409th Contracting Support Brigade supports Operation Atlantic Resolve

By Ms. Rachel Clark (Army Contracting Command)August 14, 2014

Atlantic Resolve
Capt. William Bass (right), a contingency contracting officer with the 928th Contracting Battalion, greets Capt. Tambet Mae, brigade S4 Estonian Army, in Paldiski, Estonia, prior to discussing the location of future living quarters for rotational un... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Soldiers from the 928th Contingency Contracting Battalion were recently in Paldiski, Estonia, supporting contracting needs for Operation Atlantic Resolve.

The 928th CCBn, headquartered in Grafenwoehr, Germany, is part of the 409th Contracting Support Brigade.

Operation Atlantic Resolve is an U.S. Army Europe-lead exercise that demonstrates continued commitment to collective security through a series of training exercises across the Baltic nations including Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. Operation Atlantic Resolve is an enduring exercise with rotational units that began in May 2014.

"We are here to assist ground forces in the establishment of interoperability at the lowest level," said Capt. William Bass, contingency contacting officer, 928th CCBn. "We need to understand each country's procurement methods in order to support training objectives while establishing partnerships with our NATO allies that are built on trust."

Part of the 409th CSB contracting mission includes working with the Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian armies, providing training as well as contracting service support.

"Working with the Polish army has been a wonderful learning experience for us. They have been very accommodating and we value their partnership," said Bass. "Providing the unit with accurate and timely contract support is our top priority and we will not be satisfied until the mission is complete."

Bass said the unit is supporting the mission in the Baltics by visiting on a monthly basis until all support requirements are established.

"Currently, we have two contingency contracting officers responsible for Atlantic Resolve. Our involvement includes mission support, planning conferences and contracting-specific training."

Bass said they are also doing market research and visiting the unit leadership to support whatever they need to do their job.

"One of things we are learning from this particular experience is the need to have contracting officer representatives at all the locations," Bass said. "They are critical to our success."