Even if that means, in simplistic terms, the difference between what a contractor proposes initially and the final contract price after negotiations, “I would tell you, that’s in the hundreds of millions of dol- lars a year,” Hallock said.
Zurmuehlen agreed. “If we have con- tracting professionals who are technically competent and they can not only do all the detail-oriented work but
also see
the larger strategic view of the business decision that they’re executing, ... just intrinsically, there is a value.”
Army contracting professionals are bring- ing knowledge, experience and expertise to the table when negotiating with con- tractors. Tey’re defining requirements because they understand what the Sol- dier needs. Tey’re pushing contractors to deliver and coming up with creative incen- tives to make sure that happens. Even if their value is difficult to measure precisely, it becomes apparent when major programs come in on time and at or under budget, as many do—and when Soldiers receive the materiel and services that they need.
Still, Hallock said, Army acquisition has to do a better job of communicating to Congress and the Army the value it brings to the fight, particularly convinc- ing “the decision-makers that contracting is important, not only for peacetime but for combatant commanders in support of the troops. We can’t fight without contractors anymore. And if we have contractors, we need contracting to rate those contracts. So [we need to] convince leadership that they need to look hard before dictating any cuts for the contract- ing profession; then, at the same time, maintain that recruitment and our train- ing and our development.”
ATTRACTING THE BEST A recruiting slogan from the early 1980s
said about a Navy career, “It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure.” For Hallock, that’s what contracting can be, and the pos- sibility of travel is a major attraction for potential contracting specialists. “Te Army has, 242 offices in 163 locations across the world,” he said. “I’d say there are more opportunities in the Army than anywhere else not only to do different types of contracting but also do it pretty much anywhere in the world.” Tat’s a competitive advantage for the Army, which must compete with industry and with other government agencies for top talent.
But there are also disadvantages. Curve- balls like sequestration and furloughs put the government as a whole at a dis- advantage as an employer. Still, at least
on the military side, Hallock said they are getting more and better applicants than ever. “Te word has gotten out that it’s a good career field to be a part of,” he said.
Continuing to recruit the right people into the job is his number one priority, he said, along with “hopefully avoiding another hard hiring freeze that prevents that from happening.” Close behind that in priority is to maintain “the senior-level folks who are close to retirement as long as we can because frankly, those are the ones who are training, mentoring and coaching the new folks who are com- ing in. Troughout their careers, these senior-level folks have gathered a wealth of information about this business that we’d like them to share with the new
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Roger Molina conducts training with SPC Frisnel Simprevil on the Procurement Desktop Defense (PD2) April 18 at MICC – Fort Bliss. PD2 is part of DOD’s standard procurement system that integrates acquisition, logistics and financial management within one enterprise business system. ACC and its subordinate commands are leveraging technology as a force multiplier. (Photo by MAJ Clarence Blackburn)
ASC.ARMY.MIL
73
CONTRACTING
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176
