JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Members of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command executed more than 27,000 contract actions valued at almost $5.2 billion through the final hours of fiscal 2021 to ensure installation readiness requirements across the Army while also supporting emerging contract needs in support of COVID-19 and Operation Allies Welcome.
The command also administered more than 392,000 Government Purchase Card transactions by cardholders across the Army valued at more than $670 million during fiscal 2021, which ended Sept. 30, representing more than 60% of both spend and transactions for the Army Contracting Command.
Brig. Gen. Doug Lowrey, who has led the MICC since May 2021, praised the command’s dedicated workforce for its fiscal 2021 performance during a challenging year.
“Congratulations on an incredible effort for end-of-year operations to successfully close out fiscal 2021,” Lowrey said. “The numbers are impressive for a command of 1,367 Soldiers and Army civilians, but the impact you make across the Army to fight and win is immeasurable. Your selfless efforts cement your legacy in the MICC and for the Army.”
Mark Massie, the assistant director of the MICC Office of Small Business Programs, said the efforts of the command’s acquisition professionals resulted in the MICC exceeding all five small business goals in fiscal 2021 for the seventh consecutive year.
Contract actions awarded to American small businesses by the MICC totaled more than $2.5 billion. Massie added the command continued to transition to a virtual environment in its small business efforts to reinforce its transparency to industry, increase competition and continue to strengthen the Defense industrial base.
“This year we took a giant step. In March 2021 we held our first ever command-wide virtual advance planning briefings for industry. This highly successful, week-long event had more than 1,800 industry and government registrants,” Massie said. “The best part was it did not cost small businesses a dime to attend the event. An over 95% approval rate was received from industry, and this similar format will take us into fiscal 2022 as we continue to battle through the pandemic.”
Following the March APBI, approximately 50 small business professionals, contract specialists, contracting officers, division chiefs, procurement analysts and directors from throughout the MICC and mission partner representatives teamed with the Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Center to conduct approximately 700 one-on-one virtual meetings with more than 290 small businesses in April.
Also, numerous MICC contracting Soldiers and civilians across the country continued their support of contract requirements throughout the year as part of the Army’s response to fight the spread of COVID-19 and transition of Army workforce back to the office.
During fiscal 2021, acquisition professionals from throughout the command executed 252 contract actions valued at more than $28 million in support of COVID requirements. An additional 2,200-plus GPC transactions totaling more than $11.9 million were managed by MICC agency and organization program coordinators in support of the pandemic.
The final quarter of fiscal 2021 also called for responsive actions by MICC contracting professionals to meet Department of State acquisition requirements in support of Operation Allies Welcome. MICC members from across the 419th and 418th Contracting Support Brigades provided expedited contract requirements for Army installations hosting the relocation of special immigrant applicants.
As the fiscal years drew toward its close, Lowrey said he saw many accounts of the great work being accomplished by everyone across the command and believes each contract, regardless of dollar value, made an impact.
“Your work speaks for itself. As we all know, when one fiscal year closes out, another year begins,” he said. “The keys to another successful year will be to remain focused on creating a positive work environment, forging relationships, inspiring ownership, and empowering MICC personnel to ‘Live the Legacy.’”
Guiding the MICC workforce over this next fiscal year is a commander’s intent first introduced during a September town hall that outlines Lowrey’s updated priorities. Those priorities include action people first, deliver comprehensive contracting effects, influence readiness, and modernize for the future.