Oak Ridge Today

CNS small business contracting makes big jump in FY 2016

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Y-12-National-Security-Complex-CNS-Sign-Dec-16-2014

The sign at the Scarboro Road entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on December 16, 2014. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC achieved a significant increase in contracting with small businesses during fiscal year 2016, eclipsing its small business contracting goals and awarding more than $276 million at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, and Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.

The small business dollars awarded represented an increase of more than $36 million over fiscal year 2015 figures, and were 67 percent of all funding awarded, exceeding CNS’ fiscal year 2016 goal of awarding 55 percent of all procurement dollars, a press release said.

CNS uses small businesses in a range of diverse roles, from staff augmentation services to construction support work, the press release said. [Read more…]

Opinion: Small stores provide personal service, expertise; have direct impact on local economy

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When you hear the terms ostrich or Myrtle burger, what comes to mind? Or pink pig van? Rudolph? How about tiny paper plates?

All of these things are hallmarks of Oak Ridge small businesses. You’ve heard it said that small business is the back bone of our economy, but we are so much more. We fill a need that franchises and big box stores simply cannot—we are what distinguish one strip-mall lined community from another. We give our city its unique flavor.

And while memorabilia and gimmicks certainly embed images in our minds, these businesses are fueled by the literal blood, sweat, and tears of people. The shop owners and employees aren’t just entrepreneurs; they are your neighbors, your friends and your family.

We all value convenience and good deals, but as the recent “Shop Local” movements have demonstrated, much is sacrificed for the sake of saving a buck or two (real or perceived). [Read more…]

Area firms receive ORNL’s 2016 Small Business Impact Awards

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory honored local and regional companies with the 2016 Small Business Impact Awards announced at the East Tennessee Economic Council meeting in Oak Ridge on Friday morning. The annual event recognizes the contributions of four small businesses to laboratory and regional development, a press release said.

ORNL’s Small Business Programs Office recognized the service of companies in categories emphasizing their specific capabilities and contributions.

Above and Beyond Award: Hart Graphics Inc. of Knoxville for the company’s outstanding work in printing and display-graphic services. Hart Graphics has assisted ORNL for several years on successful communication of science and technology, and has contributed on multiple high-profile projects including the Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy (AMIE) 3-D printed vehicle and building demonstrations.

Innovator Award: ACS Document Imaging Inc., a small business located in Knoxville, for the development of an outstanding idea, process, project management mechanism, or technology. ACS has assisted the laboratory for several years in the area of records management and information processing for the organization. [Read more…]

UCOR awards three small business contracts worth close to $1 million

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UCOR has awarded three contracts worth nearly $1 million to small businesses for services associated with the cleanup of the East Tennessee Technology Park in west Oak Ridge.

One contract was awarded to ESG Construction LLC of Knoxville, and two were awarded to Construction Technology Specialists Inc., or CTSI, which is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

ESG was awarded a contract for $450,000 to replace the heat-trace controls at the Liquid and Gaseous Waste Operations at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A general and electrical contractor, ESG is an Small Business Administration-certified Historically Underutilized Business, or HUBZone, firm. Work is expected to be completed by the end of the year. [Read more…]

Explore ORNL event postponed to Sept. 23-24

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Explore ORNL conference has been rescheduled until September 23-24 to coincide with a larger industrial outreach event at ORNL this fall. Explore ORNL was originally scheduled for July 14-15.

The September event will feature capabilities in building technologies, vehicle technologies, and advanced manufacturing, and will highlight new opportunities for small businesses to gain access to national laboratories, including ORNL.

Information about the September industry event will be released in the coming weeks.

Free workshop on accounting for small businesses

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A free workshop on accounting for small businesses is being offered Friday, June 26.

The workshop is for small businesses, and it’s being offered by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Roane State Community College, in partnership with Pugh CPAs.

It’s scheduled from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday, June 26, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Free government contracting seminars on Sept. 16

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The Tennessee Small Business Development Center will have two free government contracting seminars on September 16.

The first is scheduled from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Tuesday, September 16, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. During that seminar, the TSBDC at Roane State Community College, in partnership with the  University of Tennessee, CIS-PTAC, will offer a free workshop for small businesses on the basics of government contracting.

