APBI empowers critical partnership between industry and Army

By Marissa Anderson, CECOM Public Affairs SpecialistDecember 2, 2014

CECOM workforce targeted during cyber security exercise
Bryon Young, executive director of the Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), provided the opening remarks for the Team APG Advanced Planning Briefing for Industry event held at the installation post theater Nov. 18, 2014. (Ph... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Maryland--More than 800 business and industry representatives from across the country gathered here at the Post Theater Nov. 18-20 for a view of potential contracting opportunities from the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) Center of Excellence and other tenant organizations from across the installation.

The presentation of potential C4ISR opportunities was part of the third annual Team APG Advanced Planning Briefing for Industry (APBI) event in which private sector representatives from both large and small businesses attended briefings and panels presented by government representatives. Future contracting opportunities were presented in the mission areas of C4ISR; Research and Development/Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E); Chemical/Biological Defense (CBD); and Baltimore District Corps of Engineers and APG Garrison.

The APBI aligns with CECOM Commanding General and APG Senior Mission Commander, Maj. Gen. Bruce T. Crawford's vision of encouraging "open dialogue and trust" between the Army and its industry partners.

Bryon Young, executive director of the Army Contracting Command at APG provided the opening remarks for the event and echoed Crawford's sentiment that fostering trust and mutual relationship building will empower the success of future opportunities.

"Small business is critical to the C4ISR mission and the Aberdeen mission … It is important that we maintain the health and the vibrancy of this industrial capacity," said Young.

According to the Federal Small Business Administration, the Army awarded $17.4 billion to small businesses in 2013.

Statutory regulations require that acquisitions organizations who execute more than $50 million in contracts present their business opportunities to industry each year. The 2014 Team APBI meets this requirement for sharing information and takes it a step further by offering a face-to-face event to enhance communication between Government and industry leaders.

The format of this year's APBI is based off of feedback from an industry survey of last year's event. The event was scaled down to be more affordable, while maintaining its value to industry. There were more opportunities for networking with the small business team members as well as detailed information regarding the potential contracting opportunities. In addition to the presentation of opportunities, the APG Small Business team dedicated the first day of the event to business training with speakers and interactive plenary panels. These sessions were designed to enhance understanding of the processes involved with doing business with Team APG.

"This is the first of many events planned to engage industry and government partners in purposeful dialogue on both challenges and opportunities to prepare small businesses for the future strategic environment," said Crawford.

All of the presentations and briefings of potential contracting opportunities and accompanying video will be posted at https://www.apg.army.mil/InstallationSupport/APBI

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