409th CSB visits German Federal Army Procurement Office

By Ms. Rachel Clark (ACC )December 19, 2013

409th CSB visits German Federal Army Procurement Office
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. William Bailey, 409th Contracting Support Brigade commander, presents Government Second Secretary of the BAAINBw, Rolf Schmitt, a commander's coin for his work and assistance during a key leader visit to the German Federal Army Procurement Offic... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
409th CSB visits German Federal Army Procurement Office
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - Leadership from the 409th Contracting Support Brigade here recently visited the German Federal Army Procurement Office in Lahnstein.

The group received briefings on the structure of the German Ministry of Defence as well as the structure of the procurement office and how it plays in the German procurement system.

"These site visits give us a sense into the most efficient and suitable approaches to acquiring, distributing, and maintaining supplies and services within Germany," said William Bailey, 409th CSB commander.

Discussions between the German army procurement offices, the Bundesamt fuer Ausruestung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr, and the 409th enables the two organizations to collaborate on issues relating to contracting methodologies in Europe.

The BAAINBw is currently restructuring and closely resemble the U.S. Army organizational structure with consolidating efforts and areas of responsibility.

Sven Hiscke, chief technology officer, BAAINBw, presented the group with different procurement examples and the process they are using to procure various commodities.

"We all took away new ideas and practices. We are relooking how we provide contacting support in Europe," said Bailey.