Army OSBP Newsletter - September 2014

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Upcoming EventsPlease visit www.sellingtoarmy.com and click on “Calendar of Events.”

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• Deputy Director’s Message • Ms. Tracey L. Pinson, Director, Army Office of Small Business Programs Retires • Senior Leader Interview: AMC Commander Discusses Sequestration, Veteran

Entrepreneurship and His New Role as Head of Contracting Activity• USACE Bids Farewell to Ms. Jackie Robinson-Burnette• MG Darrell K. Williams, Army Materiel Command, Huntsville, AL Receives Secretary

of the Army Award for Small Business Utilization • Army Drives Federal Small Business Goal Achievement• Jacque Gee wins Small Business Specialist of the Year Award for Fiscal Year 2013• New Senior Executive, Deputy Director for Department of Defense (DoD) Office of

Small Business Programs (OSBP)• Army Mentor-Protégé Program Update• Contracting Officer Credits Team for Army Small Business Award• MICC Boosts Small Business by Half Billion in 3rd Quarter• Learn, Train, Lead: Army OSBP Taps DAWDF to Train Small Business Specialists• New Statutory Changes to Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracts

Program• HQ USACE Small Business Personnel Participate in Army 239th Birthday Run• Redstone Test Center Aviation Flight Test Directorate Awards Contract to 8(a) Small

Business• Hundreds Participate in First-Ever Small Business Conference in Huntington, WV• Fort Bliss Shares Acquisition Forecast with Area Businesses• AMC OSBP Personnel Attend Midwest Small Business Government Contracting

Symposium• OSBP Hosts TACOM LCMC Small Business Fair• Army Participates in Women-Owned Small Business Conference• Fort Benning Forecast Open House Proves Success• Fort Sill Open House Caters to Small Businesses• Small Business Owners Become Familiar With Government Contracts• Fort Shafter Commander Speaks at Hawaii Small Business Forum• The Fourth Quarter Push• Calendar of Events

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U.S. Army OSBP

106 Army PentagonRoom 3B514Washington, DC 20310Phone: 703.697.2868Fax: [email protected] www.sellingtoarmy.com

Points of Contact Ms. Jackie Robinson-Burnette Deputy Director [email protected]

Mr. James Lloyd Assistant to the Director Program Manager, SDVOSB & HUBZone [email protected]

Ms. Cynthia Lee Assistant to the Director Program Manager, HBCU/MI and 8(a)/SDB [email protected]

Ms. Stacy WatsonAssistant to the DirectorProgram Manager, Women-Owned Small Business, Major Programs and [email protected]

Ms. Pamela L. Monroe Assistant to the Director Program Manager, Mentor-Protégé & Subcontracting [email protected]

Ms. Portia DeansAssistant to the DirectorProcurement [email protected]

Ms. Edith St. Catherine Staff Action Control Specialist [email protected]

Ms. Veronica Atkinson Administrative Officer [email protected]

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Ms. Marina Sullivan Support Contractor to Army OSBPNew Concepts & Associates [email protected]

Newsletter Produced By Halfaker and Associates, LLCSupport Contractor to Army OSBP Mr. Anthony Braun [email protected]

Mr. Ricardo Ruiz [email protected]

Mr. Burt Stanko [email protected]

Ms. Monica Early [email protected]

In This Issue

Newsletter | September 2014

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U.S. Army OSBPOur Mission• Advise the Secretary of the Army and the

Army leadership on small business related matters

• Spearhead innovative initiatives that contribute to expanding the small business industrial base relevant to the Army mission priorities

• Leverage the use of minority serving educational institutions in support of Army science and technology programs

Our VisionTo be the premier advocacy organization committed to maximizing small business utilization in support of rapidly fielding a trained, ready, responsive and capable force that can prevent conflict, shape the environment and win the Nation’s wars.

Statement by President Barack Obama“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstones of our communities. They create two of every three new jobs in America, spur economic growth, and spark new industries across the country. We will continue to create new incentives to help small business owners hire new workers, promote growth and do what America does best - invest in the creativity and imagination of our people.”

-President Barack Obama

Production of the next issue is already underway!Please submit articles to: [email protected]

Article submission deadline: November 7, 2014

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25 Newsletter | September 2014

Calendar of Events

Please visit www.sellingtoarmy.com and click on “Calendar of Events”, for the most updated list.

The Army Small Business Program will finish strong in fiscal year 2014. We

continue to set the example for federal government, awarding more contract dollars to small firms than any other federal agency or military service. Contract dollars to small firms directly impact job creation and fuel the rebalancing of our Nation’s economy. Army Small Business Program success is attributable to the commitment and leadership of our Commanders. Our Commanders understand the value of the innovation that agile small businesses bring to our warfighters and the important role that small businesses play in our national security.

Small Business Administration (SBA) reports show:

• The 23 million small businesses in America account for 54 percent of all U.S. sales.

• Small businesses provide 55 percent of all jobs and have provided 66 percent of all net new jobs since the 1970s.

• The 600,000 plus franchised small businesses in the U.S. account for 40 percent of all retail sales and provide jobs for some 8 million people.

• The small business sector in America occupies 30-50 percent of all commercial space, an estimated 20-34 billion square feet.

Furthermore, the small business sector is growing rapidly. While corporate America has been “downsizing”, the rate of small business “start-ups” has grown, and the rate for small business failures has declined.

• The number of small businesses in the United States has increased 49 percent since 1982.

• Since 1990, as big business eliminated 4 million jobs, small

businesses added 8 million new jobs.

I’m excited about implementing new initiatives to further strengthen our outreach and engagement with small firms in fiscal year 2015. Our social media contacts have tripled in the last 90 days as we increased our efforts to engage Army industry partners through FACEBOOK. Help us set a new record this month, and LIKE our FACEBOOK page at https://www.facebook.com/ArmySmallBiz. If you have an item of interest for our small business industry partners, please post it or send it to me for posting. Use our FACEBOOK page to notify industry of conferences, outreach events, industry days, and to link to your solicitation and sources sought notices from the Federal Business Opportunities website.

Make sure that you stop by our Small Business Seminar at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Meeting at the Washington DC Convention Center on 14-15 October 2014. I’m counting on Army leaders to stop by, bring business cards, and meet and greet small firms. The agenda will include contracting officers, program managers, mentor protégé teams, large business prime contractors, DoD senior leaders, and so much more.

If you have questions about the event, call (703) 697-2868 and speak to:

• AUSA Lead: Mr. James Lloyd, Army Service-Disabled / Veteran-Owned Program Manager

• AUSA Co-Lead: Ms. Veronica Atkinson, Management Analyst

Finally, we dedicate this newsletter to Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army Office of Small Business Programs. In this edition,

we announce her retirement after 20 years of service to the Army. In June 2014, she retired as the highest ranking African-American female senior executive in the Army. Her legacy will continue through the hundreds of small business leaders that she mentored and coached during her years of service. Her astute leadership led us to become number one in the federal government, and we are committed to building a strong program on her foundation. Many of us cried tears when she announced her retirement date. We wondered if we could survive without her Extroverted-Intuitive-Thinking-Decisive leadership. However, as the weeks pass, it’s clear that she prepared us to lead, and we are excited about what’s to come. ■

Ms. Jackie Robinson-BurnetteDeputy DirectorArmy OSBP

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2U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com

Deputy Director’s Message:The Army’s Impact on Job Creation is HUGE!

Ms. Jackie Robinson-BurnetteDeputy Director

https://www.facebook.com/ArmySmallBiz

Ms. Tracey L. Pinson Retirement

A Washington, D.C. native, Ms. Pinson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from

Howard University in 1978 and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1982. Her career began on Capitol Hill on the House Committee on Small Business under Chairman Parren Mitchell. Rep. Mitchell, of Maryland’s Seventh Congressional District, was known as the ``godfather’’ of minority business expansion and development efforts. In 1986, Ms. Pinson was named as Assistant to the Director of the Offi ce of Small Business Programs for the Offi ce of the Secretary of Defense.

In 1995, the Honorable Togo West, former Secretary of the Army appointed Ms. Pinson as the Director of Small Business Programs in the Offi ce of the Secretary of the Army. She managed the largest small business program in the federal government in terms of contract dollars. Under her leadership, the Army awarded over $300 billion in contracts to small businesses.

Ms. Pinson led efforts to design the Mentor Protégé Program. She managed the Army Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions Program to ensure that these institutions were afforded an opportunity to participate in Army-

funded programs. She also headed an initiative to hire wounded warriors. She successfully steered over $50 billion to veteran-owned businesses. She worked to secure contract awards for women-owned businesses, companies located in areas of economic distress, and small businesses in technology and disaster relief efforts.

Throughout her career, Ms. Pinson received numerous awards and accolades, including but not limited to the Department of the Army Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service in 1998; the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive in 2002 from President George W. Bush; the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive in 2009 from President Barack H. Obama; and the Department of the Army Award for Meritorious Civilian Service in 2014.

Ms. Pinson is a tireless champion for small businesses, and dedicated her career to advocating for small business owners. Because of her efforts, thousands of small business owners received contract awards to stimulate job creation and contribute to the Nation’s economic strength.

A retirement luncheon was held in her honor on June 27 at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia. Over

one hundred family, friends, mentors, protégés, peers and staff attended the luncheon. Many laudable comments were echoed concerning Ms. Pinson’s dedication from such individuals as the Honorable Togo West; the Honorable Andre Gudger, OSD Director of Small Business Programs; Mr. Gerald O’Keefe, Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army; and General (Ret.) Johnnie Wilson. Her husband, Darryl Dennis, spoke of his endearing relationship with Tracey as a wife and mother for their daughter.

She retired as the Army’s highest ranking African-American female civilian servant. Ms. Pinson leaves a legacy that is unmatched in terms of mentoring and coaching other Army personnel, both active duty and civilian.

Although leaving the federal sector, Ms. Pinson will continue serve the small business community as she embarks on a new opportunity with The Boeing Corporation. ■

Submitted by:Mr. James Lloyd, Program ManagerArmy Service-Disabled / Veteran-Owned and HUBZone Programs

Ms. Tracey L. Pinson, Director, Army Offi ce of Small Business Programs Retires

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COL Kevin M. Nash, Commander, 413th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort Shafter, spoke at

the 12th Annual Hawaii Small Business Forum on July 17 in Honolulu, HI. The forum brought together representatives from various federal agencies to discuss contracting opportunities and updates with small businesses looking to start or expand opportunities as a federal contractor. This event included presentations on contracting opportunities with various federal agencies and departments, the status of the military build-up on Guam, updates on rules and regulation from the U.S. Small Business Administration, registering to do business with the federal government, and a small business panel. Attendees also had an opportunity to sign up for business matchmaking appointments with government agencies as well as large and small businesses. ■

Submitted by: Ms. Susan Beury, Contract Specialist, 413th CSB, RCO-HI

In the small business offi ce, the fourth quarter of the fi scal year is always full of excitement and anticipation, mixed

with a healthy pinch of anxiety.

It is diffi cult to predict where exactly the fi scal year will close out in terms of small business achievement, but looking at historic trends we can get a rough idea. The chart to the right shows where we might end up at the end of FY2014 if our course continues on the track of FY10, FY11, FY12 and FY13; or an average of the four. Assuming the fourth quarter of FY2014 results are similar to previous years, we should signifi cantly exceed our goal of 26.50 percent, likely ending up between 28 and 30 percent. ■

Submitted by: Mr. Burt StankoSupport ContractorArmy OSBP

Fort Shafter Commander Speaks at Hawaii Small Business Forum

The Fourth Quarter Push

COL Kevin M. Nash, Commander, 413th Contracting Support Brigade speaks at the 12th Annual Hawaii Small Business Forum.


As Fort Gordon grows over the next four years, the installation and surrounding communities

will see exponential growth. One result of that growth is a rising interest in business opportunities.

Fort Gordon’s Mission and Installation Contracting Command held its fi rst Acquisition Forecast Open House Monday at Alexander Hall. The event was an opportunity for MICC offi cials to give small business owners advance notice of contracts the installation needs to fi ll in the coming months and years ahead.

“Our intent was to try and attract small business owners … the people who don’t know how to get started in government contracting and want to know what’s available to them,” said Lt. Col. Sylvia Farmer, acting director for MICC. “We are dedicated to the local community and want to provide as much openness as possible so that they all have a chance to compete.”

Small businesses play a large role on Fort Gordon. According to Nelson Keeler, deputy to the commanding general, there have been 585 contract actions valued at $65 million so far this fi scal year. Of that, $59 million was eligible for small businesses; $28 million was actually awarded to them. There are currently 245 contract actions valued at about $168 million that need to be awarded by the end of the fi scal year.

“I’m very pleased to see that greater than 40 percent of our contracting activities so far have gone to small businesses,” Keeler said.

Engaging small business owners benefi ts contractors and businesses by providing competition and ensuring the best qualifi ed employees are hired.

The event was also a chance for small business owners to network and learn about requirements for the acquisition process, which can be daunting for small businesses lacking expertise.

“In a small business, you are the manager, you are the worker, you are the team lead, and you’re preparing proposals,” Farmer explained. “We’re here to assist and help set them up for success in the acquisition process.”

Representatives from the Georgia Procurement Technical Assistance Center and Small Business Administration Atlanta District were among several agencies giving presentations and answering questions.

The open house attracted a substantial number of business owners for its fi rst event. Those who were unable to attend or who have questions should contact Rufus Gates, a small business specialist with Fort Gordon’s MICC. Rufus can be reached at (706) 791-1817 or by email at [email protected].

“Please get in touch with us,” Gates said. “We don’t know yet exactly how much contracting support we’re going to be providing for the (Cyber Center of Excellence), but when we are called on, we will be ready … and we’d like to have our small businesses engaged, too.” ■

Submitted by:Laura Levering Fort Gordon Public Affairs Offi ce

Small Business Owners Become Familiar With Government Contracts

FORT GORDON, Ga. (June 27, 2014) - Gail A. Wells of Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Gordon, assists Sharelle Corrodus of Atlanta June 23 during an Acquisition Forecast Open House at Alexander Hall. Corrodus, president

of 3 Star Solutions, attended the event to get information about medical staffi ng opportunities on Fort Gordon.

Photo Credit: Laura Levering, Fort Gordon Public Affairs Offi ce.


Photos:

1. HON Brad Carson, Under Secretary of the Army presents Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army OSBP, with an award for outstanding service in the Army Senior Executive Service in a ceremony at the Pentagon on June 30. Her husband, Mr. Darryl Dennis and her daughter Ms. Maya Dennis look on.

2. Ms. Marina Sullivan, Program Manager, Army Mentor-Protégé Program; Ms. Veronica Atkinson, Management Analyst, Army OSBP; Mr. Gerald O’Keefe, Acting Director, Army OSBP; and Mr. Robert Speer, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller).

3. Ms. Pinson and Mr. Seán Crean, Director, Navy OSBP.

4. BG James Simpson, Deputy Director, Directorate of Contracting, HQ USACE; Ms. Pinson; Mr. Dennis.

5. Ms. Pinson and Mr. Steven Weidner, former Associate Director, National Guard Bureau OSBP, speak with Mr. Walt Jeffress, husband of former Deputy Director, Army OSBP, Ms. Suellen Jeffress.

