- Army Office of Small Business Programs

Back Cover
Front Cover
Page 1
Page 2
New ‘Data-Focused’ Deputy Director
Emphasizes Training and Outreach
In This Issue
2 • New ‘Data-Focused’ Deputy Director Emphasizes Training and Outreach
3 • Federal Government Agencies Provide “ACCESS TO SUCCESS”
4 • 2015 Central Arkansas Federal Contracting Opportunities Forum
5 • Midwest Small Business Symposium
7 • Hundreds Attend Army-Hosted Small Business Seminar at AUSA Annual
Meeting
8 • Army Small Business: Reaching out to South Texas
9 • ACC Small Business Office Visits Battlefield
10 • Army Office of Small Business Programs Recognizes Outstanding
Achievements for FY2014
11 • 2015 DoD Award Presentation to AMC
12 • A Small Business Success Story
• Army receives 2015 Champions of Veteran Enterprise Award at Veteran
Entrepreneur Event
13 • FY 2015 Army Small Business Performance
U.S. Army OSBP
106 Army Pentagon
Room 3B514
Washington, DC 20310
Phone: 703.697.2868
Fax: 703.693.3898
[email protected]
www.sellingtoarmy.com
Points of Contact
Mr. Tommy L. Marks
Director
[email protected]
Ms. Pamela D. Callicutt
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, Women-Owned Small
Business, HBCU/MI and 8(a)/SDB
[email protected]
Ms. Pamela L. Monroe
Assistant to the Director
Program Manager, Mentor-Protégé &
Subcontracting
[email protected]
Ms. Sharon R. Morrow
Assistant to the Director
Program Manager, SBIR/STTR,
Major Programs and Training
[email protected]
Ms. Veronica Atkinson
Administrative Officer
[email protected]
Ms. Edith St. Catherine
Staff Action Control Specialist
[email protected]
Ms. Deandria Cumberbatch
Support Contractor to Army OSBP
New Concepts Management Solutions, LLC
[email protected]
Ms. Carla McAlpine-Franklin
Support Contractor to Army OSBP
ByteCubed, LLC
[email protected]
....................................................
Upcoming Events
Magazine Produced By
Please visit www.sellingtoarmy.com and click on “Calendar of Events.”
Halfaker and Associates, LLC
Support Contractor to Army OSBP
Follow Army OSBP
www.twitter.com/ArmySmallBiz
www.facebook.com/ArmySmallBiz
www.flickr.com/ArmySmallBiz
1
Mr. Burt Stanko
[email protected]
Mr. Ricardo Ruiz
[email protected]
Mr. Michael Patykula
[email protected]
Army Small Business Connection | January 2016
B
ringing with her over
33 years of Defense
acquisition experience,
Ms. Pamela Callicutt joined
Army OSBP in late June as
Deputy Director. Her goals are to
support the director’s four pillars:
mission, compliance, outreach,
and training; and to leverage
her extensive acquisition
experience to help the office
achieve its vision of being 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.
Ms. Callicutt’s initial areas of
focus will be to help ensure the
integrity of small business data,
which she says has a significant
effect on small business goal
assignment and achievement.
“If [contracting] awards are not
accurately recorded, that can
have a huge impact on our ability
to meet our goals,” she said.
On a related note, she will be
paying close attention to the
inclusion of small business
contracts performed overseas
in the small-business eligible
contracting base starting in
fiscal year 2016. This is likely
to significantly lower the Army’s
small business percentages and
further add to the complexity
of capturing award data. Ms.
Callicutt says Army OSBP can
help mitigate these factors
by focusing on training and
outreach.
Army OSBP is currently
working on setting up an onsite training center that will
host small-business related
training sessions aimed at
both acquisition personnel and
at industry. This, along with a
revamped centralized Army
Acquisition Forecast, are the
cornerstones of Army OSBP’s
current outreach strategy.
According to Ms. Callicutt, an
additional benefit of outreach
efforts is that “they are a two-way
street.”
“We provide information and
training, but we can also get
feedback from small businesses
on how we are doing and get
some ideas for how to better
utilize small business,” she said.
Prior to joining Army OSBP,
Ms. Callicutt spent a year at the
National Defense University,
Eisenhower School where she
completed a 10-month graduate
level program in National Security
Resource Strategy. Before that,
she served for almost two years
as a Procurement Analyst in the
Services Directorate, Senior
Services Manager Office for the
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the
Army, Procurement.
Ms. Pamela D. Callicutt
Deputy Director
which helped me better
understand their requirements. I
was then able to give guidance
to contracting officers on how
to write contracts that better
support the Warfighter,” she
said. “I’ve worked every facet of
acquisition and I’ve worked with
Army customers to help them
understand the value of small
businesses.” ■
Submitted by:
Mr. Anthony Braun
Support Contractor
Army OSBP
The part of her career she is
most proud of however, is her
service as Deputy Principal
Assistant responsible for
Contracting in Kuwait from
September 2010 - September
2012.
“I got to see how some of the
contracts I wrote [back home]
were being used downrange,
U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com
2
Page 1
Page 2
Back to Table of Contents
In This Issue
2 • New ‘Data-Focused’ Deputy Director Emphasizes Training and Outreach
3 • Federal Government Agencies Provide “ACCESS TO SUCCESS”
4 • 2015 Central Arkansas Federal Contracting Opportunities Forum
5 • Midwest Small Business Symposium
7 • Hundreds Attend Army-Hosted Small Business Seminar at AUSA Annual
Meeting
8 • Army Small Business: Reaching out to South Texas
9 • ACC Small Business Office Visits Battlefield
10 • Army Office of Small Business Programs Recognizes Outstanding
Achievements for FY2014
11 • 2015 DoD Award Presentation to AMC
12 • A Small Business Success Story
• Army receives 2015 Champions of Veteran Enterprise Award at Veteran
Entrepreneur Event
13 • FY 2015 Army Small Business Performance
U.S. Army OSBP
106 Army Pentagon
Room 3B514
Washington, DC 20310
Phone: 703.697.2868
Fax: 703.693.3898
[email protected]
www.sellingtoarmy.com
Points of Contact
Mr. Tommy L. Marks
Director
[email protected]
Ms. Pamela D. Callicutt
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, Women-Owned Small
Business, HBCU/MI and 8(a)/SDB
[email protected]
Ms. Pamela L. Monroe
Assistant to the Director
Program Manager, Mentor-Protégé &
Subcontracting
[email protected]
Ms. Sharon R. Morrow
Assistant to the Director
Program Manager, SBIR/STTR,
Major Programs and Training
[email protected]
Ms. Veronica Atkinson
Administrative Officer
[email protected]
Ms. Edith St. Catherine
Staff Action Control Specialist
[email protected]
Ms. Deandria Cumberbatch
Support Contractor to Army OSBP
New Concepts Management Solutions, LLC
[email protected]
Ms. Carla Franklin-McAlpine
Support Contractor to Army OSBP
ByteCubed, LLC
[email protected]
....................................................
Upcoming Events
Magazine Produced By
Please visit www.sellingtoarmy.com and click on “Calendar of Events.”
Halfaker and Associates, LLC
Support Contractor to Army OSBP
Follow Army OSBP
Mr. Burt Stanko
[email protected]
www.twitter.com/ArmySmallBiz
www.facebook.com/ArmySmallBiz
www.flickr.com/ArmySmallBiz
1
Mr. Ricardo Ruiz
[email protected]
Mr. Michael Patykula
[email protected]
Magazine | December 2015
B
New ‘Data-Focused’ Deputy Director
Emphasizes Training and Outreach
ringing with her over
33 years of Defense
acquisition experience,
Ms. Pamela Callicutt joined
Army OSBP in late June as
Deputy Director. Her goals are to
support the director’s four pillars:
mission, compliance, outreach,
and training; and to leverage
her extensive acquisition
experience to help the office
achieve its vision of being 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.
Ms. Callicutt’s initial areas of
focus will be to help ensure the
integrity of small business data,
which she says has a significant
effect on small business goal
assignment and achievement.
“If [contracting] awards are not
accurately recorded, that can
have a huge impact on our ability
to meet our goals,” she said.
On a related note, she will be
paying close attention to the
inclusion of small business
contracts performed overseas
in the small-business eligible
contracting base starting in
fiscal year 2016. This is likely
to significantly lower the Army’s
small business percentages and
further add to the complexity
of capturing award data. Ms.
Callicutt says Army OSBP can
help mitigate these factors
by focusing on training and
outreach.
