FORT BLISS, Texas (July 22, 2020) -- More than 450 representatives from small and large businesses from throughout the country took part in a virtual advanced planning briefing to industry outreach event July 15 to learn about contract opportunities with the Mission and Installation Contracting Command.

The MICC-Fort Bliss and 919th Contracting Battalion staff teamed with the El Paso Procurement Assistance Technical Center, El Paso Small Business Administration Business Development Office, and reverse auction contractor to conduct the first Fort Bliss virtual advanced planning briefing to industry.

Small business is big business for the MICC, said Clay Cole, the deputy to the commanding general for the MICC, during opening remarks to business representatives He added that the transition to a virtual process increases the MICC’s capability of delivering ready, precise and well-synchronized business solutions for the command’s installation partners.

“In the past, you frequently had to travel considerable distances and have a fair outlay of funds in order to get to one of these sessions. This will absolutely expand the ability of businesses that might have been able to travel and make the connections now to make those connections in the virtual world,” Cole said. “These events give the opportunity for smaller businesses that may not be interested in being a direct contractor with the government to partner with a larger business or other organizations to come away with satisfactory business arrangements.”

The virtual event was conducted through Microsoft Teams and included presentations on services provided by the PTAC, SBA programs and services available for small businesses, an overview of the reverse auction tool, and a forecast of upcoming contracting opportunities from the MICC-Fort Bliss contracting office.

“We are constantly looking for capable interested small businesses to help make set-aside decisions,” said Jennifer Mitchell, the MICC small business professional for Fort Bliss.

Businesses were also able to submit questions and receive responses real-time via web chat. A review of responses to frequently asked questions was also provided to close out the event. Feedback for the event was overwhelmingly positive with more than 95% of respondents to an online survey indicating that they would likely attend future MICC-Fort Bliss virtual events.

Lt. Col. Eric Brooks, commander of the 919th CBN and director of MICC-Fort Bliss, thanked the 450-plus participants who took part stressed the significant role of contractors in ensuring Army readiness.

“You play a major role in keeping the Army safe and providing operational opportunities by operating and providing critical support to the government,” Brooks said.

Additional details for this event including questions and answers, and a video recording of the event can be accessed in beta.SAM.gov at the following direct link at https://beta.sam.gov/opp/7c52cea345fb49479d542a11789251c4/view.

MICC-Fort Bliss is subordinate to the 418th Contracting Support Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas. It is responsible for supporting contract requirements for the 1st Armored Division as well as other tenant units at Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range. In fiscal 2019, MICC-Fort Bliss executed more than 700 contract actions valued at $184 million to include more than $53 million to American small businesses.

About the MICC:

Headquartered at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the Mission and Installation Contracting Command consists of about 1,500 military and civilian members who are responsible for contracting goods and services in support of Soldiers as well as readying trained contracting units for the operating force and contingency environment when called upon. As part of its mission, MICC contracts are vital in feeding more than 200,000 Soldiers every day, providing many daily base operations support services at installations, facilitate training in the preparation of more than 100,000 conventional force members annually, training more than 500,000 students each year, and maintaining more than 14.4 million acres of land and 170,000 structures.