The second seminar is scheduled from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, September 16, also at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. During that seminar, the TSBDC, in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, will offer a free workshop for small businesses on government contracting
programs such as HUBZone, 8a, and WOSB. [Read more…]

Letter: Rice wants to cut taxes, recruit high-tech jobs, push for tourism

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Kevin Rice

Kevin Rice

To the Editor:

I am Kelvin Rice, your candidate for Anderson County Commission District 7. My parents M.L. and Mary Sue Rice moved to Oak Ridge in 1943, and I was raised on Georgia Avenue. As a lifelong resident of Oak Ridge, I have enjoyed being a part of America’s Secret City.

I attended Cedar Hill, Elm Grove, and Jefferson Junior High School. I graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1979. I previously worked at Armstrong Rubber Company as a drop mill operator and then went to Atlas Van Lines as a truck driver. I have served our community as a reserve deputy at the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and have served on the Anderson County Jail committee.

I now serve on the Anderson County Beer Board. I enjoy volunteering as our Neighborhood Watch block captain and serve as the district leader for the Watch Group in the Jackson Square area. Trying to stay involved in many areas of our community, I am a member of the Oak Ridge Quarterback Club, Football Boosters, and the Underage Drinking Task Force.

One of the main goals I will strive toward as your next commissioner is to cut taxes. I would encourage our city and county to recruit high-tech jobs, encourage small businesses to locate in our area, and push for tourism that would not only benefit our restaurants and businesses but would also help our hotel industry. The tourism in the city and county is abundant; added attractions would be beneficial to the city in many ways. [Read more…]

Guest column: B&W Y-12 improved Y-12, made a big difference in the community

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David Bradshaw

David Bradshaw

By David Bradshaw

It has been almost 14 years since B&W Y-12 LLC took over operation of the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.

Soon a new contractor will be in charge. Thanks to the work of the B&W Y-12 team and many others, they will inherit a very different and much improved facility.

One only needs to approach Y-12 to see the changes. The first thing you will see is the New Hope Center, built as a public-private partnership and located just outside the secure gates of Y-12 to make sure public access is easy. It has conference space, an outstanding auditorium, and a museum that highlights everything from Y-12’s critical role in the Manhattan Project, to the NASA “moon box” built by Y-12, to Y-12’s role in winning the Cold War. Y-12 had always been a secret place and this space built with the public in mind was a major change.

The modernization process is even more obvious inside the gate. Y-12 completed and opened the new Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility. It’s a state of the art building. The new Uranium Processing Facility will be just as impressive with design work well underway. Both facilities allow the U.S. Department of Energy to close down old buildings that date back to the Manhattan Project. With the HEUMF and UPF in place, Y-12 will be far more efficient with operations not only more secure, but centralized in one place instead of being spread out over several locations. [Read more…]

Free workshop on health care reform for individuals, small businesses

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A free workshop on health care reform on June 24 will provide an update for individuals and small businesses.

The discussion will include requirements, penalties, the Marketplace, and SHOP program, a press release said. The workshop is scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

It’s offered by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Roane State Community College, in partnership with the Community Health Alliance.

To sign up, call (865) 483-2668, email Jutta Bangs at [email protected], or visit www.roanestate.edu/tsbdc.

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center advises and assists entrepreneurs and small business owners at no cost to them.

Guest column: E-fairness—good for Oak Ridge, good for Tennessee, good for U.S.

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Parker Hardy

Parker Hardy

For years, online-only retailers have enjoyed a significant competitive advantage over their local competitors: they don’t have to collect state sales taxes. This means online retailers can create the illusion of having lower prices than traditional retailers because those online retailers do not, in most instances, collect the same sales taxes that our local brick-and-mortar stores do. And because they do not collect those taxes, they automatically enjoy a 9.75 percent advantage over local businesses.

This is not only unfair; it’s bad for local businesses, communities, and families. It is money that is not available for use in supporting our schools, paving our roads, building our playgrounds, or hiring police officers and firefighters.

The Marketplace Fairness Act would set things right. [Read more…]

UCOR presents awards to small businesses

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UCOR Small Business Awards

UCOR presented awards to eight small business at its Inaugural Small Business Awards ceremony, held Wednesday, June 12, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge.

UCOR is the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup contractor for the Oak Ridge Reservation, and it has subcontracted more than 70 percent of its work to small businesses, exceeding its subcontracting commitment to DOE, a press release said. [Read more…]