WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — Aggressive marketing and outreach helped Air Force Materiel Command exceed its small-business contracting goal for the second straight year. Also, every AFMC center reached its goal for the second straight year. 

The fiscal 2015 small business goal was 11.88 percent of contracts awarded, and AFMC achieved 14.18 percent, which translated to $4.6 billion being awarded to small businesses. Through research, the AFMC Small Business office discovered there was a large small-business market and, in turn, they changed the way they targeted small businesses. 

“There has been a lot of work with outreach and we will continue that in fiscal 2016. By contracting with small businesses, we gain economic efficiencies everywhere AFMC exists,” said AFMC Director of Small Business Farris Welsh. 

The increase in outreach events with industry throughout the year gave small business more opportunity to present their capabilities. AFMC Small Business offices were then able to partner them with the appropriate centers, organizations or programs to match their specialties.

Welsh added that using small versus large businesses results in more flexibility and agility since small businesses typically have lower overhead costs. Small businesses can often provide better rates, allowing dollars to go further and be spent smarter. 

The AFMC Small Business program ensures the command maintains a competitive edge and that small businesses can obtain a fair share of federal contract dollars. Every year, the Air Force Small Business office establishes a target goal for each command. 

“Small businesses are the backbone of the United States economy and if we are not supporting them, they will go out of business,” Welsh said. “By supporting them, we can stimulate the small business market to help grow the economy.”