Army OSBP is currently
working on setting up an onsite training center that will
host small-business related
training sessions aimed at
both acquisition personnel and
at industry. This, along with a
revamped centralized Army
Acquisition Forecast, are the
cornerstones of Army OSBP’s
current outreach strategy.
According to Ms. Callicutt, an
additional benefit of outreach
efforts is that “they are a two-way
street.”
“We provide information and
training, but we can also get
feedback from small businesses
on how we are doing and get
some ideas for how to better
utilize small business,” she said.
Prior to joining Army OSBP,
Ms. Callicutt spent a year at the
National Defense University,
Eisenhower School where she
completed a 10-month graduate
level program in National Security
Resource Strategy. Before that,
she served for almost two years
as a Procurement Analyst in the
Services Directorate, Senior
Services Manager Office for the
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the
Army, Procurement.
Ms. Pamela D. Callicutt
Deputy Director
which helped me better
understand their requirements. I
was then able to give guidance
to contracting officers on how
to write contracts that better
support the Warfighter,” she
said. “I’ve worked every facet of
acquisition and I’ve worked with
Army customers to help them
understand the value of small
businesses.” ■
Submitted by:
Mr. Anthony Braun
Support Contractor
Army OSBP
The part of her career she is
most proud of however, is her
service as Deputy Principal
Assistant responsible for
Contracting in Kuwait from
September 2010 - September
2012.
“I got to see how some of the
contracts I wrote [back home]
were being used downrange,
U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com
2
Page 3
Page 4
Back to Table of Contents
Federal Government Agencies Provide
“ACCESS TO SUCCESS”
O
ver 300 industry and
government representatives
gathered for the Access
to Success Multicultural Business
Conference on June 25th, 2015.
The event was co-hosted by
Senator Mark Warner; the Business
Development Assistance Group
(BDAG); Arlington Economic
Development, BizLaunch; and the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
A panel, emceed by Tara Palacios,
Director of BizLaunch, kicked off
the event. Panelists Victor Hoskins,
Director of Arlington Economic
Development; Maurice Jones, the
Secretary of Commerce and Trade
for the Commonwealth of Virginia,
and Senator Mark Warner provided
welcoming and opening remarks.
In his presentation, Senator Mark
Warner emphasized the importance
of ensuring that everybody gets a
fair opportunity to obtain government
contracts. In 2002, his office
conducted a disparity study and
learned that only 1.2 percent of
Virginia’s dollars were awarded
to minority businesses and that
public universities were the worst
performing in achievement of
diversity in their contracting. He
immediately initiated weekly reporting
to increase the dollars to minority
businesses. He expressed a desire
to bring accountability to Federal
agencies to do business with minority
businesses. Senator Warner also
emphasized that innovation and new
ideas come from small businesses.
Virginia is home to over 800,000
veterans and the unemployment
rate among veterans is higher than
that of the general population.
In order to increase veteran
employment, his office is working on
a professional certification program
whereby soldiers, airmen, and
sailors can transfer their military
skills and receive civilian equivalent
certifications during their transition to
civilian life. He stated that one of the
3
biggest challenges to businesses is
access to capital. “Crowd funding”
shows promise to make access to
capital easier. The Small Business
Jobs Act of 2010 allowed for crowd
funding but the Securities and
Exchange Commission still needs
to pass regulations for it. He also
spoke about a shift in the workforce
and its shift in culture. Over 80,000
workers are now Millennials who
are more open to change, want to
do the right thing, and want to buy
from socially responsible companies.
They make up more of the “micro
entrepreneurs” (such as Uber cab
drivers, AirBnB Bed and Breakfast
managers, or those who might
have 1 or 2 side jobs or several
primary part time jobs) – those who
service an on-demand economy.
Over 50,000 micro entrepreneurs
service that type of economy. The
downfall is that there is no safety
net – i.e. unemployment insurance,
disability insurance, or Medicare –
for these entrepreneurs. Senator
Warner finished by saying “We can’t
guarantee success, but we can
guarantee a fair shot.”
The “Federal Prospectus” session
included presentations from
Veterans Affairs, Army, and the
State Department, who spoke
about opportunities available at
their agencies. Sharon Morrow
presented for the Army, identifying
what each Army command procures,
the portfolios receiving emphasis,
visibility and accountability for small
business achievement (knowledgebased services [KBS], FacilitiesRelated Services [FRS], and
Electronic Communications Services
[ECS]). She also spoke about the
greater emphasis on the SBIR/
STTR program to build our industrial
base. She finished by providing the
following marketing tips:
• Know what your target agency
buys
• Know your target agencies
Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs), policies and mandatory
sources of supplies and services
(including CHESS, SourceAmerica,
and BPAs)
• Use fpds.gov as a market research
tool (to identify who buys what
you sell; who received a contract
award, the dollar amount of the
award, when the contract expires,
etc.)
• Respond to Sources Sought
Notices and Requests for
Information (RFI)
• When responding to Sources
Sought Notices, include the
capability of your teaming partners
in order to convey capability to
perform the entire requirement and
include special information such
as bonding capacity, available
financing sources such as letters
of credit or lines of credit, and any
special certifications you have such
as CMMI, ISO 9000, and facility
security clearances
• Consider every socioeconomic
certifications for which you might
be eligible
• Establish past performance as
a subcontractor and use key
employee experience for past
performance
Other sessions included “Planes,
Trains and Automobiles,”
“Prime Focus,” and “State of the
Union.” The “Planes, Trains and
Automobiles” session included
presentations from the U.S.
Department of Transportation and the
Virginia Department of Transportation
about contracting opportunities in
transportation. The “Prime Focus”
session included presentations from
large business prime contractors
about what goods and services they
need in order to fulfill their small
business subcontracting obligations.
The “State of the Union” featured
procurement officials from Virginia
Department of General Services,
eVA; Virginia Department of Social
Services; and Prince William County
Army Small Business Connection | January 2016
speaking about how to participate
in the state and local procurement
processes.
Exhibitors at the event included:
Arlington County, Department
of Management and Finance,
Arlington Economic Development,
BizLaunch, Dominion Power,
Federal Depository Insurance
Corporation (FDIC), George
Mason University, James Madison
University, Minority Business
Development Agency (MBDA),
U.S. Department of Commerce,
Metropolitan Washington Airport
Authority, Northrop Grumman, Prince
William County, Radford University,
STG Inc., U.S. Army Office of
Small Business Programs (OSBP),
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services, Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), U.S. Department
of Agriculture, U.S. Department
of Education, U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), U.S. Department of State,
U.S. Department of Transportation,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
U.S. Operations Command, U.S.
Senator Mark Warner, Virginia
Department of Alcohol Beverage
Control (ABC), Virginia Department
of General Services, eVirginia,
Virginia Department of Social
Services, Virginia Department of
Transportation, Virginia Military
Institute, and Virginia Tech. Over 100
visitors stopped by the Army OSBP
booth.
This multicultural conference was a
successful event. It was a great way
to convey each agency’s commitment
to the success of minority and
disadvantaged businesses in the
federal, state and local marketplaces.
The Army Office of Small Business
is unwavering in its commitment to
continue the mission of providing
“access to success.” ■
Submitted by:
Ms. Sharon R. Morrow
Program Manager
SBIR/STTR, Major Programs,
and Training
2015 Central Arkansas Federal
Contracting Opportunities Forum
Little Rock District Commander Col. Courtney W. Paul along with other panel members,
James Ferrell (U.S. Army Reserve 63rd Regional Support Command), Maj. Jamey Hartsel
(LRAFB 19th CONS), Michael Schreiber (National Park Services) and Elaine Nelson (Pine
Bluff Arsenal) address questions from small business owners during the event.
T
he 2015 Central Arkansas
Federal Contracting
Opportunities Forum was held
from June 2-3, 2015, at the Arkansas
Procurement Center in Little Rock,
Ark., and was a collaborative effort
involving many federal agencies
in the region. This inaugural joint
forum included representatives from
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Little Rock District, Central Arkansas
Veterans Healthcare System, 19th
Contracting Squadron (Little Rock Air
Force Base), National Park Service,
U.S. Department of Interior (Midwest
Region, St. Louis, Mo.), U.S. Army
Reserves 63d Regional Support
Command (Camp Pike, North Little
Rock, Ark.), Pine Bluff Arsenal (Pine
Bluff, Ark.), U.S. Small Business
Administration (Arkansas District),
and the Arkansas Procurement
Assistance Center. The event gave
contractors the opportunity to listen
and discuss federal government
contracting needs in the central
Arkansas area. ■
Submitted by:
Ms. Soila Reando
Procurement Analyst
Little Rock District, Army Corps of
Engineers
U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com
4
Page 3
Page 4
Back to Table of Contents
O
Federal Government Agencies Provide
“ACCESS TO SUCCESS”
ver 300 industry and
government representatives
gathered for the Access
to Success Multicultural Business
Conference on June 25th, 2015.
