Annual Small Business Awards Program

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is pleased to announce the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Annual Small Business Awards Program. Awards will be made to program elements, and eligible power marketing administrations, facility management contractors (FMCs), small business program managers (SBPMs), contracting officers, and small businesses that have demonstrated exceptional performance during FY 2022.

Program and Background: DOE seeks to continue growing its engagement with small businesses to further Agency missions. DOE works to meet its Small Business Administration (SBA) established goals for four socioeconomic categories: Small Disadvantaged, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones), and Woman-Owned small businesses. Additionally, the Department’s Mentor-Protégé Program is a vehicle for cultivating small businesses for DOE missions.

DOE’s Annual Small Business Awards Program recognizes the outstanding performance of people and organizations that promote and expand the Department’s use of small businesses. The awards will be presented to small businesses, program elements, SBPMs, contracting officers, and FMCs. The awards will be presented during the 2023 DOE’s Small Business Forum & Expo (July 11-12, 2023 | New Orleans, LA). The FY 2022 Small Business Awards Ceremony will be held on July 11, 2023 in New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans, LA.

Participation: Participation is open to DOE program elements and power marketing administrations, facility management contractors, small business program managers, small business prime contractors, Federal and contractor acquisition personnel, and DOE mentors and protégés. Note: Western Area Power Administration and Southwestern Power Administration are the only power administrations eligible to participate in the awards program.

Guidance on Submitting a Nomination: Below are general guidance on submitting a nomination.

Nominations are for DOE personnel (Federal or contractor) and small businesses that work with the Department or M&O contractors.
Valid nominations shall only be submitted through Federal or contractor SBPMs, contracting officers and specialists. A list of DOE’s SBPMs may be found on OSDBU’s website: Small Business Program Managers (SBPMs) Directory.
Below are guidelines on writing a nomination:

Focus on FY 2022 accomplishments only.
Organize your nomination the same as the criteria for the award.
Relate actions with results, and mission accomplishments.
Use statistics to support accomplishments. Do not attach data tables or charts.
The character limit is 3,935 (this includes spaces).

A company or an individual may be nominated for only one award category. For example, company GoBo, Inc. is a Woman-Owned Small Business. You may choose to nominate GoBo, Inc. in either the Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Mentor of the Year or Protégé of the Year award category.
Award nominations will be accepted from January 9, 2023 through February 27, 2023.
The SBPMs are responsible for initially assessing any nominations received from outside participants and for ensuring that the nominations are submitted in a timely manner by 11:59 PM (EST) February 27, 2023.
Small business entities must be in good standing with the Department of Energy and with Federal procurement guidelines to include the Excluded Parties Listing System (EPLS). The nominator must verify and validate that the small business has an up-to-date or current reporting status in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS), has a positive report, and fulfills the small business category for which it is nominated.
A nominee for any of the small business award categories must own or operate a business defined as “small” for its primary industry under the applicable SBA size standards. Nominees must also be residents of the United States or its territories. Small businesses that are nominated must comply with all applicable Federal laws.
Award nominations must be submitted by using the Smart Sheet. To obtain access to the awards submission’s portal, please contact Anita Anderson, Chairperson of DOE’s Annual Small Business Awards Program (anita.anderson@hq.doe.gov).

Evaluation Committee: An Evaluation Committee will be selected to review, rate, and determine the award recipients. The committee will consist of DOE senior level government employees. Each nomination will be evaluated by the committee based on a performance grading scale. To ensure objectivity, OSDBU recuses Evaluation Committee members from voting on nominees that work within their program office.

FY 2022 Award Categories:

Federal Small Business Program Manager of the Year

Description: Recognizes an individual who embodies the many facets of an energetic, forward-thinking, DOE small business program manager. His or her efforts far exceed expectations in working with, advocating for, and assisting to increase utilization of small businesses.

Criteria: Meets or exceeds the OSDBU’s Scorecard small business goals and/or the following criteria:

Implements strategies to increase the value of competitively awarded contracts to small businesses.
- Advocates and obtains top-level agency commitment to small business contracting.
- Executes significant events to increase small business participation in the procurement process.
- Demonstrates that policies and procedures are in place to ensure compliance with prime forecast goals or subcontracting plans and attainment of related goals.
- Plans training for contracting staff/managers to better execute small business/socio-economic procurements.
- Collaborates with SBA, other agencies, or community groups on formulation of small business procurement policy initiatives.
- Submits all plans and reports due to SBA.
Creates/Implements new outcome-focused initiatives that enhance competencies and capabilities of small business supplier base.
Develops new markets for small business – identifying and creating opportunities for small business participation within programs not previously performed by small business.

