DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PRESENTS AWARDS FOR SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION INENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP

Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Environmental Security Sherri W. Goodman presented awards today to four small and disadvantaged businesses for their outstanding performance records in the DoD's environmental cleanup program. The award winners were recognized with a plaque at the National Contract Management Association's annual conference in San Francisco. The firms honored were Oil Spill Consultants of Anchorage, Alaska; Operational technologies, Inc. of San Antonio, Texas; Cheyenne Building Contractors, Inc. of Ruidoso, New Mexico; and Environmental Chemical Corporation of Burlingame, California.

"The businesses we honor today have demonstrated their strong commitment to hard work and professionalism. Their efforts have resulted in cleaner, safer communities across our nation," said Goodman.

Small businesses have played a significant role in DoD's environmental cleanup program because of the expertise small firms provide to the many challenges associated with cleanup work. Participation in DoD wide programs from small businesses has continued to rise since 1987, when Congress mandated that DoD set aside a percentage of its contracts to small and disadvantaged businesses. In FY94, small businesses received $24.8 billion of all DoD contract dollars, small and disadvantaged businesses received $6.1 billion of that amount, and women-owned businesses received $1.9 billion in contract dollars for FY94.

The Department of Defense is responsible for the management of thousands of military installations and other defense sites through the United States and overseas. In 1984, Congress established the Defense Environmental Restoration Account to ensure DoD cleans up these sites and protects vulnerable communities.