The event was co-hosted by
Senator Mark Warner; the Business
Development Assistance Group
(BDAG); Arlington Economic
Development, BizLaunch; and the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
A panel, emceed by Tara Palacios,
Director of BizLaunch, kicked off
the event. Panelists Victor Hoskins,
Director of Arlington Economic
Development; Maurice Jones, the
Secretary of Commerce and Trade
for the Commonwealth of Virginia,
and Senator Mark Warner provided
welcoming and opening remarks.
In his presentation, Senator Mark
Warner emphasized the importance
of ensuring that everybody
gets a fair opportunity to obtain
government contracts. In 2002,
his office conducted a disparity
study and learned that only 1.2
percent of Virginia’s dollars were
awarded to minority businesses
and that public universities were the
worst performing in achievement
of diversity in their contracting.
He immediately initiated weekly
reporting to increase the dollars to
minority businesses. He expressed
a desire to bring accountability to
Federal agencies to do business
with minority businesses. Senator
Warner also emphasized that
innovation and new ideas come
from small businesses. Virginia
is home to over 800,000 veterans
and the unemployment rate among
veterans is higher than that of the
general population. In order to
increase veteran employment, his
office is working on a professional
certification program whereby
soldiers, airmen, and sailors
can transfer their military skills
and receive civilian equivalent
certifications during their transition to
3
civilian life. He stated that one of the
biggest challenges to businesses is
access to capital. “Crowd funding”
shows promise to make access to
capital easier. The Small Business
Jobs Act of 2010 allowed for crowd
funding but the Securities and
Exchange Commission still needs
to pass regulations for it. He also
spoke about a shift in the workforce
and its shift in culture. Over 80,000
workers are now Millennials who
are more open to change, want to
do the right thing, and want to buy
from socially responsible companies.
They make up more of the “micro
entrepreneurs” (such as Uber cab
drivers, AirBnB Bed and Breakfast
managers, or those who might
have 1 or 2 side jobs or several
primary part time jobs) – those who
service an on-demand economy.
Over 50,000 micro entrepreneurs
service that type of economy. The
downfall is that there is no safety
net – i.e. unemployment insurance,
disability insurance, or Medicare –
for these entrepreneurs. Senator
Warner finished by saying “We can’t
guarantee success, but we can
guarantee a fair shot.”
The “Federal Prospectus” session
included presentations from
Veterans Affairs, Army, and the
State Department, who spoke about
what opportunities were available
at their agencies. Sharon Morrow
presented for the Army, identifying
what each Army command procures,
the portfolios receiving emphasis,
visibility and accountability for small
business achievement (knowledgebased services [KBS], FacilitiesRelated Services [FRS], and
Electronic Communications Services
[ECS]). She also spoke about the
greater emphasis on the SBIR/
STTR program to build our industrial
base. She finished by providing the
following marketing tips:
• Know what your target agency
buys
• Know your target agencies
Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs), policies and mandatory
sources of supplies and
services (including CHESS,
SourceAmerica, and BPAs)
• Use fpds.gov as a market research
tool (to identify who buys what
you sell; who received a contract
award, the dollar amount of the
award, when the contract expires,
etc.)
• Respond to Sources Sought
Notices and Requests for
Information (RFI)
• When responding to Sources
Sought Notices, include the
capability of your teaming partners
in order to convey capability to
perform the entire requirement and
include special information such
as bonding capacity, available
financing sources such as letters
of credit or lines of credit, and any
special certifications you have
such as CMMI, ISO 9000, and
facility security clearances
• Consider every socioeconomic
certifications for which you might
be eligible
• Establish past performance as
a subcontractor and use key
employee experience for past
performance
Other sessions included “Planes,
Trains and Automobiles,”
“Prime Focus,” and “State of the
Union.” The “Planes, Trains and
Automobiles” session included
presentations from the U.S.
Department of Transportation and
the VA Department of Transportation
about contracting opportunities in
transportation. The “Prime Focus”
session included presentations from
large business prime contractors
about what goods and services
need in order to fulfill their small
business subcontracting obligations.
The “State of the Union” featured
procurement officials from VA
Department of General Services,
eVA; VA Department of Social
Magazine | December 2015
Services; and Prince William County
speaking about how to participate
in the state and local procurement
processes.
Exhibitors at the event included:
Arlington County, Department
of Management and Finance,
Arlington Economic Development,
BizLaunch, Dominion Power,
Federal Depository Insurance
Corporation (FDIC), George
Mason University, James Madison
University, Minority Business
Development Agency (MBDA),
U.S. Department of Commerce,
Metropolitan Washington Airport
Authority, Northrop Grumman, Prince
William County, Radford University,
STG Inc., U.S. Army Office of
Small Business Programs (OSBP),
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services, Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), U.S. Department
of Agriculture, U.S. Department
of Education, U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), U.S. Department of State,
U.S. Department of Transportation,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
U.S. Operations Command, U.S.
Senator Mark Warner, Virginia
Department of Alcohol Beverage
Control (ABC), Virginia Department
of General Services, eVirginia,
Virginia Department of Social
Services, Virginia Department of
Transportation, Virginia Military
Institute, and Virginia Tech. Over 100
visitors stopped by the Army OSBP
booth.
This multicultural conference was
a successful event. It was a great
way to convey each agency’s
commitment to the success of
minority and disadvantaged
businesses in the federal, state and
local marketplaces. The Army Office
of Small Business is unwavering
in its commitment to continue the
mission of providing “access to
success.” ■
Submitted by:
Ms. Sharon R. Morrow
Program Manager
SBIR/STTR, Major Programs,
and Training
2015 Central Arkansas Federal
Contracting Opportunities Forum
Little Rock District Commander Col. Courtney W. Paul along with other panel members,
James Ferrell (U.S. Army Reserve 63rd Regional Support Command), Maj. Jamey Hartsel
(LRAFB 19th CONS), Michael Schreiber (National Park Services) and Elaine Nelson (Pine
Bluff Arsenal) address questions from small business owners during the event.
T
he 2015 Central Arkansas
Federal Contracting
Opportunities Forum was held
from June 2-3, 2015, at the Arkansas
Procurement Center in Little Rock,
Ark., and was a collaborative effort
involving many federal agencies
in the region. This inaugural joint
forum included representatives from
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Little Rock District, Central Arkansas
Veterans Healthcare System, 19th
Contracting Squadron (Little Rock Air
Force Base), National Park Service,
U.S. Department of Interior (Midwest
Region, St. Louis, Mo.), U.S. Army
Reserves 63d Regional Support
Command (Camp Pike, North Little
Rock, Ark.), Pine Bluff Arsenal (Pine
Bluff, Ark.), U.S. Small Business
Administration (Arkansas District),
and the Arkansas Procurement
Assistance Center. The event gave
contractors the opportunity to listen
and discuss federal government
contracting needs in the central
Arkansas area. ■
Submitted by:
Ms. Soila Reando
Procurement Analyst
Little Rock District, Army Corps of
Engineers
U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com
4
Page 5
Page 6
Back to Table of Contents
Midwest Small Business Symposium
“I know what it costs for you to put these proposals together
and I would hate for you not to be a viable contender in the
process because you didn’t put something together correctly or
left something out,” said Johnson.
Both Via and Harrison noted that Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) is
one of AMC’s Centers of Excellence, praising the Quad Cities
community as a strong partner with the Army — a sentiment
reinforced by the Army’s Director of Small Business, Tommy
Marks.
“Based on what I know about RIA and what the team has
shown me, I’d like to see this team sustain the excellence that
they’ve established,” said Marks. “Small businesses are part of
our National Security insurance policy. If you look back in our
history, small business, starting with this arsenal, created things
that we needed. And they then may grow into big businesses,
but the foundation has really been small business.”
Maj. Gen. Kevin G. O’Connell, Commanding General, U.S.
Army Sustainment Command took the opportunity to walk
through the 62 exhibitor booths during the event.
A feature at every year’s event is recognizing the Iowa and
Illinois Small Business of the Year. Ms. Vicky Miller, Director,
of Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
presented the Illinois award to Brenda Gillman of Pak Source.
Pak Source is a manufacturer of wood pallets, skids and
crates located in Rock Island, Illinois. Beth White, Government
Contracting Specialist, Center for Industrial Research and
Service (CIRAS) presented the Iowa award to Kathy Buxton
and Steve Jennings of Grasshorse Studios. Grasshorse is a
character animation, live action and visual effects studio in
Winfield, Iowa.