6. Ms. Pinson speaks during the August 8 ceremony.

7. Mr. Dennis and Ms. Pinson.

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GEN Dennis L. Via assumed duties as the 18th Commander of the Army Materiel Command (AMC) August 7, 2012. AMC is the Army’s premier provider of

materiel readiness. In fiscal year 2013, AMC awarded $59.7 billion in contracts, accounting for for 68 percent of total Army contracts. Small businesses received $8.4 billion in contracts that year, accounting for about half of Army small business contracting dollars.

On February 1, GEN Via was appointed Head of Contracting Activity for AMC, giving him official responsibility for all AMC contracting.

What is your primary focus as Commanding General of the Army Materiel Command, and how does that correlate to small business?

AMC’s top priority remains providing equipment and materiel readiness to our Joint Warfighters. I’m extremely proud of the 68,000 Soldiers and Department of Army Civilians stationed throughout the world who work in areas ranging from research to contracting, acquisition to manufacturing, and distribution to sustainment.

AMC touches every phase of the materiel life cycle, and working with our partners in ASA (ALT) and the PEO/PM community, we’re very effective in meeting the warfighters’ requirements. We have a saying within our command, that Small Business is big business. AMC is a $50 billion global logistic enterprise that accomplishes its mission in part, through the great partnerships we have established with the small business industry. With $8.4 billion in small business contracts, AMC accounts for about half of all small business contracting dollars spent by the U.S. Army.

You were recently appointed as AMC’s Head of Contracting Activity. What does that role entail, and how will this new concept impact small businesses?

This appointment by Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition Logistics and Technology, Hon. Heidi Shyu, on Feb. 1, along with a change to the Defense Federal Acquisition Supplement, consolidated the HCA role, naming me the sole official responsible for contracting within AMC. This change from the old structure, which had separate HCAs at each of the major subordinate and contracting commands, is intended to improve performance, enable more effective customer support, and strengthen oversight across the AMC contracting enterprise.

Consistent with the goals of the single HCA system, the Commanding General of the Army Contracting Command is designated as the Chief Procurement Officer for AMC, and serves as a principal advisor to the AMC Commanding General for all contracting issues, policies, and procedures across the Command. Given the size and number of contracting actions executed within AMC, there is still considerable decentralized execution of these actions under the supervision of AMC Principal Assistants Responsible for Contracting, or PARCs, highly qualified procurement officials whom I have appointed. So, while we continue to have a large and complex contracting organization, the single HCA structure will provide consistent guidance and direction for our contracting personnel, the requirements-generating organizations they serve, and the commercial firms who contract with AMC to provide the goods and services that our Army needs.

AMC had a strong commitment to provide opportunities for small businesses to share in our contracting opportunities before this change to a single HCA concept; however, I see two

GEN Dennis L. Via

Senior Leader Interview:AMC Commander Discusses Sequestration,

Veteran Entrepreneurship and His New Role as Head of Contracting Activity

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About 80 small business owners from Southwest Oklahoma learned how to apply for

federal government contracts, what services are contracted here and projected contract requirements during the Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) - Fort Sill open house June 25 at Snow Hall.

It was part of the Army MICC’s outreach efforts to small businesses as it conducts acquisition forecast forums throughout the country for small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses and Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones).

Attendees were welcomed by Mr. Tom Kelly, Deputy Commander, Fort Sill Garrison, and Ms. Annette Arkeketa-Rendon, MICC Fort Sill Small Business Specialist, as well as contracting officers and other garrison directors.

“This is an opportunity for small business owners to learn what contractors we need at Fort Sill,” Ms. Arkeketa-Rendon said. “I get a lot of calls from businesses, and we don’t even buy the things or services they offer.”

Fort Sill contractors range from musicians for chapel services to food service personnel to construction workers to field and air defense artillery instructors.

“We do a lot of services contracts here like food service; and infrastructure like public works and construction; and training, too, is a big procurement requirement that we have,” Ms. Arkeketa-Rendon said. “Just a lot of the things that we do to support the Soldiers.”

The first step to contracting with the Army is registering with the System for Award Management, at www.

sam.gov, said Carmen Lee, MICC contracting officer.

Then business owners need to find contracts to bid on through websites, like Federal Business Opportunities and General Services Administration (GSA), said Ms. Arkeketa-Rendon.

“We try to procure so much of our dollars to small businesses,” Lee said, referring to a federal requirement. “We have a goal we have to meet every year for contracts under those categories.”

Mr. Larry Lane, Deputy Director, Logistics Readiness Center, spoke about the LRC’s $40 million in contracts. This included bussing of Soldiers around the post, the maintenance and control of GSA vehicles and small arms maintenance.

During the six-hour event, business owners could also visit information booths including the Oklahoma Small Business Association, GSA, Great Plains Technology Center’s Oklahoma Bid Assistance Network and the MICC.

Terri Shook, SBA procurement center representative from Oklahoma City, manned a booth and also presented on socioeconomic programs. She said the open house gets the word out to new contracting companies or established small businesses who are unfamiliar with federal contracting.

“We (SBA) can also give them ideas, like, well what your business does the federal government doesn’t really buy, but we know that the City of Tulsa might buy it or Stephens County,” she said.

The open house was also an opportunity for the business owners to network among each other to help learn and grow their businesses, Ms. Arkeketa-Rendon said. The Fort Sill MICC plans to conduct the small business open houses twice a year.

Small business owner Mr. Jesus Garay, Sooner Home Design LLC, of Lawton is a subcontractor for Corvias Military Living. Mr. Garay stated, ‘he came to the open house because he is looking to get his company’s own contract with Fort Sill’.

“The more I go to these presentations and the more people I meet I get little nuggets of information and that helps me in the (application) process,” he said.

Submitted by:Mr. Jeff Crawley, Fort Sill CannoneerReprinted from www.army.mil

Fort Sill Open House Caters to Small Businesses

Larry Lane, Logistics Readiness Center deputy director, speaks about

the contracts the LRC uses during the Fort Sill Mission and Installation

Contracting Command’s open house June 25, 2014, at Snow Hall. Photo Credit: Jeff Crawley, Fort Sill

Cannoneer.


HON Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army, Installations, Energy and

Environment, spoke during the Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE) National Conference, held March 30 - April 1 at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC. She spoke about the Army’s role in military construction and how she has worked hard to increase the Army’s focus on sustainability and the environment. She also provided insight on where future business opportunities exist.

Her presentation reiterated the Army’s commitment to small business. The Army awarded 5.13 percent to women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2013.

The conference, called “Women Build America,” featured engaging panel discussions and networking activities for firms to create or renew partnerships, enhance business

development, and increase the use of various socioeconomic categories in federal procurement. The conference included a wide variety of speakers from private industry, the Small Business Administration, and other federal procurement agencies, including the Army.

Ms. Sharon Morrow, Acting Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), spoke during the breakfast plenary session entitled, “When Women Succeed, America Succeeds.” Her presentation provided an overview of the mission, history, and customers of USACE, and explained how to market to the agency. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Sharon MorrowAssociate Director (Acting)USACE OSBP

Army Participates in Women-Owned Small Business Conference

Officials from the Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) conducted an acquisition

forecast open house for small businesses June 18 at Fort Benning, GA.

Officials said the event received outstanding participation from 81 contractors representing more than 40 different companies. Contractors heard from a variety of presenters including several requiring activities, representatives from the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center and MICC-Fort Benning personnel.

Ms. Brenda Clark, Deputy Director, MICC-Fort Benning, led the open house with assistance from Mr. Steve Magner, the small business specialist for the contracting office.

Officials distributed a one-page summary of all requirements presented during the event to each participant along with a survey for feedback.

“Feedback from the event was very positive with most indicating interest in returning in December for our second open house event,” Ms. Clark said. “Some suggestions were to provide five-year acquisition plans for recurring requirements, breakout sessions to allow the small businesses to network with any large businesses present and contracting

personnel, and a block of instruction with basic information for contractors new to the industry -- all of which will be incorporated into our next event.” ■

Submitted by:Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeReprinted from www.army.mil

Fort Benning Forecast Open House Proves Success

The Honorable Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army,

Installation, Energy and Environment, presents to the Women Construction

Owners and Executives during the Lunch Plenary session on March

31, 2014 at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC.

More than 80 contractors had the opportunity to network during the acquisition forecast open house June 18 at Fort Benning, GA. Photo Credit: Emily Patterson.


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ways in which the new concept may allow improvements for small businesses. First, our AMC headquarters Office of Small Business Programs remains in place. Its Director, Ms. Nancy Small, is now the sole Associate Director for AMC, and, in that capacity, she has strengthened oversight of small business program functions throughout AMC. This should ensure that the goals and priorities we set are adopted and executed properly by all levels of the command. Second, as we make contracting procedures more standardized throughout the command, small businesses should find it easier to determine the necessary procedural requirements associated with contracting with AMC and, as a result, be able to apply greater focus to their efforts to generate competitive offers that can result in contract awards.

In the shadow of sequestration, what is the status of AMC’s Small Business Program?

Clearly, sequestration presents significant challenges to the Department of Defense, our Army, and the Army Materiel Command. However, Small Business has been with us, through more than a decade of war, providing critical capabilities to meet wartime requirements, and we remain committed to Small Business. Even with sequestration, we have seized the opportunity to enhance our business relationships. As we draw down in Afghanistan amidst the challenges of decreased resources, we still have an important mission and commitment to meet the needs of the Joint Warfighter. That’s where small business can play a large role. These transitions require us to be flexible, creative, and innovative. I believe the Army’s small business partners are ideally structured and positioned for this; small businesses tend to be agile and motivated, and can respond to change quickly. That’s what AMC and our Army need, and why we encourage continued partnerships through our small business programs.

Small businesses provide products and services key to our nation’s economic success and have provided 65 percent of new jobs in the past 17 years. How do we continue this momentum for our small business success?

We are encouraged by the FY15 budget, which funds technology-enabled solutions and provides opportunities and empowerment to small businesses. We expect this to create more visibility into contracting opportunities for small, innovative companies. Significant emphasis and value will likely trend toward smaller contracts. As we reset and re-establish priorities, we will count on the flexibility and adaptability of small businesses to respond successfully in this time of transition.

With more than 34,000 veterans returning from Afghanistan, sequestration is making it challenging for veteran entrepreneur growth. How can the Small Business Program continue our efforts to assist them to start-up or grow existing businesses?

AMC’s Small Business Program recognizes the urgency of assisting highly skilled veterans as we transition from more than a decade of war. AMC is committed to the collaborative programs that provide veterans the training necessary to start-up or grow their small businesses. Our small business offices manage outreach programs and conduct face-to-face meetings to provide insight for veteran-owned small businesses.

We will continue this level of engagement with our veterans and seek out additional opportunities to reach this population. Additionally, we continue to offer informational programs focused on 8(a) Business Development, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), Small Disadvantaged Business Program, Woman-Owned Small Business, as well as the Subcontracting Program.

Sequestration’s reduction to small businesses and contracts will have a ripple effect on our subcontractors. How can we ensure coverage in these niche markets of high technology, aerospace, and defense?

Some of the most innovative and creative ideas originate in small entrepreneurial firms with specific expertise and appear to thrive in niche markets. The FY15 budget notes that innovative sources may likely come from these niche markets and increases dollars for small businesses in the areas of technology, aerospace, and defense, and focus on America’s long-term competitiveness by improving the entrepreneurial environment.

Small businesses remain a priority for AMC and we encourage subcontractors seeking opportunities with the Army to explore the resources offered by the Small Business Administration’s Dynamic Small Business Search. It may also be useful for subcontractors to seek partnership opportunities through mentor-protégé or public and private partnerships. AMC’s Office of Small Business Programs continues to evolve, adapt, and develop processes to protect our edge in the areas of technology, aerospace, and defense. We remain steadfast in our commitment to small businesses, particularly those with these capabilities.

With contract reductions from sequestration, will our country remain ready and equipped in our ability to defend itself from threats to our national security?

Our primary mission at AMC is to develop and deliver readiness solutions to support unified land operations and Contingency Operations anytime and anyplace in the world. Accordingly, we must maintain readiness for the force to meet future contingencies. No one can predict the future, but the past shows us that there will be future contingencies. Our forces must be ready, trained, and equipped to meet those contingencies when the nation calls. AMC remains committed to ensuring our warfighting formations are prepared when the call comes. Our nation expects and deserves nothing less. And Small Business will continue to play a critical role in enabling AMC to develop and deliver these readiness solutions required by our forces.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

First of all, thank you for the opportunity to share some comments with your readership. I am enormously proud of all of our Small Business personnel within Army Materiel Command. They are highly committed professionals dedicated to ensuring the readiness of our Army forces – now and into the future. At AMC – Small Business is Big Business, and as the Commanding General privileged to lead this tremendous organization, I greatly value the significant contributions small businesses make every day in support of our Soldiers. ■


On June 10, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) bid farewell to Ms. Jackie

Robinson-Burnette, Associate Director, USACE Small Business Programs. The ceremony was hosted by MG Todd Semonite, USACE Deputy Commander. Ms. Robinson-Burnette was assigned to USACE in 2010, and led a network of over 60 Small Business Specialists serving across the country (to include Alaska and Hawaii). She led USACE to set new records and to exceed small business goals for four consecutive fiscal

years. In addition, USACE won several Army and industry awards under her tenure, to include Army Small Business Specialist of the Year awards for 2010 through 2013.

Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army Office of Small Business Programs, thanked Ms. Robinson-Burnette for her leadership and significant achievements, and presented MG Semonite with two Secretary of the Army OSBP-level awards for FY2013 small business program excellence.

Ms. Robinson-Burnette moves on to continue her service to the Army as Deputy Director, U.S. Army Office of Small Business Programs. She is married to LTC (Ret.) Victor Burnette (U. S. Army). They have three beautiful daughters (Alexis, Brooke, and Victoria) and one granddaughter (Naiomi). ■

Submitted by:Army OSBP

USACE Bids Farewell to Ms. Jackie Robinson-Burnette

Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army OSBP, with Jackie, and Jackie’s daughters Alexis and Brooke.

MG Todd Semonite, Deputy Command, USACE and Jackie. Ms. Sharon Morrow, Deputy Associate Director, USACE Small Business Program and Jackie.

Page 20


After months of planning and coordination, the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command

(LCMC) OSBP held the 2014 TACOM LCMC Small Business Fair June 11 at the Macomb Community College’s John Lewis Center in Warren, MI.

Approximately 180 representatives from small and large businesses; the Small Business Administration; Procurement Technical Assistance Offices; Army Contracting Command-Warren; Defense Contract Audit

Agency; Tank Automotive Research Development & Engineering Center; Defense Contract Management Agency; Competition Management Office; PEO Ground Combat Support; and PEO Combat Support & Combat Systems Support participated in the event.

While the majority of the fair attendees were from Michigan, the fair attracted small businesses from as far as California, Texas, Florida and Alabama. Prime contractors

with representatives at the fair were: Avon Protection Systems, Battelle, Booz Allen Hamilton, DCS, DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc., General Dynamics Land Systems, HDT Expeditionary Systems, J&J BMAR, Lockheed Martin, Oshkosh, and SAIC.

