Vet News: SAIC to Support Veteran-Owned Businesses

The Veterans Corporation is working with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to assist Veteran-owned businesses in gaining access to the Federal marketplace. The Veterans Corporation will provide SAIC with access to information on Veteran-owned businesses offering products and services specific to SAIC’s customers’ requirements.

New customized fields will be added to the current Veteran Business Directory to accommodate SAIC’s needs. Effective 27 October 2003, current and new members of the Veterans Business Directory will be able to update their business profile. In the next four months, The Veterans Corporation will reach out to Veteran-owned businesses nationwide to adequately populate the Directory. Once populated, the Directory will be linked to SAIC’s corporate intranet for company-wide use.

"I am so pleased that SAIC---one of the top companies in the world with regard to both sheer size and corporate innovation---has recognized the power of the Veteran business community," said retired Army Maj. Gen. Chuck Henry, president and CEO of The Veterans Corporation. "SAIC is again leading the way in better business practices. I am confident that other Federal contractors will soon follow suit and work with us to develop their own private-label Veteran business directories."

"This gives us the opportunity to help Veterans who have served our country and enhance our ability to assemble the best qualified teams possible for federal contracting opportunities," said George Otchere, SAIC’s senior vice president for corporate development, "We look forward to soliciting their extensive technical skills and innovative ideas to address the challenges facing our customers."

SAIC, a Fortune 500 company, is the largest employee-owned research and engineering company in the nation. SAIC has been named the top private IT company by Business Week, as well as the top federal contractor in systems integration and health and human services by Government Executive. Over 40,000 people are employed by SAIC in over 150 cities worldwide.

The National Veterans Business Development Corporation, doing business as The Veterans Corporation, was created in 1999 by Public Law 106-50. The Veterans Corporation is charged with providing Veterans and Service Disabled Veterans with the tools they need to start and expand successful businesses, including access to training, access to markets, and access to capital and services. No other public or private organization provides this specific assistance to the 24-million-strong Veteran community. The Veterans Corporation is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

Programs and services from The Veterans Corporation are open to all Veterans, active members of the Guard and Reserve, and military personnel planning their transition from active duty. Information on all Veterans Corporation programs, including how to be listed in the Veterans Business Directory.

More information on this SAIC Veterans’ business initiative can be found on their respective websites at: saic.com, and Veteranscorp.org