Army accepting proposals for Fort Rucker aviation contract

By Ryan Mattox, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeDecember 29, 2016

Army accepting proposals for Fort Rucker aviation contract
More than 85 small and large industry representatives took part in an industry day and aviation tour in October at Fort Rucker, Alabama, as officials from the Mission and Installation Contracting Command draft a request for proposals for a follow-on ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- (Dec. 29, 2016) Proposals are being sought for a contract supporting U.S. Army and Air Force rotary wing maintenance services at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Mission and Installation Contracting Command officials released a request for proposals Dec. 15 on the Federal Business Opportunities website for the Fort Rucker aviation maintenance services acquisition.

Through transparency, communication and teamwork, MICC officials said they have made great strides in the contract process. MICC officials completed a DOD peer review in November, conducted an industry day, and hosted the office of the secretary of defense staff to ensure the acquisition strategy matched actions outlined in the request for proposal.

"What we have done in the last four months was easily a year's worth of work," said Dean Angell, a cost and price analyst for the acquisition from the MICC headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. "We created a true (integrated process team) with different specialists and involvement by customers and leadership. Everybody was on board."

The acquisition is the largest to be executed by the MICC since the command stood up in 2009 and involves contracting personnel across the command. The Army plans to award a follow-on contract with a period of performance of one year plus nine option years to begin in September 2017.

Brig. Gen. Jeff Gabbert, the MICC commanding general, authorized release of the request for proposals after commending the team for its success.

"Industry requested that we be transparent and committed to a timely contracting process," Gabbert said. "This team has implemented innovative ideas and tools, which have set this contract initiative on a path to be our new standard."

The commander praised the team for having worked diligently to keep the process on track and on time.

Jennifer Hastedt, a contracting officer for the team, said what the team is going to accomplish in 13 months typically takes 18 to 24 months. She said it was critical to release the request for proposal to be able to award the contract in September 2017.

Communication and teamwork, with an understanding by all members of expectations and timelines, was key to releasing the request for proposals on time.

"We had a very dedicated team, we had a time line, and we involved our customers and leadership," Hastedt said. "We all agreed to the milestones, and no one wanted to be the one who didn't meet these milestones."

The next steps for the Fort Rucker aviation maintenance services acquisition are receipt of questions from industry, review of past performances, and receipt of proposals.

The MICC is made up of about 1,500 military and civilian members assigned to three contracting support brigades and a field directorate office throughout the United States who are responsible for contracting good and services in support of Soldiers. In fiscal 2016, the command executed more than 32,000 contract actions valued at more than $4.6 billion across the Army, including $2.1 billion to American small businesses. The command also managed more than 585,000 Government Purchase Card Program transactions in fiscal 2016 valued at an additional $741 million.

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Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Gabbert

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