MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov

Contact: John G. Watson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  February 11, 1999

NASA/JPL SPONSORS HIGH-TECH CONFERENCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS

       NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, CA and the Small Business Administration (SBA) will host the 11th Annual High-Tech Small Business Development Procurement Conference, March 2-3, at the Industry Hills Sheraton Resort, City of Industry, CA. This event focuses on federal and corporate subcontracting opportunities for small, minority- and women-owned businesses in high-technology industries.

       Guest speakers include Ralph Thomas, NASA's associate administrator for small and disadvantaged business utilization, and Patricia Smith, the Federal Aviation Administration's associate administrator for commercial space transportation. Workshop topics include NASA initiatives, marketing strategies and subcontracting opportunities, Small Business Administration programs and ISO 9000 compliance.

       Registration is $95, including program materials, two luncheons, two networking receptions, a marketplace for exhibitors and how-to workshops.

       For information on accommodations, call (800) 524-4557. For further conference details, call (818) 354-7531, e-mail maryhelen.ruiz@jpl.nasa.gov, or visit http://acquisition.jpl.nasa.gov/boo/hight99.htm .

       JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA.

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