Federal Contracting Officer of the Year

Description: Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding small business achievements as a contracting officer; demonstrated ability to identify and overcome challenges; and continuously seeks self-development and leadership opportunities to promote socio-economic programs.

Criteria:

Collaborates effectively between OSDBU, local SBPM, and local SBA procurement center representative – leading to new small business contract awards.
Exceptional pre-award and/or post-award actions related to DOE’s Small Business Program with results supporting overall DOE mission and objectives.
Communicates the importance of DOE Small Business First Policy (DOE P 547.1A) to all program office clients.
Promotes Category Management solutions consistent with the Small Business Act and other statutory socio-economic responsibilities.
Expands subcontracting opportunities throughout the solicitation process and negotiates challenging subcontracting goals.

Federal Procurement Director of the Year

Description: Holds the position of managing the operations of a federal procurement organization for an operations office or program office (title such as procurement director, purchasing director, Head of Contracting Activity, etc.). The successful candidate has displayed leadership and commitment to maximizing small businesses utilization through policies, procedures, outreach, and creating an atmosphere of “small business first” throughout his or her organization. Candidate selection criteria will be based on a balance of objective results-oriented measures and created/implemented policies, programs and practices promoting small business.

Criteria:

Dollar and/or percentage increases in small business obligations.
Percentage increase of small business awards versus large business awards from the previous year.
Significant small business contract awards supporting line missions or support functions.
New or updated socio-economic operating policies and programs.
Procedures or systems that focus program offices and buyers to consider small business first.
Building community and small business development through outreach efforts.
Creating or expanding small business use in non-traditional functional areas.

Facility Management Contractor Small Business Program Manager of the Year

Description: Recognizes an individual within a DOE facility who embodies the many facets of an energetic, forward-thinking SBPM. His or her efforts far exceed expectations in working with, advocating for, and assisting in the increased utilization of small businesses.

Criteria:

Implements strategies to increase the value of competitively awarded contracts to small businesses.
Advocates and obtains top-level agency commitment to small business contracting.
Executes significant events to increase small business participation in the procurement process.
Demonstrates that small business data is accurately reported in Federal Procurement Data System–Next Generation (FPDS-NG).
Demonstrates that policies and procedures are in place to ensure compliance with prime forecast goals or subcontracting plans and attainment of related goals.
Plans training for contracting staff/managers to better execute small business/socio-economic procurements.
Collaborates with SBA, other agencies, or community groups on formulation of small business procurement policy initiatives.
Submits all plans and reports due to SBA.
Creates/Implements new outcome-focused initiatives that enhance competencies and capabilities of small business supplier base.
Develops new markets for small business identifying and creating opportunities for small business participation within programs not previously performed by small business.

Facility Management Contractor Contracting Officer of the Year

Criteria:

Collaborates effectively between OSDBU, local SBPM, and local SBA procurement center representative – leading to new small business contract awards.
Exceptional pre-award and/or post-award actions related to DOE’s Small Business Program with results supporting overall DOE mission and objectives.
Communicates the importance of Small Business First Policy (DOE P 547.1A) to all FMC program clients within his/her site/laboratory.
Leverages market research tools in partnership with the site Small Business Program Manager to expand small business subcontracting opportunities.

Facility Management Contractor Procurement Director of the Year

Description: Holds the position of managing the operations of a procurement organization for a management and operating contractor. The successful candidate has displayed leadership and commitment to maximizing small business utilization through policies, procedures, outreach, and creating an atmosphere of “small business first” throughout his or her organization. Candidate selection will be based on a balance of objective results-oriented measures and created/implemented policies, programs and practices promoting small business.

Criteria:

Dollar and/or percentage increases in small business obligations (may use Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS), Individual Subcontracting Report (ISR), Summary Subcontracting Report (SSR) information or other fact-based data systems).
Percentage increase of small business contract awards supporting line missions or support functions.
New or updated socio-economic operating policies.
Procedures or systems that focus program offices and buyers to consider small business first.
Building community and small business development through outreach efforts.
Creating or expanding small business use in non-traditional functional areas.

Mentor of the Year*

Description: Recognizes the efforts of a DOE Mentor that has exceeded the requirements of their Mentor-Protégé agreement. These results have enhanced the protégés ability to successfully compete for federal contracts.

