Contract Players

Fiscal year 1996: Prime contracts, $145 million (1.5 percent); subcontracts, $248 million (2.6 percent)

1997 goal: $382 million total (5 percent)

Most of NASA's women contractors provide computer or administrative support services, but the agency hopes to expand women's participation in high-tech contracting. NASA's Mass Minority Business Resource Advisory Committee develops ideas, sources and training programs to eliminate obstacles for women-owned and small disadvantaged businesses. Meanwhile, NASA's prime contractors round table promotes the use of women- and minority-owned businesses to prime contractors.

NASA has a training and mentor-protégé program, plus biannual high-tech conferences and an annual open house where women meet prime contractors and NASA's small-business specialists.

The key to working with NASA is the Internet. Contracts for $25,000 to $500,000 are listed exclusively online.

This article was originally published in the December 1996 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Contract Players.