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1994.10.13 :  HHS Minority Contractor of the Year

Contact:  Y. Angel Graves     (202) 690-6670
Thursday, Oct. 13, 1994


             HHS MINORITY CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDED

     HHS Deputy Secretary Walter D. Broadnax has presented the
department's 1994 Minority Contractor of the Year Award to Ralph O.
Williams, chairman and CEO of R.O.W. Sciences, Inc., a Rockville,
Md., multidimensional health care firm.  

     The company offers expertise across the entire health spectrum
in the areas of basic research, applied research and development,
clinical investigation, clinical trials, demonstration programs,
prevention and control programs, professional and public education
programs, regulatory interfaces and information systems.

     Broadnax, who also presented certificates of excellence to four
other minority contractors, said the top award went to R.O.W.
Sciences, Inc. in recognition of the firm's long-term outstanding
performance.

     "Minority businesses rendered contract services worth over $345
million during fiscal 1994 and made an outstanding contribution in
assisting HHS carry out its mission of providing health, welfare and
social services to the nation's people," Broadnax said.

     "Minority businesses are one key to equality; I am personally
committed to keeping strong our funding to small and disadvantaged
businesses."

     R.O.W. Sciences, Inc. was nominated by the Food and Drug 
Administration for its sustained superior performance over a number
of years, both with FDA and the department.

     The honored company continues to be ranked among the top 50
contractors (large or small) that received the most HHS contract
award dollars.  It is performing work for FDA on nine contracts
valued at over $32 million.  These contracts cover basic science,
scientific information systems, animal care and breeding and
technical support services, and LAN/WAN design.

     The awards ceremony at HHS was the department's kickoff for the
national recognition of Minority Enterprise Development Week, Oct.
10-13.

     Verl Zanders, director of HHS' Office of Small and
Disadvantaged Business Utilization, said, "The significant
contributions by minority businesses are made possible due to
institutional support of the spirit and intent of the Small Business
Program, and to the capabilities and competence of firms that
participate in HHS acquisitions."

     The recipients of the department's Certificate of Excellence
are:

     Ellsworth Associates of Arlington, Va., a software development
firm specializing in providing office automation, administrative
systems development and systems integration.  The Administration for
Children and Families nominated Ellsworth Associates because of the
considerable programmatic support being provided by the firm;

     WIN Laboratories of Manassas, Va., a computer manufacturing
firm with just under 126 employees and projected sales at $75
million.  WIN Laboratories won a competitive acquisition to provide
the Social Security Administration with services and equipment to
automate SSA's national offices;

     Integrated Laboratory Systems of Durham, N.C., provides
services in such diverse disciplines as Toxicology, Chemistry
Support, Scientific Programming and Health Physics services for
monitoring laboratories for radioactive contamination and delivery
of radioactive materials for the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences.  Integrated Laboratory Systems is one of a select
few minority-owned businesses capable of performing environmental
health and health physics services for the federal government; 

     Information Data Systems, Inc., of Silver Spring, Md., a 
professional and technical services company specializing in systems
engineering, facilities management, information systems consulting
and health care systems.  The firm was nominated by the
Administration on Aging for its exceptional performance in providing
support services for the grant review process.
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