EM Racks Up Six Awards for Making Small Business Integral to DOE Mission

Federal and contractor team members across the cleanup complex have been honored for demonstrating exceptional performance in making small business vital to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) mission success.

The DOE Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) recently announced awardees from its Annual Small Business Awards Program for fiscal year 2024 (FY24), the most recent period in which achievements have been recognized.

Six of the 18 awards went to DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) team members at the EM Consolidated Business Center (EMCBC) in Cincinnati, Ohio; Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken, South Carolina; and Portsmouth Site in Piketon, Ohio.

Click here for a full description of the awards and honorees.

Following are the EM award winners:

• Federal Small Business Program Manager of the Year: EMCBC Small Business Program Manager Kenneth Johnson

Johnson provides outcome-focused initiatives through outreach and training to small businesses, focusing on enhancing the competencies and capabilities of the small business supplier base in the areas of matchmaking, capability statement development and coaching sessions on doing business with EM. His tireless efforts and commitment to DOE's critical small business efforts are impactful.

"I am fortunate to have been entrusted with a strong small business program that my predecessors worked hard to develop, and to have had the continuous support of EM and EMCBC leadership in fostering a ‘small business first’ environment at our office,” Johnson said.

• Federal Contracting Officer of the Year: EMCBC Contracting Officer Michael Forsgren

Forsgren demonstrated skillful acquisition support and expertise for two Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project contracts. His unwavering dedication to the Moab Project, exceptional contract management skills and steadfast commitment to the End-State Contracting Model have been integral contributions to the Moab Project's success.

• Facility Management Contractor Small Business Program Manager of the Year: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) Small Business Program Manager Lisa Tanner

Tanner's leadership and unwavering commitment to small business development at SRNS have driven remarkable achievements in FY24. Through her strategic initiatives and advocacy, Tanner has significantly expanded small business participation, fostered supplier diversity and strengthened SRNS's commitment to small business utilization.

“We are dedicated to working with and helping small businesses grow, and we take pride in opportunities made available to work with SRNS,” said Tanner. “SRNS executes a ‘small business first’ approach for procurements, with some buyers awarding over 93% of work, in any given month, to small businesses.”

• Mentor of the Year: SRNS

SRNS has demonstrated exceptional commitment to exceeding the expectations of the DOE Mentor-Protégé Program. Through innovative approaches, dedicated mentorship and tangible results, SRNS has cultivated protégé growth and empowered small businesses to achieve remarkable success in FY24.

• Facility Management Contractor Procurement Director of the Year: Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth (FBP) Government Contracts Senior Director Mark Ashby

Ashby demonstrated exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to maximizing small business, specifically throughout FY24. Under his guidance, FBP successfully expanded small business participation in nontraditional, functional areas, resulting in significant, tangible benefits for both the small business community and the local four-county commitment area surrounding the Portsmouth Site.

“It has always been a priority to bolster our engagement with small businesses in the local four-county areas surrounding the Portsmouth Site, and I am honored to receive this award on behalf of all the hard work our FBP Acquisitions Organization has done over these past nearly 15 years,” Ashby said. “Their dedication to success is clearly evidenced by this award.”

• 8(a)/Small Disadvantaged Business of the Year: North Wind Dynamics, Portsmouth Site

North Wind Dynamics incorporated safety, quality and sustainability into performance of work, resulting in sustained safety performance, uninterrupted services, an improved infrastructure, support to the site mission goals, and cost savings, all while promoting and maintaining a strong safety culture.