undertaking. It needn't be, if
you're willing to pay to simplify the search. A
number of private sector firms have taken what
the Federal Government offers for freeand then
added features, repackaged the information, and
made it available for a fee.
Improvements include the following:
an improved search engine to help
you hone in on the most relevant
opportunities
the capability of storing unlimited search
queries to perform "one click" searches
bookmark notices for easy reference
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
data download options in multiple
formats
searching by state to identify the
opportunities within the states where you
wish to do business.
keywords highlighted
keyword searching capability on their e-
mail notification service
Not all of the above-mentioned improvements
are offered by every service. Each has made its
own custom improvements over the FedBizOpps
service and each has its own fee structure. If
you're interested in subscribing to one of these
private sector services, check it out thoroughly
before subscribing so you are completely familiar
with the fee they charge and the services they
offer.
Following are three of these fee-based services:
http://www.fbodaily.com/
http://www.cbd-net.com/
http://cbd.cos.com/
For additional services, search under
"Commerce Business Daily" or "FedBizOpps"
on the Internet.
[Disclaimer: The EPA neither recommends nor
endorses any of these private sector-developed
products mentioned in this newsletter.]
Set-Aside Alert
Produced by Business Research Services, Inc.,
Set-Aside Alert is a biweekly newsletter that
provides news on contracting activities, teaming
opportunities, certification, programs, regulatory
changes, and marketing tips. Subscribers also
receive a daily e-mail of newly announced
opportunities set aside for small businesses.
For further information, set your browser to
www.setasidealert.com
[Disclaimer: The EPA neither recommends nor
endorses this private sector-developed product.]
Staying Ahead of the
Competition
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As you well know, business is all about
competition, and to be successful you must stay
one step ahead of your competition.
If a pre-solicitation conference is being held for
a contract you are interested in bidding on, you
should make every effort to attend it. At the very
least, you should be aware of the companies who
did attendthese may be your competitionand
find out what information they learned through
their questions and answers. In this case,
ignorance is definitely NOT bliss. You need
to know at a minimum what your competition
knows.
Find out the following:
Has a Notice of Intent been issued to
award a Sole-Source contract in an area
of expertise in which your firm would be
interested?
Has a pre-solicitation synopsis notice
been issued?
Was a pre-solicitation conference
scheduled?
Was a Request for Proposals or Request
for Qualifications issued?
Subsequent to any solicitation
announcements, have any amendments
been announced?
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
Stay on top of developments and don't be
caught napping when a development occurs that
requires your immediate attention and action.
How to Respond to an RFP
Once you've identified a solicitation in which
your firm is interested, the decision must be made
on whether or not to pursue the contract. Review
the section "Preparing For Opportunity...To Bid
or Not to Bid" on page six of the Winter 2004
issue of OSDBU News. If your decision is to
bid, then allow sufficient time and resources to
adequately respond to the solicitation.
Think of the process as preparing for an
important college final exam. First of all, you
must analyze the Request for Proposals (RFP).
Review thoroughly the section that describes how
the proposal will be evaluated, and make sure you
develop an excellent case for the requirements
that will receive the maximum number of points.
Secondly, spend time to familiarize yourself
with the Agency and the specific Department
or Office that is requesting the service(s) and/or
product(s). Whether or not you have already
done business with them, the proposal must show
that your firm understands their needs and must
convince them that by selecting your firm, they
will achieve their goals and objectives.
Thirdly, respond specifically to this RFP's
requirements. Tailor your Capability Statement,
covering the requirements, and only the
requirements, listed in the RFP. A good proposal
is like any good piece of writing; it must be concise
and to the point, without covering areas that are
not relevant. By supplying a "Specialized"
Capability Statement, and by properly organizing
the proposal layout, you make it easy for the
proposal scorers to assign you points that may
win you the award.
Finally, make sure your proposal addresses
ALL the skills sought. If you currently don't
have all the skills in house, you need to devise
a strategy to acquire these skills in order to
fulfill the contract. Read the following section,
"Acquiring Additional Expertise," for thoughts
on this topic.
Acquiring Additional
Expertise
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Score by Taking Advantage of SCORE
Could you use some free professional advice?
Then consider contacting SCORE, the Service
Corps of Retired Executives, a volunteer program
of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
SCORE is a nonprofit association of 13,000
retired and active executives representing a wealth
of business "brains, ideas, skills, and experience"
who provide free business counseling. These
volunteers are ready to share their business
acumen to help you unravel bottlenecks. SCORE
consists of men and women business executives
who voluntarily commit their time to share their
management and technical expertise with present
and prospective owners/managers of small
businesses. Begun in 1964, the goal of SCORE is
to help American small businesses prosper.
SCORE volunteers are organized into local self-
administered chapters in more than 400 locations
throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands. They work in and near
their home communities to provide management
counseling and training to small businesses and
those who are thinking of going into business.
Every effort is made to match a client's need with
a counselor experienced in that line of business.
Service is provided without charge to the client.
Through in-depth counseling and training,
owners and managers receive help in identifying
basic management problems, determining their
cause, and becoming better managers. An analysis
is made of each business and its problems, and a
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
plan is offered to correct the trouble and help the
owner through the critical period. All help is
confidential and person-to-person. A business
does not have to have an SBA loan or even be
in operation. Pre-business consultation is an
important part of the service offered.
Additional information on SCORE is available
at their website: www.score.org You can contact
SCORE in any of four different ways:
Four Ways to Contact
SCORE
Get a Map to a Chapter Near You
Use SCORE'S online mapping system to locate
a chapter near you and schedule a face-to-face
counseling session with a business expert.
Ask SCORE for Advice Online
Get small business advice via e-mail that's
fast, confidential, and free, from dedicated,
experienced professionals. SCORE volunteers
are ready to help you solve problems or answer
questions on starting and growing your business.
Find a Chapter Website
Most local SCORE chapters have their own
websites. Look for local links from the main
national website (www.score.org) and visit
your local chapter websites for news, workshop
listings, and local small business resources.
Call SCORE Toll-free
Contact the SCORE Association office at
(800) 634-0245 to find a SCORE office near you.
SCORE has nearly 400 chapters nationwide.
Teaming Arrangements
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As a small business with limited resources,
skills, and experience, do opportunities seem
limited? You can increase contract opportunities
through teaming arrangements and subcontracting
relationships. Teaming arrangements are
desirable from a Federal and industry standpoint
because they enable the participating companies
to complement each other's unique capabilities
and offer the government the best combinations
of performance, cost, and delivery for the
products and services being acquired. Teaming
arrangements may include large businesses
or other small businesses. Size issues may be
involved, however, when small businesses enter
teaming agreements. It is highly recommended
that a small business contemplating a teaming
agreement consult with an attorney specializing
in that area before entering into any such
arrangement.
What is a Teaming Arrangement?
Contractor team arrangements are defined by
the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart
9.6, Contractor Team Arrangements as follows:
"Two or more companies form a partnership
or joint venture to act as a potential prime
contractor"; or "A potential prime contractor
agrees with one or more other companies to have
them act as its subcontractors under a specified
Government contract or acquisition program."