Tommy Marks, Director of Small Business Programs for the Department of the Army. Photo by Kevin Fleming, ASC Public Affairs.
op Army leadership and industry professionals came
together to discuss the industrial landscape of the
Army and the nation at the 8th Annual Midwest Small
Business Government Contracting Symposium, hosted by the
National Defense Industrial Association-Iowa/Illinois Chapter in
Moline, Ill., June 3-4.
T
Small Business Administration; and Tommy Marks, Director of
Small Business Programs for the Department of the Army.
This year’s theme, “Making Connections – Building Bridges”,
appropriately reflected the agenda of the event, which
included an Advanced Planning Briefing for Industry (APBI);
networking events, matchmaking and opportunities for industry
professionals; and concurrent presentations by small business
experts designed to inform industry how to be successful
in pursuing Army contracts. The event was attended by
over 600 people, with about one-third being government
representatives.
Nancy Small and Beth Scherr from AMC’s Office of Small
Business Programs shared that sentiment and attended the
event.
The APBI included keynote presentations from commanders
representing the major commands on Rock Island Arsenal,
as well as Gen. Dennis Via, commanding general, U.S. Army
Materiel Command; Harry Hallock, U.S. Army Deputy Assistant
Secretary of the Army for Procurement; Don Tison, Assistant
Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, Department of the Army; Maj. Gen.
Theodore C. Harrison III, Commanding General, U.S. Army
Contracting Command; Brian Castro, National Ombudsman,
5
Gen. Via highlighted the importance of APBIs. “I consider
these events a top priority for the Army Materiel Command,”
he said.
Maj. Gen. Harrison highlighted the APBI and its importance
on communication between the Army and industry, noting
ACC is actively creating other opportunities to enhance that
communication.
Melanie Johnson, Executive Director, ACC-Rock Island,
presented an overview of the center’s organizational structure,
mission areas, and small business statistics prior to presenting
requirements being worked by the center.
She encouraged industry to take the time to ask questions at
prep sessions and industry days, and stressed the importance
of quality checks while contractors are developing pricing
reports.
Army Small Business Connection | January 2016
New to the breakout sessions this year was a Q&A panel of
current and past contracting officers. Participants heard firsthand how to market to the government and where to focus
when responding to solicitations.
Tommy Marks, director of Small Business Programs for the
Department of the Army. Photo by Liz Adrian, ACC-RI Public
Affairs.
“The Power of Partnerships” session discussed teaming and
incorporated an example of a successful partnership between
Graybar and Document Imaging Dimensions, Inc., that sparked
after representatives from the two businesses met at last year’s
event.
Other sessions included “Are you Ready for Government
Contracting” presented by a panel of PTAC advisors; a Q&A
session with a small business advocacy panel; and “Preparing
for a Defense Contract Audit Agency” audit.
Plans are already underway for next year’s event, scheduled to
be held during the week of May 23rd, 2016. ■
Submitted by:
Ms. Dianne Wheeler
Army Sustainment Command
Contributing Writers:
Justin Graff, Army Sustainment Command
Liz Adrian, Army Contracting Command-Rock Island
Maj. Gen. Kevin G. O’Connell, Commanding General, U.S. Army
Sustainment Command and Ms. Nancy Small, AMC Office of Small
Business Programs. Photo by Liz Adrian, ACC-RI Public Affairs.
U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com
6
Page 5
Page 6
Back to Table of Contents
Midwest Small Business Symposium
“I know what it costs for you to put these proposals together
and I would hate for you not to be a viable contender in the
process because you didn’t put something together correctly or
left something out,” said Johnson.
Both Via and Harrison noted that Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) is
one of AMC’s Centers of Excellence, praising the Quad Cities
community as a strong partner with the Army — a sentiment
reinforced by the Army’s Director of Small Business, Tommy
Marks.
“Based on what I know about RIA and what the team has
shown me, I’d like to see this team sustain the excellence that
they’ve established,” said Marks. “Small businesses are part of
our National Security insurance policy. If you look back in our
history, small business, starting with this arsenal, created things
that we needed. And they then may grow into big businesses,
but the foundation has really been small business.”
Maj. Gen. Kevin G. O’Connell, Commanding General, U.S.
Army Sustainment Command took the opportunity to walk
through the 62 exhibitor booths during the event.
A feature at every year’s event is recognizing the Iowa and
Illinois Small Business of the Year. Ms. Vicky Miller, Director,
of Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
presented the Illinois award to Brenda Gillman of Pak Source.
Pak Source is a manufacturer of wood pallets, skids and
crates located in Rock Island, Illinois. Beth White, Government
Contracting Specialist, Center for Industrial Research and
Service (CIRAS) presented the Iowa award to Kathy Buxton
and Steve Jennings of Grasshorse Studios. Grasshorse is a
character animation, live action and visual effects studio in
Winfield, Iowa.
Tommy Marks, Director of Small Business Programs for the Department of the Army. Photo by Kevin Fleming, ASC Public Affairs.
T
op Army leadership and industry professionals came
together to discuss the industrial landscape of the
Army and the nation at the 8th Annual Midwest Small
Business Government Contracting Symposium, hosted by the
National Defense Industrial Association-Iowa/Illinois Chapter in
Moline, Ill., June 3-4.
Small Business Administration; and Tommy Marks, Director of
Small Business Programs for the Department of the Army.
This year’s theme, “Making Connections – Building Bridges”,
appropriately reflected the agenda of the event, which
included an Advanced Planning Briefing for Industry (APBI);
networking events, matchmaking and opportunities for industry
professionals; and concurrent presentations by small business
experts designed to inform industry how to be successful
in pursuing Army contracts. The event was attended by
over 600 people, with about one-third being government
representatives.
Nancy Small and Beth Scherr from AMC’s Office of Small
Business Programs shared that sentiment and attended the
event.
The APBI included keynote presentations from commanders
representing the major commands on Rock Island Arsenal,
as well as Gen. Dennis Via, commanding general, U.S. Army
Materiel Command; Harry Hallock, U.S. Army Deputy Assistant
Secretary of the Army for Procurement; Don Tison, Assistant
Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, Department of the Army; Maj. Gen.
Theodore C. Harrison III, Commanding General, U.S. Army
Contracting Command; Brian Castro, National Ombudsman,
5
Gen. Via highlighted the importance of APBIs. “I consider
these events a top priority for the Army Materiel Command,”
he said.
Maj. Gen. Harrison highlighted the APBI and its importance
on communication between the Army and industry, noting
ACC is actively creating other opportunities to enhance that
communication.
Melanie Johnson, Executive Director, ACC-Rock Island,
presented an overview of the center’s organizational structure,
mission areas, and small business statistics prior to presenting
requirements being worked by the center.
She encouraged industry to take the time to ask questions at
prep sessions and industry days, and stressed the importance
of quality checks while contractors are developing pricing
reports.
Magazine | December 2015
New to the breakout sessions this year was a Q&A panel of
current and past contracting officers. Participants heard firsthand how to market to the government and where to focus
when responding to solicitations.
Tommy Marks, director of Small Business Programs for the
Department of the Army. Photo by Liz Adrian, ACC-RI Public
Affairs.
“The Power of Partnerships” session discussed teaming and
incorporated an example of a successful partnership between
Graybar and Document Imaging Dimensions, Inc., that sparked
after representatives from the two businesses met at last year’s
event.
Other sessions included “Are you Ready for Government
Contracting” presented by a panel of PTAC advisors; a Q&A
session with a small business advocacy panel; and “Preparing
for a Defense Contract Audit Agency” audit.
Plans are already underway for next year’s event, scheduled to
be held during the week of May 23rd, 2016. ■
Submitted by:
Ms. Dianne Wheeler
Army Sustainment Command
Contributing Writers:
Justin Graff, Army Sustainment Command
Liz Adrian, Army Contracting Command-Rock Island
Maj. Gen. Kevin G. O’Connell, Commanding General, U.S. Army
Sustainment Command and Ms. Nancy Small, AMC Office of Small
Business Programs. Photo by Liz Adrian, ACC-RI Public Affairs.
U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com
6
Page 7
Page 8
Hundreds Attend Army-Hosted Small Business
Seminar at AUSA Annual Meeting
Army Small Business: Reaching out to South Texas
Back to Table of Contents
an Antonio, Texas (August 11, 2015) – Small
business professionals from the Department of
Defense and Small Business Administration met
with industry representatives Aug. 11 at the San Antonio
Business Opportunity Council “Small Business is Big
Business in Government Contracting” training workshop.
