RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The Air Education and Training Command Contracting Squadron reached "beyond goals" to earn a prestigious Air Force-wide business achievement award last year.
The contracting squadron, which consists of 74 civilians, nine officers and one enlisted Airman, received the 2010 Secretary of the Air Force Small Business Programs Director's "Beyond Goals" Award.
The award, which was presented during the Air Force Small Business Fall Training Conference in Washington, D.C., was one of several that recognized Air Force individuals and activities for showing outstanding performance toward employing small businesses to make contributions to the Air Force mission.
"This was the first year for the Beyond Goals award to be earned by an organization - an inaugural award - and the AETC Contracting Squadron is honored to receive recognition for our 2010 efforts," said Lt. Col. Alice Treviño, AETC CONS commander. "Our entire squadron is committed to achieving and identifying small business solutions and contributing to the Air Force Small Business Program's vision to reach beyond goals."
According to the Air Force Office of Small Business Programs, the Beyond Goals Award "pushes past percentages to ensure the warfighter's access to a comprehensive set of capabilities in support of Air Force priorities" and "realizes the value of small business is truly measured by what small businesses positively contribute to the mission and
priorities of the Air Force."
Colonel Treviño and Pat Barber, AETC CONS small business specialist, accepted the award, which was presented by Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton, on behalf of the squadron.
Ms. Barber, who earned the Secretary of the Air Force Small Business Programs Special Achievement Award in 2008, said one of the reasons for the squadron's effectiveness is the "teaming approach created and reinforced by the squadron's Small Business Office."
"This commitment to partnering and collaboration establishes an integrated team environment," she said. "The team consists of the contracting officer, contracting specialist/buyer and the contracting customer. Also, when a contracting officer or buyer engages the small business specialist early in the acquisition process, it is a major accomplishment. By being proactive, the entire acquisition process benefits."
The Air Force Office of Small Business Programs noted that the AETC Contracting Squadron surpassed most of its small business goals, "plowing more than $367 million in the nation's economic engine" and "aggressively pursued new opportunities for small business firms, designing acquisition strategies that effectively employed the capabilities of small businesses across the nation."