Criteria:

Accomplishments exceed the Mentor-Protégé agreement
Protégé demonstrates growth and self-empowerment through the Mentor-Protégé program.

Protégé of the Year*

Description: Recognizes the significant development of a DOE Protégé that has enhanced its ability to successfully compete for federal contracts through its participation in the DOE Mentor-Protégé program.

Criteria:

Accomplishments exceed the Mentor-Protégé agreement.
Protégé demonstrates growth and self-empowerment through the Mentor-Protégé program.

8(A)/Small Disadvantaged Business of the Year*

Description: This award recognizes the outstanding performance of a small business, certified by SBA’s 8(A) and/or Small Disadvantaged Business programs, for their exceptional performance in activities contributing to core DOE mission accomplishments.

Criteria: Recipient excels beyond expectations or contract requirements by providing:

Creative or unique solutions to DOE requirements.
Extraordinary customer service, and/or significant value (schedule and budget related).
Productivity and efficiency gains.
Innovative ideas to the specific project and/or task being performed.
Cost, time, and manpower savings for the Department.

Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year*

Description: Recognizes the exceptional performance of a Woman-Owned small business directly contributing to the accomplishments of core DOE mission objectives and requirements.

Criteria: Recipient excels beyond expectations or contract requirements by providing:

Creative or unique solutions to DOE requirements.
Extraordinary customer service, and/or significant value (schedule and budget related).
Productivity and efficiency gains.
Innovative ideas to the specific project and/or task being performed.
Cost, time, and manpower savings for the Department.

HUBZone Small Business of the Year*

Description: Recognizes the excellence of a small business, certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration as located and operating within a HUBZone, directly contributing to core DOE mission accomplishments.

Criteria: Recipient excels beyond expectations or contract requirements by providing:

Creative or unique solutions to DOE requirements.
Extraordinary customer service, and/or significant value (schedule and budget related).
Productivity and efficiency gains.
Innovative ideas to the specific project and/or task being performed.
Cost, time, and manpower savings for the Department.

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year*

Description: Recognizes the exceptional performance of a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small business directly facilitating the advancement of core DOE mission objectives and requirements.

Criteria: Recipient excels beyond expectations or contract requirements by providing:

Creative or unique solutions to DOE requirements.
Extraordinary customer service, and/or significant value (schedule and budget related).
Productivity and efficiency gains.
Innovative ideas to the specific project and/or task being performed.
Cost, time, and manpower savings for the Department.

SBIR/STTR Small Business of the Year*

Description: Recognizes a U.S. small business that exemplifies the spirit of DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs by strengthening and expanding its high-technology research and development (R&D) competitiveness at the Department and/or in the marketplace. SBIR/STTR small business nominations will be evaluated using demonstrated exceptional performance from time of SBIR/STTR award to the present.

Criteria: Recipient excels at one or more of the following:

Stimulating U.S. technological innovation and enhancing the nation’s return on its DOE SBIR/STTR investment.
Providing the DOE and/or its national laboratories, research facilities, or university research partners the benefits of commercial applications derived from DOE SBIR/STTR funded R&D.
Stimulating U.S. economic growth and/or increasing private-sector commercialization of innovations as a result or in part of DOE SBIR/STTR funded R&D.

Small Business of the Year*

Description: Recognizes the creative, unique, and extraordinary performance of a small business which has significantly and directly impacted core DOE mission objectives and requirements.

Criteria: Recipient excels beyond expectations or contract requirements by providing:

Creative or unique solutions to DOE requirements.
Extraordinary customer service, and/or significant value (schedule and budget related).
Productivity and efficiency gains.
Innovative ideas to the specific project and/or task being performed.
Cost, time, and manpower savings for the Department.

*All small business entities must be in good standing with DOE and with all Federal procurement guidelines to include the Excluded Parties Listing System (EPLS). The nominator must verify and validate that the small business entity has an up-to-date or current reporting status in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) that reflects a positive report that is currently noted as a small business for the category in which it is being nominated.

A nominee for any of the small business award categories must own or operate a business defined as “small” for its primary industry under the applicable SBA size standards. Nominees must also be residents of the United States or its territories. Small businesses that are nominated must comply with all applicable Federal laws.

The Annual Small Business Awards program is an excellent opportunity to recognize federal or contractor employees for their performance and dedication. The FY 2022 Annual Small Business Awards program will be facilitated electronically, and awards will be shipped to each award recipient. Nominations will be accepted from January 9, 2023 through February 27, 2023.

