FORT DRUM, New York (Oct. 2, 2019) -- More than 55 contracting officer representatives were recognized by the 925th Contracting Battalion and Mission and Installation Contracting Command as part of its second annual appreciation day recently at Fort Drum, New York.
These CORs manage more than 157 contracts valued at more than $58.6 million on Fort Drum in support of the 10th Mountain Division and other tenant units.
"Fort Drum CORs are essential to help us build ample capability and capacity to enable disciplined execution of deploying units and leverage contracted support to execute urgent deploying requirements," said Lt. Col. Rickey Torres, commander of the 925th CBN and MICC-Fort Drum director.
A COR is an individual authorized in writing by the contracting officer to perform specific technical or administrative contract functions. The primary role of the COR is to monitor the contractor's performance and serve as the technical liaison between the contractor and contracting officer.
Contracting officers throughout the MICC rely on CORs to monitor contract progress, performance and various additional responsibilities as part of their appointment. Fort Drum contracts include the Fort Drum medical evacuation, custodial services for the entire installation, building and re-purpose facilities construction, and 10th Combat Aviation Brigade equipment maintenance, just to name a few.
"Contractors are an extreme force enabler to the Army and have a tremendous impact on the readiness of the warfighter," said Anthony Sligar, the deputy director for MICC-Fort Drum contracting office. "That is why in order to support the warfighter, it is absolutely mandatory that the Army performs the critical task of quality assurance on our contractors."
Sligar and his staff felt it was important to come together to show their support for the CORs for what they provide to the contracting efforts and recognize their respective missions would not be complete without their support.
Moses Faciane has served as a quality assurance specialist for MICC-Fort Drum for more than two and a half years. Faciane organized the recognition event for a second year in order to express the contracting office's gratitude and ensure CORs are aware that their support of the contracting process was appreciated and vital in the mission success of the warfighter.
The day began with an awards ceremony recognizing two department of public works employees. Walter Lester was named the COR of the Year for the MICC-Fort Drum Mission Support Division, and Karl Eager was named the COR of the Year for the MICC-Fort Drum Installation Support Division. The other 53 CORs were all presented with certificates of appreciation.
"CORs are the on-site eyes and ears of the contracting officer to ensure the contract is conducted in accordance with its term and condition -- a critical additional duty," Faciane said. "The event was an opportunity to establish an enhanced relationship between CORs and the contracting office without contract requirements hanging over them."
The appreciation day included a barbeque potluck lunch and activities between the CORs and their MICC counterparts.
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. MICC contracts are vital in feeding more than 200,000 Soldiers every day, providing many daily base operations support services at installations, facilitate training in the preparation of more than 100,000 conventional force members annually, training more than 500,000 students each year, and maintaining more than 14.4 million acres of land and 170,000 structures.
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