[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 173 (Friday, November 3, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16676-S16677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       OUTREACH TO THE SMALL AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS COMMUNITY

 Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, on September 21, 1995, I 
hosted a procurement fair, along with the Congressional Black Caucus 
Foundation, that I hope will help open up the economic activities of 
the Federal Government and private sector to small and disadvantaged 
businesses and entrepreneurs. I was extremely pleased to see nearly 80 
Federal agencies and private corporations participate as exhibitors in 
the fair, providing hundreds of small business owners an opportunity to 
understand the rules governing Federal and private contracting, as well 
as how and where to look for contracting opportunities. This fair, 
modeled on an old-fashioned trade fair, will help bridge the gap that 
has existed between the small and disadvantaged business community and 
key procurement staff within the government and private sector.
  The Department of Health and Human Services was one of many Federal 
agencies who shared important procurement information at the fair. I 
thank them for their participation and commend the Department of Health 
and Human Services on their active efforts to reach out to small, 
disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses.
  Mr. President, I ask that the full text of remarks by Mr. John 
Callahan, Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget at the 
Department of Health and Human Services, be printed in the Record.
  The text follows:

                     Statement of John J. Callahan

       Honored Participants and Members of the Caucus:
       Good Morning, I am John J. Callahan, Assistant Secretary 
     for Management and Budget and Chief Financial Officer for the 
     Department of Health and Human Services. I bring you 
     greetings and well wishes from Secretary Shalala and Deputy 
     Secretary Walter Broadnax for a most successful gathering. 
     They would like to commend Senator Carol Moseley-Braun for 
     her efforts in putting together this Federal Procurement Fair 
     and Congressman Donald Payne as Chairman of  

[[Page S 16677]]

     the Caucus during this 25th legislative forum weekend.
       I would like to convey HHS' strong commitment to the 
     participation of small businesses and small disadvantaged 
     businesses in the work of our department. HHS has an 
     outstanding record in this field, and has steadily increased 
     the number of prime and subcontract awards being made to 
     small businesses in general, and to small disadvantaged 
     businesses in particular.
       Our top staff who are here today, Ms. LaVarne Burton, our 
     Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget Policy Initiatives, and 
     Mr. Verl Zanders, the head of the Department's OSDBU, made it 
     a special point to insure that HHS maintains a strong 
     commitment to the participation of small and disadvantaged 
     businesses in the HHS federal acquisition process. Let me 
     just give you a few highlights of our effort.
       Our Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 
     establishes and maintains outreach programs to provide a flow 
     of information about HHS' Small Business Programs to small, 
     small disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses. OSDBU staff 
     provided personal counseling and marketing assistance to over 
     2,500 interested small businesses during Fiscal Year 1994.
       OSDBU also developed and distributed 8,000 copies of 
     various publications designed to assist individuals and 
     organizations in understanding our mission and programs of 
     HHS.
       In Fiscal Year 1994, HHS awarded approximately 41 percent 
     (over $1.2 billion), of its total acquisition awards to small 
     businesses; and of that amount approximately 13 percent (over 
     $390 million) was awarded to small disadvantaged businesses. 
     We think this is particularly noteworthy.
       In addition, small disadvantaged businesses received 
     approximately 8.2 percent ($31 million) of the total 
     subcontracting dollars from prime contracts awarded by the 
     Department.
       Historically, HHS has exceeded all of the statutory goals 
     for small business participation on a consistent basis.
       These achievements are made possible because of broad 
     institutional acceptance and support of these programs 
     throughout the Department.
       HHS remains committed to the development and expansion of 
     acquisition opportunities which can, and will, encourage many 
     more small businesses and small disadvantaged businesses to 
     participate in our programs.
       In short, we are proud to be a part of one of the best 
     small and small disadvantaged business programs in 
     government!
       I would also like to remind everyone about the HHS exhibit 
     table which is staffed by our Departmental small business 
     experts who will have various printed materials and 
     information on hand. Please take full advantage of this 
     opportunity to learn ``How to do Business With the Department 
     of Health and Human Services.''
       Thank you.

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