The relationship between the U.S. Army Contracting Command and the Military Surface, Deployment and Distribution Command's Acquisition directorate may be unique, but senior officials from both agencies agree they share a common goal, supporting the joint war fighter.
According to Karen Osborn, SDDC acquisition director, the directorate is part of the headquarters SDDC at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
SDDC is the Army service component command of U.S. Transportation Command--also headquartered at the Air Force base--and a major subordinate command of U.S. Army Materiel Command, headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
"This relationship allows SDDC to bridge U.S. TRANSCOM's Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise and AMC's Materiel Enterprise, giving the command greater capabilities to meet the war fighter's requirements," said Osborn.
Osborn explained that the ACC provides the directorate's Head of Contracting Activity for the SDDC.
Michael Patterson, chief, ACC's Contracting Operations Field Support division, further explained the relationship between the two commands.
"When ACC was stood up and all of the 1102's (contracting specialists) at the Army Materiel Command's subordinate commands were moved into ACC, the personnel at SDDC remained on SDDC's rolls," said Patterson. "It was agreed that since the positions were paid for out of USTRANSCOM's working capital funds, they should stay under the control of USTRANSCOM."
SDDC Acquisition provides contracting and government purchase card support for its command at five locations within the continental United States. Its primary office is at Scott with support offices in Jacksonville, Fla.; Charleston, S.C.; Sunny Point, N.C.; and Concord, Calif.
Osborn added that the largest portion of SDDC AQ's mission is the procurement and administration of stevedore and related terminal services contracts at major CONUS ports to facilitate the loading and off-loading of government cargo in support of the global mission.
"We also acquire information technology services and equipment, and contract studies and analyses services to support many SDDC programs, including the Transportation Engineering Agency mission," Osborn explained. "Additionally, we spearheaded the concept, implementation and operational support of an electronic service contract review board supporting an estimated $2.8 billion in services for all of SDDC."
"It's important for ACC and SDDC AQ to maintain a close working relationship," said Carol Lowman, ACC executive director. "While they are not an element of the Army Contracting Command, they are part of the Army contracting family and as such, we assist [them] in obtaining training and in the development of their 1102s."
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