These contracted employees refurbish a Humvee field ambulance at a shop
managed by LRC-Bragg at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (Photo by Jon Micheal
Connor, ASC Public Affairs)

An LRC-Bragg technician performs a series of diagnostic tests to determine
any problems with this SINCGARS radio in the Communications and Electronics
Shop. (Photo by Jon Micheal Connor, ASC Public Affairs)

LRC-Bragg's Materiel Maintenance Division not only maintains and repairs vehicles, but keeps them looking new through its paint shop comprised of three paint booths. (Photo by Jon Micheal Connor, ASC Public Affairs)

Contract specialist, David Brickner, and contracting officer, Tami Lord, from Army Contracting Command-Rock Island’s (ACC-RI) Enhanced Army Global Logistics Enterprise (EAGLE) team are supporting Fort Bragg by administering a contract for Logistics Support Services.

The EAGLE Logistics Support Services contract is set up as a cost plus fixed fee with a base and four option periods which will run through June 30, 2021 and has a ceiling amount of $330 million.

Over the past year, the Fort Bragg site has been instrumental in mission readiness support for Overseas Contingency Operations, as it is home to the 82nd Airborne Division. In January, the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade was deployed to the Middle East, as tensions grew due to the storming of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and then followed by Iranian missile attacks in Iraq.

Within 18 hours of notification, the 82nd Airborne Division has a mission to strategically deploy and conduct forcible entry parachute assault and secure key objectives for follow-on military options in support of the U.S. national interest. They work around the clock to support various missions and efforts around the globe.

The Logistics Readiness Center (LRC) at Ft. Bragg, under the 406th Army Field Support Battalion (AFSB), ensures that no equipment the Soldier needs is left behind as well as making sure that supplies, maintenance equipment and transportation are ready upon return from deployment. As a result of 20 years of modernization and force structure redesign of the U.S. Army, the EAGLE contracts are required to offset needed man-hours to account for and maintain equipment ensuring mission readiness and sustainment of equipment at Army standards.

According to the Performance Work Statement (PWS), the Logistics Support Services contract includes Material Maintenance, Supply Services, Ammunition Services, Transportation, Logistics Analysis and Management Functions, each of which is briefly detailed below.

Material Maintenance Services provide above brigade level, field and limited sustainment level maintenance support for Fort Bragg tactical units and government civilian activities in a cost effective and efficient manner.

Supply Support Services includes Central Issue Facility (CIF), Subsistence Supply Management Office (SSMO), Consolidated Installation Property Book Office (CIPBO) and a variety of other supply and services.

The Ammunition Supply Point (ASP) locations provide training for the safe receipt, storage, issuance, shipping, inspection, handling, inventory and turn-in of conventional ammunition. The ASP consists of contractor employee training, overseeing stockpile and supply operations.

The Transportation Support Services mission provides installation transportation to units on Fort Bragg, tenant organizations and other DoD activities. Some of the major services cover personal property; movement of passengers; movement of freight; unit movements; and other transportation services and functions.

Over the past 2-3 months, new challenges arise daily in support of the 82nd Airborne Division’s diverse mission set, which Brickner said requires continual coordination with the contractor, the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and the U.S. Army Sustainment Command’s EAGLE Business Office.

Brickner said there are changes daily requiring contractual updates, but communication has been key in dealing with this particular challenge.

“We’re in constant communication with them, whether it’s calls or emails to make sure actions are not slipping behind,” says Brickner. “Our COR is in Fort Bragg with whom we communicate regularly as well as the 406th AFSB, regarding the new missions they are trying to support, and incremental funding mods that need to be done.”

Lord says that one of the greatest challenges with the contract is ensuring requirements have proper funding levels.

“Sometimes we wind up getting [requirements] at the last minute, so we’re having to put the task order on contract very quickly,” said Lord.

Brickner also feels that obtaining the funding is a challenge.

“Especially now that we’re getting into the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, I think the funding and budgeting is getting heavily scrutinized and determining where we can afford to increase funding where it is needed,” said Brickner. “I think that’s a struggle that occurs all the time, especially on such a large contract like the Fort Bragg task order.”

Lord said year-end, in conjunction with other factors, has made it critical the team stay on top of things and get the Soldiers what they need.

“This contract provides the support to Fort Bragg, specifically with COVID-19 and the recent events of the protests throughout the country,” said Lord. “We’ve had to be on-call. The contract provides that deployment support.”