NASA has achieved an "A" on the fiscal year 2012 (FY12) Small Business Administration (SBA) Procurement Scorecard.

During the past six years, NASA's demonstrated commitment to the agency's small business program has raised the agency's overall grade from an "F" to an "A" after receiving a grade of "C" in FY09 and FY10 and a grade of "B" in FY11.

The annual SBA Procurement Scorecard measures how well federal agencies reach their established small business and socio-economic prime and subcontracting goals. It also measures how the agencies provide accurate and transparent contracting data and report on agency-specific progress.

Despite the overall spending decrease by the agency due to federal budget constraints in FY12, NASA awarded approximately $2.6 billion directly to small businesses. This was about $100 million more when compared to FY11, clearly demonstrating NASA's overall commitment of support to the nation's small businesses.

"This achievement would not have been possible without the tireless work of the agency's small business specialists, technical advisors, acquisition personnel, and the entire small business programs team," said Glenn Delgado, associate administrator for NASA's Office of Small Business Programs. "Nor would it have been possible without the wide range of small businesses working in fields from finance to high-tech manufacturing that support NASA's mission."

Small business support has been on the forefront of NASA senior management agency strategy. Several initiatives from NASA's Office of Small Business Programs have been recognized as best practices in the federal government.

NASA is committed to promoting and integrating all small businesses into the competitive base of contractors that pioneer the future of space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.

For information about the NASA's small business programs, visit: http://www.osbp.nasa.gov/

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NASA Makes the Grade on the SBA Procurement Scorecard