REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.--Contracting and industry officials conducted a panel discussion here focused on "How to Achieve Compliant Contracts with Acquisition Speed," and included both industry and government speakers.
The Oct. 11 event, hosted by Army Contracting Command, discussed contract types and other issues. It was broadcast to ACC's six contracting centers, with more than 30 sites virtually connected. All of ACC's major customers were invited to attend, producing a crowd that included industry as well as government personnel.
Gene Duncan, ACC's strategic initiatives group chief and the coordinator of this event, said the overall goal was to allow working-level contracting personnel to hear industry's perspective and concern.
"The panel was extremely knowledgeable and the questions were very good," Duncan said. This was the first time an event like this was held, and "it was a success," he said.
John Lyle, ACC deputy to the commanding general, moderated the panel. It included Anita Bales of the Defense Contracting Audit Agency, Timothy Callahan of the Defense Contract Management Agency, Gail Welch of Raytheon, Eleanor Spector from Fluor, Louisa Jaffe from Technical and Project Engineering, and Bryon Young from ACC-Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Lisha Adams, Army Materiel Command's civilian deputy to the commanding general, attended and provided a brief forward about strategic contracting and the importance of trust.
"I think of trust in business as the relationship between speed and cost. Speed goes down, cost goes up. Speed goes up, cost goes down. Those are affected by trust," she said.
Throughout all of the questions, the topic of communication kept coming up. Many of the panel members stressed how better communication between buyers and potential contractors is essential -- whether it is hearing more guidance on a request for proposal beforehand or receiving a debrief after to prevent a protest.
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