Units combine to streamline contracting processes

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ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  As this current fiscal year winds down and year-end procurement activities ramp up, planning for the new joint contracting squadron within Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson continues.

Most of the Regional Contracting Office-Alaska at Fort Richardson and the entire 3rd Contracting Squadron here will combine functions and standup as the new 673rd Contracting Squadron in June 2010.

This new organization will provide all procurement functions for U. S. Army Alaska, Joint Base, Air Force mission units and any tenants currently receiving contract support from the RCO-AK or 3rd CONS. The remaining staff from the Regional Contracting Office, Alaska will support Army Expeditionary Contracting Command-Pacific procurement requirements.

The new 673rd Contracting Squadron is up to the challenge to support approximately 12,000 military, 30,000 dependents, 4,000 civilian and nonappropriated funds employees and 20,000 military retirees. The 673rd CONS will also support small businesses in the community and will be a huge part of the economic engine within the Anchorage area. Currently, the value of goods and service contracts that will be part of the new squadron is worth more than $811 million with approximately $85 million spent annually on consumable goods. The purpose of combining these two procurement offices is to save taxpayer dollars by combining resources and contracts whenever possible and to improve contract support.

To ensure all JBER customers continue to receive the same outstanding contract support they have become accustomed to, the 673rd CONS will reside on the Elmendorf side of the joint installation with a storefront at Fort Richardson. These two offices will provide the entire JBER community excellent service that answers all their contractual needs.

For questions or concerns about the new 673rd Contracting Squadron or specific procurement needs, call the RCO at 384-7087 or 3rd CONS at 552-2810, or call the JBER Enterprise Team at 384-JBER (5237) and via e-mail at jber.qa@elmendorf.af.mil or jber.qa@richardson.army.mil. 

Questions and Answers on contracting:

Q: What is the economic impact of this change? 

A: At this time, in the Anchorage area, we see no significant change in the economic impact of the bases. We are not forecasting any positions being abolished at this time, therefore there would be no loss of wage income. There may be some savings to the government from consolidating contracts from local vendors, however, those have not been determined at this time.

Q: How will this affect contracting with outside businesses? 

A: The host unit on JBER (tentatively the 673rd) will be the successor in interest to current contracts between the 3rd Wing, the United States Army Garrison-Alaska (for Fort Richardson services and goods) and our contractors. In those cases where both Fort Richardson and Elmendorf have current contracts for the same or similar services and goods, the 673rd will attempt to use a single contract rather than multiple contracts. As contracts expire, or new contracts are written, they will be accomplished with Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson for installation support functions.

(Information provided by the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Enterprise team)