NAVSUP Partners to Provide Opportunities for Small Businesses to Grow

By Kathy Adams, NAVSUP Office of Corporate Communications

HARRISBURG, Pa. (NNS) -- For the second consecutive year, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) partnered with the City of Harrisburg and two Pennsylvania state agencies in Harrisburg, Pa., to provide vital information to small and women-owned businesses at an Expo held March 28.

"The entrepreneurial spirit is what makes this country tick," said Rear Adm. Sean Crean, deputy commander, Naval Supply Systems Command. "It's the small, women and minority-owned businesses that are the backbone of our economy. These business leaders are making the American dream a reality."

The Small, Minority and Woman's Business Enterprise Expo 2012, presented by the City of Harrisburg, NAVSUP, and the Pennsylvania Departments of General Services and Public Welfare, provides an opportunity to exchange information and learn about business opportunities available in city, local, and federal government.

Breakout sessions were provided on a range of topics during the one-day Expo. Information about construction, information technology, and how to get proper certification to do business with government were some of the sessions offered.

Exhibitor booths showcased the widely varied services provided across the state by small, women, and minority-owned businesses.

"We are proud of what we can do with our small business partners," said Crean. "The competitive and innovative products and services small businesses provide are what our warfighters need to accomplish their mission."

Linda D. Thompson, mayor of Harrisburg; Sheri Phillips, Pa. Department of General Services secretary; and Karen Deklinski, deputy secretary for Administration, Pa. Department of Public Welfare also spoke at the exhibition.

NAVSUP's primary mission is to provide U.S. naval forces with quality supplies and services. With headquarters in Mechanicsburg, Pa., and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP oversees logistics programs in the areas of supply operations, conventional ordnance, contracting, resale, fuel, transportation, and security assistance. In addition, NAVSUP is responsible for quality of life issues for our naval forces, including food service, postal services, Navy Exchanges, and movement of household goods.

New DOD Rule Supports Independent Research, Development

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2012 – A new rule published Jan. 30 that modifies the way major defense contractors report to the Defense Department on their independent research and development projects enhances communication between government and industry, a senior Pentagon official said last week.

Independent research and development, known as IR&D, is a contractor’s own investment in basic and applied research and development and some kinds of studies that DOD will reimburse the company for making.

Every year the Defense Department invests about $4 billion in defense firms’ IR&D. From this investment come new and improved devices, materials and other products, and advances in technology that ultimately benefit the department and its warfighters, said Ronald J. Kurjanowicz, Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering

The rule, published in the Federal Register, applies to defense contractors that claim more than $11 million in a year on IR&D and bid and proposal costs, Kurjanowicz said.

“It’s asking firms to submit project data on their IR&D projects to the government [through a secure website] called the Defense Innovation Marketplace,” he explained. The site is an industry portal that offers answers to frequently asked questions, contracting news, information about the new rule and other industry resources.

DOD contracting officials can search the site, he said, “and see where the innovation is, and then communicate back with industry the areas that we think are very strong and the areas where there are probably gaps that we can work with. So it will be a communication mechanism.”

Contracts awarded on or after Jan. 30 are subject to the new requirements, a senior procurement analyst in Kurjanowicz’s office said.

Major contractors must comply with the new rule, Kurjanowicz said, but the rule also allows other contractors to submit IR&D project data to the website for greater visibility by government contracting officials.

“We in the government have to know what [defense contracting firms] are working on, because as we build acquisition programs we want to get a sense of what’s available out there,” he added.

Defense officials decided on a rule rather than a voluntary move to the website “because we wanted to level the playing field and give everybody a chance to submit the information,” he said.

“Industry wants to know where we’re going, particularly now in this era, at this inflection point, … so we have to communicate with industry the sort of capabilities we’ll need for that environment,” Kurjanowicz said.

With that communication, he added, “industry will begin to vector their IR&D in that direction.”

IR&D communication mechanisms between DOD and contractors have evolved over the years. “In the 1980s,” Kurjanowicz said, “we actually sent people on site” to contracting firms.

