Small business gets big boost

Army looks to companies owned by service-disabled vets to fill contract needs

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

By REBECCA SALLEE

For The Times

The Army has big plans for small businesses, especially those owned by service-disabled veterans.

Last month, President Bush signed an executive order outlining policies to increase Army contracts to such businesses.

The U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command is one step ahead of the game, having recently received an "award of excellence" for spending more dollars with service-disabled contractors than any other organization in the Army.

Christine Ryan, acting associate director for SMDC's Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Office, said the majority of those dollars come from a $226 million contract with COLSA Corp., which manages the command's Advanced Research Center.

COLSA is a Huntsville-based information technology services company with 800 employees and an owner who is classified as service-disabled. Francisco "Rank" J. Collazo spent 30 years in the Army's air defense programs and founded COLSA in 1980.

A service-disabled business owner is defined by the government as one whose disability was "incurred or aggravated in the line of duty," Ryan said. "It was service-connected and they were honorably discharged."

In most industries, a small business is defined as one with fewer than 1,000 employees, she said.

Ryan accepted the Army award in June at an Orlando, Fla., Army small-business training conference.

In her daily duties, Ryan said her office assists representatives of small businesses and helps them make contact with local government organizations that can use their services or products.

"We counsel them and give them advice; point to resources (such as) the Small Business Development Center at the chamber (of commerce)," she said. "They have to market their capabilities."

By the time they come to her office, most business owners "already know what their path is," she said. "They have a specific core competency."

Ryan's office is also available to give small businesses what she calls "an acquisition forecast," she said.

"I tell them what is coming up. They see if they have the potential to be a prime contractor or a subcontractor," she said. Bids are received through her command's contracts office.

Kim Gillespie, a public affairs specialist for SMDC, said a recent amendment to the Veterans Entrepreneurial Act allows federal agencies to reserve many purchases specifically for specific groups, including service-disabled veterans, women, and minorities.

"Prior to May, they were just competing as a small business," Gillespie said. "Now this will narrow the scope so that just these veterans can compete for small contracts."

Ryan said her office maintains a database to identify small businesses that qualify as being service-disabled veteran-owned.

She believes in both the program and the cause.

"We have a high volume of military folks in this area," including active duty and retirees, Ryan said. "I respect these men and women that fight for our freedom."

Gillespie said service-disabled veterans are often "a natural fit" for government jobs within the Army. "They have a lot of expertise doing things we do," she said. "They can still continue to serve their country and also be an entrepreneur - the American dream."

Last fiscal year, SMDC spent about $2 billion in contracts, including almost $28 million to service-disabled veterans, Ryan said.




Small business gets big boost Army looks to companies owned by service-disabled vets to fill contract needs Tuesday, November 30, 2004 By REBECCA SALLEE For The Times The Army has big plans for small businesses, especially those owned by service-disabled veterans. Last month, President Bush signed an executive order outlining policies to increase Army contracts to such businesses. The U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command is one step ahead of the game, having recently received an "award of excellence" for spending more dollars with service-disabled contractors than any other organization in the Army. Christine Ryan, acting associate director for SMDC's Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Office, said the majority of those dollars come from a $226 million contract with COLSA Corp., which manages the command's Advanced Research Center. COLSA is a Huntsville-based information technology services company with 800 employees and an owner who is classified as service-disabled. Francisco "Rank" J. Collazo spent 30 years in the Army's air defense programs and founded COLSA in 1980. A service-disabled business owner is defined by the government as one whose disability was "incurred or aggravated in the line of duty," Ryan said. "It was service-connected and they were honorably discharged." In most industries, a small business is defined as one with fewer than 1,000 employees, she said. Ryan accepted the Army award in June at an Orlando, Fla., Army small-business training conference. In her daily duties, Ryan said her office assists representatives of small businesses and helps them make contact with local government organizations that can use their services or products. "We counsel them and give them advice; point to resources (such as) the Small Business Development Center at the chamber (of commerce)," she said. "They have to market their capabilities." By the time they come to her office, most business owners "already know what their path is," she said. "They have a specific core competency." Ryan's office is also available to give small businesses what she calls "an acquisition forecast," she said. "I tell them what is coming up. They see if they have the potential to be a prime contractor or a subcontractor," she said. Bids are received through her command's contracts office. Kim Gillespie, a public affairs specialist for SMDC, said a recent amendment to the Veterans Entrepreneurial Act allows federal agencies to reserve many purchases specifically for specific groups, including service-disabled veterans, women, and minorities. "Prior to May, they were just competing as a small business," Gillespie said. "Now this will narrow the scope so that just these veterans can compete for small contracts." Ryan said her office maintains a database to identify small businesses that qualify as being service-disabled veteran-owned. She believes in both the program and the cause. "We have a high volume of military folks in this area," including active duty and retirees, Ryan said. "I respect these men and women that fight for our freedom." Gillespie said service-disabled veterans are often "a natural fit" for government jobs within the Army. "They have a lot of expertise doing things we do," she said. "They can still continue to serve their country and also be an entrepreneur - the American dream." Last fiscal year, SMDC spent about $2 billion in contracts, including almost $28 million to service-disabled veterans, Ryan said. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.