Small business outreach pays off for 82 CONS

  • Published
  • By Danny Webb
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Air Education and Training Command (AETC) announced the 82nd Contracting Squadron has been awarded the Special Achievement award in Small Business for meeting all of their small business goals for fiscal year 2012.

One of the major factors in the unit receiving the award was 82nd CONS finding items that were previously not able to purchased through small businesses and then seeking out small businesses that could satisfy those mission requirements.

Another bonus was being able to make the purchases for less money or equal to the same amount paid by the large business community.

In addition, Renee Gifford, Program Flight chief of plans, won the 2012 AETC Tandy Weaver Memorial Award. The award recognizes Air Force individuals and activities that have exhibited outstanding performance toward employing small businesses to make key contributions to the Air Force mission and is named after the former 82nd CONS business operations director.

Gifford was also awarded the Air Force-level award for outstanding outreach and community involvement with local small businesses, specifically for her outreach and involvement in expanding the small business opportunities for Sheppard Air Force Base.

When asked about receiving the awards, Gifford deflected the credit back to her co-workers.

"This award is a joint effort," she said. "It's not just me, but the 82nd Contracting Squadron that should get the credit."

Gifford also emphasized the importance of the contracting team for seeking out and finding small businesses.

"Small business is the backbone to the Air Force," she said.

According to Vashti Hawkins, 82nd CONS contract specialist, there are many small businesses that can compete for government contracts.

"Our small business program targets small, disadvantaged and service-disabled veteran owned businesses," Hawkins said. "We do extensive research on potential businesses to meet the Air Force's annual small business goals and to get them to compete for work in the federal government."

Hawkins also said they reach out to small businesses owned by women and Historically Under-utilized Business Zone (HUBZone) companies, which are under-utilized businesses in urban and rural areas looking to grow.

Gifford also praised the work of Senior Airman Andrew Hoffman, a constructing contract administrator, who played a valuable part by awarding contracts to renovate multiple buildings including two dining facilities and two communications buildings.

"A local small business saves the Air Force money by being local versus a company that is out of state," Hoffman said. "This is good when a part is needed that can be found locally which could be replaced the same day instead of having to send off for the part."

The benefits to working with local and small businesses are many.

"We seek out local small business that has a local and rapid chain of supply instead of having to wait for items to come from Dallas or other places further away," said Chris Lamiroult, commercial acquisition team lead.

The ties built between the base and the local community is also strengthened through small business. The local small businesses boost the economy and support small activities on the base and the surrounding communities by giving private donations to support events on base.

Gifford also credited the 82nd CONS's relationship with the local community to the success of her projects in the local area.

"(The awards) wouldn't have been possible without the combined efforts of the base, small businesses and small business resources," she said.