“We called them tri-service reviews, and they would review a contractor’s entire portfolio,” he added. They then would take the information back to their organizations, and based on their findings, the reviewers determined a company’s reimbursement rate, he explained.

In that scenario, Kurjanowicz added, major contractors who could afford to do more IR&D than smaller contractors had an advantage. Today, he said, administrative contract officers do the reviews.

“Firms submit their IR&D projects every year, and everyone does it differently,” Kurjanowicz said. “Some firms submit detailed reports, and others send in a list with dollar values, and the administrative contract officer is supposed to look through that and come up with a rate.”

The problem, he added, is that the administrative contract officers don’t always have the technical expertise to evaluate the submissions, “so we’re losing insight into what the industry is working on.”

Defense contracting officials thought that the easiest and fairest way to fix it for all was to update the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations with a rule, Kurjanowicz said.

“The fundamental word in IR&D is independent,” he added. “We want to communicate our needs, but the firm has the option as to what technology they pursue. The leadership is very keen on that, because we can’t say that we have all the good ideas, and … we rely on industry to give us alternatives. So it’s about capabilities, and [defense contractors] determine the technology.”

NAVFAC Southeast Awards $542.8 Million to Small Businesses

See the best United States Navy books written by Navy veteran writers.

From Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast exceeded all assigned small business goals for the third consecutive year by awarding $542.8 million in prime contracts to small businesses during fiscal year (FY) 2011, which closed out Sept. 30.

"This demonstrates the command's continuing commitment to ensure maximum practicable opportunity is made for Small Businesses" said NAVFAC Southeast Deputy for Small Business Nelson Smith. "This has been an amazing team effort, and I'm proud to be part of an organization that chooses Small Business as the first option for our contracting requirements".

The amount awarded to small businesses represents over 55 percent of the command's prime contracting dollars. The "small business" breakdown includes: Small Disadvantaged Businesses received $389.2 million (39.9 percent), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones) $146.5 million (15 percent), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) $54.4 million (5.6 percent), and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) $129.8 million (13.3 percent).

Smith said these achievements significantly exceed the statutorily mandated goals of 23 percent for Small Business, 5 percent each for SDB and WOSB, and 3 percent for HUBZone and SDVOSB. Additionally, $155.9 million (16 percent) was awarded to Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.

Maximum practicable utilization of small business concerns is a matter of national interest with both social and economic benefits. America's 27 million small businesses employ more that 58 percent of the private work force, generate more than 51 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, and are the principal source of new jobs.

ONR Seeks Big Opportunities at Small Business Conference

By Katherine H. Crawford, Office of Naval Research Corporate Communications

ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- The Office of Naval Research (ONR) will share partnership possibilities with members of the small business community at the 23rd Annual Navy Gold Coast Small Business Opportunity Conference, being held Aug. 23-24 in San Diego.

"This conference allows us to identify potential program participants from among the 1,500 attendees," said Brenda Pickett, who oversees ONR's Office of Small Business Programs. "The event is a great way to connect small business and Department of the Navy professionals to develop partnerships that may result in important scientific advances and new technologies."

The conference provides a forum to educate, guide and assist primarily small businesses in working with the government, particularly the Department of Defense. The objective is to reach the mutually beneficial goal of identifying relevant research and technology for military use.

ONR strives to ensure underrepresented businesses have access to the information they need to compete and participate throughout the federal acquisition process. ONR's small business programs are specifically aimed at businesses that are disadvantaged, women-owned, service-disabled veteran- and veteran-owned and in historically underutilized business zones, as well as historically black colleges and universities, and minority institutions.

This year's event is at the San Diego Convention Center and will include more than 250 exhibitors. ONR's booth, no. 751, will be open from 2-5 p.m. on Aug. 23 and 1:15-4:10 p.m. on Aug. 24.

The conference is co-sponsored by the National Defense Industrial Association's San Diego chapter and Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). The event is co-hosted on a rotating basis among the Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, SPAWAR, Naval Supply Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command and the U.S. Marine Corps.

ONR provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps' technological advantage. Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning and 914 industry partners. ONR employs approximately 1,400 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel, with additional employees at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C.