Submitted by:Ms. Silvia OwensSmall Business SpecialistArmy TACOM LCMC OSBP

OSBP Hosts TACOM LCMC Small Business Fair

Mr. Paul Edwards from Chenega Manufacturing Services, LLC speaks with Jeanne Schabath and Adam Trevino from General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS).

Mr. Leo Simsic from the TACOM LCMC Competition Management Office conducts a breakout session on Competition Enhancement Programs at TACOM LCMC—Future

Buys, Source Approval Program & Replenishment Parts Purchase Program.

Mr. Kenneth Bousquet, Acting Executive Director, Army Contracting Command-Warren also addressed the audience and provided some statistics

of what small businesses have provided to TACOM LCMC in the past.

Mr. Michael Viggato, Deputy to the Commander, TACOM LCMC, addressed

the attendees thanking them for providing the Army with the goods

and services needed to carry out our mission--to support the Soldier.


The 2014 Midwest Small Business Government Contracting Symposium, “Small Business, Big Success” was held at the iWireless Center in

Moline, Illinois, May 7-8. The event was sponsored by the local Iowa/Illinois Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. Approximately 600 attendees and 82 exhibitors participated in the event.

Mr. John Nerger, Executive Deputy to the Commanding General, Army Materiel Command (AMC), provided the keynote address. Ms. Nancy Small, Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, AMC, also attended the event and visited each booth.

Mr. Nerger discussed the importance of the industrial base that can adapt and transform itself to meet the shifting needs of the government. He said, “The United States Army can recruit the best force, but we are depending on [industry] to help sustain and maintain the best force. There remain great opportunities and a need for your services as we move forward.”

A highlight for the Small Business Program was the presentation of the Iowa and Illinois Small Business of the Year awards. The Illinois award went to Mr. Larry Van Daele, President of KD Industries of Illinois. KD Industries is a certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business manufacturing business located in Kewanee, IL.

The Iowa award went to Ms. Mary Connel, President of Air Control Inc. (ACI). ACI, a woman-owned small business from Clinton, IA, is a full-service HVAC contractor and a custom metal fabrication shop. Ms. Connel was also the Small Business Administration’s “Small Business Person of the Year” for the State of Iowa.

Other notable events included the Advance Planning Briefing for Industry for Team Rock Island; One-on-one sessions for vendors to present their capabilities to prime contractors and the government, during which ASC/JMC OSBP talked to about 50 companiess; and a Wednesday evening networking reception featuring the IA/IL Chapter NDIA Scholarship awards.

Next years’ event is scheduled for June 3rd and 4th, 2015. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Dianne WheelerSmall Business SpecialistArmy Sustainment Command

AMC OSBP Personnel Attend Midwest Small Business Government Contracting Symposium

Mr. John Nerger, Executive Deputy to the Commanding General, Army Materiel Command, keynote speaker at Midwest

Small Business Conference.

Ms. Nancy Small, Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, Army Material Command, and Mr. Robert Matthys,

Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, US Army Sustainment Command at the Midwest Small Business Conference.


Page 8

On May 5th, the Secretary of the Army sponsored the annual awards ceremony,

which recognized Army civilians and military personnel for their outstanding contributions towards the Army’s mission. Awards were presented in various categories to include the Small Business Utilization Award that highlighted an individual who had shown significant achievements and support of the Army Small Business Program in FY13. This year’s recipient of the small business award was MG Darrell K. Williams (pictured), who was then Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command.

During the ceremony, MG Williams was commended for his exceptional leadership and sustained commitment to the small business program. He initiated a quarterly command-wide video teleconference that addressed current small business goal achievements, identified future challenges, and explored solutions to overcome those challenges. As a result of his team approach, AMC awarded over $8.1B to small business firms, which accounted for more than 48% of all dollars awarded to small business firms by the Department of the Army, in FY13. It is also noteworthy to include that AMC exceeded assigned goals for contract dollars awarded to small disadvantaged businesses ($3.5B), service-disabled-veteran-owned small businesses ($1.2B), and women-owned small businesses ($1.4B).

Congratulations to MG Williams on receiving this award and furthering the progression of the Army’s mission. At the time of this writing, he is the Commanding General for the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, Kuwait.

Pictured is Ms. Nancy Small, AMC’s Director, Office of Small Business Programs accepting the award from the Under Secretary of the Army, The Honorable Brad R. Carson, on behalf of MG Williams. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Cynthia Lee Program ManagerArmy HBCU/MI and 8(a)/SDB Programs

MG Darrell K. Williams, Army Materiel Command, Huntsville, AL Receives Secretary of the Army Award for Small Business Utilization

MG Darrell Williams.

Mr. Brad R. Carson, Under Secretary of the Army, presents Ms. Nancy Small, Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, Army Materiel Command, with the Small Business Utilization Award for MG Darrell K.

Williams at the 2014 Secretary of the Awards ceremony at the Pentagon

May 5.

Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army OSBP; Ms. Nancy Small; and Ms. Cynthia Lee, Program Manager, Army 8(a) and Small Disadvantaged Business Programs.


The Small Business Administration announced that for the first time in eight years the federal government met its 23 percent statutory goal for small business contracting in

fiscal year 2013. The Army played a major role in this success, spending more dollars with small businesses than any other federal agency.

The $17.47 billion the Army spent with small businesses in fiscal year 2013 accounts for over a fifth of all federal small business spending that year. This was also more than 27 percent of total Army contract spending, significantly higher than the Army’s Department of Defense-assigned goal of 26.5 percent, and the highest Army small business spending percentage on record.

Furthermore, the Army exceeded the statutory goals for all small business socioeconomic programs (see table below for details). Most notably, the Army awarded 5.12 percent of contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses (WOSBs), marking the first time that the Army has exceeded the 5 percent goal for the WOSB program.

“The Army consistently leads the federal government in total contract dollars awarded to small businesses, because we consistently engage and build relationships with small firms,” said Ms. Jackie Robinson-Burnette, Deputy Director, U.S. Army Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). “Army Commanders know that a critical component of our industrial base is formed by our small business partners, whose contributions drive innovation in the production of goods and services that support our warfighters. We award contracts to the nation’s small firms, not only because it’s the law, but more importantly, because capable small businesses increase the competitive nature of our contract solicitations, resulting in better value, cost, and contract performance.”

The Army Small Business Program is supported by more than 230 Army small business advocates nationwide, who work to ensure small businesses receive full consideration for Army contracts. In addition to working closely with contracting officers, these advocates plan numerous industry outreach events. At the start of fiscal year 2013, for example, OSBP organized the Army Small Business Conference in Washington, DC, which attracted over 450 attendees from small businesses, prime contractors, and the federal government. The conference’s educational and networking sessions paid dividends throughout the year as small businesses leveraged what they learned to more effectively pursue contracts. Looking to repeat the success of this event, OSBP organized the Army Small Business Forum at the Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting at the start of fiscal year 2014. At this event, the highest levels of Army leadership, including former Under Secretary Joseph W. Westphal, spoke to, and met face-to-face with, hundreds of small business owners.

The hard work so far in fiscal year 2014 seems to be paying off as the Army is ahead of where it was this time last year in small business utilization. To date this fiscal year, the Army has awarded $10.60 billion in contracts to small businesses, compared to $10.50 billion at the same point in fiscal year 2013.

The Army is committed to continuing its strong support of small businesses. If you are a small business seeking assistance in navigating the Army contracting process, please contact an Army Small Business Specialist near you by using this online directory: http://sellingtoarmy.com/army-small-business-specialists.

For more information on the Army Small Business Program, visit www.sellingtoarmy.com and follow the Program on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ArmySmallBiz) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/ArmySmallBiz). ■

Burt Stanko contributed to this story.

Submitted by:Mr. Anthony BraunSupport ContractorArmy OSBP

Army Drives Federal Small Business Goal Achievement

Former Under Secretary of the Army, The Honorable Joseph W. Westphal talks with dozens of small business owners and representatives to hear their success stories on working with the Army as well as the challenges they face, during the Army Small Business Forum at the 2013 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., October 21

(Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Bernardo Fuller).

Small Business Socioeconomic ProgramSmall Disadvantaged Business

Women-Owned Small Business

Historically Underutilized Business Zone Small Business

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business

FY2013 Army Achievement12.60 %

5.12 %

3.16 %

3.92 %

Statutory Goal5.00 %

5.00 %

3.00 %

3.00 %

FY2013 Army Small Business Socioeconomic Program Performance (Source: FPDS-NG)

Page 18


Small business representatives from throughout the greater El Paso, TX, region had a chance to learn about contracting opportunities during a Mission and Installation

Contracting Command Acquisition Open House May 15 at Fort Bliss, TX.

More than 150 business representatives from throughout the region participated in the open house where every major Fort Bliss organization briefed their upcoming acquisition needs.

Hosted by BG Jeffrey Gabbert, MICC commanding general, the Fort Bliss open house was one of 30 events the command is conducting in support of American small businesses throughout the United States.

“The MICC strives to ensure fairness, equality and transparency in the acquisition process as our reliance on mission partners in industry and small business grows. That includes support to socioeconomic programs that are targeted to small-business entities such as veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses,” BG Gabbert said. “By sharing the Army’s acquisition needs, we assist our customers in acquiring what they need while informing American businesses of every upcoming requirement available.”

The MICC-Fort Bliss staff, led by LTC Joel Greer, presented all known, upcoming contracting requirements for Fort Bliss. Maj. Gen. Sean MacFarland, the 1st Armored Division commanding general, endorsed the event and encouraged every Fort Bliss unit to also participate in the open house.

Units that participated in the open house were the 1st AD, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Joint Task Force North, U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, logistics readiness center, department of public works, network enterprise center, Joint Task Force-North, garrison command, and directorate of mobilization and deployment.

“What made our open house a big success was to have support from every major organization on Fort Bliss,” LTC Greer said. “By giving El Paso businesses a look into all known contracts the MICC-Fort Bliss staff is working, we are being completely transparent as we continue to acquire the best possible equipment and services for America’s Soldiers.”

Industry benefits from events like this open house because it allows them to plan and strategize for requirements for which they would like to compete, said Mr. Mark Massie, the MICC director of Small Business Programs. “They hear firsthand from supported activities and contracting officers those requirements intended for procurement. Small businesses can market themselves as prime contractors, subcontractors or look for teaming arrangements depending on the complexity of requirements.”

Fort Bliss is the second largest installation in the Army with 30,000 Soldiers and their families assigned to the post. In fiscal 2013, the MICC-Fort Bliss obligated more than $150 million on more than 2,000 contracting actions for the installation.

MICC contracting officials awarded more than $366 million in contracts to small businesses throughout the nation during the second quarter of this fiscal year. Through the first two quarters of fiscal 2014, contracting officers awarded more than $592 million in contracts to small businesses. In fiscal 2013, the command executed contracts valued at more than $2.1 billion to American small businesses.

The MICC is responsible for providing contracting support for the warfighter at Army commands, installations and activities located throughout the continental United States and Puerto Rico. In fiscal 2013, the command executed more than 43,000 contract actions worth more than $5.3 billion across the Army. The command has also managed more than 780,000 Government Purchase Card Program transactions this fiscal year valued at an additional $880 million. ■

Submitted by:Benito Gonzales, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeReprinted from www.army.mil

Fort Bliss Shares Acquisition Forecast with Area Businesses

Ms. Su Jones addresses the audience at the Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Bliss Acquisition Open

House May 15 at Fort Bliss, TX. Ms. Jones is the MICC-Fort Bliss small business specialist. Photo Credit: Ben Gonzales.

BG Jeffrey Gabbert makes opening remarks at the Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Bliss Acquisition Open House May 15 at Fort Bliss, TX. BG Gabbert is the MICC commanding general from Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam

Houston, Texas. Photo Credit: Ben Gonzales.


Hundreds of eager participants representing firms from all over the country flocked to

Huntington, West Virginia, for a small business conference on May 13, 2014. The conference took place at the Pullman Plaza Conference Center and featured a number of workshops, including: “Government Contracting 101”; “Insider Tips for Brilliant Technical Writing”; and “How to Market Your Small Businesses to Federal Agencies and Large Prime Contractors”.

COL Leon Parrott, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Huntington District Commander, opened the conference with an overview of the mission of USACE and the current projects being tackled by the Huntington District. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV3) was the keynote speaker at the conference luncheon and discussed the beneficial impact small businesses have on communities and economies.

Speakers from USACE included open panel discussions with representatives from the Dam Safety Center of Expertise, Geotechnical, Hydrology and Hydraulics, Contracting, Safety, and Operations and Maintenance offices.

Workshops offered additional information from the Small Business Administration, and a number of architecture, engineering and construction firms.

The event was coordinated by USACE Huntington District Small Business Deputy Debbie Czewski and sponsored by the Huntington chapter of SAME (Society of American Military Engineers).

More photos from the event are available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/huntingtoncorps/sets/72157644616755217/ ■

Submitted by:Ms. Jasmine Chopra-DegadilloPublic Affairs SpecialistU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District

Hundreds Participate in First-Ever Small Business Conference in Huntington, WV

Representatives from the Jackson Group and American Engineers, Inc., service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, network at the USACE Huntington District

Small Business Conference icebreaker event.

COL Leon F. Parrott, Huntington District Commander, U.S. Army Corps Engineers (USACE), and Mr. John R. Bock, Deputy District Engineer for Planning Program and

Project Management (USACE) at the conference icebreaker event.

Business representatives and USACE officials exchange information at the conference.

Page 10


On June 16, 2014 Mr. Kenyata L. Wesley was appointed to Senior Executive Service and assigned

to the position of Deputy Director, DoD OSBP.

His new responsibilities include reshaping the small business workforce; and improving the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), and Mentor Protégé Programs.

Mr. Wesley contributes his success to his mentors, that include but are not limited to, Lieutenant General Robert S. Ferrell, Army Chief Information Officer/G-6; Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army OSBP; Mr. Bryon J. Young, Executive Director, Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground; Mr. Gary Martin, CECOM, Deputy Commander; and Ms. Maria Esperraguera, CECOM Chief Counsel.

His initiatives and contributions to the Army are significant. Under his visionary

leadership, CECOM exceeded all small business goals. He led several Small Business Integrated Product Teams to develop CECOM initiatives that were implemented across Army Materiel Command (AMC). He played an active role in major source selections and contract negotiations in support of both CECOM and Team C4ISR. He led the first joint U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command and CECOM Advance Planning Briefing for Industry at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Army OSBP congratulates Mr. Wesley on his new appointment. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Karen D. Thomas, Small Business Specialists, CECOM Office of Small Business Program , Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Jacque Gee was selected as the Army’s Small Business Specialist of the Year by Ms. Tracey Pinson,

previous Director Army Office of Small Business Programs.

Ms. Gee serves as the Small Business Chief, Louisville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). She is a committed small business leader, and is an example for her peers. She serves under the leadership of COL Luke Leonard, Commander of the Louisville District. Her professionalism, technical expertise, and ability to engage the small business industry led to her recognition and designation as the Small Business Specialist of the Year. Her passion for leading a program of excellence is widely known throughout the Army, and it reflects great credit upon herself and the Army Small Business Program.

