Travis builds partnerships

Published June 12, 2012
By Tyler Grimes
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Partnerships with the small business community directly contribute to the success of today's Air Force. Without partnerships, our Airmen would not have the training or equipment they need to continue the mission. Forging these vital bonds is the responsibility of one unit, in particular.

The 60th Contracting Squadron works to establish these types of partnerships with small businesses in the local area. Dawneen Williams, 60th CONS director of operations hosts weekly meetings with small business representatives to discuss current contract opportunities as well as possible partnerships in the future.

Williams says that these types of contracts help not only the individual businesses but are a driving force behind our economy.

In fact, that is one of the reasons the United States Congress passed the Small Business Act in 1953, creating the Small Business Administration, according to the SBA website. Today, the SBA mandates that a certain percentage of government contracts be awarded to small businesses.

For Travis, this mandate translates into 65 percent of the contracts that the 60th CONS awards. In the last fiscal quarter, Williams and her team exceeded their goal by awarding 83 percent of the contracts to small businesses.

"Small business is the basis of the economy," she said. "In order to keep the economy stable, we work with these companies - because when they go out of business so does the community."

When these objectives are met, it helps Travis by making sure the products and services needed are readily available.

"When we have urgent needs, it's typically the small business vendor that can supply it to us immediately," she said.

Without the suppliers, Williams cautions it would be very difficult to get the assets Travis needs in emergencies.

In addition to awarding contracts, the 60th CONS assists small businesses by showing them how to register with the SBA, which is a perquisite to doing business with any federal agency. During the registration process, Williams helps these companies determine if they qualify as a small business based on numerous factors including the number of employees and type of industry the company is in. She also guides them to the various websites Travis uses to announce new contracting opportunities.

Once a contract is announced and bids are submitted, the 60th CONS reviews the offers to find the best deal, not just the lowest price according to Capt. Kelly Gerlach, 60th CONS acquisition flight commander.

"We try to get the best possible price for the government, while also being fair to the contractors," Gerlach said.

Construction contracts make up the majority of the small business contracts the 60th CONS awards. As a result, these contracts have far-reaching effects on the local economy.

"The construction contracts are generally three to five years," Williams said. "With these long-term agreements, the contractors are able to hire more people and gain significant experience that can help them obtain jobs in future and use Travis as a reference."

Williams indicates that when contractors create jobs it benefits the government as well because new employees equate to new tax payers.

"The contracts are a win-win for both the government and small business community," she said.