JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (May 21, 2014) -- Small-business representatives from throughout the greater El Paso, Texas, region had a chance to learn about contracting opportunities during a Mission and Installation Contracting Command Acquisition Open House May 15 at Fort Bliss, Texas.
More than 150 business representatives from throughout the region participated in the open house where every major Fort Bliss organization briefed their upcoming acquisition needs.
Hosted by Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Gabbert, the MICC commanding general, the Fort Bliss open house was one of 30 events the command is conducting in support of American small businesses throughout the United States.
"The MICC strives to ensure fairness, equality and transparency in the acquisition process as our reliance on mission partners in industry and small business grows. That includes support to socio-economic programs that are targeted to small-business entities such as veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses," Gabbert said. "By sharing the Army's acquisition needs, we assist our customers in acquiring what they need while informing American businesses of every upcoming requirement available."
The MICC-Fort Bliss staff, led by Lt. Col. Joel Greer, presented all known, upcoming contracting requirements for Fort Bliss. Maj. Gen. Sean MacFarland, the 1st Armored Division commanding general, endorsed the event and encouraged every Fort Bliss unit to also participate in the open house.
Units that participated in the open house were the 1st AD, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Joint Task Force North, U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, logistics readiness center, department of public works, network enterprise center, Joint Task Force-North, garrison command, and directorate of mobilization and deployment.
"What made our open house a big success was to have support from every major organization on Fort Bliss," Greer said. "By giving El Paso businesses a look into all known contracts the MICC-Fort Bliss staff is working, we are being completely transparent as we continue to acquire the best possible equipment and services for America's Soldiers."
Industry benefits from events like this open house because it allows them to plan and strategize for requirements for which they would like to compete, said Mark Massie, the MICC director of Small Business Programs. "They hear firsthand from supported activities and contracting officers those requirements intended for procurement. Small businesses can market themselves as prime contractors, subcontractors or look for teaming arrangements depending on the complexity of requirements."
Fort Bliss is the second largest installation in the Army with 30,000 Soldiers and their families assigned to the post. In fiscal 2013, the MICC-Fort Bliss obligated more than $150 million on more than 2,000 contracting actions for the installation.
MICC contracting officials awarded more than $366 million in contracts to small businesses throughout the nation during the second quarter of this fiscal year. Through the first two quarters of fiscal 2014, contracting officers awarded more than $592 million in contracts to small businesses. In fiscal 2013, the command executed contracts valued at more than $2.1 billion to American small businesses.
The MICC is responsible for providing contracting support for the warfighter at Army commands, installations and activities located throughout the continental United States and Puerto Rico. In fiscal 2013, the command executed more than 43,000 contract actions worth more than $5.3 billion across the Army. The command has also managed more than 780,000 Government Purchase Card Program transactions this fiscal year valued at an additional $880 million.
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