The award was accompanied by a handwritten note and commander’s coin from LTG Thomas Bostick, Commander, USACE. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Sharon Morrow, Associate Director (Acting), USACE OSBP

New Senior Executive, Deputy Director for Department of

Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP)

Jacque Gee wins Small Business

Specialist of the Year Award for

Fiscal Year 2013

Mr. Kenyata L. Wesley

Col. Luke Leonard, Commander, Louisville District presenting Ms. Jacque

Gee with her award on 15 July 2014.


On 15 May, the Mentor-Protégé team of Jacobs Engineering Group and TANTARA Corp., received the DoD OSBP Nunn Perry Award their

participation in the Army Mentor-Protégé Program between March 2010 and September 2013.

During this agreement, TANTARA received training in small arms firing ranges, regulatory framework and cleanup strategies, dredging, health & safety, unexploded ordinance (cleanup strategies, detection instruments and techniques), quality assurance, and project execution. Florida International University (FIU) provided the training and foundation for TANTARA staff to receive their Project Management Professional (PMP) Certifications. TANTARA experienced significant staff growth of 278 percent (from 9 to 25 people) and an increase of 435 percent in revenue (from $1.5 million to $6.6 million).

In addition, TANTARA received 26 new competitive awards with a value of $7.3 million, 31 new non-competitive awards with a value of $14.4 million. They were also proud to claim the majority of work won was based on their qualifications rather than just low price. TANTARA CEO Ms. Dawn Dearborn said, “We have been able to sell the qualifications of our staff and our firm in order to win work. I think this is the greatest success so far that could be attributed to the MP Agreement. The mentoring Jacobs has provided us facilitated our being able to present ourselves in this new format, and it has been a successful endeavor.” Congratulations to the Jacobs and TANTARA team for their success. For more information on TANTARA’s success,

please visit our website at www.sellingtoarmy.info and click on the link for success stories under the Mentor-Protégé Program.

Since our last update, we awarded several new Mentor-Protégé contracts. We would like to welcome our new team members and wish them success in their new agreement. Congratulations to Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors (LM MS2) (protégé Lewis Innovative Technologies, Inc.); L3 National Security Services (protégé Cyber Security Solutions, Inc.); Leidos (protégé One Stop Environmental) and Jacobs Engineering Group (protégé Badger Technical Services, LLC).

At submission of this article, we have the following agreements pending award:

• ASM Research, Inc. and Zolon Technologies, Inc..• FutureNet Group, Inc. and The Maasai Group, LLC• CALIBRE Systems and Yorktown Systems, Inc.• HP Enterprise Services, LLC and Unified Business

Technologies, Inc.

We look forward to the continued success of our mentor-protégé teams! ■

Submitted by:Ms. Pamela MonroeProgram ManagerArmy Subcontracting and Mentor-Protégé Programs

Army Mentor-Protégé Program Update

From left to right: Mr. Steve Hodges, Mentor-Protégé Program Manager for Federal Sector at Jacobs Engineering; Ms. Marina Sullivan, Support Contractor for Army OSBP; Ms. Pamela Monroe, Mentor-Protégé Program Manager for Army OSBP; Ms. Dawn Dearborn, CEO, TANTARA

Corp.; Mr. Bill Birkhofer, Senior Vice President, Jacobs Engineering Group; Mr. Christopher Pereira, Vice President, TANTARA Corp., and Mr. Bill Sawrey, Mentor-Protégé Project Manager for Jacobs Engineering Group.

Page 16


The Redstone Test Center Aviation Flight Test Directorate (AFTD) awarded an estimated

$75 million contract to Y-Tech Services, an 8(a) small business located in Anchorage, AK.The award demonstrates that small businesses possess the capabilities to meet the challenging requirements to support AFTD at Redstone Arsenal, AL.

The AFTD is located at Redstone Army Airfield. The primary mission of the AFTD is to plan, conduct, analyze and report on airworthiness qualification and developmental testing of Army aircraft, aviation systems, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and associated aviation support equipment. AFTD supports aviation maintenance services and limited depot support for assigned aircraft and aircraft under their operational control. The AFTD effort for this contract encompasses all maintenance, testing, modifications, and associated logistics support to aircraft on a daily basis with multiple aircraft types and models that include the AH-64D/E Apache, UH-60L/M Black Hawk, CH-47D/F Chinook, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, and UH-72A Lakota.

Historically, the AFTD requirement was included in the Fort Rucker Aviation Fleet Support contract until AFTD was moved from Fort Rucker, AL to Redstone Arsenal as a result of Base Realignment and Closure. In order to determine the best method for acquiring the needed AFTD services, market research was conducted including two sources sought announcements and publication in the AMCOM Competition Advocate’s Shopping List (CASL). The contracting officer of the Army Contracting Command-Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) received several responses from capable 8(a) small businesses. The analysis of the Market Research Report concluded that a competitive

8(a) contract was a viable acquisition method for AFTD. Based on this information, the contracting officer solicited the AFTD requirements as an 8(a) small business set-aside. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Mary BirdsongAssociate Director (Acting)AMCOM OSBP

Redstone Test Center Aviation Flight Test Directorate Awards Contract to 8(a) Small Business

AFTD maintenance employees test an Apache in their new home at the Redstone Test Center on Redstone Arsenal. AFTD formerly called Fort Rucker, Alabama home until a

recent Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).

In RTC’s Rotary Wing Center, an employee ensures the airworthiness of an Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook aircraft.


Contracting Officers can now set-aside acquisitions without dollar limitation under the

women-owned small business (WOSB) program. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) was amended June 2014, to remove the dollar limitation for set-asides to economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) concerns and to women-owned small business (WOSB) concerns.

The new law requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to regularly conduct studies to determine if additional North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes can be added to the WOSB program. A list of the current eligible NAICS codes is available on the SBA website at www.sba.gov/wosb.

In fiscal year 2013, the Department of Defense awarded $8.04 billion in contracts to WOSBs. The Army awarded $3.26 billion to WOSBs, and exceeded its 4.25 percent goal by achieving 5.13 percent.

The recent change in the law will assist federal agencies in achieving the purpose of the WOSB program, and should result in an increase of contract awards to WOSBs. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Darlene Brakefield, Program Manager, Women-Owned Small Business Program, Army Contacting Command

On a warm early morning on July 20, 2014 various Army commands in the National

Capital Region participated in the annual Army Birthday Run/Walk held at Summerall Field on Fort Myer, VA. A strong contingent of leaders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), led by Commander, LTG Thomas Bostick, ran the 3.1 miles.

Sharon Morrow, the acting Associate Director, USACE HQ Office of Small

Business Programs motivated the small business staff to participate in the event. The objective was to renew the foundation of our Army’s strength and the values of their profession while celebrating our Army’s 239th Birthday. ■

Submitted by:Karen Baker, Chief of Policy, HQ USACE OSBP

New Statutory Changes to


Federal Contracts Program

HQ USACE Small Business Personnel Participate in Army

239th Birthday Run

Ms. Karen L. Baker, Chief of Small Business Policy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Office of Small Business Programs; Ms. Sharon R. Morrow, Acting Associate Director, U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers, Office of Small Business Programs; SFC David Palacios, Enlisted Aide to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Command Sergeant Major; MG Todd T. Semonite,

Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Page 12


JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (June 6, 2014) -- The skill of juggling two jobs at once has proven quite successful for a contracting

officer at Fort Drum, NY, who recently earned Army recognition for his contracting efforts with America’s small businesses.

Mr. Anthony Sligar, Chief, Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Drum Construction and Supply Division, received the Fiscal Year 2013 Army OSBP Part-Time Small Business Specialist of the Year Award.

“I am honored that Fort Drum was recognized for its achievement in supporting the small business program,” said Mr. Sligar, a full-time contracting officer who performs small business specialist duties on a part-time basis.

He is quick to credit the award to the efforts by all MICC civilian and uniformed contracting personnel there.

“Fort Drum employees work hard to support the small business program. It’s a success due to a collaborative effort,” he said. “I am very proud of all the contract specialists and contracting officers for their achievements.”

The award recognizes Mr. Sligar’s excellence during fiscal 2013 in providing small business support as well as marketing and implementation of program strategies that allowed MICC-Fort Drum to exceed its socio-economic goals that year.

Under the guidance and recommendations of Mr. Sligar, MICC-Fort Drum more than doubled its woman-owned small business goal of 25 percent by achieving 56.9 percent. The office also exceeded its historically underutilized business zone goal of 25 percent with 28.5 percent despite the loss of construction projects due to budgetary cuts and the census redistricting that negatively impacted previous HUBZone-qualified firms in the upper New York area.

“His sage advice increased opportunities for small businesses, enhanced market research efforts, stimulated competition and enlarged the percentage of new vendors doing business with the MICC and Army,” said Ms. Lynette Ward, an assistant director for the MICC Office of Small Business Programs at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX. “This created a positive impact on our nation’s economy and strengthened ties with the northern New York community.”

Additionally, Mr. Sligar played an instrumental role in establishing numerous blanket purchase agreements for small and service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses covering organizational needs from boots and flooring to paint and electrical services.

“Anthony’s analytical skills and pervasive oversight of the small business program enabled the MICC-Fort Drum

office to exceed four of their five assigned goals in a year of sequestration, furloughs, budgetary reductions and uncertainties,” said Mr. Mark Massie, Associate Director, MICC Small Business Programs.

During fiscal 2013, Mr. Sligar helped guide the MICC-Fort Drum team to more than $63 million in annual obligations, including more than $44 million to small businesses. Among his recommendations were small business contract set-asides of $8 million for asphalt and concrete, $5.9 million for ground ambulance services and $2.5 million for dumpster services. Mr. Sligar’s small business advocacy and market research assistance also proved valuable in a $1.3 million requirement for propane delivery that was historically awarded to a large business but successfully set aside and competitively awarded to a small business.

Officials at the MICC Office of Small Business Programs said Fort Drum has some of the highest assigned small business goals in the command, with an overall 80-percent goal of total small business eligible dollars.

Accepting the award on behalf of Mr. Sligar was Ms. Nancy Small, Director, Army Materiel Command Office of Small Business Programs. Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army OSBP, presented the award. ■

Submitted by:Mr. Daniel P. Elkins, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeReprinted from www.army.mil

Contracting Officer Credits Team for Army Small Business Award

Mr. Anthony Sligar earned the Fiscal Year 2013 Army Part-Time Small Business Specialist Award for his efforts in supporting small businesses with Army contract opportunities. He is the chief of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command-

Fort Drum Construction and Supply Division. Photo Credit: Richard Smith.


JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (July 2, 2014) -- More than $505 million in contracts were awarded to small businesses

throughout the nation during the third quarter of this fiscal year by contracting officials with the Mission and Installation Contracting Command.

Through June 30, MICC contracting officers have awarded more than $1.1 billion in contracts for fiscal 2014 to small businesses representing 41.7 percent of total small business eligible dollars awarded by the command. In fiscal 2013, the command executed more than $2.1 billion to American small businesses. Historically, the number of contract awards increase in the fourth quarter as organizations supported by the MICC refine and finalize their mission sustainment requirements in the final quarter of the government fiscal year.

“The importance of the fourth quarter of the fiscal year cannot be overstated, not only to the command as it achieves its small-business goals, but also to the thousands of American small businesses that will find, compete for and win new Army contracts during that period,” said Mark Massie, associate director for the MICC Office of Small Business Programs at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

The MICC Office of Small Business Programs consists of personnel around the country who provide guidance to small businesses on the contracting process. In addition to providing advice to individual small businesses, the program also advocates within the command’s 33 contracting offices to ensure small businesses have the maximum opportunity to compete for Army contracts awarded by those activities.

MICC officials and small business specialists across the command conducted several acquisition forecast open house events at installations throughout the country in June. Massie said these outreach events were vital in helping communicate projected MICC contracting opportunities to the small-business community looking to do business with the Army.

Dollars awarded to small-business contractors help support the achievement of annual government-wide goals required by the Small Business Act. Small-business directors at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston monitor each small business category throughout the fiscal year to ensure contracts are awarded in each of the following small business categories:

• Small disadvantaged business• Service-disabled veteran-owned small business• Woman-owned small business• Historically underutilized business zone small business

The MICC is responsible for providing contracting support for the warfighter at Army commands, installations and activities located throughout the continental United States and Puerto Rico. In fiscal 2013, the command executed more

than 43,000 contract actions worth more than $5.3 billion across the Army. The command has also managed more than 780,000 Government Purchase Card Program transactions this fiscal year valued at an additional $880 million. ■

Submitted by:Mr. Daniel P. Elkins, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs Office Reprinted from www.army.mil

MICC Boosts Small Business by Half Billion in 3rd Quarter

Ms. Diane House speaks with Ms. Julie Ann Padilla during an acquisition forecast open house June 2 at Fort Irwin, California. Ms. House is the small business specialist for the Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Fort Irwin, and Ms. Padilla is the director for the procurement assistance center in Corona,

California. Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo.

Mr. Michael Faire speaks to small business representatives during an acquisition forecast open house June 23 at Fort

Rucker, Alabama. Mr. Faire is the small business specialist for the Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Fort Rucker.

Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo.


Sixty-six Army small business professionals from around the country participated in a three-day small business program training event May 20-

22 in Alexandria, VA. Army OSBP hosted the event utilizing Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Funds (DAWDF). The expectation for Small Business professionals was to Learn the material, go back to their organizations and Train others, and then implement and Lead accordingly. Topics included the Federal Acquisition Regulation rule-making process; Small Business Administration Surveillance Reviews; the Federal Procurement Data System; and increasing Small Business Participation in source selections, and much more.

Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army OSBP, kicked off the training with an update on the Army Small Business Program, including the latest contract spending data, with the Army exceeding all socioeconomic program statutory SB goals for FY2013.

Several other senior procurement officials addressed the workforce, including The Honorable André Gudger, DoD OSBP Director. He shared the new DoD OSBP vision, and discussed initiatives for reshaping the small business workforce.

The training format was interactive and engaging, with adequate time devoted to questions and answers. The first two days included breakout sessions, and each group was assigned a part of the Army OSBP strategic plan to analyze and revise. After the groups reconvened, the group’s leader briefed the proposed revisions.

The third and final day of the training included a luncheon and award ceremony (see table below for the awardees).


Learn, Train, Lead: Army OSBP Taps DAWDF to Train Small Business Specialists

FY2013 Army OSBP Award Winners

Small Business Program

Small Disadvantaged Business Program

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program

Women Owned Small Business Program

Historically Underutilized Business Zone Program

Small Business Specialist of the Year Award

Part-Time Small Business Specialist of the Year Award

Contracting Professional of the Year Award

Program Manager of the Year Award

U.S. Army Materiel Command


U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command


Ms. Jacque Gee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Mr. Anthony Sligar, U.S. Army Materiel Command

Mr. Leslie Lancaster, U.S. Army Materiel Command

Mr. Danny Featherston, U.S. Army Materiel Command

Army Small Business Professionals work together on revising the Army Small Business Strategic Plan during a three-day

professional training event May 20-22 in Alexandria, Va.

Mr. Rufus Gates, Small Business Specialist, Mission & Installation Contracting Command Ft. Gordon, and Ms. Lynette Ward, Deputy Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, Mission & Installation Contracting Command work together during the

training event.


JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (July 2, 2014) -- More than $505 million in contracts were awarded to small businesses

throughout the nation during the third quarter of this fiscal year by contracting officials with the Mission and Installation Contracting Command.

Through June 30, MICC contracting officers have awarded more than $1.1 billion in contracts for fiscal 2014 to small businesses representing 41.7 percent of total small business eligible dollars awarded by the command. In fiscal 2013, the command executed more than $2.1 billion to American small businesses. Historically, the number of contract awards increase in the fourth quarter as organizations supported by the MICC refine and finalize their mission sustainment requirements in the final quarter of the government fiscal year.

“The importance of the fourth quarter of the fiscal year cannot be overstated, not only to the command as it achieves its small-business goals, but also to the thousands of American small businesses that will find, compete for and win new Army contracts during that period,” said Mark Massie, associate director for the MICC Office of Small Business Programs at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

The MICC Office of Small Business Programs consists of personnel around the country who provide guidance to small businesses on the contracting process. In addition to providing advice to individual small businesses, the program also advocates within the command’s 33 contracting offices to ensure small businesses have the maximum opportunity to compete for Army contracts awarded by those activities.

MICC officials and small business specialists across the command conducted several acquisition forecast open house events at installations throughout the country in June. Massie said these outreach events were vital in helping communicate projected MICC contracting opportunities to the small-business community looking to do business with the Army.

Dollars awarded to small-business contractors help support the achievement of annual government-wide goals required by the Small Business Act. Small-business directors at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston monitor each small business category throughout the fiscal year to ensure contracts are awarded in each of the following small business categories:

• Small disadvantaged business• Service-disabled veteran-owned small business• Woman-owned small business• Historically underutilized business zone small business

The MICC is responsible for providing contracting support for the warfighter at Army commands, installations and activities located throughout the continental United States and Puerto Rico. In fiscal 2013, the command executed more

than 43,000 contract actions worth more than $5.3 billion across the Army. The command has also managed more than 780,000 Government Purchase Card Program transactions this fiscal year valued at an additional $880 million. ■

Submitted by:Mr. Daniel P. Elkins, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs Office Reprinted from www.army.mil

MICC Boosts Small Business by Half Billion in 3rd Quarter

Ms. Diane House speaks with Ms. Julie Ann Padilla during an acquisition forecast open house June 2 at Fort Irwin, California. Ms. House is the small business specialist for the Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Fort Irwin, and Ms. Padilla is the director for the procurement assistance center in Corona,

California. Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo.

Mr. Michael Faire speaks to small business representatives during an acquisition forecast open house June 23 at Fort

Rucker, Alabama. Mr. Faire is the small business specialist for the Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Fort Rucker.

Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo.

Page 14


Sixty-six Army small business professionals from around the country participated in a three-day small business program training event May 20-

22 in Alexandria, VA. Army OSBP hosted the event utilizing Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Funds (DAWDF). The expectation for Small Business professionals was to Learn the material, go back to their organizations and Train others, and then implement and Lead accordingly. Topics included the Federal Acquisition Regulation rule-making process; Small Business Administration Surveillance Reviews; the Federal Procurement Data System; and increasing Small Business Participation in source selections, and much more.

Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army OSBP, kicked off the training with an update on the Army Small Business Program, including the latest contract spending data, with the Army exceeding all socioeconomic program statutory SB goals for FY2013.

Several other senior procurement officials addressed the workforce, including The Honorable André Gudger, DoD OSBP Director. He shared the new DoD OSBP vision, and discussed initiatives for reshaping the small business workforce.

The training format was interactive and engaging, with adequate time devoted to questions and answers. The first two days included breakout sessions, and each group was assigned a part of the Army OSBP strategic plan to analyze and revise. After the groups reconvened, the group’s leader briefed the proposed revisions.

The third and final day of the training included a luncheon and award ceremony (see table below for the awardees).


Learn, Train, Lead: Army OSBP Taps DAWDF to Train Small Business Specialists

FY2013 Army OSBP Award Winners

Small Business Program

Small Disadvantaged Business Program

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program

Women Owned Small Business Program

Historically Underutilized Business Zone Program

Small Business Specialist of the Year Award

Part-Time Small Business Specialist of the Year Award

Contracting Professional of the Year Award

Program Manager of the Year Award




U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command


Ms. Jacque Gee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Mr. Anthony Sligar, U.S. Army Materiel Command

Mr. Leslie Lancaster, U.S. Army Materiel Command

Mr. Danny Featherston, U.S. Army Materiel Command

Army Small Business Professionals work together on revising the Army Small Business Strategic Plan during a three-day

professional training event May 20-22 in Alexandria, Va.

Mr. Rufus Gates, Small Business Specialist, Mission & Installation Contracting Command Ft. Gordon, and Ms. Lynette Ward, Deputy Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, Mission & Installation Contracting Command work together during the

training event.


Contracting Officers can now set-aside acquisitions without dollar limitation under the

women-owned small business (WOSB) program. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) was amended June 2014, to remove the dollar limitation for set-asides to economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) concerns and to women-owned small business (WOSB) concerns.

The new law requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to regularly conduct studies to determine if additional North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes can be added to the WOSB program. A list of the current eligible NAICS codes is available on the SBA website at www.sba.gov/wosb.

In fiscal year 2013, the Department of Defense awarded $8.04 billion in contracts to WOSBs. The Army awarded $3.26 billion to WOSBs, and exceeded its 4.25 percent goal by achieving 5.13 percent.

The recent change in the law will assist federal agencies in achieving the purpose of the WOSB program, and should result in an increase of contract awards to WOSBs. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Darlene Brakefield, Program Manager, Women-Owned Small Business Program, Army Contacting Command

On a warm early morning on July 20, 2014 various Army commands in the National

Capital Region participated in the annual Army Birthday Run/Walk held at Summerall Field on Fort Myer, VA. A strong contingent of leaders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), led by Commander, LTG Thomas Bostick, ran the 3.1 miles.

Sharon Morrow, the acting Associate Director, USACE HQ Office of Small

Business Programs motivated the small business staff to participate in the event. The objective was to renew the foundation of our Army’s strength and the values of their profession while celebrating our Army’s 239th Birthday. ■

Submitted by:Karen Baker, Chief of Policy, HQ USACE OSBP

New Statutory Changes to


Federal Contracts Program

HQ USACE Small Business Personnel Participate in Army

239th Birthday Run

Ms. Karen L. Baker, Chief of Small Business Policy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Office of Small Business Programs; Ms. Sharon R. Morrow, Acting Associate Director, U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers, Office of Small Business Programs; SFC David Palacios, Enlisted Aide to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Command Sergeant Major; MG Todd T. Semonite,

Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Page 12


JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (June 6, 2014) -- The skill of juggling two jobs at once has proven quite successful for a contracting

officer at Fort Drum, NY, who recently earned Army recognition for his contracting efforts with America’s small businesses.

Mr. Anthony Sligar, Chief, Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Drum Construction and Supply Division, received the Fiscal Year 2013 Army OSBP Part-Time Small Business Specialist of the Year Award.

“I am honored that Fort Drum was recognized for its achievement in supporting the small business program,” said Mr. Sligar, a full-time contracting officer who performs small business specialist duties on a part-time basis.

He is quick to credit the award to the efforts by all MICC civilian and uniformed contracting personnel there.

“Fort Drum employees work hard to support the small business program. It’s a success due to a collaborative effort,” he said. “I am very proud of all the contract specialists and contracting officers for their achievements.”

The award recognizes Mr. Sligar’s excellence during fiscal 2013 in providing small business support as well as marketing and implementation of program strategies that allowed MICC-Fort Drum to exceed its socio-economic goals that year.

Under the guidance and recommendations of Mr. Sligar, MICC-Fort Drum more than doubled its woman-owned small business goal of 25 percent by achieving 56.9 percent. The office also exceeded its historically underutilized business zone goal of 25 percent with 28.5 percent despite the loss of construction projects due to budgetary cuts and the census redistricting that negatively impacted previous HUBZone-qualified firms in the upper New York area.

“His sage advice increased opportunities for small businesses, enhanced market research efforts, stimulated competition and enlarged the percentage of new vendors doing business with the MICC and Army,” said Ms. Lynette Ward, an assistant director for the MICC Office of Small Business Programs at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX. “This created a positive impact on our nation’s economy and strengthened ties with the northern New York community.”

Additionally, Mr. Sligar played an instrumental role in establishing numerous blanket purchase agreements for small and service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses covering organizational needs from boots and flooring to paint and electrical services.

“Anthony’s analytical skills and pervasive oversight of the small business program enabled the MICC-Fort Drum

office to exceed four of their five assigned goals in a year of sequestration, furloughs, budgetary reductions and uncertainties,” said Mr. Mark Massie, Associate Director, MICC Small Business Programs.

During fiscal 2013, Mr. Sligar helped guide the MICC-Fort Drum team to more than $63 million in annual obligations, including more than $44 million to small businesses. Among his recommendations were small business contract set-asides of $8 million for asphalt and concrete, $5.9 million for ground ambulance services and $2.5 million for dumpster services. Mr. Sligar’s small business advocacy and market research assistance also proved valuable in a $1.3 million requirement for propane delivery that was historically awarded to a large business but successfully set aside and competitively awarded to a small business.

Officials at the MICC Office of Small Business Programs said Fort Drum has some of the highest assigned small business goals in the command, with an overall 80-percent goal of total small business eligible dollars.

Accepting the award on behalf of Mr. Sligar was Ms. Nancy Small, Director, Army Materiel Command Office of Small Business Programs. Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army OSBP, presented the award. ■

Submitted by:Mr. Daniel P. Elkins, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeReprinted from www.army.mil

Contracting Officer Credits Team for Army Small Business Award

Mr. Anthony Sligar earned the Fiscal Year 2013 Army Part-Time Small Business Specialist Award for his efforts in supporting small businesses with Army contract opportunities. He is the chief of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command-

Fort Drum Construction and Supply Division. Photo Credit: Richard Smith.


On 15 May, the Mentor-Protégé team of Jacobs Engineering Group and TANTARA Corp., received the DoD OSBP Nunn Perry Award their

participation in the Army Mentor-Protégé Program between March 2010 and September 2013.

During this agreement, TANTARA received training in small arms firing ranges, regulatory framework and cleanup strategies, dredging, health & safety, unexploded ordinance (cleanup strategies, detection instruments and techniques), quality assurance, and project execution. Florida International University (FIU) provided the training and foundation for TANTARA staff to receive their Project Management Professional (PMP) Certifications. TANTARA experienced significant staff growth of 278 percent (from 9 to 25 people) and an increase of 435 percent in revenue (from $1.5 million to $6.6 million).

In addition, TANTARA received 26 new competitive awards with a value of $7.3 million, 31 new non-competitive awards with a value of $14.4 million. They were also proud to claim the majority of work won was based on their qualifications rather than just low price. TANTARA CEO Ms. Dawn Dearborn said, “We have been able to sell the qualifications of our staff and our firm in order to win work. I think this is the greatest success so far that could be attributed to the MP Agreement. The mentoring Jacobs has provided us facilitated our being able to present ourselves in this new format, and it has been a successful endeavor.” Congratulations to the Jacobs and TANTARA team for their success. For more information on TANTARA’s success,

please visit our website at www.sellingtoarmy.info and click on the link for success stories under the Mentor-Protégé Program.

Since our last update, we awarded several new Mentor-Protégé contracts. We would like to welcome our new team members and wish them success in their new agreement. Congratulations to Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors (LM MS2) (protégé Lewis Innovative Technologies, Inc.); L3 National Security Services (protégé Cyber Security Solutions, Inc.); Leidos (protégé One Stop Environmental) and Jacobs Engineering Group (protégé Badger Technical Services, LLC).

At submission of this article, we have the following agreements pending award:

• ASM Research, Inc. and Zolon Technologies, Inc..• FutureNet Group, Inc. and The Maasai Group, LLC• CALIBRE Systems and Yorktown Systems, Inc.• HP Enterprise Services, LLC and Unified Business

Technologies, Inc.

We look forward to the continued success of our mentor-protégé teams! ■

Submitted by:Ms. Pamela MonroeProgram ManagerArmy Subcontracting and Mentor-Protégé Programs

Army Mentor-Protégé Program Update

From left to right: Mr. Steve Hodges, Mentor-Protégé Program Manager for Federal Sector at Jacobs Engineering; Ms. Marina Sullivan, Support Contractor for Army OSBP; Ms. Pamela Monroe, Mentor-Protégé Program Manager for Army OSBP; Ms. Dawn Dearborn, CEO, TANTARA

Corp.; Mr. Bill Birkhofer, Senior Vice President, Jacobs Engineering Group; Mr. Christopher Pereira, Vice President, TANTARA Corp., and Mr. Bill Sawrey, Mentor-Protégé Project Manager for Jacobs Engineering Group.

Page 16


The Redstone Test Center Aviation Flight Test Directorate (AFTD) awarded an estimated

$75 million contract to Y-Tech Services, an 8(a) small business located in Anchorage, AK.The award demonstrates that small businesses possess the capabilities to meet the challenging requirements to support AFTD at Redstone Arsenal, AL.

The AFTD is located at Redstone Army Airfield. The primary mission of the AFTD is to plan, conduct, analyze and report on airworthiness qualification and developmental testing of Army aircraft, aviation systems, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and associated aviation support equipment. AFTD supports aviation maintenance services and limited depot support for assigned aircraft and aircraft under their operational control. The AFTD effort for this contract encompasses all maintenance, testing, modifications, and associated logistics support to aircraft on a daily basis with multiple aircraft types and models that include the AH-64D/E Apache, UH-60L/M Black Hawk, CH-47D/F Chinook, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, and UH-72A Lakota.

Historically, the AFTD requirement was included in the Fort Rucker Aviation Fleet Support contract until AFTD was moved from Fort Rucker, AL to Redstone Arsenal as a result of Base Realignment and Closure. In order to determine the best method for acquiring the needed AFTD services, market research was conducted including two sources sought announcements and publication in the AMCOM Competition Advocate’s Shopping List (CASL). The contracting officer of the Army Contracting Command-Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) received several responses from capable 8(a) small businesses. The analysis of the Market Research Report concluded that a competitive

8(a) contract was a viable acquisition method for AFTD. Based on this information, the contracting officer solicited the AFTD requirements as an 8(a) small business set-aside. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Mary BirdsongAssociate Director (Acting)AMCOM OSBP

Redstone Test Center Aviation Flight Test Directorate Awards Contract to 8(a) Small Business

AFTD maintenance employees test an Apache in their new home at the Redstone Test Center on Redstone Arsenal. AFTD formerly called Fort Rucker, Alabama home until a

recent Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).

In RTC’s Rotary Wing Center, an employee ensures the airworthiness of an Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook aircraft.


Hundreds of eager participants representing firms from all over the country flocked to

Huntington, West Virginia, for a small business conference on May 13, 2014. The conference took place at the Pullman Plaza Conference Center and featured a number of workshops, including: “Government Contracting 101”; “Insider Tips for Brilliant Technical Writing”; and “How to Market Your Small Businesses to Federal Agencies and Large Prime Contractors”.