Difference Between a Partnership and a
Joint Venture
A partnership is a voluntary association of two
or more individuals to carry on a business for
profit, usually on a permanent basis. A limited
partnership provides for limited liability of one or
more of the partners. A joint venture, by contrast,
consists of two or more companies, formed for
the purpose of performing a contract. Once
the contract is completed, the joint venture is
dissolved along with the new company that was
formed to perform the contract.
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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The Teaming Process
In order to establish teaming arrangements,
businesses combine their talents and resources to
bid on major procurements. The companies may
combine their financial capabilities, managerial
and technical skills, personnel, business facilities
and/or equipment to become a successful
bidder on a contract. A review of the proposed
documents by an attorney knowledgeable about
teaming agreements is highly recommended.
Pick the Right Partner
To find the right partner, you first need to
recognize your firm's strengths and weaknesses,
and future goals, in order to find a good match.
What do you need to improve your firm's
products and services? You want a partner whose
products and services will complement yours and
make your combined team a much more credible
bidder for the specific contracts your team will be
bidding on.
Participants in teaming and subcontracting
agreements should be knowledgeable about the
standard terms and conditions of the agreement.
Questions regarding claims, the small business
size status of the participants, regulations, Federal
policy, State laws, legislation, reimbursement,
payment, licenses, responsibility and obligation
should be addressed before entering into the
teaming agreement. As a result, consulting
with an attorney and reviewing relevant legal
documents and possible areas of concern or
dispute can be of assistance before entering into
teaming and subcontracting arrangements. This
may help to identify the problems and solutions
that teaming and subcontracting arrangements
present.
Where Can I Find Federal
Teaming Arrangements?
It's no coincidence that where procurement
opportunities abound, so do opportunities for
teaming arrangements. The Federal Business
Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website, a great
source for procurement opportunities, is also
one of the frequently used websites to search
for teaming arrangements. Check it out at
www.fedbizopps.gov/.
Prime contractors often use the SBA's SUB-
Net database to post notices of sources sought
for teaming partners and subcontractors on future
contracts. Check it out at http://web.sba.gov/
subnet/.
Set-Aside, a subscription-based newsletter
service, lists firms seeking teaming partners:
www. setasi deal ert. com.
[Disclaimer: The EPA neither recommends nor
endorses this private sector-developed product.]
The Office of Small and Disadvantaged
Business Utilization (OSDBU) in each Federal
Agency has information about how to market
your company to find teaming arrangements. To
locate each of the Federal OSDBU offices, set
your browser to www.osec.doc.gov/osdbu and
click on Acquisition & Small Business Offices,
then click on Federal OSDBU Offices Or go
directly to http://www.osec.doc.gov/osdbu/Acq_
and_SB_Specialist_Offices.htm#mpo.
Most of the OSDBU offices' websites list
contact names and telephone numbers. You can
contact one of the small business specialists in
the OSDBU office to discuss your company's
teaming needs. The small business specialist
will be able to assist you with information about
what types of procurements are available for your
products or services now and in the future.
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Contacting Corporations
Corporations seek Federal contracting
opportunities with small businesses through
their Small Business Programs, also called
Supplier Diversity Programs. By contacting the
supplier diversity offices, firms can network and
develop business relationships that can result in
procurement opportunities. A number of the large
prime contractors include small business contact
information and resources on their websites under
"Supplier Diversity Program" or "Small Business
Program."
An important networking resource is a
publication entitled Purchasing People in
Major Corporations. The publication provides
information about major U.S. corporations and
lists names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses,
and the addresses of corporate diversity supplier
program offices. It is updated and issued annually
by Diversity Information Resources, Inc. Set your
browser to www.diversityinforesources.com/ for
order information.
[Disclaimer: The EPA neither recommends nor
endorses this private sector-developed product.]
EPA Small Business Vendor
Profile System
As described in the OSDBUNews Winter 2004
issue (see pp. 14-15), EPA/OSDBU has a Small
Business Vendor Profile Database where small
businesses can voluntarily make EPA employees
aware of their interest in doing business with
EPA. This system can also assist large prime
contractors in finding small and disadvantaged
companies to team with. The database provides
a means to search and retrieve vendors by
ownership, NAICS, corporate capabilities, SBA
8(a) status, and other designations. The public
may access this database through the Internet at
http://cfpub2.epa.gov/sbvps/. Small businesses
may also register their company at this website.
Mentor-Protege Programs
Many Federal agencies, including the EPA,
have Mentor-Protege programs. The various
programs differ from agency to agency. For a
firm to participate as a Protege, some Federal
programs require certification as a Small
Disadvantaged, 8(a), or HUBZone firm.
The EPA Mentor-Protege
Program
The EPA established the Mentor-Protege
Program in 1994 to stimulate and impact the
number of Small Disadvantaged and Women-
Owned Businesses (SDB/WOBs) involved in
EPA contracts.
The goals of the EPA Mentor-Protege Program
are to:
Increase SDB/WOB participation in EPA
procurement activities as subcontractors,
team members, suppliers, and ultimately
as prime contractors;
Establish a mutually beneficial
relationship between SDB/WOBs and
EPA large business prime contractors
and/or small businesses wishing to serve
as Mentors;
Aid in achieving goals to use SDB/
WOBs in subcontracting work;
Promote the economic and environmental
stability of Proteges; and
Develop the technical, administrative,
and managerial expertise of the Protege,
which will ultimately lead to greater
Protege success in competing for contract
opportunities.
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Mentor Criteria
In order for a major prime contractor to
participate as a Mentor in the program, the
firm must be performing on at least one active
EPA contract and be eligible for the award of
Federal contracts. The Mentor should have a
corporate policy that promotes, develops, and
implements subcontracting opportunities for the
socioeconomic sector as noted in the Federal
Acquisition Regulations (FAR Part 19.7).
Under the EPA Mentor-Protege program, a
Mentor firm may have multiple active Mentor-
Protege agreements.
Protege Criteria
The Protege firm must be either a Woman-
Owned Business or certified as a Small
Disadvantaged Business.
Application Process
Offerers interested in participating in
the program must submit an application in
accordance with EP Provision 52.219-130 along
with the submission of their initial proposal to the
Contracting Officer.
CONTACTS
Patricia Durrant
Socioeconomic Business/FffiCU/Minority
Institutions Program Officer
U.S. EPA/OSDBU (1230A)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 564-4738
Jerry Dodson
Small Business Specialist
U.S. EPA/Contracts Management Division
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919)541-2249
Norman G. White
Small Business Specialist
U.S. EPA/Contracts Management Division
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)487-2024
THE SBA Mentor-Protege
Program
The Small Business Administration
established a Mentor-Protege program to assist
8(a) participants in improving their ability to
successfully compete for and receive Federal
Government contracts.
A Protege firm may have only one Mentor at a
time through the SBA Mentor-Protege program,
but may have other Mentors through other
Mentor-Protege programs.
SBAs Office of Business Development
administers the SBAs 8(a) Business Development
Mentor-Protege Program. Certification in the 8(a)
program is required for the SB A program.
Why should an 8(a) disadvantaged firm
consider becoming a Protege? Mentors provide
technical and management assistance, financial
assistance in the form of equity investments and/
or loans, subcontract support, and assistance in
performing prime contracts through joint venture
arrangements with 8(a) firms.
