Representatives from TEAM APG assemble for their MILCOM Theater session on Public/Private Partnerships. From left: Paul Mehney, CECOM; Larry Muzzelo, CECOM DCG; Bryon Young, Director - Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen; Stan Niemiec, PM Net Enabl...
Bryon Young (brown suit) and Stan Niemiec answer further questions with the audience after their November 2 Theater Session at MILCOM 2016. MILCOM 2016 is an annual event, sponsored by AFCEA International, held at the Baltimore Convention Center Nov...
November 2, 2016. (Baltimore, Maryland) -- The past fifteen years of sustained combat required the Army to quickly field C4ISR capabilities to operational units that demanded enhanced situational awareness, connectivity and communication equipment. To rapidly push capability to the field, program development methodology often did not take full account of robust life cycle sustainment planning. This has resulted in exponential cost growth to maintain and sustain C4ISR capability that will remain in the force for the foreseeable future. Today, government and industry partners are working together to ensure sustainment planning is accounted for early in program development and through utilizing agreements such Public-Private Partnership (PPP) relationships working to drive down the cost of capability sustainment efforts.
Recently members of the Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) community addressed the PPP topic and the health of the Organic Industrial Base (OIB) during a panel session at the annual AFCEA Military Communications Conference. The conference, held at the Baltimore Convention Center and sponsored by AFCEA International, is an annual event designed to showcase technical innovations and creative talents of government, military, academic and industry leaders.
The panel session was led by Larry M. Muzzelo, Deputy to the Commanding General (DCG), U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM). Joining Muzzelo was Mr. Bryon Young, Director of the U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC) -- APG; Mr. Stanley Niemiec, Project Lead, Network Enablers, Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications Tactical (PEO C3T), APG; and Mr. Robert Glowacki, Logistics Management Specialist, Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD), Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.
PPPs are cooperative arrangements between an organic product support provider (such as an Army designated Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence) and one or more private sector entity to enable the performance of defense-related work by utilizing Defense Department facilities and equipment. A key aspect of the PPP construct is the ability for industry to enter into agreements allowing the utilization of the Army's Organic Industrial Base to perform hardware or software refurbishment, maintenance and warranty repair work. Across the Army's C4ISR community, organizations are working innovative contract methods and technical agreements to allow industry and the government to enter into PPP opportunities.
"Partnerships are intended to improve efficiencies, lower costs, accelerate innovation, and offer best value to the warfighter," Muzzelo said, "Our goal is to leverage capabilities within CECOM and industry to equip and sustain core capabilities within the Department of Defense while being efficient and effective."
The panel highlighted PPP benefits to both government and industry which include industry access to advanced-technology equipment and facilities, potential decrease in industry capital investment costs and access to diversified and deployable workforce all resulting in lower cost of products and services for the government. A key to successful partnerships is the ability for program managers to work with the sustainment community to ensure life cycle sustainment plans are accounted for early in the program development phase.
"Our experience shows that the most important part of the contract is sustainment," commented Niemiec, "contracts must be cost effective and provide better products. Any PPP agreement must come early in the process to make it work."
Niemiec offered the audience some examples of current program efforts that are employing PPP as part of their sustainment plans, including the Army's Common Hardware Systems (CHS) program which provides a single contracting source for tactical computing hardware. Through PPP agreements Tobyhanna Army Depot provides organic industrial support for refurbishment and repair of CHS hardware. Another example offered is potential partnership with Tobyhanna for the sustainment, engineering and repair of Embedded Cryptographic Modernization Initiatives and Secure High Assurance Interoperable Encrypting Link Devices.
The panel featured discussion regarding the benefits of working with Department of the Army Centers of Industrial and Technical Excellence (CITE). CITE designation enables the government to enter into PPP agreements with industry. CECOM's Tobyhanna Army Depot, is the Army's CITE for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR), Electronics, Avionics, and Missile Guidance & Control activities and is the CECOM direct link to the Organic Industrial Base.
"TYAD is deeply engaged in the repair and overhaul, systems integration, fabrication, global support and sustainment of multiple end products that support C4ISR systems, electronics, avionics, and missile guidance and control for the Army and as the technology repair center for the Air Force in Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence," Glowacki said as he outlined PPP opportunities at the depot that include work share projects, small business partnerships and direct sales.
"We have over 60 years of experience that is leverage for our Soldiers," Glowacki said. "Small companies can leverage TYAD facilities and personal to their advantage in a PPP arrangement."
As the Army continues a robust operational pace, the materiel community must continue to utilize innovative approaches, such as PPPs, to ensure affordable and effective life cycle sustainment efforts. In concluding the panel discussion, Muzzelo reminded the audience, "The number one priority across the Army is operational readiness. We are charged with upgrading Army readiness and to ensure we position our Soldiers so that they are well-prepared, well-trained and well-equipped to meet and accomplish the mission head on. Public/private partnerships are just one tool we are adding to the toolbox to accomplish our requirements with effectiveness and efficiency."
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