COL Leon Parrott, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Huntington District Commander, opened the conference with an overview of the mission of USACE and the current projects being tackled by the Huntington District. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV3) was the keynote speaker at the conference luncheon and discussed the beneficial impact small businesses have on communities and economies.

Speakers from USACE included open panel discussions with representatives from the Dam Safety Center of Expertise, Geotechnical, Hydrology and Hydraulics, Contracting, Safety, and Operations and Maintenance offices.

Workshops offered additional information from the Small Business Administration, and a number of architecture, engineering and construction firms.

The event was coordinated by USACE Huntington District Small Business Deputy Debbie Czewski and sponsored by the Huntington chapter of SAME (Society of American Military Engineers).

More photos from the event are available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/huntingtoncorps/sets/72157644616755217/ ■

Submitted by:Ms. Jasmine Chopra-DegadilloPublic Affairs SpecialistU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District

Hundreds Participate in First-Ever Small Business Conference in Huntington, WV

Representatives from the Jackson Group and American Engineers, Inc., service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, network at the USACE Huntington District

Small Business Conference icebreaker event.

COL Leon F. Parrott, Huntington District Commander, U.S. Army Corps Engineers (USACE), and Mr. John R. Bock, Deputy District Engineer for Planning Program and

Project Management (USACE) at the conference icebreaker event.

Business representatives and USACE officials exchange information at the conference.

Page 10


On June 16, 2014 Mr. Kenyata L. Wesley was appointed to Senior Executive Service and assigned

to the position of Deputy Director, DoD OSBP.

His new responsibilities include reshaping the small business workforce; and improving the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), and Mentor Protégé Programs.

Mr. Wesley contributes his success to his mentors, that include but are not limited to, Lieutenant General Robert S. Ferrell, Army Chief Information Officer/G-6; Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army OSBP; Mr. Bryon J. Young, Executive Director, Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground; Mr. Gary Martin, CECOM, Deputy Commander; and Ms. Maria Esperraguera, CECOM Chief Counsel.

His initiatives and contributions to the Army are significant. Under his visionary

leadership, CECOM exceeded all small business goals. He led several Small Business Integrated Product Teams to develop CECOM initiatives that were implemented across Army Materiel Command (AMC). He played an active role in major source selections and contract negotiations in support of both CECOM and Team C4ISR. He led the first joint U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command and CECOM Advance Planning Briefing for Industry at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Army OSBP congratulates Mr. Wesley on his new appointment. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Karen D. Thomas, Small Business Specialists, CECOM Office of Small Business Program , Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Jacque Gee was selected as the Army’s Small Business Specialist of the Year by Ms. Tracey Pinson,

previous Director Army Office of Small Business Programs.

Ms. Gee serves as the Small Business Chief, Louisville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). She is a committed small business leader, and is an example for her peers. She serves under the leadership of COL Luke Leonard, Commander of the Louisville District. Her professionalism, technical expertise, and ability to engage the small business industry led to her recognition and designation as the Small Business Specialist of the Year. Her passion for leading a program of excellence is widely known throughout the Army, and it reflects great credit upon herself and the Army Small Business Program.

The award was accompanied by a handwritten note and commander’s coin from LTG Thomas Bostick, Commander, USACE. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Sharon Morrow, Associate Director (Acting), USACE OSBP

New Senior Executive, Deputy Director for Department of

Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP)

Jacque Gee wins Small Business

Specialist of the Year Award for

Fiscal Year 2013

Mr. Kenyata L. Wesley

Col. Luke Leonard, Commander, Louisville District presenting Ms. Jacque

Gee with her award on 15 July 2014.


The Small Business Administration announced that for the first time in eight years the federal government met its 23 percent statutory goal for small business contracting in

fiscal year 2013. The Army played a major role in this success, spending more dollars with small businesses than any other federal agency.

The $17.47 billion the Army spent with small businesses in fiscal year 2013 accounts for over a fifth of all federal small business spending that year. This was also more than 27 percent of total Army contract spending, significantly higher than the Army’s Department of Defense-assigned goal of 26.5 percent, and the highest Army small business spending percentage on record.

Furthermore, the Army exceeded the statutory goals for all small business socioeconomic programs (see table below for details). Most notably, the Army awarded 5.12 percent of contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses (WOSBs), marking the first time that the Army has exceeded the 5 percent goal for the WOSB program.

“The Army consistently leads the federal government in total contract dollars awarded to small businesses, because we consistently engage and build relationships with small firms,” said Ms. Jackie Robinson-Burnette, Deputy Director, U.S. Army Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). “Army Commanders know that a critical component of our industrial base is formed by our small business partners, whose contributions drive innovation in the production of goods and services that support our warfighters. We award contracts to the nation’s small firms, not only because it’s the law, but more importantly, because capable small businesses increase the competitive nature of our contract solicitations, resulting in better value, cost, and contract performance.”

The Army Small Business Program is supported by more than 230 Army small business advocates nationwide, who work to ensure small businesses receive full consideration for Army contracts. In addition to working closely with contracting officers, these advocates plan numerous industry outreach events. At the start of fiscal year 2013, for example, OSBP organized the Army Small Business Conference in Washington, DC, which attracted over 450 attendees from small businesses, prime contractors, and the federal government. The conference’s educational and networking sessions paid dividends throughout the year as small businesses leveraged what they learned to more effectively pursue contracts. Looking to repeat the success of this event, OSBP organized the Army Small Business Forum at the Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting at the start of fiscal year 2014. At this event, the highest levels of Army leadership, including former Under Secretary Joseph W. Westphal, spoke to, and met face-to-face with, hundreds of small business owners.

The hard work so far in fiscal year 2014 seems to be paying off as the Army is ahead of where it was this time last year in small business utilization. To date this fiscal year, the Army has awarded $10.60 billion in contracts to small businesses, compared to $10.50 billion at the same point in fiscal year 2013.

The Army is committed to continuing its strong support of small businesses. If you are a small business seeking assistance in navigating the Army contracting process, please contact an Army Small Business Specialist near you by using this online directory: http://sellingtoarmy.com/army-small-business-specialists.

For more information on the Army Small Business Program, visit www.sellingtoarmy.com and follow the Program on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ArmySmallBiz) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/ArmySmallBiz). ■

Burt Stanko contributed to this story.


Army Drives Federal Small Business Goal Achievement

Former Under Secretary of the Army, The Honorable Joseph W. Westphal talks with dozens of small business owners and representatives to hear their success stories on working with the Army as well as the challenges they face, during the Army Small Business Forum at the 2013 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., October 21

(Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Bernardo Fuller).

Small Business Socioeconomic ProgramSmall Disadvantaged Business


Historically Underutilized Business Zone Small Business

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business

FY2013 Army Achievement12.60 %

5.12 %

3.16 %

3.92 %

Statutory Goal5.00 %

5.00 %

3.00 %

3.00 %

FY2013 Army Small Business Socioeconomic Program Performance (Source: FPDS-NG)

Page 18


Small business representatives from throughout the greater El Paso, TX, region had a chance to learn about contracting opportunities during a Mission and Installation

Contracting Command Acquisition Open House May 15 at Fort Bliss, TX.

More than 150 business representatives from throughout the region participated in the open house where every major Fort Bliss organization briefed their upcoming acquisition needs.

Hosted by BG Jeffrey Gabbert, MICC commanding general, the Fort Bliss open house was one of 30 events the command is conducting in support of American small businesses throughout the United States.

“The MICC strives to ensure fairness, equality and transparency in the acquisition process as our reliance on mission partners in industry and small business grows. That includes support to socioeconomic programs that are targeted to small-business entities such as veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses,” BG Gabbert said. “By sharing the Army’s acquisition needs, we assist our customers in acquiring what they need while informing American businesses of every upcoming requirement available.”

The MICC-Fort Bliss staff, led by LTC Joel Greer, presented all known, upcoming contracting requirements for Fort Bliss. Maj. Gen. Sean MacFarland, the 1st Armored Division commanding general, endorsed the event and encouraged every Fort Bliss unit to also participate in the open house.

Units that participated in the open house were the 1st AD, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Joint Task Force North, U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, logistics readiness center, department of public works, network enterprise center, Joint Task Force-North, garrison command, and directorate of mobilization and deployment.

“What made our open house a big success was to have support from every major organization on Fort Bliss,” LTC Greer said. “By giving El Paso businesses a look into all known contracts the MICC-Fort Bliss staff is working, we are being completely transparent as we continue to acquire the best possible equipment and services for America’s Soldiers.”

Industry benefits from events like this open house because it allows them to plan and strategize for requirements for which they would like to compete, said Mr. Mark Massie, the MICC director of Small Business Programs. “They hear firsthand from supported activities and contracting officers those requirements intended for procurement. Small businesses can market themselves as prime contractors, subcontractors or look for teaming arrangements depending on the complexity of requirements.”

Fort Bliss is the second largest installation in the Army with 30,000 Soldiers and their families assigned to the post. In fiscal 2013, the MICC-Fort Bliss obligated more than $150 million on more than 2,000 contracting actions for the installation.

MICC contracting officials awarded more than $366 million in contracts to small businesses throughout the nation during the second quarter of this fiscal year. Through the first two quarters of fiscal 2014, contracting officers awarded more than $592 million in contracts to small businesses. In fiscal 2013, the command executed contracts valued at more than $2.1 billion to American small businesses.

The MICC is responsible for providing contracting support for the warfighter at Army commands, installations and activities located throughout the continental United States and Puerto Rico. In fiscal 2013, the command executed more than 43,000 contract actions worth more than $5.3 billion across the Army. The command has also managed more than 780,000 Government Purchase Card Program transactions this fiscal year valued at an additional $880 million. ■

Submitted by:Benito Gonzales, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeReprinted from www.army.mil

Fort Bliss Shares Acquisition Forecast with Area Businesses

Ms. Su Jones addresses the audience at the Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Bliss Acquisition Open

House May 15 at Fort Bliss, TX. Ms. Jones is the MICC-Fort Bliss small business specialist. Photo Credit: Ben Gonzales.

BG Jeffrey Gabbert makes opening remarks at the Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Bliss Acquisition Open House May 15 at Fort Bliss, TX. BG Gabbert is the MICC commanding general from Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam

Houston, Texas. Photo Credit: Ben Gonzales.


The 2014 Midwest Small Business Government Contracting Symposium, “Small Business, Big Success” was held at the iWireless Center in

Moline, Illinois, May 7-8. The event was sponsored by the local Iowa/Illinois Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. Approximately 600 attendees and 82 exhibitors participated in the event.

Mr. John Nerger, Executive Deputy to the Commanding General, Army Materiel Command (AMC), provided the keynote address. Ms. Nancy Small, Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, AMC, also attended the event and visited each booth.

Mr. Nerger discussed the importance of the industrial base that can adapt and transform itself to meet the shifting needs of the government. He said, “The United States Army can recruit the best force, but we are depending on [industry] to help sustain and maintain the best force. There remain great opportunities and a need for your services as we move forward.”

A highlight for the Small Business Program was the presentation of the Iowa and Illinois Small Business of the Year awards. The Illinois award went to Mr. Larry Van Daele, President of KD Industries of Illinois. KD Industries is a certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business manufacturing business located in Kewanee, IL.

The Iowa award went to Ms. Mary Connel, President of Air Control Inc. (ACI). ACI, a woman-owned small business from Clinton, IA, is a full-service HVAC contractor and a custom metal fabrication shop. Ms. Connel was also the Small Business Administration’s “Small Business Person of the Year” for the State of Iowa.

Other notable events included the Advance Planning Briefing for Industry for Team Rock Island; One-on-one sessions for vendors to present their capabilities to prime contractors and the government, during which ASC/JMC OSBP talked to about 50 companiess; and a Wednesday evening networking reception featuring the IA/IL Chapter NDIA Scholarship awards.

Next years’ event is scheduled for June 3rd and 4th, 2015. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Dianne WheelerSmall Business SpecialistArmy Sustainment Command

AMC OSBP Personnel Attend Midwest Small Business Government Contracting Symposium

Mr. John Nerger, Executive Deputy to the Commanding General, Army Materiel Command, keynote speaker at Midwest

Small Business Conference.

Ms. Nancy Small, Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, Army Material Command, and Mr. Robert Matthys,

Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, US Army Sustainment Command at the Midwest Small Business Conference.


Page 8

On May 5th, the Secretary of the Army sponsored the annual awards ceremony,

which recognized Army civilians and military personnel for their outstanding contributions towards the Army’s mission. Awards were presented in various categories to include the Small Business Utilization Award that highlighted an individual who had shown significant achievements and support of the Army Small Business Program in FY13. This year’s recipient of the small business award was MG Darrell K. Williams (pictured), who was then Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command.

During the ceremony, MG Williams was commended for his exceptional leadership and sustained commitment to the small business program. He initiated a quarterly command-wide video teleconference that addressed current small business goal achievements, identified future challenges, and explored solutions to overcome those challenges. As a result of his team approach, AMC awarded over $8.1B to small business firms, which accounted for more than 48% of all dollars awarded to small business firms by the Department of the Army, in FY13. It is also noteworthy to include that AMC exceeded assigned goals for contract dollars awarded to small disadvantaged businesses ($3.5B), service-disabled-veteran-owned small businesses ($1.2B), and women-owned small businesses ($1.4B).

Congratulations to MG Williams on receiving this award and furthering the progression of the Army’s mission. At the time of this writing, he is the Commanding General for the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, Kuwait.

Pictured is Ms. Nancy Small, AMC’s Director, Office of Small Business Programs accepting the award from the Under Secretary of the Army, The Honorable Brad R. Carson, on behalf of MG Williams. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Cynthia Lee Program ManagerArmy HBCU/MI and 8(a)/SDB Programs

MG Darrell K. Williams, Army Materiel Command, Huntsville, AL Receives Secretary of the Army Award for Small Business Utilization

MG Darrell Williams.

Mr. Brad R. Carson, Under Secretary of the Army, presents Ms. Nancy Small, Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, Army Materiel Command, with the Small Business Utilization Award for MG Darrell K.

Williams at the 2014 Secretary of the Awards ceremony at the Pentagon

May 5.

Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army OSBP; Ms. Nancy Small; and Ms. Cynthia Lee, Program Manager, Army 8(a) and Small Disadvantaged Business Programs.


On June 10, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) bid farewell to Ms. Jackie

Robinson-Burnette, Associate Director, USACE Small Business Programs. The ceremony was hosted by MG Todd Semonite, USACE Deputy Commander. Ms. Robinson-Burnette was assigned to USACE in 2010, and led a network of over 60 Small Business Specialists serving across the country (to include Alaska and Hawaii). She led USACE to set new records and to exceed small business goals for four consecutive fiscal

years. In addition, USACE won several Army and industry awards under her tenure, to include Army Small Business Specialist of the Year awards for 2010 through 2013.

Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army Office of Small Business Programs, thanked Ms. Robinson-Burnette for her leadership and significant achievements, and presented MG Semonite with two Secretary of the Army OSBP-level awards for FY2013 small business program excellence.

Ms. Robinson-Burnette moves on to continue her service to the Army as Deputy Director, U.S. Army Office of Small Business Programs. She is married to LTC (Ret.) Victor Burnette (U. S. Army). They have three beautiful daughters (Alexis, Brooke, and Victoria) and one granddaughter (Naiomi). ■

Submitted by:Army OSBP

USACE Bids Farewell to Ms. Jackie Robinson-Burnette

Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army OSBP, with Jackie, and Jackie’s daughters Alexis and Brooke.

