Over 100 attend Fort Carson business outreach

By Capt. Jerrick J. Hunter, 918th Contracting Battalion operations officerJanuary 15, 2015

Over 100 attend Fort Carson business outreach
Lt. Col. Christopher Ostby provides open remarks during an acquisition forecast forum for small-business representatives Jan. 13 at Fort Carson, Colorado. Ostby is the commander of the 918th Contingency Contracting Battalion and Mission and Installat... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colorado -- (Jan. 15, 2015) More than 100 small-business representatives throughout the Rocky Mountain Region had an opportunity to learn about forecasted contracting requirements at Fort Carson, Colorado, during the second annual Acquisition Forecast Open House Jan. 13.

The small business outreach event was hosted by the 918th Contingency Contracting Battalion and Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Fort Carson.

Participants received requirements previews from the 4th Infantry Division, Logistics Readiness Center, network enterprise center, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), medical units, directorate of public works, directorate of emergency services, directorate of plans, training, mobilization and security, religious support, public affairs office, and Army Community Services.

MICC officials from Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, recently announced the award of more than $191 million in contracts to small businesses throughout the nation in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. Contributing to this effort are MICC organizations including the 918th CCBn and MICC-Fort Carson that seek out small businesses by hosting outreach engagements. During these outreach engagements, small businesses are presented with a variety of future contracting opportunities and education by partner organizations.

"This forum is an opportunity for us, as an Army contracting organization, and you as business leaders and business partners, to share information," said Lt. Col. Christopher Ostby, 918th CCBn commander, during the event's opening remarks. "Our organization strives to ensure fairness, equality and transparency in the acquisition process as our reliance on industry and small business continues to grow.

"We want to share all of our known requirements, to include services, commodities, and minor construction, so that small businesses can be better prepared to support our Soldiers," he added.

Over the past few months, contracting members at Fort Carson worked diligently with all supported activities and customers to identify forecasted requirements for fiscal 2015.

"By providing businesses an unfiltered view of our upcoming requirements, we are being completely transparent so we can seek the best possible procurement solutions for Fort Carson's Soldiers," said Maj. Michael Mignano, the 918th CCBn executive officer.

The event's agenda also included several business outreach organizations that presented an overview of their programs. The Small Business Administration highlighted the importance of small business utilization and the requirements of the SBA Historically Underutilized Business Zone program; the Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center provided an overview and capabilities briefing; and FedBid briefed instructions on its reverse auctioning program.

Fort Carson contracting officials said business representatives learned invaluable tips and contracting business practices on how to attain or increase their business opportunities with Fort Carson.

The 918th CCBn and MICC-Fort Carson plans and executes contracting operations to support Fort Carson and the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. The organization also deploys and executes operational contract support for stateside and overseas contingency operations. In fiscal 2014, the organization executed more than $142 million in contractual obligations, including more than $63 million to small businesses. Contracting officials managed more than $13 million in Government Purchase Program transactions.

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