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305th CONS hosts installation transformation roadshow

  • Published
  • By Lidija Erazo
  • 305th Contracting Squadron
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  Sue C. Payton, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Acquisition, issued a memorandum Oct. 31, 2007 to all major commands informing them of the Secretary of the Air Force's approval of a strategic sourcing initiative called Installation Acquisition Transformation.

This initiative is the restructuring of all continental U.S. installation contracting and acquisition organizations into five geographic regional centers under one lead MAJCOM.

"The intent of IAT is to provide regionalized contracting support through an efficient structure better suited to support strategic sourcing objectives," Assistant Secretary Payton stated in her memorandum.

Under the new structure, the Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, will head five geographically based installation acquisition groups strategically located throughout the country, leaving only small contracting squadrons at each installation. The majority of the purchasing will be performed by the RCs, but contracting squadrons at each installation will be performing base-specific contracting actions and providing business advice to the base customers. 

Additionally, each contracting squadron will retain the government purchase card program and the quality assurance program, and will also continue to provide the contingency contracting support when needed. McGuire Air Force Base falls under the North East Region, Hampton Roads RC, located at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

As part of the implementation plan, teams of contracting officials are traveling to affected installations and conducting IAT Road Shows to explain the change, answer questions and ease some of the fears this change may create among the workforce and the local community. The IAT Road Show began during the early part of 2008 with a plan to brief each installation by early fall. The anticipated timeframe for completing the transformation is three to five years, beginning in fiscal year 2010. 

Colonel Nannette Benitez, the newly-appointed director of the North East Region Hampton Roads and Mary Reynolds, Secretary of the Air Force Office for Small Business Program visited McGuire Aug. 28 as part of the IAT Road Show to brief the change to the members of 305th Contracting Squadron and base leadership.

The series of briefings began early in the morning by introducing the change to CONS leadership and stressed the importance of their roles in the successful implementation of IAT. This briefing was followed by a 90-minute briefing to CONS members. Colonel Benitez was able to provide answers to many of the contracting personnel's questions, and at the same time she took with her some suggestions on how to make the transition smoother. Representatives from both the Civilian Personnel and local union offices were also on hand to answer questions and learn about the change.

During the visit, a town hall meeting was held to address concerns from the local small businesses on the impact IAT may have on their ability to participate in procurement opportunities at McGuire . Representatives from approximately 35 small businesses asked questions and voiced their concerns about the potentially negative impact IAT may have on their businesses. Colonel Benitez and Ms. Reynolds answered their questions and provided all available information about the change, which seemed to ease some of the anxiety clearly visible at the beginning of the town hall meeting.

The IAT Road Show concluded with Colonel Benitez briefing Colonel Balan Ayyar, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, and Col. Michael Carrell, 305th Mission Support Group commander. Colonel Ayyar's main concern was any possible degradation in customer support due to the distance of the RC, however, Colonel Benitez assured the wing commander that every precaution was being taken to make the transition as seamless as possible to the base customers while ensuring top-notch customer service.

As the implementation of IAT moves forward, the contracting professionals from 305th CONS stand ready to assist their customers with any challenge experienced as a result of this change.

To learn more about the IAT, call the base contracting office at (609) 754-5929, or visit the IAT Web site http://ww3.safaq.hq.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.aspasp/id=11457.