MICC members, teams stand out at year end

By Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeNovember 6, 2012

MICC members, teams stand out at year end
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- Accomplishing more than 58,000 contracting actions valued at more than $6.3 billion took the entire Mission and Installation Contracting Command team. Both individual and team efforts have been recognized by leaders across the Army who have offered their gratitude to MICC leaders here and in the field for the work performed by contracting professionals throughout the nation.

Among those contacting Brig. Gen. Kirk Vollmecke, the MICC commanding general, were Col. Robert Choppa, the chief of staff for the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Ga. Choppa expressed his thanks "for the awesome support" by Steve Sullivan and the MICC-Fort Benning team. "They completed every contract we needed," he wrote in a message.

"His teams are great supporters of all we do in both mission and garrison activities," Choppa continued. "The bottom line is our entire Maneuver Center of Excellence team appreciates your efforts and leadership."

Those sentiments were echoed in a message from Maj. Gen. H.R. McMaster, commanding general of the MCOE. "Thank you for the great work and tremendous support for our team and our mission."

While numerous individual efforts are highlighted below, it would be impossible to completely capture all of the incredible work that was accomplished throughout the command at the end of the fiscal year.

MICC-Fort Jackson, S.C.

Keith Friot, the chief of the contracting division, "displayed remarkable dedication during fiscal year end operations ensuring all Fort Jackson requirements were executed when required," said Marc Lopez, the MICC-Fort Jackson acting director. "Keith was amazing. He never asked his staff to do anything that he wasn't willing to do also, truly leading by example."

Friot logged an extra 140 hours in August and September while overseeing the award of six major requirements in addition to other requirements for support services valued at $2.8 million; instructor services worth $2.8 million; food services for $2.2 million; General Fund Enterprise Business System instructors valued at $2.5 million; training services for $5.7 million; and a full food services bridge contract worth $10.6 million.

This was accomplished with a predominantly new staff that included three Army interns each with an average of 18 months of experience; four contingency contracting officers, two of which had only two years of experience; one contracting specialist who deployed in August and one contracting specialist who retired in September.

Additionally, although his division was saturated with requirements, he supported the MICC field director's office at Fort Eustis, Va., with more than 10 additional requirements from customers who received late funding. This was accomplished all while maintaining fiscal 2013 milestones for high-visibility requirements for full food services and the master fitness trainer course.

MICC-Fort Eustis

During the fourth quarter, the MICC-Fort Eustis team provided its customers' resource managers with weekly spreadsheets that identified requirements it was working for each along with status information. In the last few weeks of fiscal 2012, the frequency with which the contracting office staff provided reports increased until it was a daily event. During the final week of the fiscal year, contracting officers also sent resource managers a detailed report that included award numbers, purchase request numbers and obligated award amounts in addition to the requirements reports. While being useful for many reasons, the awards report proved critical for a couple of the resource managers who were able to identify awards that had not automatically posted to GFEBS, bringing to attention the need to perform manual postings.

The end of fiscal 2012 posed many challenges for the Army Training Support Center. Tasked with developing interactive courseware for training Soldiers deployed around the world and operating under a new contract, ATSC was confronted with initiating major revisions to its standard operating procedures. MICC-Fort Eustis Contract Specialist Rick Shannon developed a close working relationship with the customer, providing invaluable assistance to meet their needs. Shannon took on the task of reading every requirement and suggesting improvements for an improved performance work statement. He single-handedly solicited each requirement, conducted question-and-answer sessions for requirement clarification, set up technical evaluation boards for proposal reviews, and made recommendations of successful offers to the contracting officer. With a working budget of $24.4 million, his hard work resulted in 25 award actions valued at more than $13.3 million and a realized savings of more than $11.1 million. His efforts were recognized by the budget office and the ATSC director, Helen Remily.

MICC-Fort Eustis Contracting Officer Janice Addison and Contracting Specialist Renee Elam served as the contingency team executing the last of the Training and Doctrine Command dollars against the Classroom Technology Enterprise contract on Sept. 30. The contract, valued at more than $25 million, enables new technology into TRADOC classrooms across the continental United States. Elam, a recent graduate and veteran from the intern program, awarded her first contract for the ATSC.