Benefits Proteges can gain under the SBAs
Mentor-Protege program include:
Technical and management assistance:
The Mentor's expertise, resources, and
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
capabilities are made available to the
Protege.
Prime contracting: Mentors can enter
into joint-venture arrangements with
Proteges to compete for government
contracts.
Financial assistance in the form of
equity or loans: Mentors can own
equity interest of up to 40% in a Protege
firm to help the Protege firm raise capital.
Qualification for other SBA programs:
A Protege can obtain other forms of
SBA assistance as the result of its good
standing in the Mentor-Protege program.
To qualify as a Protege, a participant must:
1. Be in good standing in the 8(a) Business
Development program and be current with
all eligibility and reporting requirements;
the firm cannot have termination or
suspension proceedings against it.
2. It also must meet one of the following
three criteria: a) Be in the 8(a) Program
Development Stage; or b) Never have
received an 8(a) contract; or c) Be less
than half the size standard corresponding
to its primary NAICS code.
How to Select a Mentor
,./,',
Before signing an agreement with a Mentor
firm, a Protege firm should make sure the Mentor
has the ability and the willingness to: a) commit to
help develop the Protege company; and b) provide
the various forms of assistance the Protege needs
to improve its ability to compete for contracts.
The Protege should ensure that the Mentor: 1)
has at least 2 years of financial profitability;
2) possesses good personal, professional and
business character; 3) does not appear on the
Federal list of debarred or suspended contractors;
4) has experience in government contracting; and
5) has practical and expert business skills and
knowledge to share with the Protege firm.
To locate a Mentor, contact the small business
representative in the Federal agencies that have a
Mentor-Protege program. Most often, the small
business office is the primary contact for small
business procurement activity and is generally
located within the Agency's Office of Small and
Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU).
However, at EPA the primary contact is the
contracting officer.
Another way to locate a Mentor is through
marketing and networking. A Protege firm may
want to advertise its services to buyers on the
SBAs PRO-Net website (http://pro-net.sba.gov/)
or on the Federal Business Opportunities website
(www.fedbizopps.gov).
How Does A Firm
Enter the Program?
Mentor and Protege firms enter into an
SBA-approved written agreement outlining the
Protege's needs and describing the assistance the
Mentor has committed to providing. Under the
agreement, the Mentor must provide assistance to
the Protege for at least one year.
The Protege's servicing district office evaluates
the agreement according to the provisions
contained in 13 CFR 124.520. SBA conducts
annual reviews to determine the success of the
Mentor-Protege relationship.
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
The relationship ends or is terminated upon
completion of the goals and objectives of the
agreement (within the 9-year program time
frame). The relationship can also be terminated
with a 30-day advance notice issued by either
party to the other party, with a copy furnished
to the SBA. Additionally, SBA can terminate
the Mentor-Protege agreement during the annual
review.
To apply for the program, contact your SBA
District Office. For additional information,
set your browser to http://www.sba.gov/8abd/
indexmentorprogram.html.
Other Federal Mentor-
Protege Programs
M \ > *"'
womenbiz.gov recently posted to their
website an updated listing of Federal Mentor-
Protege programs. Set your browser to http:
//www. womenbiz.gov/UPDATED-Mentor-
Protege-Programs.pdf
EPA Indirect Procurement
One way of doing business with EPA, discussed
above, is by directly entering into contracts
following the Federal Acquisition Procedures.
Another option is indirect procurementthrough
grants, interagency agreements, and cooperative
agreements. EPA spends about four times as
much under grants and agreements as under direct
procurement programs. Of EPAs $5.61 billion in
total annual spending, more than $4 billion per
year is provided through grants and agreements.
EPA grant/agreement recipients include States,
local governments, tribes, trust territories,
colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations,
and hospitals. Small firms seeking business with
the EPA may want to explore subcontracting
opportunities with these recipients.
ERA'S MBE/WBE
Fair Share Policy
. M?"
EPA developed a Fair Share Policy to implement
statutes, executive orders, and regulations that
require recipients of EPA financial assistance to
make good faith efforts to award a portion of their
procurement dollars to minority-owned business
enterprises (MBEs) and women-owned business
enterprises (WBEs). EPA is one of only three
Federal Agencies that has a goaling program for
procurement dollars going to MBEs and WBEs
through assistance agreements; the Department of
Transportation and the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) are the other two
Agencies.
EPA has two National Goals, which are based
on statutes:
Public Law 101-549, November 15, 1990
To the extent practicable, not less than 10
percent of the funding for research resulting
from the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 will
be made available to Disadvantaged Business
Enterprises (DBEs).
Public Law 102-389, October 6, 1992
To the fullest extent possible, at least 8 percent
of Federal funding for prime and subcontracts
awarded in support of authorized programs will
be made available to socially and economically
disadvantaged individuals (within the meaning
of Section 8(a)(5) and (6) of the Small Business
Act) including Historically Black Colleges and
Universities and Women-Owned Enterprises.
The National Goals were modified following
the legal case Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena
115 S. Ct. 2097 (1995) to specify that the National
Goals in each grant category are based on the
availability of MBEs and WBEs in the requisite
geographical area.
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Recipients of EPA financial assistance
agreements are required to seek, and encouraged
to utilize small, minority, and women-owned
businesses for their procurements needs under
the financial assistance agreement. This is done
through the inclusion of terms and conditions
in the financial assistance agreement referred to
as the "Six Affirmative Steps" and through the
negotiation of "Fair Share Objectives/Goals."
The Six Affirmative Steps
Recipients shall make positive efforts to utilize
small businesses, minority-owned firms, and
women-owned business enterprises, whenever
possible. Recipients of Federal awards shall take
all of the following steps to further this goal.
1. Ensure that small businesses, minority-
owned firms, and women-owned
business enterprises are used to the
fullest extent practicable.
2. Make information on forthcoming
opportunities available and arrange time
frames for purchases and contracts to
encourage and facilitate participation by
small businesses, minority-owned firms,
and women-owned business enterprises.
3. Consider in the contract process whether
firms competing for larger contracts
intend to subcontract with small
businesses, minority-owned firms, and
women-owned business enterprises.
4. Encourage contracting with consortiums
of small businesses, minority-owned
firms, and women-owned business
enterprises when a contract is too
large for one of these firms to handle
individually.
5. Use the services and assistance, as
appropriate, of such organizations as the
Small Business Administration and the
Department of Commerce's Minority
Business Development Agency in the
solicitation and utilization of small
businesses, minority-owned firms, and
women-owned business enterprises.
6. If the prime contractor awards
subcontracts, require the contractor to
take steps in paragraphs (b)(l) through
(5) of this section.
When the Steps Apply
The Six Affirmative Steps apply and are
required to be followed when a financial
assistance agreement recipient makes a purchase
in any of the following categories: Construction,
Equipment, Services and Supplies. The steps
apply regardless of the amount of the grant award.
The steps also apply to sub-recipients.
How Fair Share Objectives/Goals Work
The Program requires that fair share objectives
for Minority-Owned Businesses (MBEs) and
Worn en-Owned Businesses (WBEs) be negotiated
with the recipients. A fair share represents an
amount of funds reasonably commensurate with
the total project funding and the availability of
qualified MBEs and WBEs, taking into account
experience on EPA-funded projects and other
comparable projects in the area. These objectives
operate as goals, not quotas. EPA does not
impose penalties if the objectives are not met.