MG Todd Semonite, Deputy Command, USACE and Jackie. Ms. Sharon Morrow, Deputy Associate Director, USACE Small Business Program and Jackie.

Page 20


After months of planning and coordination, the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command

(LCMC) OSBP held the 2014 TACOM LCMC Small Business Fair June 11 at the Macomb Community College’s John Lewis Center in Warren, MI.

Approximately 180 representatives from small and large businesses; the Small Business Administration; Procurement Technical Assistance Offices; Army Contracting Command-Warren; Defense Contract Audit

Agency; Tank Automotive Research Development & Engineering Center; Defense Contract Management Agency; Competition Management Office; PEO Ground Combat Support; and PEO Combat Support & Combat Systems Support participated in the event.

While the majority of the fair attendees were from Michigan, the fair attracted small businesses from as far as California, Texas, Florida and Alabama. Prime contractors

with representatives at the fair were: Avon Protection Systems, Battelle, Booz Allen Hamilton, DCS, DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc., General Dynamics Land Systems, HDT Expeditionary Systems, J&J BMAR, Lockheed Martin, Oshkosh, and SAIC.

Submitted by:Ms. Silvia OwensSmall Business SpecialistArmy TACOM LCMC OSBP

OSBP Hosts TACOM LCMC Small Business Fair

Mr. Paul Edwards from Chenega Manufacturing Services, LLC speaks with Jeanne Schabath and Adam Trevino from General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS).

Mr. Leo Simsic from the TACOM LCMC Competition Management Office conducts a breakout session on Competition Enhancement Programs at TACOM LCMC—Future

Buys, Source Approval Program & Replenishment Parts Purchase Program.

Mr. Kenneth Bousquet, Acting Executive Director, Army Contracting Command-Warren also addressed the audience and provided some statistics

of what small businesses have provided to TACOM LCMC in the past.

Mr. Michael Viggato, Deputy to the Commander, TACOM LCMC, addressed

the attendees thanking them for providing the Army with the goods

and services needed to carry out our mission--to support the Soldier.


HON Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army, Installations, Energy and

Environment, spoke during the Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE) National Conference, held March 30 - April 1 at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC. She spoke about the Army’s role in military construction and how she has worked hard to increase the Army’s focus on sustainability and the environment. She also provided insight on where future business opportunities exist.

Her presentation reiterated the Army’s commitment to small business. The Army awarded 5.13 percent to women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2013.

The conference, called “Women Build America,” featured engaging panel discussions and networking activities for firms to create or renew partnerships, enhance business

development, and increase the use of various socioeconomic categories in federal procurement. The conference included a wide variety of speakers from private industry, the Small Business Administration, and other federal procurement agencies, including the Army.

Ms. Sharon Morrow, Acting Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), spoke during the breakfast plenary session entitled, “When Women Succeed, America Succeeds.” Her presentation provided an overview of the mission, history, and customers of USACE, and explained how to market to the agency. ■

Submitted by:Ms. Sharon MorrowAssociate Director (Acting)USACE OSBP

Army Participates in Women-Owned Small Business Conference

Officials from the Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) conducted an acquisition

forecast open house for small businesses June 18 at Fort Benning, GA.

Officials said the event received outstanding participation from 81 contractors representing more than 40 different companies. Contractors heard from a variety of presenters including several requiring activities, representatives from the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center and MICC-Fort Benning personnel.

Ms. Brenda Clark, Deputy Director, MICC-Fort Benning, led the open house with assistance from Mr. Steve Magner, the small business specialist for the contracting office.

Officials distributed a one-page summary of all requirements presented during the event to each participant along with a survey for feedback.

“Feedback from the event was very positive with most indicating interest in returning in December for our second open house event,” Ms. Clark said. “Some suggestions were to provide five-year acquisition plans for recurring requirements, breakout sessions to allow the small businesses to network with any large businesses present and contracting

personnel, and a block of instruction with basic information for contractors new to the industry -- all of which will be incorporated into our next event.” ■

Submitted by:Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeReprinted from www.army.mil

Fort Benning Forecast Open House Proves Success

The Honorable Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army,

Installation, Energy and Environment, presents to the Women Construction

Owners and Executives during the Lunch Plenary session on March

31, 2014 at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC.

More than 80 contractors had the opportunity to network during the acquisition forecast open house June 18 at Fort Benning, GA. Photo Credit: Emily Patterson.


Page 6

ways in which the new concept may allow improvements for small businesses. First, our AMC headquarters Office of Small Business Programs remains in place. Its Director, Ms. Nancy Small, is now the sole Associate Director for AMC, and, in that capacity, she has strengthened oversight of small business program functions throughout AMC. This should ensure that the goals and priorities we set are adopted and executed properly by all levels of the command. Second, as we make contracting procedures more standardized throughout the command, small businesses should find it easier to determine the necessary procedural requirements associated with contracting with AMC and, as a result, be able to apply greater focus to their efforts to generate competitive offers that can result in contract awards.

In the shadow of sequestration, what is the status of AMC’s Small Business Program?

Clearly, sequestration presents significant challenges to the Department of Defense, our Army, and the Army Materiel Command. However, Small Business has been with us, through more than a decade of war, providing critical capabilities to meet wartime requirements, and we remain committed to Small Business. Even with sequestration, we have seized the opportunity to enhance our business relationships. As we draw down in Afghanistan amidst the challenges of decreased resources, we still have an important mission and commitment to meet the needs of the Joint Warfighter. That’s where small business can play a large role. These transitions require us to be flexible, creative, and innovative. I believe the Army’s small business partners are ideally structured and positioned for this; small businesses tend to be agile and motivated, and can respond to change quickly. That’s what AMC and our Army need, and why we encourage continued partnerships through our small business programs.

Small businesses provide products and services key to our nation’s economic success and have provided 65 percent of new jobs in the past 17 years. How do we continue this momentum for our small business success?

We are encouraged by the FY15 budget, which funds technology-enabled solutions and provides opportunities and empowerment to small businesses. We expect this to create more visibility into contracting opportunities for small, innovative companies. Significant emphasis and value will likely trend toward smaller contracts. As we reset and re-establish priorities, we will count on the flexibility and adaptability of small businesses to respond successfully in this time of transition.

With more than 34,000 veterans returning from Afghanistan, sequestration is making it challenging for veteran entrepreneur growth. How can the Small Business Program continue our efforts to assist them to start-up or grow existing businesses?

AMC’s Small Business Program recognizes the urgency of assisting highly skilled veterans as we transition from more than a decade of war. AMC is committed to the collaborative programs that provide veterans the training necessary to start-up or grow their small businesses. Our small business offices manage outreach programs and conduct face-to-face meetings to provide insight for veteran-owned small businesses.

We will continue this level of engagement with our veterans and seek out additional opportunities to reach this population. Additionally, we continue to offer informational programs focused on 8(a) Business Development, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), Small Disadvantaged Business Program, Woman-Owned Small Business, as well as the Subcontracting Program.

Sequestration’s reduction to small businesses and contracts will have a ripple effect on our subcontractors. How can we ensure coverage in these niche markets of high technology, aerospace, and defense?

Some of the most innovative and creative ideas originate in small entrepreneurial firms with specific expertise and appear to thrive in niche markets. The FY15 budget notes that innovative sources may likely come from these niche markets and increases dollars for small businesses in the areas of technology, aerospace, and defense, and focus on America’s long-term competitiveness by improving the entrepreneurial environment.

Small businesses remain a priority for AMC and we encourage subcontractors seeking opportunities with the Army to explore the resources offered by the Small Business Administration’s Dynamic Small Business Search. It may also be useful for subcontractors to seek partnership opportunities through mentor-protégé or public and private partnerships. AMC’s Office of Small Business Programs continues to evolve, adapt, and develop processes to protect our edge in the areas of technology, aerospace, and defense. We remain steadfast in our commitment to small businesses, particularly those with these capabilities.

With contract reductions from sequestration, will our country remain ready and equipped in our ability to defend itself from threats to our national security?

Our primary mission at AMC is to develop and deliver readiness solutions to support unified land operations and Contingency Operations anytime and anyplace in the world. Accordingly, we must maintain readiness for the force to meet future contingencies. No one can predict the future, but the past shows us that there will be future contingencies. Our forces must be ready, trained, and equipped to meet those contingencies when the nation calls. AMC remains committed to ensuring our warfighting formations are prepared when the call comes. Our nation expects and deserves nothing less. And Small Business will continue to play a critical role in enabling AMC to develop and deliver these readiness solutions required by our forces.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

First of all, thank you for the opportunity to share some comments with your readership. I am enormously proud of all of our Small Business personnel within Army Materiel Command. They are highly committed professionals dedicated to ensuring the readiness of our Army forces – now and into the future. At AMC – Small Business is Big Business, and as the Commanding General privileged to lead this tremendous organization, I greatly value the significant contributions small businesses make every day in support of our Soldiers. ■


GEN Dennis L. Via assumed duties as the 18th Commander of the Army Materiel Command (AMC) August 7, 2012. AMC is the Army’s premier provider of

materiel readiness. In fiscal year 2013, AMC awarded $59.7 billion in contracts, accounting for for 68 percent of total Army contracts. Small businesses received $8.4 billion in contracts that year, accounting for about half of Army small business contracting dollars.

On February 1, GEN Via was appointed Head of Contracting Activity for AMC, giving him official responsibility for all AMC contracting.

What is your primary focus as Commanding General of the Army Materiel Command, and how does that correlate to small business?

AMC’s top priority remains providing equipment and materiel readiness to our Joint Warfighters. I’m extremely proud of the 68,000 Soldiers and Department of Army Civilians stationed throughout the world who work in areas ranging from research to contracting, acquisition to manufacturing, and distribution to sustainment.

AMC touches every phase of the materiel life cycle, and working with our partners in ASA (ALT) and the PEO/PM community, we’re very effective in meeting the warfighters’ requirements. We have a saying within our command, that Small Business is big business. AMC is a $50 billion global logistic enterprise that accomplishes its mission in part, through the great partnerships we have established with the small business industry. With $8.4 billion in small business contracts, AMC accounts for about half of all small business contracting dollars spent by the U.S. Army.

You were recently appointed as AMC’s Head of Contracting Activity. What does that role entail, and how will this new concept impact small businesses?

This appointment by Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition Logistics and Technology, Hon. Heidi Shyu, on Feb. 1, along with a change to the Defense Federal Acquisition Supplement, consolidated the HCA role, naming me the sole official responsible for contracting within AMC. This change from the old structure, which had separate HCAs at each of the major subordinate and contracting commands, is intended to improve performance, enable more effective customer support, and strengthen oversight across the AMC contracting enterprise.

Consistent with the goals of the single HCA system, the Commanding General of the Army Contracting Command is designated as the Chief Procurement Officer for AMC, and serves as a principal advisor to the AMC Commanding General for all contracting issues, policies, and procedures across the Command. Given the size and number of contracting actions executed within AMC, there is still considerable decentralized execution of these actions under the supervision of AMC Principal Assistants Responsible for Contracting, or PARCs, highly qualified procurement officials whom I have appointed. So, while we continue to have a large and complex contracting organization, the single HCA structure will provide consistent guidance and direction for our contracting personnel, the requirements-generating organizations they serve, and the commercial firms who contract with AMC to provide the goods and services that our Army needs.

AMC had a strong commitment to provide opportunities for small businesses to share in our contracting opportunities before this change to a single HCA concept; however, I see two

GEN Dennis L. Via

Senior Leader Interview:AMC Commander Discusses Sequestration,

Veteran Entrepreneurship and His New Role as Head of Contracting Activity

Page 22


About 80 small business owners from Southwest Oklahoma learned how to apply for

federal government contracts, what services are contracted here and projected contract requirements during the Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) - Fort Sill open house June 25 at Snow Hall.

It was part of the Army MICC’s outreach efforts to small businesses as it conducts acquisition forecast forums throughout the country for small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses and Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones).

Attendees were welcomed by Mr. Tom Kelly, Deputy Commander, Fort Sill Garrison, and Ms. Annette Arkeketa-Rendon, MICC Fort Sill Small Business Specialist, as well as contracting officers and other garrison directors.

“This is an opportunity for small business owners to learn what contractors we need at Fort Sill,” Ms. Arkeketa-Rendon said. “I get a lot of calls from businesses, and we don’t even buy the things or services they offer.”

Fort Sill contractors range from musicians for chapel services to food service personnel to construction workers to field and air defense artillery instructors.

“We do a lot of services contracts here like food service; and infrastructure like public works and construction; and training, too, is a big procurement requirement that we have,” Ms. Arkeketa-Rendon said. “Just a lot of the things that we do to support the Soldiers.”

The first step to contracting with the Army is registering with the System for Award Management, at www.

sam.gov, said Carmen Lee, MICC contracting officer.

Then business owners need to find contracts to bid on through websites, like Federal Business Opportunities and General Services Administration (GSA), said Ms. Arkeketa-Rendon.

“We try to procure so much of our dollars to small businesses,” Lee said, referring to a federal requirement. “We have a goal we have to meet every year for contracts under those categories.”

Mr. Larry Lane, Deputy Director, Logistics Readiness Center, spoke about the LRC’s $40 million in contracts. This included bussing of Soldiers around the post, the maintenance and control of GSA vehicles and small arms maintenance.

During the six-hour event, business owners could also visit information booths including the Oklahoma Small Business Association, GSA, Great Plains Technology Center’s Oklahoma Bid Assistance Network and the MICC.

Terri Shook, SBA procurement center representative from Oklahoma City, manned a booth and also presented on socioeconomic programs. She said the open house gets the word out to new contracting companies or established small businesses who are unfamiliar with federal contracting.

“We (SBA) can also give them ideas, like, well what your business does the federal government doesn’t really buy, but we know that the City of Tulsa might buy it or Stephens County,” she said.

The open house was also an opportunity for the business owners to network among each other to help learn and grow their businesses, Ms. Arkeketa-Rendon said. The Fort Sill MICC plans to conduct the small business open houses twice a year.

Small business owner Mr. Jesus Garay, Sooner Home Design LLC, of Lawton is a subcontractor for Corvias Military Living. Mr. Garay stated, ‘he came to the open house because he is looking to get his company’s own contract with Fort Sill’.

“The more I go to these presentations and the more people I meet I get little nuggets of information and that helps me in the (application) process,” he said.

Submitted by:Mr. Jeff Crawley, Fort Sill CannoneerReprinted from www.army.mil

Fort Sill Open House Caters to Small Businesses

Larry Lane, Logistics Readiness Center deputy director, speaks about

the contracts the LRC uses during the Fort Sill Mission and Installation

Contracting Command’s open house June 25, 2014, at Snow Hall. Photo Credit: Jeff Crawley, Fort Sill

Cannoneer.


As Fort Gordon grows over the next four years, the installation and surrounding communities

will see exponential growth. One result of that growth is a rising interest in business opportunities.

Fort Gordon’s Mission and Installation Contracting Command held its fi rst Acquisition Forecast Open House Monday at Alexander Hall. The event was an opportunity for MICC offi cials to give small business owners advance notice of contracts the installation needs to fi ll in the coming months and years ahead.

