Recipients of the WRPS-sponsored 2014 Small Business Incentive grants were recognized recently at a Tri-City Regional Chamber community meeting.

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) recently surpassed the $1 billion mark in total subcontract awards issued since taking over the contract in October 2008, with more than 60 percent going to small businesses. WRPS is the Tank Operations Contractor to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of River Protection at Hanford, and is responsible for safely managing 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste stored in 177 underground tanks.

Through September 2014, WRPS awarded a total of $1.02 billion in subcontracts. More than $622 million was given to small businesses, which exceeds WRPS’ small business spending goal by more than $30 million.

“This milestone demonstrates our willingness and commitment to promote small business,” said WRPS Small Business Program Manager Mari Roden. “WRPS feels strongly about working with our current small business partners and setting aside funds to reach out to new small businesses to further promote growth and development in the federal marketplace.”

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2014, WRPS spent a total of $165 million in subcontracts, with 67.5 percent given to small businesses. WRPS awarded $78 million to local small businesses in FY 2014.

Subcontracting awards are just one of the many ways WRPS works to promote its small business partners. The company continuously supports area chambers of commerce and procurement technical assistance centers as a way to reach out and promote small business subcontracting in the area and encourage growth of local and regional small businesses.

WRPS sponsors an annual networking event, the Bridging Partnerships Small Business Symposium, which helps local companies learn more about government contracting at Hanford. WRPS also provides funding to support the Tri-City Area Chamber of Commerce’s small business grant program, which offers financial assistance to companies who apply and qualify for the award. WRPS also participates in the DOE Mentor-Protégé program by partnering with local small businesses to create long-lasting relationships, share best practices and lessons learned, and enhance the protégés’ ability to successfully compete for federal contracts.