Fair share objectives/goals are negotiated by EPA
MBE/WBE coordinators, not by project officers.
Grant recipients and sub-recipients must make
efforts to identify MBE and WBE firms and
report actual accomplishments to EPA on EPA
Form 5700-52A. This form is required of ALL
recipients, even if their procurement activity
for the reporting period is zero. Goals are not
included in cooperative agreements.
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
Regional News
Region 6 Participation in
Procurement Outreach Conferences
Region 6 participation at procurement
outreach conferences and training seminars is
a great vehicle for networking and distributing
information. It gives Region 6 and grant recipients
an opportunity to network with other agencies and
businesses. This regional involvement with the
small and disadvantaged business communities
provides the businesses with one-on-one
counseling opportunities. More importantly, it
connects the businesses to a person. The Region
has participated in the Government Procurement
Connections in Houston, TX; the Alliance Native
American in Albuquerque, NM; the Women's
Business Round Up 2004 in Arlington, TX; and
several conferences in response to the White
House initiatives to increase minority institutions
in Federal programs. The Region also plans to
participate in the following conferences. Come
join us! Information about each conference is
available at the conference website.
Dallas/Ft. Worth Minority BDC ACCES S
Expo 2004 (June 15th) - Arlington
Convention Center, Arlington, TX (http:
//www. dfwmb cd. com/)
Alliance Texas 2004 (July 13th) -
Arlington Convention Center, Arlington,
TX (http://www.allianceforbiz.com/
texas.html)
Minority Enterprise Development
(MED) Week 2004 (August 12th - 13th)
- Hyatt Regency, Dallas, TX (http://
www.medweek.gov)
Region 7 Finds Lowest & Best at
EPA Booth
At a Federal procurement conference this
spring, Region 7 made an initial contact with a
firm that led to the competitive awarding of a
multimillion dollar contract - all in less than 90
days.
Region 7 Contracting Officers Larry Kalwei and
James Price attended a Small Business Conference
in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in April 2003. They
happened to be visited by a Small Disadvantaged
Business, JMA Corporation, which provides a
variety of IT services. During the discussion at
the EPA booth, it was discovered that JMA had
both 8(a) status and a GSA Schedule contract.
The next day, Region 7 procuring Contracting
Officer Marie Noel contacted JMA and scheduled
an interview and presentation for the company
with the Region 7 IT program staff. Following
the presentation, the IT staff decided the firm had
the capabilities and experience to be added to a
vendors list for an upcoming IT contract.
Several weeks later, quotes were requested
from a restricted list of currently certified 8(a)
firms who also had GSA schedule contracts.
Of the three firms submitting quotes, JMA
Corporation from Overland Park, Kansas was
the lowest bidder and was awarded the contract.
On July 1, 2003, JMA began work on a Delivery
Order contract having an estimated value of $2.4
million.
The Region 7 Contract & Grants Office is led
by Larry Kalwei. In speaking for his entire staff,
Larry says, "I found this extremely gratifying,
because of all the people we meet at these
conferences, it is very seldom that we can match
up our needs with what they are trying to sell.
But, now I can say for certain, it can and does
happen!"
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
Region 10 Small Business Vendor Day
EPA Region 10 hosted a Small Business Vendor
Day on June 1, 2004 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in
downtown Seattle. This event gave the area's
small businesses an opportunity to showcase their
products/services to employees of EPARegion 10
and of some of the other Federal agencies located
in Seattle. Unlike most procurement fairs that
have exhibitors from large and small businesses
and a variety of other organizations, only small
businesses were invited to exhibit at this Vendor
Day. The hope was that the employees would
become more aware of the area's small business
capabilities.
Thirty small business vendors exhibited and
offered a wide variety of products/services:
office supplies, safety equipment & supplies,
GIS systems, environmentally friendly cleaning
products, consulting services, promotional items,
language interpretation services, signs & exhibit
displays, office furniture and others.
One of the vendors had this to say:
"Opportunities such as you afforded us are few
and far between. Normally we are always in the
same room as the big corporations. While the big
corporations have the money to spend on a lot of
different marketing tools, most of us do not. It is
difficult when there is no name recognition, even
though our prices and service are normally much
better."
"I have been to many trade shows and I would
rate the one you had at the top. You did what
small business advisors should do to create
awareness. My hopes are that I created enough
interest in some categories for my quality service
to have opportunities to create sales and benefit
from word-of-mouth referrals."
"Again, bravo to you for doing what other
small business advisors should do. I will attend
any function you may have."
For more information on the EPA Region
10 Small Business Vendor Day, contact Marie
McPeak, Small & Disadvantaged Business
Utilization Officer, at (206) 553-2894.
2nd Annual Puerto Rican
Conference and Grants Training
During the week of May 24, Jeanette Brown,
Tammy Thomas, and Susan Galliher of OSDBU
parti cipatedinthe Minority BusinessDevelopment
Agency's 2nd Annual Puerto Rican Conference
for Negotiating Contracts with the Federal
Government. During break-out sessions, one-on-
one counseling was provided to both individuals
and groups for approximately 40 small business
owners. The small business owners represented a
large variety of services, ranging from distributors
of safely shoes to firms specializing in geological
and environmental science. On Friday, May 28,
the OSDBU staff supported Jeanne Conklin
of EPA's Grants Administration Division in
providing grants training to 50 Puerto Rican
nonprofit organizations, including academic,
municipal, and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
concerns.
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
EPA's Federal Service Excellence
Award Winners
From left to right:
Norman White, Nancy Muzzy and Scott Fogle
The 2003 Federal Service Excellence
Awards Program recently selected several
OAM employees in the Cincinnati office for an
award. This awards program recognizes Federal
employees in the Cincinnati area in nine different
areas.
Nancy Muzzy, Scott Fogle, and Norman White
of the Cincinnati Procurement OperationsDivisi on
are winners of the "Project Team Award." This
particular award recognizes employees charged
with resolving specific problems, developing and
implementing a major change in an organization,
or effectively planning or executing a project or
program.
Nancy, Scott, and Norman were recognized for
their outstanding and tireless efforts to overcome
adversity in planning and awarding a multi-
million dollar section 8(a) contract to McKing
Consulting Corporation, a woman-owned, small
business. This performance-based contract will
assist the Office of Water in their efforts to provide
public education, outreach, and communication
to a wide-variety of public and private sector
organizations.
The team received a plaque, a certificate,
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
and a flag flown over the Capitol. They were
further recognized on May 5, 2004, in downtown
Cincinnati by the Public Service Recognition
Cincinnati Committee. This event is a ceremony
that pays tribute to the profession of public
service and recognizes individuals that have done
an outstanding job during the year.
Congratulations!
Bronze Medal Awarded
to MBE/WBE Coordinator
Sharon Molden, Region
1's MBE/WBE Coordinator,
was recently awarded EPA's
Bronze Medal for sustained
superior management of EPA
New England' s Di sadvantaged
Business Enterprise Program
Office and for the regional
success of Environmental
Justice training
that Sharon was instrumental in delivering.
