Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems Earns Top SBA Award For Support of Small Businesses

Hamilton
Sundstrand Space Systems International (HSSSI) today received the U.S. Small
Business Administration’s (SBA) Award of Distinction in recognition of its
“exceptional small business subcontracting assistance program.” Within the
SBA’s portfolio of large federal contractors comprising over 2,500 companies,
less than two percent have earned this award. This is the first time that
HSSI has received it.

Earlier this year, NASA honored HSSSI for its exceptional assistance to
small businesses in support of NASA mission requirements.

Hamilton Sundstrand is a United Technologies company.

At a ceremony today at company headquarters, SBA’s Felix De La Torre said,
“At Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, it is well understood
that to provide maximum practicable opportunity to our nation’s small business
entrepreneur is good for America.”

In notifying the company of its selection, Linda Williams, associate
administrator for government contracting at SBA, said, “I especially wish to
commend Richard Kaufman, small business liaison officer at HSSSI. He has
demonstrated exceptionally strong support of the company’s small business
program and plays a significant role in promoting opportunities for small
businesses at your company.”

“Supplier diversity is an integral part of our business strategy and helps
us reduce our costs, increase efficiency and contribute innovative
technologies,” Kaufman explained. “Also, by teaming with small businesses we
bring our technologies to new products and markets,” he added.

HSSSI works from a database of more than 200 small businesses. These
small businesses provide complex assemblies, detail parts and technical
services, which were valued at $14 million for full year 2001.

SBA’s commercial market representatives and the Defense Contract
Management Agency review large firms like HSSSI to ensure compliance with
subcontracting laws and regulations. The representatives then rate each
company based on their participation in outreach activities, internal training
and subcontracting goals. HSSSI’s small business program has received the
highest rating of “Outstanding” for the past three years.

Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International is a subsidiary of
Hamilton Sundstrand. Headquartered in Windsor Locks, HSSSI is NASA’s largest
supplier in New England and provides a wide range of critical systems for the
Space Shuttle and International Space Station. It has been involved with the
U.S. space program since the Apollo missions of the 1960s.