S
sessions -- a chance to speak directly to a room full of
small businesses -- are invaluable. Not only do we get to
learn about potential contractors and their capabilities, but
we get to dispel common misconceptions about working
with the government, which encourages new contractors to
compete for contracts.”
The objective of the workshop was to disseminate
information vital to the success of small business and
to provide those business representatives with the tools
necessary to expand within the federal market. Workshop
presenters included small business professionals from the
Army Medical Command and the Mission and Installation
Contracting Command.
Ochoa and other small business advocates sat on a panel
and answered questions from an assembly hall of small
business owners, managers and business development
personnel.
Lamont G. Kapec, the Head of the Contracting Activity
for the Army Medical Command, said, “Engagement
with industry provides tremendous return on the
investment. Having dialog with small businesses improves
communication, promotes competition, and helps the
Army avail itself of the efficiency, innovation, and positive
outcomes that small businesses deliver for our customers.”
Mission and Installation Contracting Command Small
Business Specialist Deanna Ochoa said, “These outreach
The San Antonio Business Opportunity Council promotes
the utilization of small business, small disadvantaged
business, and veteran owned, service-disabled veteranowned, historically underutilized business zone and
women-owned small business concerns throughout San
Antonio and South Texas. ■
Submitted by:
Mr. Pete Hunter
Associate Director
Army Medical Command
Office of Small Business Programs
Mr. Tommy Marks, Director, Army Office of Small Business Programs, moderates a panel focused on DoD Small Business, OCTOBER 13, at
the Army Small Business Seminar during the Association for the United States Army Annual Meeting.
or the third year in a row, the Army Office of Small
Business Programs (OSBP) hosted a Small
Business Seminar at the Association for the United
States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting. The seminar took
place October 13 and 14 at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center in Washington, DC and drew an
estimated 300 representatives from small and large
businesses as well as from government. It provided a
series of educational sessions aimed at helping small
businesses successfully do business with the Army as well
as with large Army prime contractors.
F
The theme this year was “Small Business Doing Big
Business: Supporting Army’s Win in a Complex World.”
Notable speakers included GEN Dennis Via, Commander,
Army Materiel Command; LTG Robert Ferrell, Army Chief
Information Officer/G-6; Mr. Kenyata Wesley, Acting
Director, Department of Dense Office of Small Business
Programs; and Ms. Jackie Robinson-Burnette, Associate
Administrator of Business Development, Small Business
Administration.
Panel topics included:
• Information on upcoming requirements and contracting
opportunities
• Competitive proposal writing
7
• Procurement Technical Assistance Centers
• Small Business Opportunities in the Small Business
Innovative Research/Small Business Technology
Transfer Program
New this year were matchmaking sessions between small
businesses and Army representatives from each of the
Heads of Contracting Activity and from OSBP.
In an attendee survey conducted after the seminar, 81
percent of respondents stated that they “learned new
information that will help them win Army contracts.”
The 2016 AUSA Annual meeting is scheduled for October
3 – 6, 2016. Army OSBP expects to host the seminar once
again.
For presentations and photos from this year’s event,
please see http://sellingtoarmy.com/2015-ausa-armysmall-business-seminar. ■
Submitted by:
Mr. Anthony Braun
Support Contractor
Army OSBP
Army Small Business Connection | January 2016
Small Business Administration Procurement Center Representative Sheena Little advises workshop attendees. Photo by Nina Ramon, Small
Business Administration.
U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com
8
Page 7
Page 8
Back to Table of Contents
Hundreds Attend Army-Hosted Small Business
Seminar at AUSA Annual Meeting
Army Small Business: Reaching out to South Texas
S
an Antonio, Texas (August 11, 2015) – Small
business professionals from the Department of
Defense and Small Business Administration met
with industry representatives Aug. 11 at the San Antonio
Business Opportunity Council “Small Business is Big
Business in Government Contracting” training workshop.
sessions -- a chance to speak directly to a room full of
small businesses -- are invaluable. Not only do we get to
learn about potential contractors and their capabilities, but
we get to dispel common misconceptions about working
with the government, which encourages new contractors to
compete for contracts.”
The objective of the workshop was to disseminate
information vital to the success of small business and
to provide those business representatives with the tools
necessary to expand within the federal market. Workshop
presenters included small business professionals from the
Army Medical Command and the Mission and Installation
Contracting Command.
Ochoa and other small business advocates sat on a panel
and answered questions from an assembly hall of small
business owners, managers and business development
personnel.
Lamont G. Kapec, the Head of the Contracting Activity
for the Army Medical Command, said, “Engagement
with industry provides tremendous return on the
investment. Having dialog with small businesses improves
communication, promotes competition, and helps the
Army avail itself of the efficiency, innovation, and positive
outcomes that small businesses deliver for our customers.”
Mission and Installation Contracting Command Small
Business Specialist Deanna Ochoa said, “These outreach
The San Antonio Business Opportunity Council promotes
the utilization of small business, small disadvantaged
business, and veteran owned, service-disabled veteranowned, historically underutilized business zone and
women-owned small business concerns throughout San
Antonio and South Texas. ■
Submitted by:
Mr. Pete Hunter
Associate Director
Army Medical Command
Office of Small Business Programs
Mr. Tommy Marks, Director, Army Office of Small Business Programs, moderates a panel focused on DoD Small Business, OCTOBER 13, at
the Army Small Business Seminar during the Association for the United States Annual Meeting.
F
or the third year in a row, the Army Office of Small
Business Programs (OSBP) hosted a Small
Business Seminar at the Association for the United
States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting. The seminar took
place October 13 and 14 at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center in Washington, DC and drew an
estimated 300 representatives from small and large
businesses as well as from government. It provided a
series of educational sessions aimed at helping small
businesses successfully do business with the Army as well
as with large Army prime contractors.
The theme this year was “Small Business Doing Big
Business: Supporting Army’s Win in a Complex World.”
Notable speakers included GEN Dennis Via, Commander,
Army Materiel Command; LTG Robert Ferrell, Army Chief
Information Officer/G-6; Mr. Kenyata Wesley, Acting
Director, Department of Dense Office of Small Business
Programs; and Ms. Jackie Robinson-Burnette, Associate
Administrator of Business Development, Small Business
Administration.
Panel topics included:
• Information on upcoming requirements and contracting
opportunities
• Competitive proposal writing
7
• Procurement Technical Assistance Centers
• Small Business Opportunities in the Small Business
Innovative Research/Small Business Technology
Transfer Program
New this year were matchmaking sessions between small
businesses and Army representatives from each of the
Heads of Contracting Activity and from OSBP.
In an attendee survey conducted after the seminar, 81
percent of respondents stated that they “learned new
information that will help them win Army contracts.”
The 2016 AUSA Annual meeting is scheduled for October
3 – 6, 2016. Army OSBP expects to host the seminar once
again.
For presentations and photos from this year’s event,
please see http://sellingtoarmy.com/2015-ausa-armysmall-business-seminar. ■
Submitted by:
Mr. Anthony Braun
Support Contractor
Army OSBP
Small Business Administration Procurement Center Representative Sheena Little advises workshop attendees. Photo by Nina Ramon, Small
Business Administration.
Magazine | December 2015
U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com
8
Page 9
Page 10
ACC Small Business Office Visits Battlefield
Army Office of Small Business Programs
Recognizes Outstanding Achievements for FY2014
Back to Table of Contents
he Army Office of Small
Business Programs (OSBP)
held its annual awards
program during the Small Business
Training Conference sponsored
by the Department of Defense
(DoD) Office of Small Business
Programs. On July 14, 2015, Army
OSBP Director, Mr. Tommy Marks,
presented awards to the Army Small
Business Specialist of the Year
(full and part-time), the Contracting
Professional of the Year, the
Program Manager of the Year, and
to the individual commands for their
outstanding achievements during FY
2014.
T
The Chickamauga Battlefield visitor center offered a wealth of artifacts, many from small businesses.
O
n June 2, 2015, personnel in the Headquarters
Army Contracting Command (HQ ACC) Office
of Small Business Programs journeyed to the
Chickamauga and Chattanooga Military National Park for a
teambuilding activity. Led by Mr. Mikhael Weitzel, HQ ACC
command historian, the one day staff ride centered on the
U.S. Army’s relationship with American small businesses
during the Civil War.
at the Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro,
Tennessee. ■
Submitted by:
Ms. Darlene Brakefield
Procurement Analyst
Women-Owned Small Business, Program Manager
Office of Small Business Programs HQ, US ACC
Located in northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee,
the park preserves the sites of two major battles of the
American Civil War: the Battle of Chickamauga and the
Chattanooga Campaign. In north Georgia and south
Tennessee, Union and Confederate armies clashed during
the fall of 1863 in some of the hardest fighting of the Civil
War. The prize was Chattanooga, a key rail center and the
gateway to the heart of the Confederacy.