“Our intent was to try and attract small business owners … the people who don’t know how to get started in government contracting and want to know what’s available to them,” said Lt. Col. Sylvia Farmer, acting director for MICC. “We are dedicated to the local community and want to provide as much openness as possible so that they all have a chance to compete.”

Small businesses play a large role on Fort Gordon. According to Nelson Keeler, deputy to the commanding general, there have been 585 contract actions valued at $65 million so far this fi scal year. Of that, $59 million was eligible for small businesses; $28 million was actually awarded to them. There are currently 245 contract actions valued at about $168 million that need to be awarded by the end of the fi scal year.

“I’m very pleased to see that greater than 40 percent of our contracting activities so far have gone to small businesses,” Keeler said.

Engaging small business owners benefi ts contractors and businesses by providing competition and ensuring the best qualifi ed employees are hired.

The event was also a chance for small business owners to network and learn about requirements for the acquisition process, which can be daunting for small businesses lacking expertise.

“In a small business, you are the manager, you are the worker, you are the team lead, and you’re preparing proposals,” Farmer explained. “We’re here to assist and help set them up for success in the acquisition process.”

Representatives from the Georgia Procurement Technical Assistance Center and Small Business Administration Atlanta District were among several agencies giving presentations and answering questions.

The open house attracted a substantial number of business owners for its fi rst event. Those who were unable to attend or who have questions should contact Rufus Gates, a small business specialist with Fort Gordon’s MICC. Rufus can be reached at (706) 791-1817 or by email at [email protected].

“Please get in touch with us,” Gates said. “We don’t know yet exactly how much contracting support we’re going to be providing for the (Cyber Center of Excellence), but when we are called on, we will be ready … and we’d like to have our small businesses engaged, too.” ■

Submitted by:Laura Levering Fort Gordon Public Affairs Offi ce

Small Business Owners Become Familiar With Government Contracts

FORT GORDON, Ga. (June 27, 2014) - Gail A. Wells of Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Gordon, assists Sharelle Corrodus of Atlanta June 23 during an Acquisition Forecast Open House at Alexander Hall. Corrodus, president

of 3 Star Solutions, attended the event to get information about medical staffi ng opportunities on Fort Gordon.

Photo Credit: Laura Levering, Fort Gordon Public Affairs Offi ce.


Photos:

1. HON Brad Carson, Under Secretary of the Army presents Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army OSBP, with an award for outstanding service in the Army Senior Executive Service in a ceremony at the Pentagon on June 30. Her husband, Mr. Darryl Dennis and her daughter Ms. Maya Dennis look on.

2. Ms. Marina Sullivan, Program Manager, Army Mentor-Protégé Program; Ms. Veronica Atkinson, Management Analyst, Army OSBP; Mr. Gerald O’Keefe, Acting Director, Army OSBP; and Mr. Robert Speer, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller).

3. Ms. Pinson and Mr. Seán Crean, Director, Navy OSBP.

4. BG James Simpson, Deputy Director, Directorate of Contracting, HQ USACE; Ms. Pinson; Mr. Dennis.

5. Ms. Pinson and Mr. Steven Weidner, former Associate Director, National Guard Bureau OSBP, speak with Mr. Walt Jeffress, husband of former Deputy Director, Army OSBP, Ms. Suellen Jeffress.

6. Ms. Pinson speaks during the August 8 ceremony.

7. Mr. Dennis and Ms. Pinson.

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A Washington, D.C. native, Ms. Pinson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from

Howard University in 1978 and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1982. Her career began on Capitol Hill on the House Committee on Small Business under Chairman Parren Mitchell. Rep. Mitchell, of Maryland’s Seventh Congressional District, was known as the ``godfather’’ of minority business expansion and development efforts. In 1986, Ms. Pinson was named as Assistant to the Director of the Offi ce of Small Business Programs for the Offi ce of the Secretary of Defense.

In 1995, the Honorable Togo West, former Secretary of the Army appointed Ms. Pinson as the Director of Small Business Programs in the Offi ce of the Secretary of the Army. She managed the largest small business program in the federal government in terms of contract dollars. Under her leadership, the Army awarded over $300 billion in contracts to small businesses.

Ms. Pinson led efforts to design the Mentor Protégé Program. She managed the Army Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions Program to ensure that these institutions were afforded an opportunity to participate in Army-

funded programs. She also headed an initiative to hire wounded warriors. She successfully steered over $50 billion to veteran-owned businesses. She worked to secure contract awards for women-owned businesses, companies located in areas of economic distress, and small businesses in technology and disaster relief efforts.

Throughout her career, Ms. Pinson received numerous awards and accolades, including but not limited to the Department of the Army Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service in 1998; the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive in 2002 from President George W. Bush; the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive in 2009 from President Barack H. Obama; and the Department of the Army Award for Meritorious Civilian Service in 2014.

Ms. Pinson is a tireless champion for small businesses, and dedicated her career to advocating for small business owners. Because of her efforts, thousands of small business owners received contract awards to stimulate job creation and contribute to the Nation’s economic strength.

A retirement luncheon was held in her honor on June 27 at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia. Over

one hundred family, friends, mentors, protégés, peers and staff attended the luncheon. Many laudable comments were echoed concerning Ms. Pinson’s dedication from such individuals as the Honorable Togo West; the Honorable Andre Gudger, OSD Director of Small Business Programs; Mr. Gerald O’Keefe, Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army; and General (Ret.) Johnnie Wilson. Her husband, Darryl Dennis, spoke of his endearing relationship with Tracey as a wife and mother for their daughter.

She retired as the Army’s highest ranking African-American female civilian servant. Ms. Pinson leaves a legacy that is unmatched in terms of mentoring and coaching other Army personnel, both active duty and civilian.

Although leaving the federal sector, Ms. Pinson will continue serve the small business community as she embarks on a new opportunity with The Boeing Corporation. ■

Submitted by:Mr. James Lloyd, Program ManagerArmy Service-Disabled / Veteran-Owned and HUBZone Programs

Ms. Tracey L. Pinson, Director, Army Offi ce of Small Business Programs Retires

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Page 24


COL Kevin M. Nash, Commander, 413th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort Shafter, spoke at

the 12th Annual Hawaii Small Business Forum on July 17 in Honolulu, HI. The forum brought together representatives from various federal agencies to discuss contracting opportunities and updates with small businesses looking to start or expand opportunities as a federal contractor. This event included presentations on contracting opportunities with various federal agencies and departments, the status of the military build-up on Guam, updates on rules and regulation from the U.S. Small Business Administration, registering to do business with the federal government, and a small business panel. Attendees also had an opportunity to sign up for business matchmaking appointments with government agencies as well as large and small businesses. ■

Submitted by: Ms. Susan Beury, Contract Specialist, 413th CSB, RCO-HI

In the small business offi ce, the fourth quarter of the fi scal year is always full of excitement and anticipation, mixed

with a healthy pinch of anxiety.

It is diffi cult to predict where exactly the fi scal year will close out in terms of small business achievement, but looking at historic trends we can get a rough idea. The chart to the right shows where we might end up at the end of FY2014 if our course continues on the track of FY10, FY11, FY12 and FY13; or an average of the four. Assuming the fourth quarter of FY2014 results are similar to previous years, we should signifi cantly exceed our goal of 26.50 percent, likely ending up between 28 and 30 percent. ■

Submitted by: Mr. Burt StankoSupport ContractorArmy OSBP

Fort Shafter Commander Speaks at Hawaii Small Business Forum

The Fourth Quarter Push

COL Kevin M. Nash, Commander, 413th Contracting Support Brigade speaks at the 12th Annual Hawaii Small Business Forum.


Calendar of Events

Please visit www.sellingtoarmy.com and click on “Calendar of Events”, for the most updated list.

The Army Small Business Program will finish strong in fiscal year 2014. We

continue to set the example for federal government, awarding more contract dollars to small firms than any other federal agency or military service. Contract dollars to small firms directly impact job creation and fuel the rebalancing of our Nation’s economy. Army Small Business Program success is attributable to the commitment and leadership of our Commanders. Our Commanders understand the value of the innovation that agile small businesses bring to our warfighters and the important role that small businesses play in our national security.

Small Business Administration (SBA) reports show:

• The 23 million small businesses in America account for 54 percent of all U.S. sales.

• Small businesses provide 55 percent of all jobs and have provided 66 percent of all net new jobs since the 1970s.

• The 600,000 plus franchised small businesses in the U.S. account for 40 percent of all retail sales and provide jobs for some 8 million people.

• The small business sector in America occupies 30-50 percent of all commercial space, an estimated 20-34 billion square feet.

Furthermore, the small business sector is growing rapidly. While corporate America has been “downsizing”, the rate of small business “start-ups” has grown, and the rate for small business failures has declined.

• The number of small businesses in the United States has increased 49 percent since 1982.

• Since 1990, as big business eliminated 4 million jobs, small

businesses added 8 million new jobs.

I’m excited about implementing new initiatives to further strengthen our outreach and engagement with small firms in fiscal year 2015. Our social media contacts have tripled in the last 90 days as we increased our efforts to engage Army industry partners through FACEBOOK. Help us set a new record this month, and LIKE our FACEBOOK page at https://www.facebook.com/ArmySmallBiz. If you have an item of interest for our small business industry partners, please post it or send it to me for posting. Use our FACEBOOK page to notify industry of conferences, outreach events, industry days, and to link to your solicitation and sources sought notices from the Federal Business Opportunities website.

Make sure that you stop by our Small Business Seminar at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Meeting at the Washington DC Convention Center on 14-15 October 2014. I’m counting on Army leaders to stop by, bring business cards, and meet and greet small firms. The agenda will include contracting officers, program managers, mentor protégé teams, large business prime contractors, DoD senior leaders, and so much more.

If you have questions about the event, call (703) 697-2868 and speak to:

• AUSA Lead: Mr. James Lloyd, Army Service-Disabled / Veteran-Owned Program Manager

• AUSA Co-Lead: Ms. Veronica Atkinson, Management Analyst

Finally, we dedicate this newsletter to Ms. Tracey Pinson, former Director, Army Office of Small Business Programs. In this edition,

we announce her retirement after 20 years of service to the Army. In June 2014, she retired as the highest ranking African-American female senior executive in the Army. Her legacy will continue through the hundreds of small business leaders that she mentored and coached during her years of service. Her astute leadership led us to become number one in the federal government, and we are committed to building a strong program on her foundation. Many of us cried tears when she announced her retirement date. We wondered if we could survive without her Extroverted-Intuitive-Thinking-Decisive leadership. However, as the weeks pass, it’s clear that she prepared us to lead, and we are excited about what’s to come. ■

Ms. Jackie Robinson-BurnetteDeputy DirectorArmy OSBP

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Deputy Director’s Message:The Army’s Impact on Job Creation is HUGE!

Ms. Jackie Robinson-BurnetteDeputy Director

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Upcoming EventsPlease visit www.sellingtoarmy.com and click on “Calendar of Events.”

Follow Army OSBPwww.twitter.com/ArmySmallBiz



• Deputy Director’s Message • Ms. Tracey L. Pinson, Director, Army Office of Small Business Programs Retires • Senior Leader Interview: AMC Commander Discusses Sequestration, Veteran

Entrepreneurship and His New Role as Head of Contracting Activity• USACE Bids Farewell to Ms. Jackie Robinson-Burnette• MG Darrell K. Williams, Army Materiel Command, Huntsville, AL Receives Secretary

of the Army Award for Small Business Utilization • Army Drives Federal Small Business Goal Achievement• Jacque Gee wins Small Business Specialist of the Year Award for Fiscal Year 2013• New Senior Executive, Deputy Director for Department of Defense (DoD) Office of

Small Business Programs (OSBP)• Army Mentor-Protégé Program Update• Contracting Officer Credits Team for Army Small Business Award• MICC Boosts Small Business by Half Billion in 3rd Quarter• Learn, Train, Lead: Army OSBP Taps DAWDF to Train Small Business Specialists• New Statutory Changes to Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracts

Program• HQ USACE Small Business Personnel Participate in Army 239th Birthday Run• Redstone Test Center Aviation Flight Test Directorate Awards Contract to 8(a) Small

Business• Hundreds Participate in First-Ever Small Business Conference in Huntington, WV• Fort Bliss Shares Acquisition Forecast with Area Businesses• AMC OSBP Personnel Attend Midwest Small Business Government Contracting

Symposium• OSBP Hosts TACOM LCMC Small Business Fair• Army Participates in Women-Owned Small Business Conference• Fort Benning Forecast Open House Proves Success• Fort Sill Open House Caters to Small Businesses• Small Business Owners Become Familiar With Government Contracts• Fort Shafter Commander Speaks at Hawaii Small Business Forum• The Fourth Quarter Push• Calendar of Events

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U.S. Army OSBP

106 Army PentagonRoom 3B514Washington, DC 20310Phone: 703.697.2868Fax: [email protected] www.sellingtoarmy.com

Points of Contact Ms. Jackie Robinson-Burnette Deputy Director [email protected]

Mr. James Lloyd Assistant to the Director Program Manager, SDVOSB & HUBZone [email protected]

Ms. Cynthia Lee Assistant to the Director Program Manager, HBCU/MI and 8(a)/SDB [email protected]

Ms. Stacy WatsonAssistant to the DirectorProgram Manager, Women-Owned Small Business, Major Programs and [email protected]

Ms. Pamela L. Monroe Assistant to the Director Program Manager, Mentor-Protégé & Subcontracting [email protected]

Ms. Portia DeansAssistant to the DirectorProcurement [email protected]

Ms. Edith St. Catherine Staff Action Control Specialist [email protected]

Ms. Veronica Atkinson Administrative Officer [email protected]

....................................................

Ms. Marina Sullivan Support Contractor to Army OSBPNew Concepts & Associates [email protected]

Newsletter Produced By Halfaker and Associates, LLCSupport Contractor to Army OSBP Mr. Anthony Braun [email protected]

Mr. Ricardo Ruiz [email protected]

Mr. Burt Stanko [email protected]

Ms. Monica Early [email protected]

In This Issue

Newsletter | September 2014

Page 26

U.S. Army OSBPOur Mission• Advise the Secretary of the Army and the

Army leadership on small business related matters

• Spearhead innovative initiatives that contribute to expanding the small business industrial base relevant to the Army mission priorities

• Leverage the use of minority serving educational institutions in support of Army science and technology programs

Our VisionTo be the premier advocacy organization committed to maximizing small business utilization in support of rapidly fielding a trained, ready, responsive and capable force that can prevent conflict, shape the environment and win the Nation’s wars.

Statement by President Barack Obama“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstones of our communities. They create two of every three new jobs in America, spur economic growth, and spark new industries across the country. We will continue to create new incentives to help small business owners hire new workers, promote growth and do what America does best - invest in the creativity and imagination of our people.”

-President Barack Obama

Production of the next issue is already underway!Please submit articles to: [email protected]

Article submission deadline: November 7, 2014

FeedbackLet us know what you think about the newsletter by filling out our contact form at: http://www.sellingtoarmy.com/contact

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Army OSBP Newsletter - September 2014

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