REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama -- Industry leaders learned firsthand how the Army ensures fair and open competition for more efficient support of a strategic mission in the heart of the Pacific Ocean.
The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command and U.S. Army Contracting Command supported the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, or RTS, Engineering and Technical Services, or RETS, Kwajalein Industry Days Jan. 24-26. Fourteen companies visited RTS to participate in the RETS solicitation process.
A second industry day is planned in February for potential prime and subcontractor vendors in Huntsville.
"The effort was successful and exceeded the contractor expectations," said David R. Browning, RTS deputy director. "Direct feedback indicated the event provided insight and clarification of the RTS instrumentation, facilities and capabilities."
During the event, bidders were given a tour that included learning about RTS instrumentation and capabilities, facilities and radar systems, as well as about the quality of life of the residents.
Contractors were able to ask questions and to allow RTS members to provide feedback.
"The prospective primes were exceedingly pleased with the provided tours and very complimentary and appreciative of the logistics and planning required to execute the event," Browning said. "They indicated that the event provided a significant amount of information and that it was definitely worth their investment to attend."
Browning said the SMDC employees on Kwajalein and the SMDC legal office, ACC support, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory and Installation Management Command personnel put in long hours and provided exceptional coordination and cooperation to make this event the success it was.
"The teamwork required to prepare for, and perform, an event of this size cannot be understated," he added. "All of their support was above and beyond the call."
Browning explained how the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or RMI, contractors participated in the meeting facilitated by the U.S. government to introduce the contractors with the potential primes.
"This introduction enables the potential primes to become familiar with types of businesses and capabilities that could be utilized on the RETS contract," he said.
Another SMDC team member spoke of the importance of the industry days and how they benefit RMI residents, SMDC and the Army.
"These industry days help develop synergy between the government and industry representatives," said Barbara Cantrell, SMDC Command Acquisition Support Office acquisition analyst. "They incorporate industry comments into the request for proposal development process and communicate operational requirements while communicating program requirements and schedules."
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