HU leads Virginia universities in federal contract awards

Hampton University is a leader among Virginia universities in winning competitive federal contracts, according to figures from the USAspending.gov web site.

HU received $129.3 million in federal contracts between fiscal year 2000 and fiscal year 2007. This total is more than any other public or private university in Virginia received in federal contracts during this eight-year period.

A federal contract is an agreement between the federal government and a private entity, for-profit or non-profit, to execute mandated services for a fee.

This differs from grants in that grants are awarded to conduct research or other programs as specified in an approved proposal.

“The Hampton University federal contracts are creating value-added jobs in the Hampton Roads area,” said Bill Thomas, associate vice president for governmental relations at HU.

The federal contracts awarded to HU have had a significant economic impact in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia over the past eight years.

HU's primary federal contractor over this time period has been NASA. HU has been contracted to
investigate and to gain a better understanding of global change and climate, hurricanes and temperature.

HU has become an international leader in atmospheric research. The school’s researchers have led six NASA missions, the latest of which was the launching of AIM, a $140 million satellite from Vanderburg Air Force Base in California. This mission alone has created 8 external jobs.

Virginia Tech was awarded $97.1 million, Virginia Commonwealth University was awarded $63 million, Old Dominion University was awarded $59 .9 million and the University of Virginia was awarded $47.5 million in federal contracts during fiscal year 2000 through fiscal year 2008.

Super!