At each of the six different stops the team not only
explored the campaign and battle, but the historian
also highlighted the significant importance that small
businesses played in the Army’s Campaign.
The route for the day followed the U.S. Army’s fabled
“Lightning Brigade” lead by COL John T. Wilder. Also of
particular interest to the group was the Army’s adoption of
the 7-shot Spencer repeating rifle which was first introduce
by Christopher Spencer after gaining an audience with
President Abraham Lincoln. Like many other companies,
the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company of Massachusetts
began as a small business.
This was the second in a series of staff rides offered by
the command historian’s office, the first having taken place
9
The Small Business Specialist of
the Year Award recognized the
small business specialist who
maintained an overall superior
small business program, the
Contracting Professional of the Year
Award recognized the contracting
professional who supported the
various aspects of the small
business program in a superior
manner and the small business
specialist, the Program Manager
of the Year Award recognized the
program manager who supported
the various aspects of the small
business program, the contracting
professional and the small business
specialist in a superior manner.
The individual command awards
recognized Major Commands
(MACOM) for their superior
performance in individual small
business program goal categories.
3.Contracting Professional of the
Year, Mr. Brian Martin, Director of
Contracting, U.S. Army Medical
Research and Materiel Command
(USAMRA), Mr. Pete Hunter,
U.S. Army Medical Command
(MEDCOM), Associate Director,
Office of Small Business Programs
and Mr. Jerome Maultsby,
Associate Director, Office of Small
Business Programs, USAMRA
accepted the award
4.Program Manager of the Year, Ms.
Prasanthi Tipparaju, Acquisition
Liaison Officer, Walter Reed
Institute of Research, USAMRA,
Mr. Pete Hunter, MEDCOM,
Associate Director, Office of
Small Business Programs and
Mr. Jerome Maultsby, Associate
Director, Office of Small Business
Programs, USAMRA accepted the
award
5.MACOM Small Business Program
of the Year, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Ms. Grace Fontana,
Associate Director, Office of Small
Business Programs accepted the
award
6.MACOM Small Disadvantaged
Business Program Award, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Ms.
Grace Fontana, Associate Director,
Office of Small Business Programs
accepted the award
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Ms. Grace Fontana, Associate
Director, Office of Small
Business Programs accepted the
award
8.MACOM Women-Owned Small
Business Program Awards (2
Awards)
• U.S. Army Materiel Command,
Ms. Nancy Small, Associate
Director, Office of Small
Business Programs accepted the
award
• U.S. Army National Guard
Bureau, Dr. Donna Pebbles,
Associate Director, Office of
Small Business Programs
accepted the award
9.MACOM HubZone Small Business
Program Award, U.S. Army
National Guard Bureau, Dr. Donna
Pebbles, Associate Director, Office
of Small Business Programs
accepted the award
■
Submitted by:
Ms. Cynthia Lee
Program Manager
Army Women-Owned Small
Business, 8(a)/Small Disadvantaged
Business & Historically Black
Colleges and Universities/Minority
Institutions Programs
7.MACOM Service-Disabled
Veteran-Owned Small Business
Program Awards (3 Awards)
Award recipients are as follows:
Picutred left to right: Mr. Christopher Evans, Ms. Constance
Jones, Mr. Mikael Weitzel (command historian), and Ms.
Darlene Brakefield take a group picture atop the bridge over the
Tennessee River at Bridgeport, AL. The US Army contracted for
the bridge’s reconstruction with a small business specializing in
bridge construction.
Army Small Business Connection | January 2016
1.Small Business Specialist of the
Year (Full-Time), Ms. Ivonne
Drake, Alaska District, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Army Materiel Command,
Ms. Nancy Small, Associate
Director, Office of Small
Business Programs accepted the
award
2.Small Business Specialist of
the Year (Part-Time), Ms. Kelly
Rhodes, Army Aviation and Missile
Command, U.S. Army Materiel
Command
• U.S. Army National Guard
Bureau, Dr. Donna Pebbles,
Associate Director, Office of
Small Business Programs
accepted the award
U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com
10
Page 9
Page 10
Back to Table of Contents
ACC Small Business Office Visits Battlefield
Army Office of Small Business Programs
Recognizes Outstanding Achievements for FY2014
T
he Army Office of Small
Business Programs (OSBP)
held its annual awards
program during the Small Business
Training Conference sponsored
by the Department of Defense
(DoD) Office of Small Business
Programs. On July 14, 2015, Army
OSBP Director, Mr. Tommy Marks,
presented awards to the Army Small
Business Specialist of the Year
(full and part-time), the Contracting
Professional of the Year, the
Program Manager of the Year, and
to the individual commands for their
outstanding achievements during FY
2014.
The Chickamauga Battlefield visitor center offered a wealth of artifacts, many from small businesses.
O
n June 2, 2015, personnel in the Headquarters
Army Contracting Command (HQ ACC) Office
of Small Business Programs journeyed to the
Chickamauga and Chattanooga Military National Park for a
teambuilding activity. Led by Mr. Mikhael Weitzel, HQ ACC
command historian, the one day staff ride centered on the
U.S. Army’s relationship with American small businesses
during the Civil War.
at the Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro,
Tennessee. ■
Submitted by:
Ms. Darlene Brakefield
Procurement Analyst
Women-Owned Small Business, Program Manager
Office of Small Business Programs HQ, US ACC
Located in northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee,
the park preserves the sites of two major battles of the
American Civil War: the Battle of Chickamauga and the
Chattanooga Campaign. In north Georgia and south
Tennessee, Union and Confederate armies clashed during
the fall of 1863 in some of the hardest fighting of the Civil
War. The prize was Chattanooga, a key rail center and the
gateway to the heart of the Confederacy.
At each of the six different stops the team not only
explored the campaign and battle, but the historian
also highlighted the significant importance that small
businesses played in the Army’s Campaign.
The route for the day followed the U.S. Army’s fabled
“Lightning Brigade” lead by COL John T. Wilder. Also of
particular interest to the group was the Army’s adoption of
the 7-shot Spencer repeating rifle which was first introduce
by Christopher Spencer after gaining an audience with
President Abraham Lincoln. Like many other companies,
the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company of Massachusetts
began as a small business.
This was the second in a series of staff rides offered by
the command historian’s office, the first having taken place
9
The Small Business Specialist of
the Year Award recognized the
small business specialist who
maintained an overall superior
small business program, the
Contracting Professional of the Year
Award recognized the contracting
professional who supported the
various aspects of the small
business program in a superior
manner and the small business
specialist, the Program Manager
of the Year Award recognized the
program manager who supported
the various aspects of the small
business program, the contracting
professional and the small business
specialist in a superior manner.
The individual command awards
recognized Major Commands
(MACOM) for their superior
performance in individual small
business program goal categories.
Award recipients are as follows:
Picutred left to right: Mr. Christopher Evans, Ms. Constance
Jones, Mr. Mikael Weitzel (command historian), and Ms.
Darlene Brakefield take a group picture atop the bridge over the
Tennessee River at Bridgeport, AL. The US Army contracted for
the bridge’s reconstruction with a small business specializing in
bridge construction.
Magazine | December 2015
3.Contracting Professional of the
Year, Mr. Brian Martin, Director of
Contracting, U.S. Army Medical
Research and Materiel Command
(USAMRA), Mr. Pete Hunter,
U.S. Army Medical Command
(MEDCOM), Associate Director,
Office of Small Business Programs
and Mr. Jerome Maultsby,
Associate Director, Office of Small
Business Programs, USAMRA
accepted the award
4.Program Manager of the Year, Ms.
Prasanthi Tipparaju, Acquisition
Liaison Officer, Walter Reed
Institute of Research, USAMRA,
Mr. Pete Hunter, MEDCOM,
Associate Director, Office of
Small Business Programs and
Mr. Jerome Maultsby, Associate
Director, Office of Small Business
Programs, USAMRA accepted the
award
5.MACOM Small Business Program
of the Year, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Ms. Grace Fontana,
Associate Director, Office of Small
Business Programs accepted the
award
6.MACOM Small Disadvantaged
Business Program Award, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Ms.