Small Business Expo Offers Networking Opportunity

By Rob Anastasio, Office of Naval Research Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- The Office of Naval Research (ONR) opened gateways to contracting opportunities with the Navy's science and technology provider, at the Small Business/Minority and Women Business Expo in Harrisburg, Pa., March 23.

Co-sponsored by the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) and Pennsylvania Departments of General Services and Public Welfare, the event provided federal, state and city agencies with a forum for explaining government programs supporting businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and service-disabled veterans.

Scheduled speakers included NAVSUP Commander Rear Adm. Michael Lyden and Deputy Commander Rear Adm. Sean Crean; U.S. Sen. Robert Casey Jr., D-Pa.; Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett; and Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson.

Brenda Pickett, associate director of ONR's Office of Small Business, said the expo allows the command to expand its outreach and exposure across the country.

"Through this expo and similar events, we hope to expand our reach to find those creative, innovative ideas that will benefit the Navy and Marine Corps' mission," Pickett said.

Through its Office of Small Business, ONR maintains an active outreach program to ensure underrepresented businesses have access to information, so they can compete and participate in the organization's acquisition program—both as prime contractors and subcontractors.

The office provides advice concerning acquisition procedures; information about proposed acquisitions; instructions on preparing proposals, interpretation of standard clauses; certifications and representations; and instructions on obtaining payment and financial assistance within the procurement regulations.

The Department of the Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps' technological advantage. Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning and 914 industry partners. ONR employs approximately 1,400 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel, with additional employees at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C.

NAVSEA, PEOs Reach Out to Small Business Owners in Florida

From Program Executive Office Littoral and Mine Warfare Public Affairs

MIAMI (NNS) -- Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and five, affiliated Program Executive Offices (PEO) hosted a Small Business Conference at Florida International University Feb. 1 to promote psrtnerships and technological exchanges.

The NAVSEA conference encouraged small business owners in the area to submit ideas for innovative products and services to support current fleet, as well as the next generation, of ships and combat systems.

"The purpose of this conference was to develop successful partnerships, so that NAVSEA can better harness the power of small businesses," said PEO Littoral & Mine Warfare Executive Director Victor Gavin. "Our outreach efforts also directly support the Secretary of the Navy's call to develop those small businesses that support the current and future Navy-Marine Corps force through outreach, training and counseling."

In addition to informational sessions that provided participants with useful resources for marketing their products and services, the conference also provided small business representatives a networking forum to converse one-on-one with senior Navy leaders, prime contractors, and other small businesses owners who have successfully partnered with the Navy.

John Venables, president of Naiad Dynamics, attributed his company's success in part to the knowledge he gained participating in previous NAVSEA Small Business conferences.

"NAVSEA Small Business conferences are excellent. They highlight the Navy's priorities and direction; give useful insight on conducting business with the Navy; and provide exceptional networking opportunities and access to NAVSEA leaders," said Venables.

Naiad Dynamics received its first Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I award with its first SBIR proposal, and is competing to continue work for the Navy in the field of high-speed combatant craft automated ride control through a following Phase II award.

"We recognize the significant contributions small businesses can bring to the table," said Gavin. "That's why we go out into communities and offer training. Outreach efforts such as these are a testament of our organization's commitment to mentoring and developing these valuable partnerships."

NAVSEA, its field activities, and the five affiliated PEOs contract for the design and integration; maintenance and repair; modernization and conversion; technical, industrial and logistical support of ships, shipboard weapons and combat systems; as well as professional services, such as engineering, finance and program management.

For additional small business information and resources, visit the Web sites for Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs, the Navy's Office of Small Business Programs or NAVSEA Business Opportunities.

Small Business Leadership Strategies for Growth

July 27, 2009 (San Dimas, CA) American Heroes Press announced that the co-author of Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style, Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.) will be a guest on the internet-based radio program Grassroots Business Network, LLC, discussing
Small Business Leadership Strategies for Growth.

