The Department of The Navy’s Outreach to Indiana Business
In fiscal year 2016, the Department of the Navy, which includes the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, awarded about $156 million in contracts to small businesses in the state of Indiana. More than $9.2 million of those contracts went to small businesses located within a 50 mile radius of Indianapolis. Overall, the Navy awarded over $887 million in contracts to both large and small businesses in the state of Indiana during fiscal year 2016.
While the numbers are impressive, we are confident that Hoosier small businesses can play an even bigger role moving forward. The Department of the Navy needs to expand additive manufacturing, adapt force packaging, grant rapid prototyping, and allow experimentation which creates opportunity for small businesses.
The Department of the Navy’s Office of Small Business Programs website contains information to help small businesses compete for those opportunities. It also provides links to 10 major buying activities, information on the long range acquisition forecast of those activities, our strategic framework, and other resources that will help you understand the Navy and Marine acquisition and contract process.
In addition, the Navy’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Program, also provides opportunities for small businesses to solve tough naval capability and performance challenges by providing us with innovative solutions, cost savings, and schedule efficiencies.
We’re committed to building a robust industrial base by creating a small business friendly culture through policy, training, and advocacy. To create this culture, our office has been raising small business awareness with our small business and acquisition professionals and advocating for small business inclusion.
Currently, the top 10 small business industries working with the Department of the Navy include:
- Engineering services
- Commercial and institutional building construction
- Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
- Ship building and repairing
- Facilities support services
- Deep sea freight transportation
- Computer related services
- Search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical, and nautical system and instrument manufacturing
- General medical and surgical hospitals
- Highway, street, and bridge construction
However, we need your help. In order to compete and win contracts with the Navy and Marine Corps you must do your homework. If you’d like to do business with the government, here are some tips:
View the Long Range Acquisition Forecast to find out which activities are buying the products and services your organization provides.
Attend an industry day, matchmaking session, workshop or conference to understand how the Navy and Marine Corps acquisition process works. All outreach events can be found here.
Contact your local small business representatives in Indiana for assistance at the Central Indiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division or Small Business Administration.
In the Indianapolis area alone, we have a variety of small businesses under contract, training centers, translation and interpretation services, tech groups and tool and machine firms, software companies, electronic component manufacturers and research and development labs in biotechnology.
If you attend our upcoming Indianapolis event Thursday, Aug. 10 during Navy Week, you can learn:
How the Department of the Navy’s acquisition strategy focuses on small business because of their flexibility to meet mission needs
How the Department of the Navy’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Program gives small businesses the opportunity to solve tough Naval capability and performance challenges by providing innovative solutions, cost savings, and schedule efficiencies
How the Department of the Navy is organized with 10 buying commands in the U.S. along with a Small Business Program Director
We believe that small business inclusion is, and will continue to be, an integral part of the Navy’s acquisition process. Through the efforts of small business professionals and advocates we’ll continue to find innovation and resourceful enterprises.
Emily Harman is director of the Department of the Navy’s Office of Small Business Programs.