Jeffrey Carr
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                        
January 28, 1993
(Phone:  202/453-1024)

RELEASE:  93-17

NEW ADVISORY GROUP EYES MINORITY BUSINESSES

     Members of NASA's newly-chartered Minority Business Resource 
Advisory Committee opened a new era of multicultural 
participation in the civil space program when they met here this 
week to discuss their charter and begin developing an agenda for 
action.

     The committee was formed by NASA Administrator Daniel S. 
Goldin partially in response to a directive by Congress to award 
8 percent of the total value of the agency's prime and 
subcontracts to economically and socially disadvantaged 
businesses and minority educational institutions involved in key 
NASA activities.

     Goldin met with the committee, consisting of representatives 
of minority and women-owned businesses around the country, and 
charged them with establishing a vision and strategic plan to 
carry out their objectives and measure their progress.

     The group plans to meet quarterly at various NASA field 
centers to address issues such as training programs, procurement 
practices and outreach programs.  The committee's recommendations 
will be facilitated through the Office of Small and Disadvantaged 
Business Utilization, headed by Associate Administrator Ralph C. 
Thomas, III.

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