Date: July 28, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM Pacific
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/GBN/2009/07/29/Small-Business-Leadership-Strategies-for-Growth

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Grassroots Business Network, LLC organizes and promotes networking events and training seminars in the areas of networking, sales, marketing, business development, and holistic wellness. According to Tyrone Turner of Grassroots Business Networks, LLC, “Our main base of operations is New York City (Manhattan), Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA. What makes our networking events so special is that we have our events in professional environments - we do not hold them in bars or restaurants as we don't feel those locations are necessarily conducive to effective networking. Another thing is that we provide all attendees with a comprehensive contact sheet/follow-up list. This list has the following information: name, mailing address; e-mail, website, phone number; best time to call; hobbies and interests; and products/services that they are looking to buy in the next 90 days. The training seminars feature up and coming “grassroots” experts. Cutting to the chase, the individuals who speak at our events are the stars of tomorrow, so take advantage of meeting and learning from them now.”

ABOUT RAYMOND E. FOSTER
Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton. He has completed his doctoral studies in business research. Raymond is a graduate of the West Point Leadership program and has attended law enforcement, technology and leadership programs such as the National Institute for Justice, Technology Institute, Washington, DC.

Raymond has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and is currently a faculty advisor and chair of the Criminal Justice Program at the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

His first book, Police Technology is used in over 100 colleges and universities nationwide. He latest book, Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style has been adopted by several universities for course work in leadership; by several civil service organizations and required reading for promotion; and, has been well received in the wider market.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Using poker as analogy for leadership, Captain Andrew Harvey, CPD (ret.), Ed.D. and Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA found the right mix of practical experience and academic credentials to write a definitive book for leaders. Working together, Harvey and Foster have written Leadership: Texas Hold em Style. Most often leaders find they are given a set of resources people, equipment, funds, experience and a mission. As Foster noted, "You're dealt a certain hand. How you play that hand as a leader determines your success."

More than a book: A fun and entertaining journey through leadership that includes an interactive website to supplement knowledge gained from the book.
Proven and Tested: Not an academic approach to leadership, but rather a road-tested guide that has been developed through 50-years of author experience.
High Impact: Through the use of perspective, reflection, and knowledge, provides information that turns leadership potential into leadership practice.
Ease of Application: Theory is reinforced with real-life experience, which results in accessible and practical tools leaders can put to use immediately.
High Road Approach: Personal character and ethical beliefs are woven into each leadership approach, so leaders do the right thing for the right reasons.
Uses Game of Poker: Rather than a dry approach that is all fact and no flavor, the game of poker is used as a lens through which to view leadership concepts.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret)
909.599.7530
raymond@hitechcj.com
www.police-writers.com

MILITARY CONTRACTS June 3, 2008

ARMY

Oshkosh Truck Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., was awarded on May 30, 2008, a $121,242,434 firm-fixed price contract for a modification to the family of heavy tactical vehicles, load handling system, and wreckers, as well as the addition of 233 vehicles, and the cost of the federal retailers excise tax associated with the vehicles. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., and is expected to be completed by May 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Oct. 23, 2006. Tank Automotive Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-07-C-0248).

BAE Systems, Tactical Vehicle Systems Limited Partnership, Sealy, Texas, was awarded on May 30, 2008, a $34,050,460 firm-fixed price and cost-reimbursement contract for the award of a ceiling price change order modification for the procurement of long-term armor strategy B kits for the family of medium tactical vehicles. Work will be performed in Sealy, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 15, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two bids were solicited on Aug. 15, 2002. U.S. Army TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-03-C-S023).

AM General, LLC, South Bend, Ind., was awarded on May 30, 2008, a $24,941,728 firm-fixed price contract for the addition of 255 high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicles to contract. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, Ind., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Mar. 17, 2006. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-01-C-S001).

General Dynamics Land Systems Division, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Jun. 2, 2008, a $19,816,124 cost-reimbursable-no-fee contract for the procurement of long lead material to support maintenance of 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Abrams M1A2 systems enhancement package tanks. Work will be performed primarily in Lima, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 30, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Apr. 29, 2008. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-06-G-0006).

