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Small Businesses Sign up for Big Opportunities at NASA

Shoreline Restoration project at Kennedy Space Center
Jones Edmunds and Associates, Inc., oversaw the multi-phase shoreline restoration project at Kennedy Space Center. Native vegetation was planted in the restored dunes at the Florida spaceport’s north beaches.
Credits: NASA/Kim Shiflett

When NASA’s Kennedy Space Center needed to repair and stabilize the dunes along nearly four miles of shoreline, the Florida spaceport contracted with a multi-disciplinary engineering and consulting firm to design the project. The contractor, Jones Edmunds and Associates, Inc., oversaw the multi-phase restoration, adding of 38,000 truckloads of beach sand and replacing native coastal vegetation to protect Kennedy’s launch pads, camera and weather stations, and beach roads from erosion due to major storm events.

Now Jones Edmunds, a proven firm with nearly 30 years as a NASA contractor, is poised to use its experience to mentor another engineering company to do business with NASA through the agency’s Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP).

During a virtual signing ceremony April 22, Jones Edmunds formalized an MPP agreement to mentor Drummond Carpenter, PLLC, a certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business founded in 2016 that specializes in environmental and water resources engineering and applied research.

The program allows larger companies with NASA contracts to mentor companies in the same or similar industries that have less experience working with the agency.

“The MPP has the ability to uniquely transform a small business or minority-serving institution and enhance its capabilities to win contracts and subcontracts as a direct result of its participation,” said Joyce McDowell, Kennedy’s Small Business specialist.

Shoreline Restoration Project at Kennedy
Around 38,000 truckloads carrying 450,000 cubic yards of beach-quality sand, tested for compatibility, was transported to Kennedy’s beaches as part of the shoreline restoration project.
Credits: NASA/Ben Smegelsky

The program focuses on assisting disadvantaged small businesses, women-owned small businesses, historically underutilized business zone concerns, veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, historically black colleges and universities, or minority institutions. 

Doug M. Toth, senior vice president, Jones Edmunds, learned about the opportunity through NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs. The search for suitable protégé businesses took him to several small business meetings and conferences, including the annual NASA Business Opportunities Expo. At these events, he frequently ran into fellow civil engineer, Chad Drummond, President of Drummond Carpenter. A relationship grew before Toth realized the similarities between the established NASA contractor and the young company would make for an ideal mentor-protégé relationship.

“It took a while for the light to go off in my head, but I thought this program could be perfect for helping NASA, helping Drummond Carpenter as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, and also helping Jones Edmunds,” Toth said.

For Jones Edmunds, entering the elite group of NASA mentors further establishes the firm’s brand and brings additional value to its associates. To Drummond Carpenter, only five years into its existence, participation in the MPP means growth, as Jones Edmunds has pledged business management assistance, technical and engineering assistance, and subcontracting opportunities.

Beach sunrise at Kennedy Space Center
A beautiful sunrise is captured over sand dunes at the beach at Kennedy Space Center.
Credits: NASA/Ben Smegelsky

“This will enhance our capabilities to serve NASA and learn the NASA way,” Drummond said. “Jones Edmunds has committed to enabling us to hire three additional staff in water and wastewater engineering, which aligns directly with NASA’s needs and allows us to expand our service offerings, grow that area, but also encompass a 30% increase in staff, so it’s a very significant growth opportunity for us.”

While the 24-month agreement between Jones Edmunds and Drummond Carpenter is NASA’s most recent, it will not be the last. Currently, there are 26 mentors approved by the agency, with two active MPP agreements at Kennedy. 

“There are many success stories across the agency, and NASA is committed to providing small businesses with opportunities to participate in both NASA prime contracts and subcontracts,” McDowell said. “The NASA Office of Small Business Programs is here to facilitate open and effective communication between our centers and small businesses worldwide to make that commitment a reality.”