Security assistance enterprise shares acquisition overview

By Kim GillespieFebruary 29, 2012

Security assistance enterprise shares acquisition overview
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Security Assistance Command and the Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation hosted an acquisition workshop for USASAC employees Feb. 16. Two three-hour workshops were conducted by video teleconference and were available to the work force in morning and afternoon sessions.

"The acquisition personnel within the Security Assistance Enterprise reside at the Program Executive Office level and within the Army Materiel Command's life cycle management commands and Army Contracting Command," John Daniele, deputy assistant program executive officer for customer support and international programs at PEO STRI, said. "USASAC, in its role as the lead for the Security Assistance Enterprise, is providing crucial information to the acquisition work force in foreign military sales."

Daniele emphasized that the acquisition workshop provided an overview for USASAC employees who may have only a limited knowledge of the acquisition process, but was not intended to be a substitute for formal acquisition instruction.

"This is not a Defense Acquisition University class, and some of the PEOs have unique ways of doing things. I encourage those of you who need more knowledge and training to pursue the DAU instruction, training and/or certification in acquisition," Daniele said.

The idea for conducting the workshop was first discussed after Maj. Gen. Del Turner, USASAC commander, met with PEO STRI personnel at the annual Interservice/Industry Simulation Training, and Education Conference last fall.

"We discussed how important it is for USASAC program managers and case managers to understand the various systems sold though FMS, how they fit into the total package of an FMS case, how this is developed with the Letter of Request and Letter of Offer and Acceptance and how this fits into the acquisition process," Daniele said. The result was a suggestion from Daniele to Turner that PEO STRI provide an acquisition overview.

Jeff Claar, a procurement analyst with PEO STRI's Acquisition Center, covered everything from regulations to performance work statements, proposal evaluation methods and the seven steps of performance-based acquisition.

"We covered in a few hours what you would spend months learning in a formal acquisition training environment," Claar said.

Claar also addressed PEO STRI's Procurement Administrative Lead Time for acquisition. PALT is designed to improve the efficiency of procurements by measuring contracting milestones and ensuring the program is in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation, DoD and agency supplements and local policies. PEO STRI's PALT report specifically tracks the status and progression of procurement actions from requirement to acceptance and through contract award. For USASAC, tracking the procurement process assists with tracking the overall schedule for equipment deliveries.

"Maj. Gen. Turner is emphasizing C2, short for cooperation and collaboration, as the key to success for the Security Assistance Enterprise," Daniele said. The workshop emphasized how the FMS process, which involves many different organizations performing independent actions, makes up the Security Assistance Enterprise. "During program execution, USASAC should look to the ACC entity and LCMC that is supporting the specific commodity for guidance and assistance."

"For employees who have not worked in an LCMC SAMD (Security Assistance Management Directorate), this workshop explained the basics of how the acquisition process is conducted in relation to our FMS process," Michelle Gomez of USASAC plans and policy, said.

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