To obtain access to the awards submission’s portal, please contact Anita Anderson, Chairperson of DOE’s Annual Small Business Awards Program (anita.anderson@hq.doe.gov).

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The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization’s (OSDBU’s) Annual Small Business Awards Program recognizes the outstanding performance of people and organizations that promote and expand the DOE’s use of small businesses to help advance the DOE’s mission.

The OSDBU is pleased to announce the award recipients of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Annual Small Business Awards Program:

1. Federal Small Business Program Manager of the Year:

Bio photo of Award Recipient Anne Marie Bird

Award Recipient: Anne Marie Bird, Small Business Program Manager, Environmental Management Consolidated Business Center (EMCBC), Cincinnati, OH

This award recognizes an individual who embodies the many facets of an energetic, forward-thinking, DOE small business program manager. His or her efforts far exceed expectations in working with, advocating for, and assisting to increase utilization of small businesses.

Awardee Description: Anne Marie is the Small Business Program Manager for EMCBC. During FY 2021, Anne worked with nine Environmental Management (EM) procurement offices across the DOE complex to implement strategies to increase the value of contracts to small businesses. With a procurement base of $7.1B in FY 2021, EM forecasted and awarded $414.6M (5.8%) to prime small business contracts.

2. Federal Contracting Officer of the Year:

Award Recipient: Angela Cooney, Federal Contracting Officer, EMCBC, Cincinnati, OH

This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding small business achievements as a contracting officer; demonstrated ability to identify and overcome challenges; and continuously seeks self-development and leadership opportunities to promote socio-economic programs.

Awardee Description: Angela excelled in FY 2021 through her management of prime contracts supporting small businesses. Her extraordinary work in the administration of various contracts were executed while supporting small business contractor navigation through the COVID-19 pandemic and going above and beyond in successfully performing complex contract actions in support of critical EM programs. Her efforts supported a combined total of work over $1B.

3. Federal Procurement Director of the Year:

Award Recipient: Aaron Deckard, Federal Procurement Director, EMCBC, Cincinnati, OH

This award recognizes the position of managing the operations of a Federal procurement organization for an operations office, or program office (title such as Procurement Director, Purchasing Director, Head of Contracting Activity, etc.). The successful candidate has displayed leadership and commitment to maximizing small business utilization through policies, procedures, outreach, and creating an atmosphere of “small business first” throughout their organization. Candidate selection criteria will be based on a balance of objective results-oriented measures and achievements in creating/implementing policies, programs and practices promoting small business.

Awardee Description: Under Aaron’s leadership, the EMCBC’s percentage of small business obligations increased from 50% in FY 2020 to 64% ($18M) in FY 2021, with 31% obligated to women-owned small businesses and 15% to small disadvantaged businesses. During FY 2021, Aaron managed the EMCBC in its award of 68% of new contracts (51 of 75) to small businesses. Of the 51 new small business awards, 31 were over the simplified acquisition threshold.

4. Facility Management Contractor Small Business Program Manager of the Year:

Award Recipient: Paul Sedillo, Small Business Program Manager, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM

This award recognizes an individual within a DOE facility who embodies the many facets of an energetic, forward-thinking small business program manager. His or her efforts far exceed expectations in working with, advocating for, and assisting in the increased utilization of small businesses.

Awardee Description: During FY 2021, Paul implemented strategies to increase the value of competitively awarded contracts to small businesses. Paul was involved in the award of Sandia’s largest subcontracting award of $700M, a 5-year contract to a New Mexico small disadvantaged business. Under Paul’s purview, Sandia executed significant events to increase small business participation in the procurement process. Paul and his team executed quarterly small business forums focused on small business development and provided guidance on how to do business with Sandia. Through these forums, Sandia’s Supplier Diversity reached 1,800 prospective suppliers in FY 2021.

5. Facility Management Contractor Contracting Officer of the Year:

Award Recipient: Stacey Johnson, Procurement Officer, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

Awardee Description: In FY 2021, Stacey had multiple procurements resulting in awards to small businesses, including fabrication subcontracts to Kalt Manufacturing of approximately $443K, and to Keller Technology for $797K. Stacey also awarded several subcontracts to Schmiede Corporation, a woman-owned small business. Stacey utilized a variety of market research to create diverse bid lists of small businesses.

