An organization representing small companies said Bechtel received a $128 million contract earmarked for small contractors.

Bechtel, responding to the claim by the American Small Business League, said the company did not receive any contracts improperly.

The contention is based on a contract to Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corp., formerly known as Bechtel Bettis.

The company, which develops advanced nuclear propulsion technology, received the contact properly, said Francis M. Canavan, spokesman for Bechtel.

Canavan said the problem stems from an error by Fedmine, a service that reports federal contracts.

Canavan said Fedmine had tagged the contact as a small business action.

Fedmine could not be reached for comment.

In a prepared statement, the league said the contract had been coded for small business in the "socio-economic" field in the Federal Procurement Data System -- Next Generation.

Canavan said Bechtel supports the American Small Business League in its efforts to promote small businesses.

"We believe the league's concerns are fair, but we have seen no evidence in the documents or amendments to show it was a small-business contract," Canavan said.

The federal government has a policy of setting aside 23 percent of its contracts for small businesses, Canavan said.

Source: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/business/display.htm?StoryID=100363