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NEWS RELEASE
Department of General Services
DATE:  September 6, 2000
FOR RELEASE:  IMMEDIATE
NUMBER:  #2000-10 INTERNET:  www.dgs.ca.gov
SMALL BUSINESSES DO MORE BUSINESS WITH STATE
THANKS TO INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS
Sacramento—The California Department of General Services (DGS) today announced the winners of the first-annual State Contracting Recognition Awards honoring innovative programs that have significantly increased contracting opportunities for small and disabled veteran-owned business.
 
"The State is serious about its commitment to improving opportunities for small businesses to do more business with government agencies," said DGS Director Barry D. Keene. "Thanks in part to the creativity of those being honored today millions of dollars in contracting opportunities have gone to the backbone of California’s economy—small business providers."
 
The winners of the 2000 State Contracting Recognition Award included;
  • A Gold Award to the Prison Industry Authority for developing a "Game Plan" and "Small Business Tool Kit" that helped identify and promote contracting opportunities. With this innovation in place Prison Industry Authority service contract awards to small businesses increased from $1.3 million in fiscal year 1998/99 to $3.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 1999/2000. Awards to disabled veteran-owned businesses also increased significantly from approximately $69,000 to more than $665,000 for the same time period.
  • Silver and Bronze Awards went to DGS’ Offices of Risk and Insurance Management and Fleet Administration, the California State Lottery, the Department of Corrections, and the Office of Real Estate Appraisals for innovations including web sites, marketing, and training applications that increased contracting participation by as much as 35 percent.
Administered by DGS, the awards program was authorized under legislation establishing small business advocates within each state agency. The advocates work to identify and enhance opportunities for small businesses to compete for the billions of dollars worth of goods and services the state contracts for annually. The winning programs, according to a panel of private sector judges, can be easily replicated by other agencies.