Small gets bigger

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

By REBECCA SALLEE
For The Times

Doing business with Redstone Arsenal is bigger than ever for small companies.

The arsenal's Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization office, or SADBU, reported $1.5 billion in small-business contract awards during the last fiscal year, a record amount.

Mit Merritt, small-business advocate and chief of Redstone's SADBU office, said that's no coincidence.

"We want small businesses to compete in this market for supplies and services," he said. "Many of our dollars here at Redstone naturally and purposefully go to the large 'primes' (prime contractors) because we have to have those large businesses to get our mission done."

But the government sets aside other contracts for small and disadvantaged businesses, including those owned by women and service-disabled veterans, those located in "historically underutilized business zones," and historically black colleges and universities and minority institutions.

Merritt and a full-time staff of 10 stand ready to assist such businesses with information and networking services.

"We give them guidance and counsel in the areas of what's being purchased here. We serve as an advocacy for all small businesses that want to do business with the Army or the Defense Department," Merritt said.

SADBU staff attend small-business and industry fairs and conferences as an outreach to small businesses and to gather information to share at home, he said. "Who are the key leaders or the key personnel that have information about a particular (weapons) system? We try to furnish that information so they can go out and market themselves."

The SADBU office also works closely with the local chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army, whose annual conference is coordinated with the Advanced Planning Briefing to Industry and the announcement of upcoming procurements, Merritt said.

But the information flow goes on throughout the year at his office, which also maintains a Web site forecasting contract opportunities for future missions at Redstone.

Bob Vlasics of Huntsville, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, owns Aerospace Dynamics Inc., which represents companies that do business with the arsenal, particularly those that make aircraft hardware.

"There are so many different entities here, it can get bogged down," Vlasics said. "You've got to be sure their interests and the Army's interests come together."

Vlasics worked with the SADBU office when he established his company in 1992 and now introduces his clients to the office, where he regularly drops in to express their interests and concerns.

Carter Jones, director of the Army Aviation division of Aerospace Integration Corp. in Madison, said the SADBU office has been helpful for his company, which modifies and upgrades aircraft.

"They identify opportunities for us that normally would be contracted out to large, established businesses that they can set aside for companies like AIC and other small businesses that have the competency to perform a particular service or make a particular product," Jones said.

The atmosphere for small businesses at the arsenal is "very good," he said. "I think the program managers on post recognize the responsiveness that small businesses bring. When you work with larger companies, you have more bureaucratic processes and procedures than you have with a small, leaner outfit."




Small gets bigger Redstone office's year-round counseling and networking pays off with a record $1.5 billion in small-biz contracts Tuesday, December 13, 2005 By REBECCA SALLEE For The Times Doing business with Redstone Arsenal is bigger than ever for small companies. The arsenal's Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization office, or SADBU, reported $1.5 billion in small-business contract awards during the last fiscal year, a record amount. Mit Merritt, small-business advocate and chief of Redstone's SADBU office, said that's no coincidence. "We want small businesses to compete in this market for supplies and services," he said. "Many of our dollars here at Redstone naturally and purposefully go to the large 'primes' (prime contractors) because we have to have those large businesses to get our mission done." But the government sets aside other contracts for small and disadvantaged businesses, including those owned by women and service-disabled veterans, those located in "historically underutilized business zones," and historically black colleges and universities and minority institutions. Merritt and a full-time staff of 10 stand ready to assist such businesses with information and networking services. "We give them guidance and counsel in the areas of what's being purchased here. We serve as an advocacy for all small businesses that want to do business with the Army or the Defense Department," Merritt said. SADBU staff attend small-business and industry fairs and conferences as an outreach to small businesses and to gather information to share at home, he said. "Who are the key leaders or the key personnel that have information about a particular (weapons) system? We try to furnish that information so they can go out and market themselves." The SADBU office also works closely with the local chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army, whose annual conference is coordinated with the Advanced Planning Briefing to Industry and the announcement of upcoming procurements, Merritt said. But the information flow goes on throughout the year at his office, which also maintains a Web site forecasting contract opportunities for future missions at Redstone. Bob Vlasics of Huntsville, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, owns Aerospace Dynamics Inc., which represents companies that do business with the arsenal, particularly those that make aircraft hardware. "There are so many different entities here, it can get bogged down," Vlasics said. "You've got to be sure their interests and the Army's interests come together." Vlasics worked with the SADBU office when he established his company in 1992 and now introduces his clients to the office, where he regularly drops in to express their interests and concerns. Carter Jones, director of the Army Aviation division of Aerospace Integration Corp. in Madison, said the SADBU office has been helpful for his company, which modifies and upgrades aircraft. "They identify opportunities for us that normally would be contracted out to large, established businesses that they can set aside for companies like AIC and other small businesses that have the competency to perform a particular service or make a particular product," Jones said. The atmosphere for small businesses at the arsenal is "very good," he said. "I think the program managers on post recognize the responsiveness that small businesses bring. When you work with larger companies, you have more bureaucratic processes and procedures than you have with a small, leaner outfit." © 2005 The Huntsville Times © 2005 al.com All Rights Reserved.