DRIVING SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS
effort as the availability of funds shrinks. Large businesses often can continue to operate in these challenging circum- stances without an impact on their workforce, but small businesses may be forced to delay hiring or reduce staffing.
Also, in managing programs such as SBIR, budget calculations and allocations are more difficult under a continuing resolu- tion, creating greater execution challenges for the SBIR workforce.
Second, the lapse over the past couple of years in DOD’s compliance with Title 15, U.S.C., Section 637(a)(12)(C), which required DOD to prepare and furnish a forecast of expected contract oppor- tunities to the SBA and the director of DOD’s OSBP, not only made it difficult for small businesses to find out about opportunities but also created a challenge in forecasting goals.
Early in FY15, with the assistance and support of the program executive offices, commanders and all requirement holders, DOD took the first steps toward creating a comprehensive long-range acquisition forecast. Tis forecast contains require- ments from DOD agencies that are valued at $150,000 or more for the upcoming and future fiscal years. While
EYES ON SMALL BUSINESS CPT Robert Turner, assigned to the U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command and deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, briefs vendors during an outreach event at Camp Taji, Iraq, in September 2015. The goal of the event was to educate potential contractors on the process of working with the U.S. government. Engaging vendors early in the process increases competition and ensures that the best-qualified companies get the work. (Photo by SGT William Reinier, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs)
the forecast does not constitute a specific offer or commitment by the responsible DOD agency to fund the opportunities it outlines, it does provide information for marketing and planning purposes.
Tis information will foster communica- tion between DOD and industry as well as increase competition. Additionally, the forecast will promote industry plan- ning by providing advance knowledge of requirements and will help the AMC commands with acquisition planning, forecasting, setting goals and locating additional sources of supply. Te devel- opment of a comprehensive acquisition forecast that identifies small business opportunities by industry, as well as con- tracting,
teaming and subcontracting
opportunities, is a primary focus area for the AMC, DA and DOD OSBPs, and the DOD Long-Range Acquisition Fore- cast will be an invaluable tool.
Finally, the inability to enforce subcon- tracting compliance is having a negative impact on the ability to ensure that large businesses are providing small busi- nesses with opportunities in accordance with their subcontracting plans. Section 1653 of the National Defense Authoriza- tion Act for Fiscal Year 2013 provides for penalties to large businesses for failing
to comply in good faith with their small business subcontracting plans, and AMC established contract award evaluation factors to implement the law. However, because of constraints on the electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS), the
current subcontracting evaluation
system, a major challenge for OSBP is assessing alternatives for determining compliance and subcontracting achieve- ment for AMC components based on the contracts they award.
OUTREACH AND OPPORTUNITIES It is critical to AMC to continue to grow the industrial base. Te command is engaged in the development, support and sustainment of the future Army, while at the same time supporting and sustaining the current Army. Trough its 23 organic industrial base facilities, consisting of ammunition plants, Army depots and arsenals, AMC’s overhaul and modernization efforts are enhancing and upgrading major weapon systems—not just making them like new, but inserting technology to make them better. Tese efforts create opportunities.
Each of AMC’s major subordinate com- mands has associate directors of small business and small business specialists
40
Army AL&T Magazine
January-March 2016
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