Contracting offices meet to create efficiencies

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua Magbanua
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Civilian and military defense contracting representatives gathered on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Jan. 24, 2017, to discuss issues surrounding the U.S. contracting community in Europe.

The Air Force Installation Contracting Agency in Europe organized the meeting to allow representatives to exchange ideas for smarter, faster, and more efficient ways to work. Featured speakers emphasized the need for contracting units from all branches of the U.S. military to work together for optimum mission accomplishment.

“Today’s event is about sharing information,” said Capt. Marco Campos, AFICA operations staff officer. “What we’re trying to do is consolidate information, combine efforts, and hold joint initiatives, so we can leverage our current funds for other procurements.”

“Now that we are sharing information, we have better market research,” he added.

Contracting agencies represented included the Defense Finance & Accounting Service, Defense Logistics Agency, Defense Acquisition University, Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, and Air Force, Army, and Navy contracting units.

Participants discussed how to efficiently acquire supplies and material, the state of the enlisted contracting force, the warranting process, and mission briefs of various contracting units.

“The big item is savings, and furthermore, using those savings to buy more weapons systems and other merchandise for military readiness,” Campos said. “With a smaller budget this is necessary, and we are confident that this will take us where we need to be so our military can be ready.”

“We’re providing guidance for the next generation of the contracting workforce. We’re leaning towards sharing more information and working in a more joint environment,” he added.

With the myriad of talking points and subjects discussed throughout the meeting, two principles summed them up: saving taxpayer dollars, and making the U.S. military as efficient as possible.