Sandia spent nearly a billion dollars on goods and services in fiscal year 2014 and New Mexico businesses received more than 38 percent of the total, according to the Labs’ latest economic impact report.

Of the total of $961.8 million Sandia spent last year, New Mexico businesses received $362.4 million. US small businesses were awarded more than 47 percent, or $455.7 million in Sandia contracts, and New Mexico small businesses received $240.6 million, or 53 percent of the small business total.

While total spending and spending with small businesses and New Mexico businesses all declined compared to FY13 — by $12.8 million, $58.6 million, and $46.5 million, respectively — “Sandia remains a driving force in New Mexico’s economy,” says Don Devoti, manager of Small Business Utilization Dept. 10222. “We continue to set aggressive small business and supplier diversity goals and work diligently to meet or exceed those goals.”

Small businesses, diverse suppliers wanted

Sandia reaches out to local businesses through a variety of programs. It holds public forums with suppliers and civic leaders to discuss contracting opportunities and lists contracts on its Business Opportunities website. It supplies small and diverse business owners with information on doing business with Sandia and seeks qualified suppliers.

The 2014 Sandia National Laboratories Economic Impact report breaks down Sandia’s spending and spotlights its role in the economy. The 2014 data, reflecting actual payments made, are based on the fiscal year from Oct. 1, 2013, to Sept. 30, 2014. The report demonstrates Sandia’s continued commitment to small business.

Sandia’s overall economic impact in 2014:

• $1.6 billion was spent on labor and non-contract-related payments.
• $961.8 million went to contract-related payments.
• $61.5 million went to the state of New Mexico for gross receipts taxes.
• $71.9 million was spent through procurement card purchases.

The Small Business Act mandates that federal contractors use small businesses, including those that are small disadvantaged, owned by women or veterans and service-disabled veterans, and small businesses in impoverished areas — called Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) zones. The Small Business Utilization Department oversees those mandates and negotiates small business subcontracting goals with NNSA.

“Looking ahead to FY15, Sandia procurement and our small business team are driven to exceed all our negotiated small business and supplier diversity goals, the standard by which our program is measured,” Don says. “We will continue to build upon our successes with HUBZone, veteran, service-disabled, and small disadvantaged businesses, where we exceeded our goals last year, to drive future success.”

Sandia President and Laboratories Director Paul Hommert echoed the Labs’ full support of the Small Business Act. “Sandia has a long and distinguished record of encouraging and partnering with highly qualified, diverse small business suppliers who assist us in achieving our national security mission,” he says. “We are fully committed to continuing this track record.”

Sandia also helps the state’s economy through the New Mexico Small Business Assistance (NMSBA) program, established by the state Legislature in 2000 to help companies receive technical support from the Labs. In 2013, the Sandia NMSBA provided $2.4 million in technical assistance to 194 New Mexico small businesses in 29 counties. Since 2000, it has provided more than $26 million in assistance.

Sandia employees gave more than $6.2 million in 2014-2015 to the United Way of Central New Mexico, making Sandia the largest corporate contributor to the agency. That will be reflected in the 2015 economic impact report.

Sandia employees also contribute their time as volunteers, supporting STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education through a variety of community programs, such as family science and math nights and engineering challenges, that reached thousands of students.