Economic Impacts

Reaching small business goals

INL reported another successful year partnering with small businesses to acquire goods and services needed to achieve its missions. In fiscal year 2022, INL spent $399 million with small businesses, a 25% increase over fiscal year 2021 reflecting the lab’s growth over the last year. This money makes up over 76% of the laboratory’s spending on goods and services.

The lab also exceeded all four socioeconomic spending goal areas: small disadvantaged, Historically Underutilized Business Zone, women-owned and service-disabled.

While the lab purchases materials all over the nation, there is a particular focus on supporting Idaho’s economy. This year, INL spent over $241 million with businesses within the state. Local businesses are a large part of accomplishing work daily, and the lab counts on small businesses for items from office supplies to highly technical reviews and analyses to our missions.

Small businesses instrumental in building nuclear research flagship facility

A new laboratory facility in Idaho is the most modern structural materials testing and analysis facility in the world, supporting the deployment of new nuclear innovations, life extension and long-term operation of the U.S.’s existing fleet of nuclear reactors, and new reactor concepts. The Sample Preparation Laboratory will also further enable industry and university collaboration, providing access to state-of-the-art mechanical testing and failure analysis characterization tools.