Government Contracts at Stennis Require ‘nuts and bolts to construction’

June 20, 2016

NASA, the Navy, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are the main sources of business opportunities at Stennis Space Center. Each has large, long term contracts that are bid at different times. There are also routine procurements for such things as office and cleaning supplies.

As host to the Stennis resident agencies and companies, NASA has responsibility for keeping the center running on a daily basis. It has five large, long term contracts for facility’s operations and maintenance, including SACOM, IT support, laboratory services, administration and clerical support and security services.

Robert Watts, NASA’s small business specialist for Stennis Space Center, said that Stennis is a “rocket engine test facility, so anything that supports that effort, from ordering nuts and bolts to construction, we do for testing that rocket engine.”

Watts said he talks one on one with business owners to help them through the process of doing business with NASA and stresses becoming familiar with the agency’s requirements. “When you come in, it helps to have an idea of the types of services we need. We offer an 18 to 24-month forecast on our website that tells the public these are the things we are looking for.”

Watts also recommends business owners contact the Mississippi Contract Procurement Center in Biloxi which helps Mississippi businesses obtain federal, state, local government and commercial contracts.

The U.S. Navy has two large contracts issued every five years for IT services and program support, as well as direct acquisitions. The NOAA National Data Buoy Center has one large contract issued every five years. Procurement forecasts for both these agencies are also available on their websites.

The smaller federal agencies also have opportunities for small businesses and technology transfer opportunities through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR and STTR) grants and technology transfer cooperative or licensing agreements.

The Mississippi Enterprise for Technology advises that the majority of opportunities at Stennis are available to the public at the Federal Business Opportunities.

According to MSET, every major agency and prime contractor has goals they must attempt to meet in terms of small business participation. Goals include small businesses with less than 500 employees, small disadvantaged businesses, service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses, Woman-owned and minority-owned small businesses and HUBZone certified small businesses.