SUPPORT FOR VICTORY SOUTH
highlighting a contracting command headquarters that is on location and available at all hours. Te ability for commanders to talk directly to one another proved invaluable in addressing and solving issues that arose; from resourcing office space and equipment to multiple general officer engagements and briefs across theater—quickly solving quality-of-life issues for Soldiers on the ground.
Tis brings us to the third insight, building good working rela- tionships with our sister contracting battalion, and the staff sections at 409th CSB continuously paid dividends during the deployment. Multiple times the contracting office would receive last-minute requirements, and a simple call for advice provided guidance and notification for incoming reviews. Tis helped streamline execution and an expedient procurement acquisition lead time. Te contracting operations division at the brigade level went above and beyond to help educate and inform our relatively inexperienced contracting team and ensured mission completion while limiting risk. Teir patience, expertise and guidance helped inform and direct the team so proper procedures were followed in the execution of the contracts, ensuring the customer received the contract in a timely manner to accomplish their mission.
Limited manning not only impacted contracting support, but also directly affected the supported divisions’ ability to conduct operational contracting support. Te biggest roadblock encoun- tered, from a contracting perspective, was the lack of a dedicated operational contracting support integration cell (OCSIC) at the operational level. Tis cell, while on a theater and field Army’s headquarters Modification Table of Organizational Equipment, is not specifically authorized at a division level. Tis led to multi- ple units across theater trying to implement and resource their own contracting solutions through the contracting office, each with their own level of experience and understanding of the U.S. Army Europe Requirements Validation System and the separate requirements package processes and associated timelines. Having an OCSIC, or at a minimum, a designated contract coordinator who gathers all subordinate requirements, checks for document accuracy and submits into paperless contract files would expedite the contract award timeline. It would also allow the supported unit to effectively track and manage all contracts period of perfor- mance and option timelines, while also providing a database to enable requirements transfer between rotational units.
CONCLUSION To support additional division level units in theater, Army Technical Publication 4-71 aligns to a contracting battalion division headquarters to provide mission command over organic
86 Army AL&T Magazine Fall 2023
contracting detachments and to plan, execute and assess contract- ing support to theater opening, reception, staging onward movement and integration, and maneuver operations.
While much of contracting theoretically can be done via a reach- back solution, it is immediately apparent the impact quality relationships have on operational effectiveness. Having contract- ing elements geographically co-located with the supported unit allowed for continuous assessment of the operational environ- ment and integration into supported units’ planning cells to stay abreast of changes to operational requirements.
“Te establishment of RCC-VS was a crucible, bringing multiple teams together to establish the groundwork for future success,” said Lt. Col. Randy Garcia, commander of the 923rd Contract- ing Battalion and Regional Contracting Center Victory South. “Teir actions exceeded mission requirements, increased morale and fostered an environment for superb training, relationship building and improved quality of life. I am beyond proud of the character, competence and commitment of my warfighters and their ability to execute to meet the needs of our mission partners.”
For more information about Army
https://www.army.mil/acc.
contracting, go to
MAJ. EMERY BAUGHAN serves as the executive officer to the commanding general of Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Prior to that, he served as the executive officer, operations officer and lead contracting officer for Regional Contracting Center Victory South. He holds a Master of Operational Studies from the Command and General Staff College and an MBA from Webster University. He is DAWIA certified Professional in contracting.
MAJ. ZACH SHUTTE serves as the assistant program manager of XM30 Ground Combat Systems at Detroit Arsenal in Michigan. Prior to that, he served as the Poland administrative contracting officer for Regional Contracting Center Victory South. He holds an M.S. in systems engineering management from the Naval Postgraduate School and he is DAWIA certified Professional in contracting.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Maj. Jim Berry, administrative contracting officer, 923rd Contracting Battalion;Maj. Blake Davis, contracting officer, 922nd Contracting Battalion.
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