NASA to hold small business conference

PASADENA, Calif., Feb. 11 (UPI) -- NASA says it expects about 1,000 people to attend its 22nd annual High-Tech Conference for Small Business, co-sponsored by the Small Business Administration.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., which is co-hosting the event, said the conference will be held March 2-3 at the Westin Hotel located near the Los Angeles International Airport.

"The objective of the conference is to assist small businesses in acquiring contract work with large, technologically driven, successful companies, while simultaneously helping JPL meet its socioeconomic goals," said Martin Ramirez, manager for the Business Opportunities Office at JPL.

Ramirez said only prime contractors and government agencies will be allowed to exhibit, due to limited space.

"This conference provides a forum for technology-oriented small businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and service-disabled veterans and small businesses located in historically underutilized areas or zones, to learn about subcontract opportunities," NASA said. "There, they can meet with major corporations, federal agencies, local government agencies and JPL's purchasing and technical communities."

Additional information and online registration for the $140 per person conference is available at http://acquisition.jpl.nasa.gov/boo/2010HT/.