Contracting puts their name on the line

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Brosam
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  It’s apparent the base is taken care of, but what could be unclear to some is how.

If contracts could fill themselves out and sign the dotted line, the 341st Contracting Squadron would be out of business.

Fortunately, that is not the case for this 40-man unit with just enough Airmen and civilians to make it a squadron.

The contracting squadron is responsible for finding construction, services and commodities for the base while also spending Air Force money the correct way.

They do so by following regulations and guidelines outlined in the “Federal Acquisition Regulation” book. The book contains 52 parts for spending money and properly advertising for all contract requirements.

They also use the Department of Defense and the Air Force Acquisition Regulation to ensure they are following all the rules.

“We have to be very careful to spend the correct type of money when buying a service,” said Carolyn Lippert Wood, 341st CONS base services flight chief. “I want to help our customers get what they need in a timely manner but it’s not always easy.”

The process begins by receiving a request by the customer, such as a squadron, for grounds maintenance for the base. Along with the request, the customer would provide basic market research, or the needs of the service, to the contracting squadron.

From there, contracting would conduct their own market research to analyze information about the market, including logistics of the product or service to be offered.

Once market research is complete, they begin to compile a solicitation to the public for businesses to provide the service.

Solicitation for services must be released to the public for at least 30 days to allow businesses to submit a proposal and bid on completing the service for the government.

Lippert Wood said smaller businesses make up a large part of all businesses and the Air Force has goals of their own to help support local businesses and get them involved with working for the government.

“The government is so good with supporting small businesses and doing the right thing,” Lippert Wood said. “It’s a win-win situation. It’s good for small businesses and it’s good for the government because we get what we need”

She added that Malmstrom has great support from small businesses in the local community.

After the solicitation process, if contracting receives multiple bids from businesses, each offer must be dissected.

Price, performance, efficiency and other technical aspects are all considered during this time.

Before documents are signed, contracts are reviewed multiple times to ensure the service offered is exactly what the customer requested and that it meets all criteria for spending tax-payer dollars.

Depending on the request, the process could last three months to more than 18 months to get the service in motion.

2nd Lt. Teresa Doskey, 341st CONS commodities flight commander, said that is why sometimes people in her position change duty stations before ever seeing their first completed project.

“It’s possible to spend a whole year in services flight and never award a contract,” Doskey said. “In commodities, you’re not picking up where someone left off two years through a contract and working on it for another two years. We award hundreds of contracts every year (working in commodities).”

Though the job is sometimes stressful, Doskey said, she enjoys waking up and coming into work every morning.

“I don’t mind the late nights and days spent eating lunch at my desk,” Doskey said. “I’ve had a lot of jobs and this is my favorite because we learn a lot of different things and it’s fun. I love this job.”

The contracting squadron works hard to ensure Team Malmstrom is taken care of and has what it needs to execute the daily nuclear deterrent mission.

They are always willing to put their name on the line for the United States Air Force.