By Rick Smith
As NASA forges a new generation of vehicles, rovers, science instruments, test hardware, and support systems to send Artemis explorers to the Moon, fly future crewed missions to Mars, and probe the mysteries of the cosmos, the agency is augmenting the efforts of its experienced government workforce with innovative ideas and cutting-edge capabilities among large and small businesses nationwide.
For David Brock, small business specialist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and Todd Pospisil, acting director of Marshall’s Office of Procurement, finding and fostering the right mix of industry skills, ingenuity, and resources means addressing a lot of virtual industry gatherings – and shaking a lot of hands.
In a few short weeks this fall, for example, Brock and other Marshall business leaders met virtually with Gulf Coast business leaders; took part in aerospace manufacturing industry events in Michigan and New Hampshire; consulted with engineering executives from Japan; and hosted a two-day virtual information session for minority-serving academic institutions across the country.
Brock – who has spent more than 30 years providing strategic guidance and direction in the planning, coordination and implementation of NASA Small Business Programs at Marshall – said those interactions are the best part of his job.
“We bring opportunities to industry, connect the dots between large and small companies, and build lasting partnerships that will advance NASA’s mission goals,” he said. “It’s our job to help companies successfully navigate the federal contracting process, and ensure the future of space exploration is in the best possible hands.”
That means pumping more money into contracts than ever before – more than $4 billion in Marshall contract support and services in fiscal year 2021 alone.
“Contractors are force multipliers for the agency. At Marshall, they make up almost two-thirds of the workforce,” Pospisil said. “That shows how much we count on industry to execute NASA’s mission – and NASA’s success record shows just how effective this partnership approach has been.”
The small business team conducts its mission in a variety of hands-on ways: through internal business counseling sessions; by hosting local and regional industry day events; overseeing NASA’s Mentor-Protégé program, which pairs up small businesses with NASA prime contractors; and by visiting – virtually or in person – companies and academic institutions with skills and resources vital to keeping NASA, the aerospace industry, and the American economy thriving.
They further work to create new business opportunities for small companies, including those owned and operated by women, service-disabled veterans, and minorities, and firms operating in historically underserved business zones around the nation. In partnership with NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, they also work to inspire and recruit new generations of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians.
The team maintains NASA’s comprehensive Small Business Marketing Guide – which helps companies find their way forward in federal contracting – and contributes to NASA’s online acquisition forecast tool, which alerts interested bidders to new contracts across the agency.
Despite the hindrances of doing business in a pandemic, Brock said Marshall’s Small Business Office has been busier than ever this year. Typically, the team makes roughly 50 virtual presentations to corporations and supplier groups each year, hosts upward of 60 visits to Marshall by industry representatives, and handles in-house counseling for more than 400 current and potential contract partners. In 2021, Brock confirmed, that last number is likely to top 700.
Those statistics come as no surprise, given Marshall’s track record in small business leadership for the agency. Marshall is a six-time recipient of the NASA Small Business Administrator’s Cup, the annual agency award presented to the field center with the best overall small business program.
Brock and Pospisil credit their teams and contributors across Marshall and NASA for their success in this area – and agree that even more exciting opportunities lie ahead, as NASA readies the first test-flight of its Space Launch System and begins developing its planned lunar Gateway, Human Landing System, and associated Moon exploration technologies.
“It’s a great time to pursue work at NASA,” Brock said.
Firms interested in seeking contracts with NASA are encouraged to contact Brock’s office by phone or email.
To learn more about doing business with Marshall, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/about/business.html
Learn more about NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs here:
Janet Sudnik
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama
256-544-0034
janet.m.sudnik@nasa.gov