CH2M Hill has received an outstanding rating for its supplier diversity and small-business program after an audit by the Defense Contract Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

It's the highest rating given and CH2M Hill has held it since 1998.

At Hanford, CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co. is using small businesses to help with environmental cleanup. It has set a goal to subcontract 49.3 percent of its work and is halfway toward meeting it. Since the start of its contract a year ago, it has awarded $220 million of work to small businesses.