HOME AWAY FROM HOME: Soldiers deployed to Mielec, Poland, in March 2022 are provided tent accommodations with sleeping cots, lighting, electrical outlets and heating. (Photo by Lt. Col. Alan Manzo,…
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by Cheryl Marino FORT BELVOIR, Va. (April 4, 2023) — “New capabilities and concepts” is almost like the chicken-and-egg scenario: Which came first? According to AL&T editor-in-chief, Nelson…
ASSUMPTION OF DUTIES: ACC-A assumed command from Army Reserve Element on October 22, 2021 at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. ACC-A is responsible for closing out the contracts supporting U.S….
SPEED BY CONSORTIUM: Using consortia, the government can quickly access innovative nontraditional defense contractors. This would be significantly more difficult outside of the consortium other-transaction authority construct. Consortia…
Optimism about Army modernization just might be reasonable, thanks to alternatives to old school, FAR-based acquisition. by Steve Stark Army acquisition seems to have changed a great deal…
PROTECTORS OF COMPETITION: When a sole-source award for Humvee control unit components was challenged, GAO found that the Army didn’t know the minimum quantity needed, and had made no…
by Ellen Summey Acquisition is a notoriously complex beast. Enter Dennis Longo, the advocate for competition, task and delivery order ombudsman and senior procurement analyst for Army Contracting…
MAZE OF DEFINITIONS: Knowing the definitions of terms in the FAR is essential. In April 2019, the GSA published a pre-solicitation notice requesting industry’s interest to provide warehouse space. Two…
FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Feb. 24, 2020)—The U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center congratulates the Soldiers listed below for their selection into the 51C military occupational specialty (MOS)—contracting noncommissioned officer…
The contracting pendulum has swung from complex to streamlined contracts to provide efficient and rapid acquisition in support of the Soldier. by Veronica Alexander and Dr. Linda R. Herbert Contracting…
Stop chasing personality-driven solutions: Category management instills a think-bigger approach to buying for enterprise-level efficiencies. by Brig. Gen. Christine A. Beeler Leveraging the disciplined buying power of the Army enterprise…
Market research can be the basis for vigorous competition in Army acquisition. by Dennis P. Longo This is the first in a new series, On Contracting. The author developed the…
The Army awards billions of contracting dollars annually in order to support its mission. Historically, more than 20 percent of this total goes to small businesses. A strong small business…
Intelligence collection isn’t just for battle planning. It also has demonstrated its value in contracting with information on vendors, insider threats, and fraud, waste and abuse. by Russell Parman During…
For better contracts and better support to the warfighter, integrate operational contract support personnel into the same education system that trains the operational personnel. by Maj. Kasandra B. Tharp Imagine…
By Susan L. Follett WASHINGTON (Aug. 28, 2018)—The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement has announced the winners of the 2017 Excellence in Contracting Awards,…
Delivering now PEO IEW&S contract planning tool literally shows the way to successful execution of myriad actions at once. by Mr. John Higgins “Deliver now” has become an unofficial motto…
by Abel Trevino Defense Acquisition University (DAU) regularly develops case studies for educational purposes to emphasize acquisition in action. In DAU’s case-study-based curriculum, students spend weeks reviewing case studies that…
How a relatively little-known cost estimating tool can help prevent and correct contract overruns when other methods have fallen short. by Mr. Anthony J. Nicolella When a contractor regularly overruns…
By Michael Bold FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Jan. 24, 2018)—Warning that “we have no choice but to get engaged in changing the culture,” Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski outlined the Army’s plan…
An eight-month assignment as chief of contracting in Kandahar yields an abundance of lessons learned. by Maj. Michael Z. Keathley The commander’s intent for U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command –…
PEO EIS’ Defensive Cyber Operations office is achieving rapid acquisition of constantly evolving IT by using consortium-based other transaction authority. by Lt. Col. Scott Helmore and Tom Cole, Brig. Gen.,…
The Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Contingency Contracting Office (CCO) initiated and organized a vendor day at Mogadishu International Airport, Somalia, July 12. Engaging employment from local…
PM Mission Command gave potential developers of the new artillery command and control system more time, more information and more latitude to approach the problem in new ways. In return,…
FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Aug 24, 2017)—The 51C Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) reclassification board concluded here last month and selected six candidates for reclassification. U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center (USAASC) congratulates the…
By Tristin Maximilian FORT BELVOIR, Va.—Two noncommissioned officers (NCOs) have been selected for the Army’s Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS) program, offering the opportunity to pursue advanced degrees in acquisition and…
By Ashley Tolbert FORT BELVOIR, Va. (April 4, 2017) – The deadline to submit applications for this year’s military occupational specialty (MOS) 51C reclassification board has been extended to June…
As DOD faces a Sept. 30 deadline to be ready for its first-ever independent financial review, ACC zeroes in on contractors’ government-furnished property to improve accountability. by Chief Warrant Officer…
When reality strikes in contract administration for Army helicopters, DCMA Sikorsky Aircraft – Stratford fills in the gaps with real-time information and critical multifunctional expertise. by Maj. Rob Massey and…
By Susan L. Follett FORT BELVOIR, Va.—The Secretary of the Army has announced its FY16 Awards for Excellence in Contracting, honoring Army contracting organizations and individuals who’ve exemplified excellence in…
COMMAND/ORGANIZATION: 411th Contracting Support Brigade, U.S. Expeditionary Contracting Command TITLE: Government Purchase Card Branch chief; supervisory procurement analyst DAWIA CERTIFICATION: Level III in contracting; Level I in logistics and program…
DIUx, DOD’s outreach to the tech community, has developed commercial solutions opening, an OTA mechanism that moves from first contact to final contract in 60 days or less. And DIUx…
Construction contracting in Qatar provides a user-level view of acquisition reform, its possibilities and its challenges. by Maj. Michael J. Carroll and Capt. Sarah Lark Acquisition reform generally happens at…
The 413th CSB works to strengthen teamwork between CCOs and attorneys—a relationship that’s becoming more important as the military’s operational focus shifts to the Pacific. by Capt. James S. Kim…
Handed new responsibilities, Army Sustainment Command builds services contract management from the ground up. by Mr. Jerome Jastrab Government contracting is indeed a complicated and, at times, perplexing business. It’s…
By Ashley Tolbert NORMAN, Okla. – Soldiers from the U.S. Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve gathered on July 21-23 for the Reserve Component Acquisition Training Summit, spending…
