JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (May 5, 2021) -- Two Mission and Installation Contracting Command acquisition professionals and a team have been recognized for exemplifying the highest level of performance and service for excellence in non-acquisition, acquisition, contracting, small business and servicing support career fields across the Army Contracting Command enterprise.
The Army Contracting Command deputy to the commanding general recently announced the recognition as part of its annual awards program for 2019 following a processing backlog of award nominations from previous competitions
The MICC headquarters Government Purchase Card Program team, consisting of Raynard Estrada, the MICC GPC program manager, and Leroy Griffith Jr., the primary program agency/organization program coordinator, was awarded the 2019 ACC Customer Service Excellence Team Award. Estrada credits their program supervision in nominating the team for recognition.
“This award has great meaning for both Leroy and me because fiscal 2019 represented a multitude of unprecedented events and unprecedented challenges for the entire MICC GPC enterprise program,” Estrada said. “No other Army GPC organization matches the MICC GPC program’s size, level of complexity, data demands, and mission support requirements of more than 30 external mission partners, which includes Forces Command, Army Reserve Command, Training and Doctrine Command, Army Futures Command and Installation Management Command. Our gratitude also goes out to our MICC leadership for their endorsement as well as the panel of eight ACC senior leaders for their decision.”
During FY19, the team implemented the GSA SmartPay3, which required the transition of all 30 MICC offices, 66-plus GPC agency/organization program coordinator program staff, and more than 12,000 mission partner cardholder and billing official accounts from the previous system. In addition to deactivation and issuance of all new GPC accounts, the team was also responsible for the testing, implementation and training of two new GPC enterprise systems, DOD Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment Joint Appointment Module and MasterCard Insights on Demand, while simultaneously deactivating the DOD Purchase Card Online System, across the MICC GPC enterprise.
Estrada and Griffith organized and hosted the MICC’s first GPC AOPC training forum, during which they provided program personnel with the tools to manage the GPC program and provide commands with service and support.
Estrada said this event included more than 70 attendees and resulted in resource managers and AOPCs who were better equipped to execute mission requirements, and was recognized by the Army deputy assistant secretary for procurement as the best-ever specialized GPC AOPC training event in the history of the Army GPC program.
Capt. Larry Kemp, a 739th Contracting Team contracting officer, at Fort Riley, Kansas, was named the 2019 ACC Outstanding Contingency Contracting Officer of the Year. Kemp deployed to Regional Contracting Office-Jordan in support of Operation Inherent Resolve from October 2018 to June 2019. He was responsible for providing contracting support to the Special Operations Joint Task Force-OIR, Marine Corps Forces Central Command, Army Forces Group-Jordan, 1st Theater Sustainment Command and Area Support Group-Jordan in support of OIR.
Kemp was hand selected to serve as the 739th CT leader. He synchronized efforts with the forward-deployed team to ensure his team's readiness, to include the critical warranting of three contracting officers and contingency contracting administrative services training. Kemp developed a comprehensive training strategy, and detailed relief in place and transfer of authority plan, resulting in a seamless transition for the mission.
Kemp provided oversight for 52 theater support requirements valued at $53.8 million. He worked closely with the requiring activity to spearhead the acquisition of 50 transportation vehicles for SOJTF-OIR valued at $3 million, directly supporting offensive operations in the defeat of ISIS. Kemp also managed contracting efforts valued at more than $100 million to 3,600 Marines, Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and coalition partners at nine bases throughout Jordan and Syria. He was responsible for the largest base life support contract in Jordan valued at $47 million annually. He also played an active role in 10 infrastructure projects at the Joint Training Center valued at more than $3 million. Kemp and his team managed 25 contracting officer representatives, or CORs, that were dispersed throughout Jordan and Syria. He established processes for onboarding new CORs during a 90-day period. His team supported the commander’s contract administration priorities and increased contract oversight by 40 percent.
Staff Sgt. William Maynard, a contracting NCO with 925th Contracting Battalion, Fort Drum, New York, was awarded the 2019 ACC Outstanding Contingency NCO of the Year. He provided exceptional support and enabled mission success while deployed to Regional Contracting Command-Afghanistan in support of OFS from November 2018 through July 2019, and while deployed to Homestead, Florida, in support of Hurricane Dorian defense support of civil authorities operations in September 2019.
“It really means a lot to be named the 2019 Army Contracting Command Outstanding Contingency NCO of the Year,” Maynard said. “I am sure that there had to be a great number of great NCOs out there that deserve this wonderful title as well. This shows that hard work and dedication do pay off, and you are not forgotten when it comes to working hard.”
He described the recognition as representative of pride and achievement.
“This shows that NCOs can still lead the way and be the best at what they do. I am proud to have this honor for the 925th CBN at Fort Drum,” he said. “I had great leadership and mentorship while I was there that led me to this. I would like to congratulate them as well for helping me along the way.”
The command chose Maynard to deploy to RCC-A as an administrative contracting officer for the $525 million Logistics Civil Augmentation Program contract. His business acumen and support to 20,000 U.S and coalition forces in the theater contributed to their readiness and provided the capabilities necessary for mission success. Maynard’s engagements rendered support to commanders on the ground; developing requirements for capability shortfalls.
Maynard prides himself on good customer service and putting the needs of the customer before his own.
“Knowing and understanding what the customer wants and how to articulate that to a contract is what they are looking for in contracting. Having quality customer service is also a great way to show customers how dedicated you are,” Maynard said. “Having the knowledge and experience with products or services they are trying to purchase will show the customers that they made the right choice when working with you. Being able to help them make the best business choices for their organization is what it is all about.”
Maynard stood up an emergency operations center that established communications with the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas and conducted market research to support the recovery operation. Upon arrival to Homestead, he immediately established a joint logistics and contracts meeting to identify mission-critical requirements. He synchronized logisticians from the Defense Logistics Agency, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Army to ensure consideration of all available resources before initiating contracted support solutions.
ACC received a total of 136 nominations in 41 different award categories. The nominations of both individuals and teams were rated and ranked by a panel of eight senior leaders throughout ACC. The panel ensured the award winners exhibited the highest degree of professionalism and achievement.
About the MICC
Headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-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. As part of its mission, 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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