Additionally, Sharon was a member of a team that
was awarded the Operations Excellence Awards
for its innovative efforts in establishing two new
regional initiatives: 1) a measurable link between
the Di sadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
Program and the Contracts and Procurement
function, and 2) linking the work they do to
the environmental priorities and initiatives of
EPA New England. Sharon was specifically
recognized for her efforts to better identify,
utilize, and maintain contacts within the DBE
community as it relates to EPA's mission and the
opportunities we create. Congratulations, Sharon,
on receiving these two prestigious awards, which
you well deserve!
-------
Creates President's Advisory
Commission on Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders
President George W. Bush signed an executive
order on May 13, 2004, establishing the new
President's Advisory Commission on Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders. The new
Commission will be housed at the Department
of Commerce in the Minority Business
Development Agency. The new President's
Advisory Commission shall provide advice to
the President, through the Secretary, on providing
equal economic opportunities for Asian American
and Pacific Islander businesses where they may be
underserved. The Commission shall terminate 2
years from the date of the signing of the Executive
Order, unless renewed by the President.
On May 16, 2004, SB A Administrator Hector
Barreto launched a new website with information
a small business owner needs to access
government services, understand regulations, and
apply for help, money and training. "Any kind of
form or information a small business needs will
now be in one place," says Barreto. Check out the
new website at v - v i ur.iut-r-s i<<\.
K
u
In August 2002, iAM Solutions, LLC (iAM)
acquired the Minority Online Information Service
(MOLIS) database from ScienceWise. iAM is a
woman-owned and SDB-certified company. iAM
intends to build upon the traditional governmental
program with a new and enhanced version of
MOLIS. Next Generation MOLIS (NGM) will
be released on September 15, 2004 during the 2nd
Annual Minority Serving Institution Conference
at Jackson State University. Sheila E. Garnett,
iAM CEO, says: "This release will focus on the
ongoing maintenance of the current information
while introducing our unique approach to
'Knowledge Management.'"
Subscribers will have the ability to collaborate
with peers and agencies; subscribe real time to
content (for example-documents, folders, bulletin
Boards, portals and business intelligence); and
dynamically post information to the web without
the use of a webmaster. Small Businesses will use
"NGM" to enhance their business development
activities. This information is available now at
http://www.molis.org/. General information (key
personnel, mission and history) on the institutions,
conferences, and announcements will continue to
be made available to site visitors.
Users can access this and other capabilities
based on different levels of service:
Basic user - Presents the traditional look and
feel of the MOLIS database with profiles of the
approximately 25,000 faculty members involved
in research at each of the 268 minority-serving
institutions. The research capabilities of each
institution will be online. The following content
and information is available:
Articles of Interest for minority-serving
institutions and small businesses
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
Conference Announcements - events and
access to conference documents (PDF)
Funding Sources - government and
private sector
HBCU/MI Agency Contacts - this will
be a knowledge management dashboard
Research Databases - access to
government databases
Scholarships & Internships - postings
from government and private sector
Search Research Centers - keywords
used for cross institutional searches
Search: HBCUs, 1890 Land-Grant
Schools, Hispanic Serving Institutions,
Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian
Serving Institutions
Entrepreneurial -Alerts concerning new grants
or contract opportunities from funding agencies
will be sent out to the schools and/or posted
weekly. These will be special opportunities
of importance to the agencies versus items
currently readily available in Federal Business
Opportunities.
Government:
Policy Deployment
President's Management Agenda (PMA)
Lists of Minority Serving Institutions
Lists of Minority Serving Associations
Agency Scorecards & Performance
Faith Based & Community Initiatives
- helps involve new faculty members
Millennium Challenge Corporation -
new internationally focused opportunity
Small Business Portal
Executive Research - documents, white
papers, websites, etc.
Disparity Studies - State studies
Best Practices - OSDBUs and MSIs
Sarbanes Oxley Compliance
Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Saved Queries and power searches
across the entire document/knowledge
repository
Community of Practice "Collaboration"
- As the schools and businesses position
themselves for larger contracts, this service will
facilitate collaboration between the schools,
small businesses, government agencies, major
institutions, churches, and FORTUNE 1000
companies. This will allow for teaming,
internships and expanded visibility of how to
effectively compete for the contracts and grants.
The requirements for this area of the site will
be driven by the schools, agencies and other
communities of practice. Knowledge transfer
from the aforementioned groups will allow
minority institutions to "partner as a sub" today
and "Prime" tomorrow. This level supports
document routing, automatic subscriptions for
key information, and expanded funding alerts
to include opportunities from prime contractors
and the private sector. We also allow a core
group of people to author information for their
respective community of practice. Users at this
level can post their documents (or other content)
to the web and access them from any computer
connected to the Internet. Currently this area will
have the following communities of practice:
Federal Agencies
High School Guidance Counselors
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
HBCU Deans of Business
Knowledge Nodes
Minority Schools of Engineering
International - Programs & Trade Mission
Support
In summary, MOLIS will empower subscribers
by providing them with the tools, information and
content necessary to access and better understand
existing government programs, and new programs
such as Faith Based & Community Initiatives and
the Millennium Challenge Account. It will include
Sources Sought by Prime Contractors and Policy
Deployment.
"I think the MOLIS system is a worthwhile
investment to stimulate potential business
opportunities in the HBCU community," asserts
Jeanette Brown.
Success Stories
HBCU Laboratory Receives Accreditation
Enters into Two Mentor-Protege
Relationships
Weston Solutions and Severn Trent Laboratories
have initiated an informal Mentor-Protege relationship
with Clark Atlanta University's (CAU) Environmental
Analytical Services Laboratory that provides a win-win
situation for all involved. CAU is an Historically Black
College and University (HBCU). Its Environmental
Analytical Services Laboratory, established with
major financial assistance from the Georgia Research
Alliance and the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE),
was recently accredited for metals analyses by the
National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation
Program through the State of Florida. Weston
Solutions provided the testing samples and Severn
Trent Laboratories guided them in the testing protocol.
This assistance led up to the laboratory's accreditation,
which is a major step forward for the Environmental
EPA News
EPA/OSDBU Hits the Air Waves
On April 20, and again on April 28, Jeanette Brown
was a guest speaker on the Alexandria, Virginia-based
radio talk show, Business and Technology Insider.
Talk show producer and host Terry Twomey asked
Jeanette several questions about the process that small
businesses should follow to obtain work with the Federal
Government. This talk show airs daily, Monday through
Friday, at 1:00 p.m. ET on www.btiradio.com.
Cybertravel Guide
Please take the time to ensure that someone in your
business is assigned the task of traveling to key
websites so you can remain knowledgeable about
potential opportunities.
For Central Contractor Registration, visit
www.CCR.gov
For SBA's SUB-Net website, visit
http://web.sba.gov/subnet/
For Federal procurement bidding opportunities, visit
FedBizOpps.gov
For EPA solicitations, visit
http://www.epa.gov/oam/sources.htm
For information on SCORE "Counselors to America's
Small Business," visit www.score.org
For a listing of Federal Mentor-Protege programs,
visit http://www.womenbiz.gov/UPDATED-Mentor-
Protege-Programs.pdf
For the new SBA website for small business owners,
visit www.business.gov
We will see you next quarter with more websites to
add to your Cybertravel Guide.