Grace Fontana, Associate Director,
Office of Small Business Programs
accepted the award
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Ms. Grace Fontana, Associate
Director, Office of Small
Business Programs accepted the
award
8.MACOM Women-Owned Small
Business Program Awards (2
Awards)
• U.S. Army Materiel Command,
Ms. Nancy Small, Associate
Director, Office of Small
Business Programs accepted the
award
• U.S. Army National Guard
Bureau, Dr. Donna Pebbles,
Associate Director, Office of
Small Business Programs
accepted the award
9.MACOM HubZone Small Business
Program Award, U.S. Army
National Guard Bureau, Dr. Donna
Pebbles, Associate Director, Office
of Small Business Programs
accepted the award
■
Submitted by:
Ms. Cynthia Lee
Program Manager
Army Women-Owned Small
Business, 8(a)/Small Disadvantaged
Business & Historically Black
Colleges and Universities/Minority
Institutions Programs
7.MACOM Service-Disabled
Veteran-Owned Small Business
Program Awards (3 Awards)
1.Small Business Specialist of the
Year (Full-Time), Ms. Ivonne
Drake, Alaska District, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Army Materiel Command,
Ms. Nancy Small, Associate
Director, Office of Small
Business Programs accepted the
award
2.Small Business Specialist of
the Year (Part-Time), Ms. Kelly
Rhodes, Army Aviation and Missile
Command, U.S. Army Materiel
Command
• U.S. Army National Guard
Bureau, Dr. Donna Pebbles,
Associate Director, Office of
Small Business Programs
accepted the award
U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com
10
Page 11
Page 12
2015 DoD Award Presentation to AMC
A Small Business Success Story
Back to Table of Contents
he Army Materiel Command (AMC), Office of
Small Business Programs (OSBP) has met and
exceeded its assigned goals and the demands of
an already hectic schedule. The OSBP team appears
to assess these challenges as great opportunities to
excel. AMC’s Small Business Office members have been
active participants performing outreach events in their
respective communities. The AMC team is championed
by Nancy Small, Associate Director, AMC OSBP. The
team’s hard work provided the small business community
with opportunities to appreciate the collaborative fruits of
their labor by being honored with a succession of awards.
Small recently attended the July 2015 Department of
Defense (DoD) Small Business Innovation Training in
Phoenix, Ariz., where she actively served on the panel
titled “How to be a Valuable Small Business Professional”.
Small’s experience and professionalism was well received
as she engaged the members of the audience.
A
ttending an Idaho Business
Opportunities Outreach Event
a small business owner, with a
sense of humor, approached the Walla
Walla District’s booth and proceeded
to introduce himself, using the name
of the previous Small Business
Program Deputy for the Walla Walla
District Army Corps of Engineers.
(NWW). Once laughter subsided,
RJS, a WOSB, SDB, 8(a) business
announced they wanted to be NWW’s
Best 8(a) Contractor and they asked
how they can achieve that goal. It was
suggested RJS propose on and be
awarded a smaller project, allowing an
opportunity to build a relationship with
NWW.
T
The AMC small business community awardees were
honored at the 2015 DoD Small Business Innovation
Training to have the Secretary of the Army Office of Small
Business Programs Director, Tommy Marks, present
their small business awards. Marks presented Nancy
Small, AMC Associate Director, OSBP, Redstone Arsenal,
Alabama, with the award for exceptional Woman-Owned
and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
Programs for 2014. Marks also presented the award
for the Department of the Army’s Best Part-Time Small
Business Specialist award for FY 14 to Kelly Rhodes of
Army Contracting Command-Redstone Arsenal.
Kenyata Wesley, DoD, Acting Director for the Office of
Small Business Programs also honored AMC’s small
business community by presenting the Department of
Defense Office of Small Business Programs’ Recognition
for Outstanding Performance award to Jennie DihnNguyen, Communications-Electronics Command,
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland and to the Mission
and Installation Contracting Command Small Business
Program Team for their accomplishments in FY14.
These awards were a direct reflection of the hard-work,
commitment, and dedication of the HQ AMC Principal and
Special Staff, Small Business Leaders, Principal Assistants
Responsible for Contracting and the Commanders across
the enterprise. ■
Mr. Tommy Marks, Director, Department of the Army Small
Business Programs presents Ms. Nancy Small, Associate
Director, AMC Office of Small Business Programs, with the FY
2014 Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Award
for Exceptional Program Support.
When an acquisition timeline had
been negatively affected, leaving
NWW at risk on another project, RJS
was contacted. An opportunity as an
8(a) sole source was awarded to RJS
for the Little Goose Adult Fishway
Controls Upgrade. RJS moved quickly
from an award at Thanksgiving 2014
to mobilization in early January and
completion by the end of February.
Even at this pace, they took the time
to offer suggestions for time and
cost savings. When issues with the
specified control algorithm arose
after commissioning, RJS quickly reengaged to support NWW.
RJS completed the project within
budget and on time, confirming their
reputation.
Recently, RJS competed in a full and
open competition, being awarded the
Lower Granite Telecommunications
System Upgrade.
RJS, a successful WOSB, SDB, 8(a) is
working towards being one of NWW’s
Best 8(a) Contractors. ■
Submitted by:
Ms. Kay Baltz
Office of Small Business Programs,
US Army Corps of Engineers,
Northwestern Division Walla Walla
District
Army receives 2015 Champions of Veteran
Enterprise Award at Veteran Entrepreneur Event
Mr. Marks poses with Ms. Nancy Small, Associate Director, AMC
Office of Small Business Programs and the AMC Small Business
Team after receiving the FY 2014 Woman Owned Small Business
and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Awards
for Exceptional Program Support.
Submitted by:
Army Material Command
Office of Small Business Programs
Mr. Kenyata Wesley, Department of Defense, Acting Director
for the Office of Small Business Programs, presents Mr. Mark
Massie, Assistant Director, Mission Installation and Contracting
Command (MICC) and the MICC Small Business Team with
the Office of Small Business Programs’ Recognition for
Outstanding Performance.
11
RJS competed and was awarded
the Swallow Park Tile Replacement
project in the fall of 2014. The project
had challenges with the existing grade
and warranty issues. It appeared the
only solution would be to add $40,000
to build a retaining wall, remove
playground toys, and reset at different
elevations, creating Americans with
Disabilities Act issues to address.
RJS overcame the challenges
with innovation and teamwork with
NWW. Without additional cost, a
safe playground with cushioned fall
protection was completed for the local
community and visitors to enjoy. At the
project completion, relationships were
established and RJS had developed a
good reputation at NWW.
Army Small Business Connection | January 2016
R
ecognizing the Army’s efforts
at utilizing service-disabled
veteran-owned businesses
(SDVOSBs) in contracting during
fiscal year (FY) 2014, the National
Veteran Small Business Coalition
(NVSBC) presented the Army, as well
as several Army buying commands,
with Champions of Veteran Enterprise
awards on June 9, during the annual
Veteran Entrepreneur Training
Symposium (VETS) in Norfolk, VA.
In order to receive the award,
agencies had to exceed the three
percent federal statutory goal for prime
awards to SDVOSBs in FY 2014. The
Army awarded 4.12 percent of a total
$60.6 billion in contracts to SDVOSBs,
amounting to $2.5 billion.
The Army buying commands in the
chart provided also received the
Champions of Veteran award.
At VETS, Army representatives took
the opportunity to network with and
mentor SDVOSB entrepreneurs
by exhibiting and participating in
matchmaking.
“Engaging with small business owners
at events like [VETS] is a key part the
Army’s Service-Disabled VeteranOwned Small Business Program and
has been instrumental in getting the
Army over the three percent goal,” Mr.
James Lloyd, Program Manager, Army
Service-Disabled / Veteran-Owned
and HUBZone Programs, said. ■
Submitted by:
Mr. Anthony Braun
Support Contractor
Army OSBP
Command
FY 2014 SDVOSB
Achievement
Army Materiel Command
3.01 percent
Army Corps of Engineers
5.38 percent
Army National Guard Bureau
13.29 percent
Army Medical Command
8.59 percent
Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
3.14 percent
Army Intelligence and Security Command
7.97 percent
U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com
12
Page 11
Page 12
Back to Table of Contents
T
2015 DoD Award Presentation to AMC
he Army Materiel Command (AMC), Office of
Small Business Programs (OSBP) has met and
exceeded its assigned goals and the demands of
an already hectic schedule. The OSBP team appears
to assess these challenges as great opportunities to
excel. AMC’s Small Business Office members have been
active participants performing outreach events in their
respective communities. The AMC team is championed
by Nancy Small, Associate Director, AMC OSBP. The
team’s hard work provided the small business community
with opportunities to appreciate the collaborative fruits of
their labor by being honored with a succession of awards.
