JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (Dec. 8, 2014) -- One of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command objectives is to support the American economy by awarding as many contracts as possible to small businesses. In that effort, MICC members across the nation work to ensure the maximum opportunity for Army contracts are given to small businesses.
At the October Association of the United States Army fall conference in Washington, District of Columbia, one small-business representative met with Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Gabbert, the MICC commanding general, and mentioned he was having difficulty getting business with the Army.
Gabbert quickly turned to Kay Matthews to help this small business owner. Matthews, a small business specialist from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, had been invited to the AUSA conference and that afternoon met with the small business owner.
Specifically, the small business representative was having difficulty entering his flashlights and light systems into the Federal Logistics Data, or FED LOG database, which prevented him from getting any business from the Army.
"He could not figure out who to contact for his question of who had the authority to put his information in the FED LOG," Matthews said. "General Gabbert called the MICC-Fort Belvoir office, and they got a hold of me. It just so happens that I was at AUSA at the same time."
Matthews got the individual's information and then the next day worked with Master Sgt. Larry Adams, a logistics specialist at the MICC-Fort Belvoir office. Adams was able to assist the customer with loading information into FED LOG.
"The customer was happy because we are helping a small business get into the Army system to potentially get business for his company," Matthews said.
In addition to being the small business specialist for Fort Belvoir, Matthews also manages small business programs at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Fort AP Hill, Rivanna Station, and Fort McNair in Washington, Fort Meade and Fort Detrich in Maryland, and Arlington National Cemetery.
"It was an honor to help this specific customer," Matthews said. "Our goal is to set aside as many contracts as possible for American small businesses and to identify more contractors who are qualified to bid for Army contracts."
The MICC Office of Small Business Programs ensures effective implementation of the Army small business programs while dedicated to support the Army Contracting Command and MICC. ACC and MICC members are dedicated to ensuring maximum opportunity is afforded to all small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, historically underutilized business Zone small business, small disadvantaged business, women-owned small business concerns, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions/Tribal-Owned Colleges/Hispanic Institutions interested in contracting with the Army.
"We will work diligently to ensure effective implementation of the Army small business programs and fulfillment of the ACC and MICC mission," said Lt. Col Maria Schneider, the MICC-Fort Belvoir commander. "In this case, we were able to almost immediately take care of our customer's concern, assist a small business, and support the Army and commander in chief's small business programs with our demonstrated support."
Headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the MICC is responsible for providing contracting support for the warfighter at Army commands, installations and activities located throughout the continental United States and Puerto Rico. In fiscal 2014, the command executed more than 37,000 contract actions worth more than $5.6 billion across the Army, including almost $2.4 billion to American small businesses.
Related Links:
Mission and Installation Contracting Command
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