Release Date: June 2, 1997 Release No: 97-35

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

D.J. Caulfield, 202/205-6740

Internet address for news releases: http://www.sba.gov/opc

WASHINGTON - Vice President Gore announced today the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) launch of a pilot project to provide a powerful Internet registration system for small government contracting firms.

The pilot system, known as Pro-Net, is the SBA's latest step in achieving the Clinton Administration goal of reinventing government. The new database will allow federal contracting officers and others to search for small companies that can fill their needs. It also will serve as a marketing and research tool for the participating small businesses.

While the new system is seen as an important tool for all small firms no matter where they are located, it should be of particular help to small disadvantaged businesses as well as to companies owned by women and veterans seeking to do more government procurement work.

"Pro-Net is a truly exciting step forward because it can give under-utilized businesses a better chance to compete for procurement contracts," said SBA Administrator Aida Alvarez. "As the federal government modernizes the way it does business, Pro-Net will give

small firms a new and efficient way to market their capabilities."

Pro-Net will operate as a pilot program during the next several months. The SBA will then evaluate the system's effectiveness.

The Pro-Net database already includes electronic profiles of nearly 6,500 small business, including all SBA 8(a) firms (those qualified as socially and economically disadvantaged) and many women-owned firms in the state of Maryland.

Each profile includes a summary of the participating company's products and services, its history, its business references and other information important to potential contracting entities. The system allows participating firms to update their profiles with the most current information.

As an electronic gateway, PRO-Net provides access and is linked to the Commerce Business Daily, federal agency home-pages and other sources of procurement opportunities. Participating companies with home pages can link their web site to their PRO-Net profile, creating a very powerful marketing tool.

Agency officials see Pro-Net as a virtual one-stop procurement shop for government contracting. The database will be used free of charge by federal and state agencies and prime contractors who want to find small business contractors, subcontractors and partnership opportunities with small businesses.

During the pilot phase, PRO-Net will operate as a closed system in terms of participating firms. If the program is extended on a permanent basis, all interested small firms would be invited to participate.

Those interested can obtain further information on PRO-Net by accessing the SBA's Internet home page at www.sba.gov. Move to the Pro-Net section and leave a message for the contract network administrator.

The SBA was created in 1953 to help small businesses get started, stay in business and grow. Through a network of more than 100 field offices, the agency provides financial, management and government contracting assistance to small firms nationwide.

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