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
Analytical Services Laboratory. Accreditation
will allow clients who need analyses performed
by certified labs to use its services.
Dr. Conrad Ingram, the laboratory's Director,
indicated that since accreditation, the Washington
Group, the DOE contractor operating the
Savannah River Site, is assisting the laboratory
as a Mentor in a formal DOE Mentor-Protege
agreement.
These alliances are good for all concerned for
several reasons. It is the policy of the Federal
Government to promote participation of
Historically Black Colleges and Universities and
Minority Institutions in Federal procurement.
As a Protege firm, the laboratory at CAU is
in a unique and invaluable position to gain
developmental assistance and experience in
environmental areas that will help to position it
for competitive opportunities. The university's
laboratory is staffed by professional staff
chemists assisted by trained graduate students.
By working in the laboratory setting under the
supervision of the professional staff, the graduate
students learn the day-to-day operation of an
environmental analytical services laboratory, and
upon graduation will leave CAU well prepared
for work in the private sector.
The scope of analyses offered by the
analytical services laboratory includes:
Metals by Inductively Coupled Plasma
Mass Spectrometry (EPA 6020 and
200.8)
Mercury by Cold Vapor Atomic
Absorption (EPA7471 & 245.1)
Volatile Organics by Purge and Trap Gas
Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
(EPA 8260B)
Semi-volatile Organics by extraction
followed by Gas Chromatography/Mass
Spectrometry (EPA8270C)
Polychlorinated Biphenyls and
Pesticides by extraction followed by Gas
Chromatography with /Electron Capture
Detector (EPA 8081 & 8082)
A primary objective of the facility is to provide
scientifically sound and legally defensible data in
support of environmental restoration, monitoring,
research and developmental activities for Federal
and State agencies and environmental engineering
entities nationwide.
The laboratory and its staff are committed to
a stringent Quality Assurance/Quality Control
program to ensure the production of precise,
accurate and reliable data that are designed to
meet or exceed the standards defined by the
EPA and State agencies. Each activity in the
laboratory is governed by a standard operating
procedure that sets forth the requirements for the
performance of that activity.
The national staff at Severn Trent Laboratories
has committed to assisting the CAU project at
all levels. This includes providing assistance
in methodology and analysis for any specialty
parameters and assisting CAU with surge
workload and overflow samples. The Washington
Group at Savannah River Site is also committed
to working with the laboratory towards taking its
services to the next level. The Weston Solutions
Atlanta offices have used the services of CAU's
Environmental Analytical Services Laboratory
for several clients over the last 2 years and
have found the CAU staff to be responsive,
professional, cost-competitive and capable.
For a more complete description of the
instrumentation and services offered by CAU,
vi sit their web site at http: //www. cau. edu/research/
EASLEquipFac.pdf Or contact:
Dr. Conrad Ingram, Ph.D.
Director, Environmental Analytical Services
Laboratory
Clark Atlanta University
223 James P. Brawley Drive, SW
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Atlanta, Georgia 30314
(404) 880-6898
cingram@cau.edu
SOLUTRON INC.
Nita Bhaumik, Piesidentii
J SOLUTRON, Inc.
Patience and planning have certainly paid off
for Nita Bhaumik, President of SOLUTRON,
INC. In 2000, after spending six years working
for other government agencies in the IT industry,
Nita received the first opportunity to work for
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) in National Network for Environmental
Management Studies (NNEMS). But one contract
at EPA wasn't enough to satisfy Nita. Although
SOLUTRON had extensive work experience,
good credit and a sound business plan, she could
not open any other door at EPA.
Nita turned to the Office of Small and
Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) for
assistance. After attending numerous seminars on
business start-ups, and brown bag lunch guidance
sessions, Nita eventually understood what she
needed to do to make her dream happen. "They
helped me fine-tune my marketing strategies
and directed me to the right people," Nita says.
"After that I was able to line up with the right
team for the right procurement. OSDBU helped
me learn about the part of the business I didn't
knowthings like proper marketing and effective
teaming, and how to capture any upcoming
procurements in advance."
Nita and her management worked hard
chasing all the major EPA prime contractors.
After numerous meetings and presentations to
various primes, Lockheed Martin Information
Technology (LMIT), the number one government
contractor in the IT field, eventually selected
SOLUTRON INC. Together, they set out to win
a few contracts at EPA.
Today, SOLUTRON has four major contracts
in EPA, three with Lockheed Martin and one with
Syracuse Research Corporation. The contracts
with Lockheed Martin are the E-Rulemaking
Initiative, the ITS-ESE and the REAC. In ITS-
ESE and REAC, SOLUTRON is a Protege of
Lockheed Martin under EPA's Mentor-Protege
Program. SOLUTRON has also won the RAD
contract in which Syracuse Research Corporation
of New York is the Prime. As a Protege,
SOLUTRON is currently receiving enormous
help and support from the Lockheed Martin Team
in the area of technology, marketing, proposal
writing, costing and other critical business areas.
LMIT is also helping to bring SOLUTRON to
CMMi level 3 by August of 2005.
SOLUTRON INC. is a woman-owned small
disadvantaged business offering services in
Information Technology, Patent & Trademark,
Environmental Engineering and Consulting
Services. For the past few years, SOLUTRON
has expanded six-fold in people and revenue.
Government clients include the U.S. Patent
& Trademark Office (USPTO), U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (USNRC), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA),
Department of Labor (DOL), National Institute
of Health (NIH), National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA), National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST), Naval
Council for Personnel Board (NCPB), and
Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight
(OFHEO). Commercial clients include Lockheed
Martin, Computer Sciences Corporation,
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Eastman Kodak, Panasonic Technologies,
Matsushita Technologies, Mitsubishi, Toshiba,
and Samsung.
"Dave Sutton and Patricia Durrant of EPA's
OSDBU Office directed and helped me understand
what it takes to be a winner."
Innovative Technology Group, Inc.
iftj
From left to right:
Terry Moody, Patricia Durrant and William Driscoe
Innovative Technology Group, Inc. knows
the meaning of persistence. On March 30,
2004, after several initial attempts to acquire
competitive business opportunities with EPA,
under the leadership of Terry Moody the
company was awarded a contract valued at
$379,886 per year for three years. Innovative
Technology Group, Inc. undertakes the weighty
responsibility of securing multi disciplinary
support to provide computer records management
and communication services. Its efforts will
champion the mission of the National Program
Chemicals Division (NPCD) within the Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
Mr. Moody, Senior Vice President Corporate
Development, began his pursuit of EPA business
two years prior to winning the contract. He credits
those who guided him as critical to the company's
ability to compete and win this award. "In my
opinion," states Mr. Moody, "EPA and the Small
Business Office truly understand the difficulties
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
of a small disadvantaged business and have
provided my company and myself the knowledge
of how to successfully do business with EPA.
Of no less importance is the strong advocacy
role Ms. Patricia Durrant, Socioeconomic
Business Program Officer, plays in explaining
to project officers and procurement personnel the
plight of an 8(a) company striving to overcome
challenges."