John Foster Jr., a MICC-Fort Eustis contract specialist, administered the Defense Language Institute-Washington contracts to provide foreign language training and training support services for the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Arlington, Va. The contracts provide for culturally based foreign language education, training, evaluation and sustainment for Department of Defense personnel. Particularly noteworthy was Foster's research into authorizing the inclusion of the Islamic holiday Eid al-Fitr, which consisted of sharing a meal, conversing in the Afghan language and learning traditional dances and games. The organization of the holiday celebration and pseudo-immersion, which took place at Fort Campbell, Ky., will remain impactful in preventing cultural clashes and providing a better understanding of Afghan language and culture.

MICC-Carlisle Barracks, Penn.

Supervisory Contract Specialist Kevin Kauffman and Contract Specialists Larry Brown and Dawn Whitmore comprised a three-person acquisition support team at MICC-Carlisle Barracks that was the "tip of the spear" for the past several months in providing direct customer support to the U.S. Army War College and its commandant, Maj. Gen. Anthony Cucolo.

Cucolo and the AWC staff are transforming the war college into the U.S. military's Strategic Studies Center of Excellence.

Cucolo is no stranger to the Army Contracting Command or MICC and "understands the necessity and criticality of our contracting efforts," according to Lt. Col. L.B. Green, the MICC-Carlisle Barracks deputy director.

"As the former division commander of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), he relied heavily on MICC contract support at Fort Stewart, Ga., and contingency contracting support in Iraq when he deployed his division to Iraq," Green said.

Kauffman and Brown received end-of-year requirements for fiscal 2012 that called for the immediate hiring of six AWC instructors in support of the Strategic Studies Institute with only 24 days remaining in the fiscal year.

During the same time period, they were called upon to award 35 contracts in support of the war college's External Research Associates Program. Unlike an academic grant, ERAP is a contractual program for scholarly research and analysis on issues of concern to those institutions responsible for U.S. national security and strategy, but especially to the U.S. Army and DOD. To ensure ERAP program success, Kauffman, Whitmore and Brown pioneered enterprise teaming efforts with the AWC customer in order to reach out to international scholars and other leading experts in the field of strategic studies. The end-product will be a series of well-written, well-researched monographs that focus on a specific AWC Key Strategic Issues List topic and contain substantive recommendations for U.S. policy.

Whitmore and Sgt. 1st Class Rebecca Hamrick were also recognized for their efforts and stellar contributions. Both took on the complete spectrum of service requirements as the fiscal year's end approached by handling multiple complex and critical information technology requirements, Army Heritage Education Center exhibit restoration projects, ERAP delivery orders and the re-compete for the college's Facilitating Leadership and Group Skills family support program.

"Undoubtedly, their efforts ensured success for our Carlisle Barracks customers and stakeholders," Green said.

MICC-Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

From July 15 through Sept. 30, Contracting Officer Nickey Brown in the MICC-Fort Leavenworth Pre-award Branch was ultimately responsible for awarding 30 competitive contract awards valued at almost $16 million for services in support of the Combined Arms Center mission. In addition, she awarded an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling level of $19 million and a three-year period of performance.

She worked very closely with the customer, contract specialist and legal adviser to ensure the performance work statement was contractually sound; legally sufficient; all proper approvals were provided to include approved request for contract service; quality assurance surveillance plan was submitted and cross referenced to the performance work statement; and funding was provided.

All awards were accomplished using the source selection process to include technical evaluations, past performance and pricing. Brown provided debriefings to all contractors that did not receive the contract award.

In recognition of her efforts, Brown received commander's coins from Bradley Pippin, the interim director for the Training and Doctrine Command Analysis Center, and Brig. Gen. Michael Lundy, the deputy commander for the Combined Arms Center-Training, for outstanding support to their missions.

MICC-Fort Gordon, Ga.

