CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- The 920th Contracting Battalion has assumed the contingency contracting administration services mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility during a ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, July 9. It replaced the 926th CBN.
Col. Scott Tyler, commander, 408th Contracting Support Brigade, the 920th's new higher headquarters, presided during the transfer of authority ceremony. When not deployed, the 920th is assigned to the Army Contracting Command-Rock Island contracting center, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois.
The 926th CBN's colors were furled and cased signifying the completion of its deployment. It was the first U.S. Army Contracting Command battalion to execute CCAS in full operational capacity. Contract administration services were previously performed by the Defense Contract Management Agency.
The 926th excelled as the first Army contracting battalion to perform contingency contract administration, said Tyler. During the ceremony, he expressed his gratitude for the hard work and accomplishments of the 926th CBN and added that the battalion excelled at performing its CCAS duties in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, the region that comprised the bulk of DCMA's CCAS mission.
"The 926th has set the bar high and leaves a lasting legacy as they redeploy," Tyler said.
In his remarks, Lt. Col. Derek Draper, commander, 926th CBN, said it takes an acquisition team that includes both the government and the contractors working with initiative and purpose to accomplish the CCAS mission.
"Today we hand over the CCAS mission to the 920th Contracting Battalion, an organization well prepared to improve on the work we accomplished in theater. I am confident they will take the mission to the next level of excellence," he said.
Lt. Col. Ryan Eckmeier, 920th commander, said the battalion marked a new chapter in a mission that is also new to ACC.
"The CCAS mission has now become a core competency of Army contracting," he said. "Active and determined CCAS reduces risks to mission, risks to forces, and risks to funds. We will continue to build on the rock-solid foundation that the 926th has established here in the AOR."
As the second Army unit to assume the CCAS mission, the 920th has the responsibility to maintain excellence set by the 926th, as well as overseeing expansion of the CCAS mission from three countries to six, including Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Prior to deploying, the 920th CBN executed a CCAS training program at Rock Island. The training culminated in a mission rehearsal exercise that included contract administration professionals with a wide range of experience in contract administration, property management and quality assurance.
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