S TO
in Tnc
On February 17, 2004, Pat Bamford, Chief
of the Acquisition and Assistance Branch in the
Resources Management Division of EPA's Region
5, testified before the Congressional Committee
on Small Business. During her testimony, Ms.
Bamford highlighted the efforts made by Region
5 to procure services from small businesses. She
emphasized that small businesses received 71%
of the total dollars obligated for ERRS contracts
in fiscal year 2003. When including subcontracts
awarded by large business contractors, small
businesses received 83% of the total dollars
obligated for ERRS contracts. Further, Ms.
Bamford pointed out that small businesses
supply EPA with many of the items needed to
carry out environmental and counter-terrorism
missions on a daily basis. Ms. Bamford discussed
several steps the Agency is taking to address the
President's Small Business Initiative, which
calls for improving small businesses' access to
government contracts.
As a result of her testimony, Ms. Bamford
and EPA were applauded by the committee for
making an effort to ensure that small businesses
have the opportunity to contribute their skills,
talents, and expertise to furthering EPA's mission
of protecting human health and the environment.
-------
OSDBU Employee Contact List
Jeanette L. Brown, Director
David Sutton, Deputy Director
Susan Galliher, Special Assistant
Kimberly Patrick, Attorney Advisor
Patricia Durrant, Socioeconomic Program Officer
Denean Jones, Info. Mgmt. Specialist
Tammy Thomas, Management Analysis
Natalie Twyman, Secretary
Elnora Thompson, Office Automation Assistant
Ansley Turner, Student Intern
Hope Gist, Student Intern
Todd Price, Student Intern
Thelma Harvey, Secretary- Contractor
Barbara Overton, Secretary - Contractor
Contact information current as of 6-04
(202)564-4100
(202) 564-4444
(202) 564-0403
(202) 564-5386
(202) 564-4738
(202)564-4142
(202) 564-4298
(202)564-2314
(202)564-4139
(202)564-4100
(202) 564-7396
(202) 564-0999
(202)564-4138
(202) 564-0999
brown.jeanettel@epa.gov
sutton.david@epa.gov
galliher.susan@epa.gov
patrick.kimberly@epa.gov
durrant.patricia@epa.gov
jones.denean@epa.gov
thomas.tammy@epa.gov
twyman.natalie@epa.gov
thompson.elnora@epa.gov
turner.ansley@epa.gov
gist.hope@epa.gov
price.todd@epa.gov
harvey.thelma@epa.gov
overton.barbara@epa.gov
EPA/OSDBU Mission
The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office
of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization is to support the
protection of the environment and human health by fostering
opportunities for partnerships, contracts, subagreements, and grants
for small and socioeconomically disadvantaged concerns.
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Agency Goals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) goals for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004/2005
are based on estimated contract obligations of $1.2 billion for direct and $200 million for subcontract.
EPA FY 2004/2005 PRIME CONTRACT GOALS
Direct
Small Businesses
8 (a) Businesses*
Non 8(a) Small Disadvantaged
Businesses
Women-Owned Small Businesses
HUBZones
Service Disabled Veterans
FY '04/05 Goal
27.0%
*6.3%
*3.0%
5.0%
3.0%
3.0%
*Since 8(a)s are SDBs, EPA in essence has an SDB goal of 9.3%.
EPA FY 2004/2005 SUBCONTRACTING GOALS
Subconfracf
Small Businesses
Small Disadvantaged Businesses
Non 8(a) Small Women-Owned
Businesses
HUBZones
Service Disabled Veterans
FY '04/05 Goal
50.0%
20.0%
7.5%
3.0%
3.0%
The Federal Government purchases billions of dollars in goods and services each year that range
from paper clips to complex space vehicles. It is the policy of the United States, as stated in the Small
Business Act, that all businesses have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in providing
goods and services to the government. To ensure that small businesses get their fair share, the SBA
negotiates annual procurement preference goals with each Federal agency and reviews the results.
Small Business Vendor Profile System
EPA's Small Business Vendor Profile System is designed to collect and display information
concerning businesses registered with EPA's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
(OSDBU). The system captures information on the following types of small businesses: small; small
disadvantaged; 8(a) certified; women-owned; Hubzone; veterans; service disabled veterans; and tribal
businesses (Federally or State recognized). Information is also available on Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACUs), and minority
servicing institutions.
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Small Business Vendor Profile System
If you would like to be included in EPA/OSDBU's automated database go to: cfpub.epa.gov/sbvps, or complete the following
form and fax it to Denean Jones at (202) 501-0756.
Date:
Company Name*:.
Contact*:
Title:.
Address*:,
City*:
Phone**:.
E-mail Address*:.
Internet Address:
NAICS Code(s)*:
State*:.
Fax#:_
Zip Code*
Capabilities:.
Have you done business with the EPA before*: Q NO Q Yes, as a Prime Q Yes, as a Subcontractor
Classification
Q Large
Q Mid-Size
Q Small
Tribal
Q Federally Recognized
Q State Recognized
Q SDB
Q Small WOB
Q 8(a) Certified
[_| Service Disabled Veteran
Q HUBZone
\_\ HBCU
Q HACU
[_) Tribal College/
University
Q Other Minority
The fields marked by * are required and must be filled in.
Ethnicity
Q African American
Q Asian-Indian
Q Asian-Pacific
Q Caucasian American
Female
Q Hispanic
Q Native American
Q Other Minority
None
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Small Business Ombudsman
As the small business gateway for EPA, the Ombudsman's function falls into three main categories: (1) Developing and
providing compliance assistance and tools for small businesses; (2) Providing information about small businesses to EPA;
and (3) Identifying small business needs for EPA rules, enforcement and policy development.
EPA Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation - Small Business Division
Small Business Ombudsman Regulatory Assistance and Outreach Program
EPA Employees:
Karen Brown
Angela Suber
Daniel Eddinger
Elsa Bishop
Catherine Tunis
Bridgette Dent
Joyce Billions
Eileen Mayer
SEE Enrollees:
James Malcolm
Larry Tessier
Tom Nakley
Howard Boddie
Esther McCrary
Peggy Alexander
Title
Division Director & Small Business Ombudsman
Program Analyst
Program Analyst
Program Analyst
Regulatory Impact Analyst
Program Assistant
Secretary
Program Analyst
Chemical Engineer, Toxic Substances and Haz Mat
Civil Engineer, Asbestos, Radon, and Lead
Civil Engineer, CWA, SDWA and General Assistance
Computer Specialist
Senior Secretarial Support Staff
Senior Secretarial Support Staff
Contact #
(202) 566-2816
(202) 566-2827
(202) 566-2820
(202) 566-2814
(202) 566-2830
(202) 566-2819
(202) 566-2813
(202) 566-2812
(202) 566-2821
(202) 566-2829
(202) 566-2826
(202) 566-2815
(202) 566-2824
(202) 566-2811
Major Functions/Products:
Serve as a port of entry for small businesses to EPA;
Advocate for small business regulatory issues and relief inside EPA;
Coordinate small business issues with program offices, regions, and states;
Focus on asbestos regulatory requirements/handle questions and complaints;
Operate and maintain a Small Business hotline;
Participate on regulatory development workgroups representing small business interests;
Prepare semi-annual Newsletter;
Organize meetings with the Deputy Administrator and Small Business Trade Associations;
Oversee and prepare Report to Congress on the status of CAAA State Section 507 Programs;
Manage contracts, grants and cooperative agreements to strengthen State Small Business Ombudsman Technical
Assistance Programs;
Sponsor Annual Small Business Regional Liaison Conference;
Develop guidance and policies for small businesses;
Resolve disputes between small businesses and EPA dealing with policies and regulations;
Distribute small business publications, regulations, guidance, and tools.
