FORT BRAGG, North Carolina (Jan. 4, 2019) -- Soldiers and civilians from the 419th Contracting Support Brigade, 900th Contracting Battalion and the Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Bragg contracting office were recently given the opportunity to research, solicit and procure containerized mobile fitness units in support of U.S. Army Forces Command and its Soldier Readiness Test and Training Program, or SRT2P.
The "Gym-in-a-Box," was estimated to exceed $4.7 million, but was awarded to a small business at $3.7 million, thus returning a savings of $921,568.00 back to FORSCOM.
As the Army continues to refine its fitness standards and readiness metrics, the direct impact of the fitness equipment, in conjunction with the SRT2P project, encompasses the Army's new approach to total force readiness. The intent of the SRT2P program is the development a strength and conditioning functional fitness training regimen and oversight of the execution of a unit's training program.
"Regular physical activity is an essential part of being a Soldier, and with that sometimes comes injuries," said Lt. Col. Miles, the 900th CBN commander and contracting officer for the Gym-in-a-Box contract. "The Gym-in-a-Box training combined with SRT2P experienced coaches will significantly reduce the injury risk amongst Soldiers and increase overall physical fitness and readiness within FORSCOM."
In late spring 2018, contracting professionals from the 900th CBN, 419th CSB and MICC-Fort Bragg received a request from FORSCOM officials to research the commercial marketplace for a self-contained, mobile fitness units with a Gym-in-a-Box concept, in preparation for the equipping of FORCOM units across the country as the SRT2P moved toward implementation.
Each Gym-in-a-Box comes equipped with 21 unique pieces of commercial fitness equipment designed to allow fitness training to be conducted anywhere the containers can be placed. To achieve the end state of transportability, each container was required to weigh no more than 10,000 pounds, be fully loaded, and fit on a pallet that could be shipped with other unit equipment anywhere in the world.
In addition to the required equipment, each container was also required to have a loading plan that properly controlled and mitigated all hazards to minimize risk and damage as the containers are packed and transported according to each unit's specifications. The mobility and adaptability of each Gym-in-a-Box will enable unit commanders to ensure the combat readiness of their Soldiers is directly supported by physical training. Units will now be able to conduct physical fitness training at home and in austere environments.
The FORSCOM Gym-in-a-Box containers will be delivered and utilized across 25 distinct units within FORSCOM, encompassing both active-duty and National Guard Soldiers. The containers provide the capability for units to conduct holistic and targeted physical fitness training that will enable mission readiness through realistic and combat focused fitness requirements across all military occupation specialties.
"We were able to solicit, evaluate, and award the contract in support of FORSCOM with two weeks remaining in fiscal 2018," Miles said. "The ability of all parties involved, from the contract specialist, MICC-Fort Bragg legal office, technical evaluator and the contracting officer, to integrate as a product team showcased and achieved its mission to fully support and enable the warfighter to perform their mission."
About the MICC:
Headquartered at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the Mission and Installation Contracting Command consists of about 1,500 military and civilian members who are responsible for contracting goods and services in support of Soldiers as well as readying trained contracting units for the operating force and contingency environment when called upon. The command is made up of two contracting support brigades, two field directorates, 30 contracting offices and nine battalions. MICC contracts are vital in supporting the warfighter from inception as future Soldiers, feeding more than 200,000 Soldiers every day, providing many daily base operations support services at installations, enabling the preparation more than 100,000 conventional force members annually, training more than 500,000 students each year, maintaining more than 14.4 million acres of land and 170,000 structures, and easing transition to civilian life following separation and retirement.
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