I think I’m starting to see a pattern. I’ve bid on a few smaller government projects as an SDVOB (Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business) which is supposed to help my small business get a piece of the government. Even when I’m the low bidder, it somehow never comes our way.

So when I saw a small local company win a contract (a company I’d never heard of before) the first place I looked was the FEC donations pages. But first, the DBJ article:

A local defense contractor has seen a flurry of new activity, including a $3.7 million deal for a high-profile client.

Beavercreek-based Sawdey Solutions Services Inc. was recently awarded a one-year contract to provide program management support services for the Defense Department’s comptroller.

As a result, the 58-employee company is gearing up to hire at least 14 people who will be stationed in Virginia at the Defense Logistics Agency, which issued the contract. About half of Sawdey Solutions’ workers are in the Dayton area.

Connie Sawdey, president of the company, said her small business was hand-picked for the latest job, which is a big deal. She expects the award to boost the company’s reputation and past-performance record, which is critical to being competitive in the defense industry.

via Sawdey Solutions corrals contract – Dayton Business Journal.

Then to the FEC Database:

Contributions to Political Committees

SAWDEY, CONSTANCE
CENTERVILLE, OH 45458
SAWDEY SOLUTION SERVICES

TURNER, MICHAEL R REP VIA CITIZENS FOR TURNER
	09/12/2005	500.00	25971192115
	09/18/2007	1000.00	27931394968
	06/01/2009	2000.00	29934270728
	08/31/2010	2000.00	11930417557

SAWDEY, CONSTANCE MRS.
CENTERVILLE, OH 45458
SAWDEY SOLUTION SERVICES

TURNER, MICHAEL R REP VIA CITIZENS FOR TURNER
	09/02/2011	1000.00	11952654178

SAWDEY, JEFFREY
CENTERVILLE, OH 45458
BEST EFFORTS

AUSTRIA, STEVE C VIA STEVE AUSTRIA FOR CONGRESS
	04/29/2010	500.00	10990876705

SAWDEY, JEFFREY
CENTERVILLE, OH 45458
SAWDEY SOLUTION SERVICES

TURNER, MICHAEL R REP VIA CITIZENS FOR TURNER
	08/02/2006	1000.00	27960058702
	08/04/2006	1000.00	27960058703

SAWDEY, JEFFREY MR.
CENTERVILLE, OH 45458
SAWDEY SOLUTION SERVICES

TURNER, MICHAEL R REP VIA CITIZENS FOR TURNER
	08/12/2007	1000.00	27931394968
	08/06/2008	1000.00	28933530484

So the answer is…. in this case, $11,000

Note, no presidential donations, no other candidate donations, no party donations- all to Mike Turner and Steve Austria.

Unlike my donation page, or Ron Paul’s, or the President’s, Mike Turner doesn’t require people to say that they aren’t a government contractor. He just makes sure they aren’t a foreigner and giving too much per cycle:

I affirm that the following statements are true and accurate:

By submitting your contribution you are acknowledging that you are a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident and that this contribution is not made from any funds associated with a corporation, labor organization, or national bank.

Contributions to Citizens for Turner are not tax deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes. The maximum one individual may contribute is $2,500 per election. Federal law requires political committees to use their best efforts to obtain and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and employer for each individual whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200 in a calendar year. Corporations and foreign nationals without a green card are prohibited from contributing.

via Contribute to Mike Turner’s campaign today! :: Citizens for Turner – Piryx.

And the one contract my firm was recently dismissed from as a subcontractor (after 7 months of providing the technical basis of performing the contract for free)- a smaller VA contract, I went and looked, the Prime had given $1,000 to the RNC.

You won’t see my name on a donation of over $250 to a congressman, is that why I never see my name on a government contract?