McTech Corp., Olathe, Kan., was awarded on May 29, 2008, an $11,068,000 firm-fixed price contract for the design and building of a design, manpower, equipment, materials and coordination for 10th Air Support Operation Squadron. Work will be performed at Fort Riley, Kan., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Dec. 14, 2007. U.S. Engineer District, Kansas City, Mo., is the contracting activity (W912DA-08-D-0030).

Lockheed Martin Aspenmed Services, Inc., Vienna, Va., was awarded on May 30, 2008, a $9,556,915 firm-fixed price contract for nurse, specialized technicians and clinical support personnel services in the nursing department at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on May 15, 2008. U.S. Army Medical Command, North Atlantic Regional Contracting Office, Washington, D.C. is the contracting activity (W91YTZ-08-P-0127).

NAVY

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $16,500,000 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-07-C-5432 for production support for the Evolved SEASPARROW Missile. Production support includes tasks needed to support missile production, which are not directly associated with the manufacture of missile hardware. These tasks include maintaining the integrity of the missile requirement and design, maintaining missile reliability, monitoring parts obsolescence, maintaining data package configuration, system safety monitoring, quality assurance, risk management, test equipment, configuration management, performance verification testing, manufacturing qualification, logistics impacts, and other activities needed to support the production of an effective ESSM missile. This contract modification procures production support for the ESSMs for the NATO SEASPARROW Consortium. The NATO SEASPARROW Consortium includes the United States and 9 other countries. This contract action will fulfill required production support activities for FY 2008 for multiple production contracts. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., (55 percent), Camden, Ariz., (2 percent), Australia, (11 percent), Canada, (7 percent), Denmark, (1 percent), Greece, (1 percent), Germany, (8 percent), The Netherlands, (6 percent), Norway, (5 percent), Spain, (3 percent), and Turkey, (1 percent), and work is expected to be completed by May 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

BBN Technologies Corp., Cambridge, Mass., is being awarded a $13,573,481 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Virtual Environment for Ship and Shore Experimental Learning. Under this effort, BBN Technologies Corp will create an empirically and theoretically grounded science and engineering of game-based learning that can be applied across a variety of Navy and Marine settings, implement a set of game based scenarios authoring and performance analysis tools. Develop pedagogically sound learning applications, develop a series of prototype games that address specific military training requirements and demonstrate their usability, power, and instructional effectiveness of the scenarios and the tools. Work will be performed in Cambridge, Mass., and work is expected to be completed Apri. 2013. Contract funds will not expire at end of current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under Office of Naval Research Broad Agency Announcement 05-023. Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (N00014-08-C-0030).

USSOCOM

Video Masters, Inc., of Kansas City, Mo., was awarded a $22,846,216, firm-fixed price contract for a base with four one-year options to provide medical instruction and medical support services in support of the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center, U.S. Army Special Forces Command and the Acquisitions and Contracting Office, U.S. Army Special Operations Command. The work will be performed at Fort Bragg, N.C., and is expected to be completed by Mar. 31, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was awarded through a small business set-aside. The contract number is H92239-08-C-0005.

The maximum order amount is being revised for the Jacob's Technology, Inc., Acquisition, logistics, management and business operations support contract supporting the United States Special Operations Command. Awarded in Dec. 2001, this is a Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Award Term contract with an anticipated period of performance through Apr. 2010 for acquiring intellectual capital support in the areas of system acquisition and development. This contract also provides for a wide array of critical support such as Senior Military Planners, Plans Analysts, Intel Managers, Senior Psychological Operations Process Analysts, and Technology Experts supporting USSOCOM headquarters, components, Theater Special Operations Commands and the Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps) that provide direct support to Special Operations Forces. To continue ALMBOS critical support, it is necessary to increase the maximum order amount of one of the multiple-award contracts from $300 million to $400 million. The contract number is USZA22-02-D-0014.

AIR FORCE

CFM International of Cincinnati, Ohio, is being awarded a firm fixed price contract for $22,627,440. This action will provide manufacture of F108 Turbine Rotors, quantity of 44 each. At this time all funds have been obligated. Department of the Air Force, 448 CBSG/PKB, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8104-08-G-0002-9020).