FORT LEE, Virginia (Sept. 15, 2017) -- Eleven quality assurance specialists from throughout the command's field directorate office at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, gathered for their second annual workshop in August as the federal government's fiscal year draws to a close and spending surges.
Mission and Installation Contracting Command quality assurance specialists teach, train and enforce the Federal Acquisitions Regulation in support of quality assurance and surveillance for government contracts that support their assigned installation.
"FDO-Fort Eustis fully supports the quality assurance program initiative vital to the continued success of all quality assurance specialists within our offices," said Archie Lomax, the lead quality assurance specialist at JB Langley-Eustis. "These workshops encourage our QA specialists to learn and share knowledge on best practices important to continuous process improvement for government contract quality assurance."
Over the past year, Lomax facilitated monthly conference calls to maintain communication and oversight in support of his newly refined QA program, which was established at last year's workshop.
QA specialists met Aug. 15-16 to discuss the new growth of their program, address deficiencies identified in the procurement management review, revise annual individual and team training requirements, address the implementation of new contracting officer representative requirements, and review their local office processes and procedures.
Three of the FDO's more senior quality assurance specialists led specialized topic discussions and provided further insight regarding their effective training styles. They were Michael Ricke of Fort Rucker, Alabama, Kevin Curtis of Fort Leavenworth, Kentucky, and Valerie Fegurgur of Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Ben Rush, a QA subject matter expert with the MICC headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, said the workshop is well supported by the FDO leadership at Fort Eustis, which allows their efforts to succeed.
"Quality assurance specialists within the FDO are leading the MICC in standardization and making an impact on the systemic issues and findings within the command's procurement management review program," Rush said. "They continue to make strides in best practices and are producing innovative solutions to the quality program's greatest challenges."
Contractors are responsible for their quality control, and the government conducts oversight to ensure that their quality control programs are effective. Contractors must ensure they carry out their obligations under the contract in terms of quality, timeliness and cost while the government is responsible for ensuring that services and supplies conform to the contract. The MICC Quality Assurance Program implements procedures, processes and practices to improve the overall effectiveness of contract administration and oversight.
FDO-Fort Eustis is one of two field directorates that along with two contracting support brigades make up the MICC. The command is made up of about 1,500 military and civilian members who are responsible for contracting good and services in support of Soldiers as well as readying trained contracting units for the operating force and contingency environment when called upon.
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