When a new customer who had never been previously supported by the MICC-Fort Gordon contracting office walked in the door Sept. 7 with a $3.25 million service contract that needed to be awarded by Sept. 30, Contract Specialist Tara McAdoo took action.

"The customer had intended the requirement to be offloaded to GSA and was requesting permission to do so," said Steve Boshears, the MICC-Fort Gordon director. "Our office essentially snatched the requirement out of GSA's hands, saving the fee for the customer."

McAdoo worked with the customer to rewrite a deficient performance work statement and revise a cost estimate to a more realistic $1.9 million. In her attention to detail, she discovered that overlapping contracts were already in place and that by awarding the contract as originally intended, the government could have ended up paying twice for the same services.

"She worked many hours to swiftly and precisely develop the solicitation, get it through the review process and issue it by Sept. 21," Boshears said. "She held the hand of the (small business contractor) selected for this contract and was successful in awarding the contract before the Sept. 30 deadline."

He added that she was instrumental in price negotiations, resulting in a savings of an additional $366,000 below the independent government cost estimate.

"Her efforts clearly reflect the going-beyond spirit that is so demonstrative of our commitment to the mission," he added.

MICC-Fort Benning, Ga.

Louise Bethay, a contract specialists at MICC-Fort Benning, credits the success during year-end operations to the assistance by Procurement Analyst Kenny Coaxum, who shared his time between his work with the Government Purchase Card program and other contracting staff.

"His attitude, flexibility and selfless disposition were displayed throughout the entire year end. Kenny demonstrated that he could multi-task while he transitioned from GPC to contracting, and at times worked in dual roles. He enthusiastically offered and assisted the senior specialist with their workload to ensure their goals were met on a weekly basis.

"Kenny displayed the ability to assist others while always remaining on task in addition to having compassion for his fellow co-workers, while completing his own objectives during this year-end time period," Bethay added. "We need more employees with this level of commitment and dedication serving our federal government."

Also at MICC-Fort Benning, procurement analyst Candace Johnson processed the largest number and dollar value of GPC audits in fiscal 2012 for the contracting office's accounts. This allowed the GPC team to be available to assist other divisions with contract specialist actions if needed as well as facilitate the smooth transition of a third team member to another division to execute year-end requirements.

"This was accomplished without the degradation of the GPC program," said Sullivan, center director. "In addition to this effort, she worked last minute GPC issues and problems to allow cardholders to execute actions to obligate additional funds received in late September. She also volunteered to be on call the last day of September in case other funds were received that could be obligated via the GPC."

Demonstrating exceptional contracting skills in processing high dollar and high visibility construction contracts using the Fort Benning construction multiple award task order contract was Wendy Johnson, a contracting specialist. Johnson awarded five projects in excess of $800,000 in August and 19 projects in excess of $3.7 million in September.

"Since March 2012, she has been quite productive, issuing a total of 57 awards in excess of $18.2 million," Sullivan said. "She consistently provides rapid turnaround time of one to two weeks from receipt of requirement to award of the construction task order."

Johnson also volunteered to help the supplies and services branch by working a requirement valued at $376,000 in August.

"Her initiative, can-do attitude and desire to meet the deadlines of all her requirements have earned her high praise of management, colleagues, and our customers," he added.

When presented with an extensive unliquidated obligations list in the last week of the fiscal year, Contract Specialist Darshundra Blake accepted full responsibility for clearing the remaining items off the list and was successful in executing the necessary de-obligation contract modifications.

"Even though assistance was available, she handled the load with her contracting officer and completed the project," Sullivan said. "Additionally, she was given a very short lead time to complete an 8(a) requirement and tackled it with the same fervor. She completed her workload and was always willing to assist with anything else that needed to be done."

MICC-Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Despite learning the Network Enterprise Technology Command closeout outlined by the Army Budget Office staggered Army closing guidance was moved up by two days, members of the MICC-Joint Base Lewis-McChord office leaped into action to finalize outstanding issues and modifications during the evening of Sept. 26. They worked closely with the local network enterprise center budget analyst. Although the JBLM NEC was not the first office to close, it was the first office to execute all of its contracting actions by Sept. 27. The NEC director personally thanked the MICC-JBLM team the following day for their great customer support.

