The Department of the Navy (DON) received one of the top Department of Defense (DoD) awards for exceptional commitment to small business programs across a variety of activities, such as; exceeding assigned goals, outreach, and senior leader commitment April 6.

Director of the DON Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) Ms. Emily Harman accepted the 2016 Vanguard Award on behalf of the DON at a ceremony held during the DoD OSBP Training Week in Atlanta, GA.

"At DoD, we recognize that small businesses contribute to national security by providing combat power to our troops and economic power to our nation," said Acting Director of the DoD OSBP Dr. James Galvin. "Every member of the acquisition community plays an important role in supporting small business opportunity and utilization. The Vanguard award ceremony gives us an opportunity to pause and recognize several exceptional efforts in support of small business procurement."

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, DON exceeded their prime contracting small business goal, with a 9.8% increase in total small business obligations over FY 2015, the highest DON prime contracting award level since FY 2012. The DON Small Business Innovation Research team awarded 138 Direct Phase III contracts in FY 2016, and decreased their award times by 25%.

DON OSBP also developed an FY16 communication strategy to promote change and create a culture of small business inclusiveness across the Navy and Marine Corps. "We truly believe that small businesses play an important role to ensure our warfighters have the products, services and solutions to help win the fight," said Harman. "The products and services delivered to the Navy and Marine Corps by small businesses help us maintain a competitive edge."

Harman noted the support that she and small business professionals throughout the DON receive from senior leadership. She also recognized the efforts of program managers, contracting officials, and other members of the DON's acquisition workforce.

In FY16, the DON developed an enterprise-wide Small Business Strategic Framework designed to foster acquisition support from and partnership with small business. The framework's small business areas of focus are divided into long-term objectives with specific, measureable milestones.

The Navy and Marine Corps is also engaged in professionalizing its small business professional workforce by holding its first Small Business Training Forum since 2010, developing a small business professional career roadmap, and establishing a Rotational Excellence Program.

Established in 2015 by Former Under Secretary of Defense Acquistion, Technology and Logisitics the Honorable Frank Kendall, the DoD Small Business Vanguard Awards Program recognizes the exceptional contributions of DoD small business professionals and members of the acquisition community that influence small business participation in Defense procurements.

For more information on the DON's Small Business Program, upcoming outreach events and our 10 major buying commands: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/smallbusiness.

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