FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- Five members of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command were among those recognized at the U.S. Army Contracting Command's annual contracting awards ceremony May 16 at Huntsville, Ala.
"It's an honor for me to recognize the recipients for their hard work and dedication," said Carol Lowman, ACC executive director. "These professionals exemplify the best of this command and are the type of individuals others can aspire to become."
Awards were presented for excellence in acquisition, contracting and small business. MICC members earning ACC awards include the following:
Maj. Christopher Center
MICC-Fort Drum, N.Y.
Outstanding Contingency Contracting Officer
Center deployed to Afghanistan in April 2011 as the deputy chief of the regional contracting command at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and led the center for three months in the absence of a chief. He led 45 members and oversaw 4,500 contracts worth $1.7 billion in support of 140,000 warfighters. He supervised the source selection and award of the $984 million National Afghan Transportation contract that fundamentally changed the prime contractor vetting and subcontracting processes to improve contract oversight and enforcement of ethical behavior.
Kimberly Ross
MICC-Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.
Outstanding Intern of the Year Award -- Other Than Major Weapon Systems
As a contract specialist intern, Ross prepared 43 awards with a value of $19.3 million. Her research initiative on cost savings resulted in negotiation efforts that saved $96,000 in a data center technology upgrade requirement, which was leveraged to support unfunded requirements by the customer. Ross achieved Contracting Level II Certification and completed the Army Management Staff College Basic Course. Her efforts proved significant in executing 1,259 contract actions totaling $203 million in obligations in fiscal 2011, allowing mission and garrison customers to ensure their critical mission requirements were met on time for base support and test and evaluation.
Debbie Ault
MICC- Fort Knox, Ky.
ACC Ability One Award
As an advocate for the Ability One Program, Ault was successful in facilitating the addition of contracts for facilities maintenance services and human resources at Fort Knox to the procurement list. The success of the facilities maintenance services contract led a decision by the National Industries for the Severely Handicapped to stand up a training program for its non-profit partners, employing approximately 200 people. The contract for call center services awarded to a NISH non-profit agency also will provide employment opportunities to more than 60 individuals with significant disabilities.
Annette Arkeketa-Rendon
MICC-Fort Sill, Okla.
Small Business Specialist of the Year
Arkeketa-Rendon processed socioeconomic reviews and documentation in support of $153 million in obligations by the contracting office during fiscal 2011 while independently and proactively assisting contracting staff and garrison customers with market research and advice covering a spectrum of complex issues and situations. Her training efforts on the set-aside features within the new Women-Owned Small Business and economically-disadvantaged WOSB programs resulted in $26 million in awards to that category by the contracting office. She also awards in post-award actions. Following award of contracts, her audit of files identified a $106 million contract not in compliance and she also discovered a $100,000 overcharge to the government.
Bethany Rosser
MICC-Fort Eustis, Va.
Small Business Program Supporter of the Year
As a procuring contracting officer, she promoted small businesses and successfully brought the Combined Arms Center-Training on board to place their estimated $25.8 million requirement for the Army Training Information System into the Small Business Program. Rosser's efforts directly contributed to the contracting office exceeding its fiscal 2011 small business goal by 19.4 percent, achieving a total of 39.4 percent. Her resourcefulness, analysis and acquisition planning demonstrated strong support for MICC and Army Contracting Command's Small Business Programs, promoted competition, saved more $3 million, and placed more than $22 million into the Small Business Program.
Selectees were recognized for their outstanding achievements between Oct. 1, 2010, and Sept. 30, 2011. An awards panel comprised of representatives from ACC, the Expeditionary Contracting Command, the Mission and Installation Contracting Command and the major ACC contracting centers reviewed more than 200 nominations before making the selections.
This year the big winner was ACC-Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., the recipient of nine awards. Teams and personnel from ACC-Redstone Arsenal and the Expeditionary Contracting Command received seven awards each. ACC-Warren, Mich., and ACC-Rock Island, Ill., received three awards each. Teams and personnel from ACC-New Jersey and ACC-National Capital Region received two awards each.
(Contributing to this article was ACC Public Affairs Office)
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ACC Announces Annual Award Winners
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