6. Facility Management Contractor Procurement Director of the Year:

Award Recipient: Brooks Baldwin, Director of Contracts, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

This award recognizes an individual who manages the operations of a procurement organization for a management and operating contractor. The successful candidate has displayed leadership and commitment to maximizing small businesses utilization through policies, procedures, outreach, and creating an atmosphere of “small business first” throughout his or her organization.

Awardee Description: Brooks Baldwin is the Contracts Division Director at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Under Brooks’ leadership, in FY 2021, ORNL’s small business spend was $392.8M, compared to $375.3M in FY 2020 – a nearly $18M increase. This occurred despite significant large procurements for DOE mission-driven projects, such as in high-performance computing. In FY 2021, ORNL exceeded all small business goals, achieving 53% small business utilization – surpassing the 51% goal.

7. Mentor of the Year:

Award Recipient: Sandia National Laboratories Supplier Diversity Mentor-Protégé Program, Albuquerque, NM

This award recognizes the efforts of a DOE Mentor that has exceeded the requirements of their Mentor-Protégé agreement. These results have enhanced the Protégé’s ability to successfully compete for Federal contracts.

Awardee Description: In FY 2021, Sandia National Laboratories Supplier Diversity Department put in place three Mentor-Protégé agreements. Additionally, the Supplier Diversity Department exceeded all of its development objectives for FY 2021, focusing on building relationships with each of the Protégés, learning about companies and providing workshop sessions specific to their development needs. The Mentor Protégé Program has been critical in growing Sandia’s supplier base with qualified and capable suppliers, maximizing opportunities for small businesses to work with Sandia.

8. Protégé of the Year:

Award Recipient: CeLeen, LLC, Perryville, MO

This award recognizes the significant development of a DOE Protégé that has enhanced its ability to successfully compete for Federal contracts through its participation in the DOE Mentor-Protégé Program.

Awardee Description: CeLeen, LLC is an 8(a)/Small Disadvantaged business based in Perryville, MO. As a Protégé to Sandia National Laboratories, CeLeen, LLC has shown significant development and completed seven tasks within business development, technical assistance, and financial management for FY 2021. CeLeen, LLC is now considered one of Sandia’s top eight small business information technology suppliers supporting the Informational Engineering group.

9. 8(A)/Small Disadvantaged Business of the Year:

Award Recipient: North Wind Portage Inc., Knoxville, TN

This award recognizes the outstanding performance of a small business, certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA's) 8(a) and/or Small Disadvantaged Business programs, for their exceptional performance in activities contributing to core DOE mission accomplishments.

Awardee Description: In FY 2021, North Wind Portage’s (NWP) performance was exceptional across two DOE-EM cleanup projects at sites in Utah and California. NWP implemented specific innovations resulting in the shipment of an additional 540 tons of Residual Radioactive Material (RRM) per week. In April 2021, the project achieved its largest weekly shipment to date of 21,092 tons and sustained similar production through the remainder of FY 2021. NWP achieved a 9% production improvement, which will result in a 9-month acceleration to closure and a savings of over $40M.

10. Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year:

Award Recipient: Excel Tool & Manufacturing, Lenexa, KS

This award recognizes the exceptional performance of a Woman-Owned Small Business directly contributing to the accomplishments of core DOE mission objectives and requirements.

Awardee Description: Excel Tool & Manufacturing is a small, woman-owned business which played a vital role in meeting DOE requirements. In FY 2021, Excel Tool & Manufacturing identified a pair of machined components, a support ring and support case, to have a 30% scrap/deviation rate due to difficulties with the required plating processes. Excel Tool & Manufacturing contacted the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC) engineer with recommendations to change the raw material to eliminate the need for subcontracted plating after machining was complete. The design agency was able to approve these design changes and the scrap rate of these components was reduced to less than 5%. As a result, Excel Tool & Manufacturing provided KCNSC cost savings of over 15%.

11. HUBZone Small Business of the Year:

Award Recipient: Hacienda Home Centers, Espanola, NM

This award recognizes the excellence of a small business, certified by the SBA as located and operating within a Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), directly contributing to core DOE mission accomplishments.

Awardee Description: Hacienda Home Centers (HHC) is a family owned, HUBZone small business that is also small disadvantaged, veteran, and Hispanic-American owned. In FY 2021, HHC filled over 3,480 purchase orders for Los Alamos National Laboratory totaling an estimated $5.5M. HHC has been instrumental in helping stimulate business growth, create jobs, and strengthen the communities they reside in. Additionally, HHC expanded its employee benefits, which helped with employee retention, increased productivity, and provided additional career growth for their employees. HHC has helped with economic development in northern New Mexico.

12. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year:

Award Recipient: BluePath Labs LLC, Washington, DC

This award recognizes the exceptional performance of a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) directly facilitating the advancement of core DOE mission objectives and requirements.

Awardee Description: BluePath Labs is an 8(a)/SDVOSB and has been providing administrative and business support services to EM. In FY 2021 alone, BluePath created eleven new collaboration spaces while continuing to support 32 existing spaces. The Portal was crucial to EMCBC’s success managing multiple billion-dollar acquisitions in 2021 (including two of the five largest acquisitions in all of Government) during a highly disruptive pandemic. Building the EMCBC Portal on Max.gov has saved over $500K in development and infrastructure support including at least $100K in 2021. Additionally, BluePath’s approach to staffing resulted in workforce savings of over $33K in FY 2021.

13. SBIR/STTR Small Business of the Year:

Award Recipient: RadiaBeam Systems, LLC, Santa Monica, CA

This award recognizes a U.S. small business that exemplifies the spirit of DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs by strengthening and expanding its high-technology research and development (R&D) competitiveness at the Department and/or in the marketplace. SBIR/STTR small business nominations will be evaluated using demonstrated exceptional performance from time of SBIR/STTR award to the present.

Awardee Description: RadiaBeam has excelled in DOE’s SBIR/STTR program in strengthening and expanding its R&D competitiveness at U.S. national laboratories and universities, as well as in the private marketplace. In 2021, it achieved great success in completing SBIR/STTR program objectives and delivering business products/solutions to a wide range of industrial customers. RadiaBeams’ success represents a fine example of delivering customized products and solutions to a wide range of customers and R&D entities.

14. Small Business of the Year:

Award Recipient: Spectra Tech, Incorporated, Oak Ridge, TN

This award recognizes the creative, unique, and extraordinary performance of a small business which has significantly and directly impacted core DOE mission objectives and requirements.

Awardee Description: Spectra Tech, Inc. (STI), is an exemplary partner who possesses the ability to adapt and leave programs better than they inherited. STI manages Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Licensed Facilities for DOE’s Idaho Operations Office (DOE-ID). STI displayed a continued focus on customer service by providing timely corrective actions with their Quality Assurance Program in FY 2021. A total of seventeen corrective actions requests and deficiency reports were closed in FY 2021. To help DOE-ID manage costs and make crucial decisions during COVID-19, STI provided DOE-ID with a specialized cost benefit analysis. This provided side-by-side cost comparison of the cost to DOE-ID under multiple scenarios surrounding COVID-19. DOE-ID was able to make an informed decision and was able to consider cost a factor. Accordingly, STI was able to save the government an estimated $168K.

15. OSDBU Director’s Excellence Award:

Award Recipient: Thomas W. Dussault, Deputy Director, Office of Acquisition Management, Washington, DC

This award is awarded at the discretion of the OSDBU Director.

Awardee Description: Tom Dussault has championed the cause of small business for years. Most recently, Tom supported OSDBU during the absence of a Director during FY 2021 and made sure the OSDBU was a part of major initiatives, such as the Equity Procurement Grouping Work which included OSDBU’s input on gathering and reporting on barriers to small businesses seeking to do business with the DOE. Tom sought the OSDBU’s input on eliminating or reducing such barriers and involved the OSDBU in the crowdsourcing campaign to identify barriers of entry for economically disadvantaged groups in underserved communities seeking DOE procurement opportunities. Tom also supported numerous OSDBU initiatives, and he has been supportive in the planning and discussions on important topics, such as AbilityOne, the DOE Strategic Plan, proposed legislation, data support, Buy American Act requirements, and the assignment of Small Business Technical Advisors in compliance with the Small Business Act, Section 15(k) paragraph 8. Additionally, Tom helped finalize our Procurement Center Business Operations Plan (PCBOP) with the SBA and coordinated the cosigning of the OSDBU/Senior Procurement Executive Goaling Memorandum. Tom’s support to the OSDBU during FY 2021 made it possible for OSDBU to excel and succeed on so many efforts.

Congratulations to the award recipients of the FY 2021 Annual Small Business Awards Program and thank you for your contributions to the DOE’s mission successes. For additional information concerning the Annual Small Business Awards Program, please contact smallbusiness@hq.doe.gov.