MOLINE, Ill. -- Patricia Huber, Joint Munitions Command deputy to the commander, provided small business owners insight to government contracting opportunities during the 2014 Midwest Small Business Symposium held here, May 7-8.
Serving in a Senior Executive Service position, Huber is the highest-ranking civilian in JMC which is responsible for the production, storage, issue and demilitarization of conventional ammunition for all U.S. military services.
Huber's presentation informed small businesses from the Quad Cities and the Midwest region about defense contracting opportunities to provide products or services to JMC.
"There are definitely opportunities for small businesses to provide ammunition," said Huber. "Seventy-five percent of the ammunition that is provided to all the military services is obtained from commercial producers."
The Midwest Small Business Government Contracting Symposium is an annual event organized by the Iowa-Illinois Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association and sponsored by the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. The two-day symposium provided small businesses with the opportunity to learn about government contracting within the Army, learn about small business legislation, make business contacts and learn approaches to successful prime contractor relationships.
Huber also noted that JMC depots and storage facilities also buy "support material" to produce ammunition and to sustain their operations. This allows local small businesses to establish contracts in the 14 states where JMC's installations are located.
In concluding the symposium, Huber participated in a Senior Leader Panel which discussed the present state of contracting at Rock Island Arsenal and future opportunities offered by its various commands and agencies. Representatives from the Army Sustainment Command, the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center, and the Army Contracting Command -- Rock Island, also participated in the panel discussion.
Headquartered at the Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Ill., JMC produces small, medium and large caliber ammunition items for the Department of Defense. JMC is the logistics integrator for life-cycle management of ammunition and provides a global presence of technical support to U.S. combat units wherever they are stationed or deployed.
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