Small Business Ombudsman Toll Free Hotline: (800) 368-5888 Local: (202) 566-2855 Main Line: (202) 566-2822
Fax: (202) 566-0954
Contact information current as of 6-04.
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
-------
Name:_
Firm:
Request For Publications
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (1230A)
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 564-4100
(202) 501-0756 (Fax)
Address:
City:.
Phone #:
Fax#:
State:
Zip Code:_
Please Check Publications Requested
Q Doing Business with EPA
Q Mentor-Protege Program
[_) Forecast of Contract Opportunities
[_) Finding Your Way Through EPA
Q Contract Opportunities Under Superfund (five basic categories)
G The 8(a) Program
Q HUBZone Fact Sheet
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Calendar of Events
DATE
September 7 - 8
September? - 10
September 8 - 9
Septembers- 11
September 12- 14
September 12- 15
September 14-15
September 14- 16
September 15
September 15
September 16
September 15- 18
September 18
October 7
October 1 3
October 13- 16
EVENT
1st Annual National Latina
Symposium
MED Week 2004
Entrepreneurial Woman's
Conference
Congressional Black Caucus
34th Annual Legislative
Conference
2nd Annual National HBCUs
School of Business Summit
National HBCU Week
Career Expo 2004
2nd Annual Minority Serving
Institutions (MSI)
5th Annual Procurement Expo
Joseph Biden Senator
Tracking the Economy and Its
Influence On Your Business
Teaming To Win
USHCC - 25th Annual National
Convention
1st Annual Prince George's
Classic
16th NAPAW National Training
Conference & Small Business
Small Business Counseling Day
14th Annual SEA Student
Technical Conference
SPONSOR/LOCATION
Capital Hilton Hotel
Department of Commerce
Washington, DC
Women's Business Development
Center
Chicago's Navy Pier
Washington Convention Center
Howard University
The Washington Terrace Hotel
White House Initiative Office
Hyatt Regency Washington Hotel
Washington, DC
Florida A&M University
Tallahasee-Leon County Civic Ctr.
Tallahasee, FL
Jackson State University
Jackson, MS
Procurement Technical Assistance
Center
Delaware Small Business
Development Center
Dupont Country Club
Wilmington, DE
EPA - Outreach Center
OSDBU Conference Room
Sponsored by:
Howard University
Veterans Business Development
Allan B. Mollohan Innovation Center
Fairmont, WV
Austin, TX
National Black Chamber of
Commerce
Department of the Interior
EPA - OSDBU
EPA East, ICC Building, Room 1153
1201 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC
Wyndham Hotel, NW
Washington, DC
CONTACT
(202) 955-7930
David Sutton/
Patricia Durrant
www.medweek.gov
Sharon Green, Region 5
www.wbdc.org
Jeanette L. Brown/
Patricia Durrant
www.cbcfinc.org
Jeanette L. Brown/
Susan Galliher
www.bschool.howard.edu
Jeanette L. Brown
www.ed.gov/whhbcu
www.careercenter.famu.edu
Patricia Durrant
www.jsums.edu
Region 3
jbeau@udel.edu
Frank Carpenter
(202) 564-4584
www.teamingtowin .org
David Sutton
www.ushcc.com
halford@naitionalbcc.org
David Sutton
www.napaw.org
Patricia Durrant
Patricia Durrant
^^CTTv
losdbunews spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Calendar of Events
DATE
October 14
October 25 - 26
October 29 - 31
November 2 - 3
November 16- 18
November 16- 18
December 6
December 8
EVENT
Bridging Partnerships,
Small Business Symposium
Department of Energy
Diversity & Women Leadership
Summit
2nd Annual Jamaica Conference
Native Americans Small Business
Counseling Day
National Grants Management
Training Conference
PitLakes 2004 Conference
Tooling the Troops for Today &
Tomorrow
Service Disabled Veterans Small
Business Counseling Day
SPONSOR/LOCATION
Three Rivers Convention Center
Kennewick, WA
Business Women's Network
Washington, DC
National Black Chamber of
Commerce
EPA-OSDBU
EPA East, ICC Building, Room 1153
1201 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC
EPA/GAD
Jacksonville, FL
EPA
Silver Legacy Hotel
Reno, NV
GS/SBA/DOD/DVA
Hilton Hawaiian Village Conference
Center
Honolulu, HI
EPA-OSDBU
EPA East, ICC Building, Room 1153
1201 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC
CONTACT
Marie McPeak, Region 10
Jeanette L. Brown/Staff
www.bwni.com
halford@nationalbcc.org
Patricia Durrant
OSDBU Staff
www.epa.gov/hhbnrmrl/
pitlakes.htm
Jeanette L. Brown/
Kimberly Patrick
David Sutton
osdbu news spring/summer2004 www.epa.gov/osdbu
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Regional MBE/WBE Coordinators
REGION I
(CT, ME, Rl, MA, NH, VT)
Sharon Molden (617) 918-1062
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Region
One Congress Street (MGM), Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114-2023
REGION II
(NJ, NY, PR, VI)
Otto Salamon (212) 637-3417
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
290 Broadway- 27th Floor
New York, NY 10007-1866
REGION III
(DE, VA, MD, PA, DC, VW)
Romona McQueen (215) 814-5155
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
REGION IV
(AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)
Sharonita Johnson (404) 562-8311
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303-8960
REGION V
(IL, IN, Ml, MN.OH.WI)
Sharon R. Green (312) 353-5661
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
77 West Jackson Boulevard (MC-10J)
Chicago, IL 60604-3507
REGION VI
(AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)
Debora N. Bradford (214) 665-7406
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
First Interstate Bank Tower at Fountain Place
1445 Ross Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
REGION VII
(MO, NE, IA, KS)
Chester Stovall (913) 551-7549
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, KS66101
REGION VIM
(CO, MT, WY, SD, ND, UT)
Maurice Velasquez (303) 312-6862
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
999 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202-2405
REGION IX
(AZ, HI, CA, NV)
Joe Ochab (415) 972-3761
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street (PMD-1)
San Francisco, CA94105
REGION X
(AK, ID, OR, WA)
Marie McPeak (206) 553-2894
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Sixth Avenue (OMP-145)
Seattle, WA 98101
CINCINNATI
Norman G. White (513) 487-2024
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Contracts Management Division
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
NORTH CAROLINA
Jerry Dodson (919) 541-2249
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Contracts Management Division
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
HEADQUARTERS
Lupe Saldana (202) 564-5353
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Grants Administration Division
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue (3903R)
Washington, DC 20460
vvEPA
(1230A)
Washington, DC 20460
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
First Class Mail
Postage and Fees Paid
EPA
G-35
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA180-N-01-002
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