Request for quotations, evaluation criteria, General Service Administration, multiple award schedules, blanket purchase agreements, on-ramps, acquisition strategies, indefinite-delivery indefinite quantity contracts -- such terms reflect some of the Army's contracting processes.
For defense contractors, being informed of upcoming contracting opportunities and understanding the process is essential to success when bidding on contracts.
During the Enterprise Support Solutions/Contracting and Acquisition Management Office second quarter Industry Communication Event at the Jackson Center on Feb. 22, representatives of the Army Contracting Command-Redstone Arsenal provided acquisition strategies for upcoming contracting opportunities as well as updates, insights and suggestions that can help make the contracting process easier to understand and manage.
"These events are intended to keep industry apprised of upcoming procurement opportunities and provide updates for the Enterprise Service Solutions Directorate as well as Contracting and Acquisition Management Office updates and changes," said Michelle Cross, division chief for Program Strategies for ACC-Redstone.
"This is a worthwhile event for all contractors who provide services for the Aviation and Missile Command."
ACC-Redstone's Enterprise Service Solutions Directorate provides support to AMCOM and Redstone tenant organizations through the use of AMCOM's Expedited Professional and Engineering Support Services Program (AMCOM EXPRESS). About 1,500 defense contractors are on contracting teams bidding on EXPRESS contracts.
AMCOM EXPRESS provides operational efficiencies and improved mission readiness with overall value and flexibility to acquisitions for its customers. It uses Blanket Purchase Agreements administered within four domains -- Business and Analytical, Logistics, Programmatic, Technical -- to ensure that comprehensive advisory and assistance services are readily available.
The ACC-Redstone Contracting and Acquisition Management Office, which supports the Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, provides global contracting support through multiple contracts for direct warfighter support worldwide through innovative acquisition methods. It has been one of the most recognized and awarded Army contracting offices since fiscal year 1995, and is one of one of three Army organizations to exceed goals for contracts awarded to service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses.
Speaking to a standing room only crowd of about 300 defense contractors, Col. Kenny Johnson, military deputy of ACC-Redstone, reviewed the working relationships between ACC-Redstone and its customers -- including AMCOM and SMDC as well as the program executive offices for Aviation, and Missiles and Space; the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center and Redstone Garrison -- and how those relationships support the Army Materiel Command's equipping and sustaining mission, and its strategic priorities.
"Our job is to work with our customers to ensure the contracting efforts are in place to support AMC's mission to develop and deliver materiel readiness," Johnson said. "Defense contractors are a key part of helping us do that. Our piece of the pie is what we do for the Army and how our priorities nest with the priorities of the Secretary of the Army, the Army chief of staff and the commanding general of AMC."
Johnson reviewed the trust, team, relationships and attitude principles of Unified Action, which is based on a 2016 operational order that realigned ACC-Redstone and AMRDEC within AMCOM's life cycle management command.
"The purpose of that is to have unity in what we do as we move forward," Johnson said. "AMCOM commander Maj. Gen. (Doug) Gabram is leading us as we work together with our customers for strategic readiness to the unit, to the warfighters."
Unified Action allows ACC-Redstone to continue to build on the reputation it already has as "the Army's largest contracting center. Our professionals are working with customers to be effective and efficient, and in making sure the Soldier is at the forefront of what we do," Johnson said.
"We are the largest and most diverse Department of Defense buying center with $18.8 billion in contracting dollars and 16,642 contracting actions in fiscal year 2016."
Johnson was joined in his presentation by ACC-Redstone employees Sonya Anderson, Barbara Lupo and Debra Scruggs.
Contracting officers are the backbone of ACC-Redstone and are committed to bringing the best value to the government, Lupo said.
A surveillance of contracting actions from Oct. 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2016 show that 480 contracting actions were exercised at a value of $148 million, most modification packages are processed within 15 days, backlog is virtually non-existent with the 15-day deadline and there were no major recurring issues with the contractor's part of the process.
"AMCOM is a proponent of the Evergreen EXPRESS Program Refresh," said Lupo, referring to evergreen program aspects that incorporate dynamic teaming arrangements, and offer the right mix of professional, technical advisory and assistance services.
When ACC-Redstone issues requests for information to defense contractors, they should always respond with specific details tailored to the information requested, Anderson said.
"The contractor should have technical expertise that is relevant to the request for information," she said.
Scruggs, director of ACC-Redstone's Enterprise Service Solutions Directorate, said ICE is meant to provide answers to defense contractor questions regarding the contracting process for services through AMCOM EXPRESS.
"We still have some milestones we need to accomplish," Scruggs said. "We want to be as informative and transparent as we can be."
Other presenters during the ICE event included Chanda Tallman, industry liaison for the General Services Administration, who said, "We are fully committed to supporting EXPRESS and will be expediting proposals for small businesses."
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