SBA Office of International Trade (OIT) Stakeholder Interviews

SBA's OIT was interested in understanding the impact of international sustainability disclosure and due diligence requirements on U.S. small businesses and the supply chains that they are part of.   We assisted the OIT in researching the compliance challenges small businesses face, their capacities to address these requirements and take advantage of new opportunities, the international financial mechanisms such as supply chain financing (SCF) and non-financial arrangements, such as industry associations and public-private partnerships that help them participate in sustainable value chains, and government policies and programs that can assist them in this process. 

   We conducted stakeholder interviews with key stakeholders based on their background and interests, and purpose in small business-related topics and issues.  These stakeholders were selected from policy communities, advocacy groups, business community organizations, and tech and non-tech small and medium enterprises (SMEs).   We asked them about their experience with international requirements, the challenges and barriers to compliance, the resources for compliance, government practices, policies, and programs that could assist small businesses.   In total, we conducted approximately twenty 60-minute in-depth interviews with these key stakeholders.

Women Entrepreneurs in  STEM Research

We researched female entrepreneurs in STEM and STEM-adjacent industries (Women in STEM) for the National Women's Business Council (NWBC).  As part of this research, we performed the following activities in Phase 1:

• Conducted a literature survey to understand existing research
• Examined the challenges facing Women in STEM

•  Studied best practices for their success

• Analyzed the impact of the pandemic on women entrepreneurs
• Developed an annotated bibliography of publications based on our literature search

•  Conducted a Data Analysis of Women in STEM businesses using U.S. Census data from the Annual Business Survey (ABS) and Non-employer Statistics by Demographic series (NES-D) 
•   Developed Women in STEM gender, geographic, sector, race, ethnicity, veteran status, age, and citizenship trends
• Reviewed  federal executive orders (EOs), legislation, agency programs, state-level initiatives, institutional and private programs, and partnerships pertinent to Women in STEM  
•   Identified policy gaps, reinforcements needed, and determined potential policy solutions related to specific challenges, the key players to address these challenges, and the benefits of implementing these solutions
• Developed an NWBC and peer-reviewed report based on Phase 1 

We performed the following activities in Phase 2:  

• Gathered data from several sources on women STEM entrepreneurs, patents, interest rates, employment, STEM graduates, and income
•   Applied econometric approaches to predict female STEM entrepreneurship participation at the national and state levels   

• Developed policy recommendations and an NWBC and peer-reviewed report based on Phase 2

Indian Health Service (IHS) Energy Audit Services

IHS hired us to conduct an ASHRAE Level III audit of Parker Indian Health Center (PIHC, Parker, Hospital), an 86,000 square feet facility, and develop recommendations for energy conservation measures (ECMs).  We conducted an on-site assessment of the building, including lighting, heating, cooling, building envelope, hot water heating, appliances, processes, controls, and electrical systems.  We performed load calculations for each room in the entire building, and input data into Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM) for the existing building.  We calculated the Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and the current Energy Star Score to benchmark this data against the energy use of similar buildings and systems.

We developed and submitted a report that defined the existing systems, provided heating and cooling load calculations, and included ECM recommendations for the different systems to maximize energy efficiency and resiliency, including recommendations and options for a new, fully redundant cooling and heating system.   

Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) Merit Reviews

We provided support for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) CPRG merit reviews.  We performed reviews of competitive grant applications submitted by states and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) under Phase 2 of the CPRG program.  Our staff served as technical and general reviewers.   They participated in review panels under the direction of a team leader for day-to-day technical activities and under the direction of the panel chair during submission, review, and finalization of the reviewers’ scores during the competition phase.