AFCEC builds relationships during small business event

  • Published
  • By Shannon Carabajal
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
SAN ANTONIO --  Emphasizing predictability and transparency, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center strengthened ties with the small business community during the 2014 SAME Small Business Market Research Fair here Aug. 14 - 15.

Building relationships and learning how to better work together to deliver world-class civil engineering support to Airmen around the world was an important part of the event, AFCEC Director Joe Sciabica said.

"We need to hear from you. What do you have, what can you do, and what do you bring to the fight? Because, (the AFCEC mission) is much bigger than all of us. We're supporting the warfighter so we can't afford to fail," Sciabica told an audience of several hundred small business contractors.

"We don't do this ourselves; we depend on industry and we have to have you as part of our team," he added.

During the conference, AFCEC key leaders and subject matter experts talked with small business representatives about future opportunities and offered insight into the processes involved. Briefings highlighted AFCEC programs, projections and goals.

Attendees also gained insight into the agency's current needs including military construction, environmental restoration and enhanced use lease projects, as well as technology needed to support the warfighter. For small businesses, especially those who may not have much experience working with AFCEC, that can be invaluable, said Robert Galteland with Reid Middleton, Inc., a civil structural engineering firm.

"The market research fair helps us understand where (AFCEC) and the Air Force are headed, what the newest and latest hot issues are as things are changing and, as a small business, how we can best focus our efforts on meeting their needs in the best way," he said.

Small business representatives were also able to schedule one-on-one meetings with key AFCEC leaders and subject matter experts, giving them an opportunity to meet in an informal environment. The sessions filled up quickly and were popular with attendees grateful for the access.

"I love the one-on-one sessions where I can drill down with somebody and ask my questions, even if they might be dumb questions. For us, not having done a lot of work with the Air Force, certainly not a lot with AFCEC, it also helps us realize who we need to talk with," Galteland said.

Throughout both days, AFCEC also participated in think tanks to identify issues the agency encountered doing business and encourage industry experts to share how similar issues are being addressed outside the government with the hope of yielding cost-saving solutions. Topics included enhancing environmental support at installations, long-term management optimization and keeping restoration and cleanup projects on schedule and on budget.

For more information about AFCEC small business partnering opportunities, visit http://www.afcec.lackland.af.mil/contracting/business.asp.