The Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO) Small Business Office recognizes Axiom Consultants, Inc. as the NOAA Small Business of the Year, Genwest Systems, Inc. as the NOAA SDVOSB Small Business of the Year, and Versa Integrated Solutions, Inc. as the NOAA 8(a) Small Business of the Year for the third annual NOAA Small Business Program Awards.
NOAA’s Small Business of the Year Awards are presented during the annual Small Business Industry Day, which occurred on June 23, 2022. All 3 firms were publicly recognized for their accomplishments on this date.
Axiom Consultants, Inc.
Axiom has been leading the charge in helping NWS answer the questions of whether the NWS could use Cloud computing for multi-processor tasks and how they compare to on premise HPC systems. Axiom's engineers have not only been able to transition the complex systems to the cloud environment, but the Subject Matter Experts are exceeding all expectations at the leading edge and are well versed in new technologies that are being developed by the vendors (Google, AWS, Azure) and are working with the vendors to take advantage of them to provide the most efficient options to the government. Axiom has also been providing their experts to help train other scientists and engineers to make use of the cloud resources that are available. Through this project they have shown that not only can our modeling systems run on the cloud, but that they are comparable or even better than on prem systems in terms of performance. Axiom's SMEs have also shown that our modeling systems can run on multiple different types of instances from different cloud vendors. In this project, Axiom has shown the viability of using the cloud by running sustained long forecast experiments through two month long test periods and shown that the cloud can match on prem HPC platforms for developing modeling systems.
NOAA’s on premise HPC platforms, while critical for developing the science at NOAA, are limited by their fixed compute capacity. The innovation led by Axiom for this project opens up the possibility for the government to use Cloud resources so that they can expand to use compute resources based on need. One example of this is NOAA finally being able to run 30-year retrospectives for reanalysis for the seasonal to sub-seasonal (S2S) forecast system. This will enable NOAA to fill the gap for data innovation of sub-seasonal forecasts, an emerging area for R&D for advancing and improving accuracy of medium to long range predictions.
Axiom is valued as an industry partner for NCEP/EMC as their SMEs and resources absorbed initial delays in procurement on Cloud services to get the RRFS modeling system migration to the Cloud project back on schedule. This project was delayed when access to AWS cloud compute allocations took longer than expected; therefore, delaying the necessary research and development required prior to the Hazardous Weather Testbed Spring Experiment. Nevertheless, within a short time of getting access to cloud computing services, Axiom was able to set up the modeling system on time for two big summer experiments that were critical to demonstrate the viability of using the cloud as well as helping in assessing the skill of the modeling system. Thanks to Axiom's Subject Matter Experts and their efforts, the RRFS project has already taken part in two major summer experiments and exceeded expectations for the major winter experiment that will test the capability of the system from end-to-end (data assimilation, forecast, products and verification).
Genwest Systems, Inc.
Genwest Systems, Inc. provides extensive support critical to the successful administration of the Office of Response and Restoration’s (OR&R) cost recovery program. The cost recovery program is the avenue through which NOAA recoups the monies owed to the Federal Government for the restoration of our Nation’s beautiful waterways. After a damaging event to the natural environment such as a chemical spill, derelict vessel, or illegal disposal, the responsible party is typically obligated to pay environmental restoration costs. This is where the National Ocean Service’s one-of-a-kind cost recovery professional partners come into play.
The restoration of natural resources can take years. Throughout the restoration process, the meticulous processing and tracking of hundreds of packages are accomplished by Genwest Systems to recoup the associated costs; returning the money of hard-working taxpayers to the government. During FY21, our Genwest Systems partners oversaw the processing of documents for more than 29 events and 1,607 packages. Their efforts accounted for the returning of $17.18B to the federal government.
Genwest Systems provides the accounting and budget analyst specialists for the Cost Recovery Program. The partners identified a need to modernize the processing of packages. They worked with Genwest Systems partners on OR&R’s Information Technology team to develop the Cost Recovery Information System (CRIS). This system automatically compiles cost packages. After the cost recovery team loads the information into the system it auto-generates the package for processing. CRIS has streamlined the process eliminating the input of redundant or repetitive information, modernized the process, reduced paperwork, eliminated returned packages due to
errors, and increased the efficiency through which packages can be processed for payment. The Genwest Systems staff managed and ensured the recovery of $17,184,026.25 in 106 cases in FY21. The number of cases managed and processed has continued to increase annually; up 18% since FY19. The dollar amounts associated with these cases have also increased by $8.8B. The Genwest Systems professionals relentlessly continue to support NOAA by developing solutions for success.
Versa Integrated Solutions, Inc.
Versa's facilities support contract performance has totally exceeded expectations by meeting demands of the SSMC Consolidation Project in-house services of project management, project design and planning, alterations, existing furniture reconfigurations, new furniture and standards kit of parts, concept space planning, packing and move needs, all while maintaining Archibus and AutoCAD master systems of space and occupancy and furniture data plus building and furniture drawings. Phase one included five floors plus numerous small and medium consolidation projects. Phase two included two floors of space requirements and concept space plan completion. Phase 3 is being shaped right now as construction has been happening on four floors and new demountable glass walls and systems furniture is on order and getting ready for shipping. Meanwhile, many administrative duties have been happening including space assignments and occupancy cost models for rent and campus management. Versa has successfully navigated the Covid pandemic and variant activities as well as a building shut down due to a failed GSA garage project and silica dust intrusion.