Small recently attended the July 2015 Department of
Defense (DoD) Small Business Innovation Training in
Phoenix, Ariz., where she actively served on the panel
titled “How to be a Valuable Small Business Professional”.
Small’s experience and professionalism was well received
as she engaged the members of the audience.
The AMC small business community awardees were
honored at the 2015 DoD Small Business Innovation
Training to have the Secretary of the Army Office of Small
Business Programs Director, Tommy Marks, present
their small business awards. Marks presented Nancy
Small, AMC Associate Director, OSBP, Redstone Arsenal,
Alabama, with the award for exceptional Woman-Owned
and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
Programs for 2014. Marks also presented the award
for the Department of the Army’s Best Part-Time Small
Business Specialist award for FY 14 to Kelly Rhodes of
Army Contracting Command-Redstone Arsenal.
Kenyata Wesley, DoD, Acting Director for the Office of
Small Business Programs also honored AMC’s small
business community by presenting the Department of
Defense Office of Small Business Programs’ Recognition
for Outstanding Performance award to Jennie DihnNguyen, Communications-Electronics Command,
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland and to the Mission
and Installation Contracting Command Small Business
Program Team for their accomplishments in FY14.
These awards were a direct reflection of the hard-work,
commitment, and dedication of the HQ AMC Principal and
Special Staff, Small Business Leaders, Principal Assistants
Responsible for Contracting and the Commanders across
the enterprise. ■
ttending an Idaho Business
Opportunities Outreach Event
a small business owner, with a
sense of humor, approached the Walla
Walla District’s booth and proceeded
to introduce himself, using the name
of the previous Small Business
Program Deputy for the Walla Walla
District Army Corps of Engineers.
(NWW). Once laughter subsided,
RJS, a WOSB, SDB, 8(a) business
announced they wanted to be NWW’s
Best 8(a) Contractor and they asked
how they can achieve that goal. It was
suggested RJS propose on and be
awarded a smaller project, allowing an
opportunity to build a relationship with
NWW.
Mr. Tommy Marks, Director, Department of the Army Small
Business Programs presents Ms. Nancy Small, Associate
Director, AMC Office of Small Business Programs, with the FY
2014 Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Award
for Exceptional Program Support.
RJS competed and was awarded
the Swallow Park Tile Replacement
project in the fall of 2014. The project
had challenges with the existing grade
and warranty issues. It appeared the
only solution would be to add $40,000
to build a retaining wall, remove
playground toys, and reset at different
elevations, creating Americans with
Disabilities Act issues to address.
RJS overcame the challenges
with innovation and teamwork with
NWW. Without additional cost, a
safe playground with cushioned fall
protection was completed for the local
community and visitors to enjoy. At the
project completion, relationships were
established and RJS had developed a
good reputation at NWW.
When an acquisition timeline had
been negatively affected, leaving
NWW at risk on another project, RJS
was contacted. An opportunity as an
8(a) sole source was awarded to RJS
for the Little Goose Adult Fishway
Controls Upgrade. RJS moved quickly
from an award at Thanksgiving 2014
to mobilization in early January and
completion by the end of February.
Even at this pace, they took the time
to offer suggestions for time and
cost savings. When issues with the
specified control algorithm arose
after commissioning, RJS quickly reengaged to support NWW.
RJS completed the project within
budget and on time, confirming their
reputation.
Recently, RJS competed in a full and
open competition, being awarded the
Lower Granite Telecommunications
System Upgrade.
RJS, a successful WOSB, SDB, 8(a) is
working towards being one of NWW’s
Best 8(a) Contractors. ■
Submitted by:
Ms. Kay Baltz
Office of Small Business Programs,
US Army Corps of Engineers,
Northwestern Division Walla Walla
District
Army receives 2015 Champions of Veteran
Enterprise Award at Veteran Entrepreneur Event
Mr. Marks poses with Ms. Nancy Small, Associate Director, AMC
Office of Small Business Programs and the AMC Small Business
Team after receiving the FY 2014 Woman Owned Small Business
and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Awards
for Exceptional Program Support.
Submitted by:
Army Material Command
Office of Small Business Programs
Mr. Kenyata Wesley, Department of Defense, Acting Director
for the Office of Small Business Programs, presents Mr. Mark
Massie, Assistant Director, Mission Installation and Contracting
Command (MICC) and the MICC Small Business Team with
the Office of Small Business Programs’ Recognition for
Outstanding Performance.
11
A
A Small Business Success Story
Magazine | December 2015
R
ecognizing the Army’s efforts
at utilizing service-disabled
veteran-owned businesses
(SDVOSBs) in contracting during
fiscal year (FY) 2014, the National
Veteran Small Business Coalition
(NVSBC) presented the Army, as well
as several Army buying commands,
with Champions of Veteran Enterprise
awards on June 9, during the annual
Veteran Entrepreneur Training
Symposium (VETS) in Norfolk, VA.
In order to receive the award,
agencies had to exceed the three
percent federal statutory goal for prime
awards to SDVOSBs in FY 2014. The
Army awarded 4.12 percent of a total
$60.6 billion in contracts to SDVOSBs,
amounting to $2.5 billion.
The Army buying commands in the
chart provided also received the
Champions of Veteran award.
At VETS, Army representatives took
the opportunity to network with and
mentor SDVOSB entrepreneurs
by exhibiting and participating in
matchmaking.
“Engaging with small business owners
at events like [VETS] is a key part the
Army’s Service-Disabled VeteranOwned Small Business Program and
has been instrumental in getting the
Army over the three percent goal,” Mr.
James Lloyd, Program Manager, Army
Service-Disabled / Veteran-Owned
and HUBZone Programs, said. ■
Submitted by:
Mr. Anthony Braun
Support Contractor
Army OSBP
Command
FY 2014 SDVOSB
Achievement
Army Materiel Command
3.01 percent
Army Corps of Engineers
5.38 percent
Army National Guard Bureau
13.29 percent
Army Medical Command
8.59 percent
Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
3.14 percent
Army Intelligence and Security Command
7.97 percent
U.S. Army OSBP • Building the Future of the Army through Small Business Utilization | www.sellingtoarmy.com
12
Page 13
Page 14
Back to Table of Contents
FY 2015 Army Small Business Performance
W
hile FY2015 Army Data has not yet been
finalized by the SBA, it appears the Small
Business, Small Disadvantaged Business,
Women-Owned Small Business and Service-Disabled
Veteran-Owned Small Business goals of 26.50 percent,
11.00 percent, 4.80 percent, and 4.10 percent have all
been surpassed.
There was a slight decrease in Small Business and
HUBZone achievement from FY14 to FY15, but a
slight increase in Small Disadvantaged Business and
Women-Owned Small Business. There was a fairly
large increase of 0.61% in Service-Disabled VeteranOwned Small Business performance.
FY2013 was the first fiscal year Army achieved all
statutory goals and has continued to do so in FY2014 and
FY2015. ■
Submitted by:
Burt Stanko
Support Contractor
Army OSBP
Production of the
next issue is already
underway!
Please submit articles to:
[email protected]
Article submission deadline:
February 12, 2016
Feedback
Let us know what you think about the magazine
by filling out our contact form at:
http://www.sellingtoarmy.com/contact
U.S. Army OSBP
Our 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 Vision
To 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
13
Army Small Business Connection | January 2016
Page 13
Page 14
FY 2015 Army Small Business Performance
W
hile FY2015 Army Data has not yet been
finalized by the SBA, it appears the Small
Business, Small Disadvantaged Business,
Women-Owned Small Business and Service-Disabled
Veteran-Owned Small Business goals of 26.50 percent,
11.00 percent, 4.80 percent, and 4.10 percent have all
been surpassed.
There was a slight decrease in Small Business and
HUBZone achievement from FY14 to FY15, but a
slight increase in Small Disadvantaged Business and
Women-Owned Small Business. There was a fairly
large increase of 0.61% in Service-Disabled VeteranOwned Small Business performance.
FY2013 was the first fiscal year Army achieved all
statutory goals and has continued to do so in FY2014 and
FY2015. ■
Submitted by:
Burt Stanko
Support Contractor
Army OSBP
Production of the
next issue is already
underway!
Please submit articles to:
[email protected]
Article submission deadline:
February 12, 2016
Feedback
Let us know what you think about the magazine
by filling out our contact form at:
http://www.sellingtoarmy.com/contact
U.S. Army OSBP
Our 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 Vision
To 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
13
Army Small Business Connection | January 2016
Back Cover
Front Cover