Contracting professionals from the 409th Contracting Support Brigade are supporting efforts to rebuild the Balkans.
The 627th Contingency Contracting Team, currently deployed to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, recently supported the Minnesota National Guard 133rd Airlift Wing in support of a humanitarian assistance project for a school in Ogulin, Croatia.
"We were able to provide the Ogulin school with six new bathroom renovations," said Sgt. 1st Class Della Overton, contingency contracting officer, 627th CCT.
"Sgt. 1st Class Overton was instrumental in getting this project to fruition, where these efforts not only improve the quality of life for these children, but also supports the local economy with contracting opportunities to support U.S. and other armies" said Della Hodges, director, Area Support Team, Camp Bondsteel.
"It was her acute business acumen and her continuous coordination with the Croatian embassy that was vital in overall mission success," said Hodges.
The project was a combined effort that involved U.S. Soldiers, the Croatian Army and the Croatian Embassy.
"Because of her contracting diligence and the time constraint of awarding this requirement within 30 days of notification, Sgt. 1st Class Overton saved the 133rd Airlift Wing over $19,000 in required supplies," said Capt. Magen McKeithen, contingency contacting officer, 627th CCT. She made several site visits to the school, coordinated with contractors and really took a hands-on approach to the management of the project."
Overton said there's plenty of work in the area to keep her busy.
"Our team stays pretty busy out here supporting the AST, the 504th Multinational Battle Group -East stationed out of Fort Hood, Texas, as well as Camp Novo Selo and Film City. That includes U.S. and multinational armies, civilians and local nationals," said Overton, who is currently deployed out of Kaiserslautern, Germany, from the 903rd Contingency Contracting Battalion. "But it's really something special to be a part of a project with such an impact on the infrastructure of a developing country."
The Ogulin elementary school supports more than 100 children.
"The combined effort assisted in bathroom renovations, but provided the children a safer and cleaner building for the upcoming school year" said Overton. "This is one of those ways we can give back, and I'm happy to be a part of that."
Social Sharing