MICC-Fort Lee, Va.

Dean Angell, who serves as MICC-Fort Lee's only cost and price analyst, performed his duties in an exceptional manner, according to Terry Hyatt-Amabile, the director.

He was responsible for conducting cost-price analysis against several multi-million dollar requirements and training staff on proper cost and price analysis techniques. He volunteered to assist a contracting officer at MICC-Fort Gordon by performing cost-price analysis against their full food service requirement. In addition, he served as the directorate's lead to coordinate, track and, in many cases, process several base operations critical requirements for the Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Enterprise Support and Service at Radford, Va., for which he was recognized by Richard Eva, the ALTESS project director.

"His outstanding customer service and support epitomizes the contributions that are made each day to support the warfighter," Hyatt-Amabile said.

MICC-Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.

Amanda Bingham, the administrative officer, provided year-end support to the entire MICC-Yuma Proving Ground team that went above and beyond her normal duties and expectations. The contracting office converted to GFEBS earlier in the fiscal year.

"Challenges with the conversion resulted in the late receipt of approximately 200 acquisition packages," said Ann Sanchez, the director for MICC-Yuma Proving Ground. That resulted in the contracting office having more than 250 acquisitions totaling more than $11.5 million to execute as of Sept. 16.

Bingham is a user of GFEBS for the sole purpose of submitting requisitions for MICC-Yuma Proving Ground requirements.

"Amanda quickly grasped the nuances of using GFEBS," Sanchez said. "In addition to her significant administrative responsibilities associated with managing our office, Amanda volunteered to serve as (end user role) to correct numerous GFEBS purchase requests that required various changes before they could be executed and track the flow of documents."

Once the contract specialists received quotes and the award decision was made, Bingham volunteered and learned how to construct award documents in the Procurement Desktop Defense. She also assisted contract specialists in numerous last-minute market research efforts.

"Amanda performed end user and contracting officer duties at a quality level that is expected of fully trained contract specialists," Sanchez said. "She has truly demonstrated her team spirit and has gone above and beyond her job responsibilities to ensure successful year-end closeout"

MICC-White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

"My whole organization was absolutely amazing this year," said Beverly Stotz, the MICC-White Sands Missile Range director.

"We had serious family emergencies involving a contracting officer and a division chief that required them to be gone, potentially impacting our major service contracts. Every time you turned around someone was offering to help or take on additional work," she said.

"The last week of September was incredible. Everyone was in great spirits and maintained a super positive environment. The energy and initiative of the MICC-WSMR staff was unparalleled," Stotz said.

MICC-Fort Irwin, Va.

Donna Proctor and Capt. Andrew Voll were recognized by the 106th Signal Brigade commander for their efforts during end of the fiscal 2012. They were recognized for awarding a $2.2 million information technology support contract within a compressed timeline that allowed the customer to take full advantage of available fiscal 2012 funding. Both received a commander's coin and accolades for their efforts.

MICC-Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Vic Howard and Len Ambrosio from MICC-Fort Sam Houston were recognized for their efforts as part of the Installation Management Command fiscal 2012 close-out team. The team, which also included representatives from IMCOM regions and garrisons, Defense Finance and Accounting Services, the Army Budget Office, Army Contracting Command, Expeditionary Contracting Command and IMCOM headquarters staff, executed a successful year-end close out of $11 billion. Their actions, together with those of the region and garrison workforces, supported the IMCOM mission of providing Soldiers, civilians and their families with a quality of life commensurate with the quality of their service.

The MICC is responsible for providing contracting support for the warfighter across Army commands, installations and activities located throughout the continental United States and Puerto Rico. In fiscal 2012, the command executed more than 58,000 contract actions worth more than $6.3 billion across the Army. That includes more than $2.6 billion to small businesses and $1.3 billion in Government Purchase Card Program transactions.

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Mission and Installation Contracting Command

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