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JBB contractors educate Iraqis on local business opportunities

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Allison M. Boehm
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  A group of 14 Iraqi contractors attended a tradeshow site visit Feb. 6, 2010, at JBB to discuss future construction projects.

The meeting was the first time a group of local contractors came on base for this type of business.

Members of the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron along with the Joint Contracting Command in Iraq briefed the local attendees on the U.S. government contracting process and also explained the proposal, bidding and award processes before taking the group to three sites of future construction.

Local contractors will be working on enclosing two of the 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's buildings' alcoves.

"This project will not only support the 532nd Lions by adding additional office space and storage room, but it will also help better support their mission," said Lt. Col. John Tryon, 332nd ECES programs flight chief. "The projects have been recognized as candidates for the Iraqi's capability to do good work. These ventures will allow the local contractors to successfully complete all requirements and do so without being under an extreme time crunch. Their work will undoubtedly enhance the mission of the 532nd."

Along with the alcove reconstruction, contractors will soon begin demolishing old legacy buildings and replacing the structures with new trailers that meet living standards. The main goal of the construction will be to better JBB, however, bringing in the local contractors to complete the job also helps build a stronger partnership.

"I think this is a great opportunity for the Iraqis to feel some ownership over JBB and allows them to continue where we will leave off," said Jennifer Pollard, Joint Contracting Command in Iraq contracting specialist. "We need to leave JBB in a position that has responsible construction companies to continue the efforts to return JBB back over to the Iraqi people."

Once bidding is complete and set contracts are awarded, the LNs will begin work on the projects.

"This is important because we are meeting mission requirements by supporting our user as well as supporting responsible drawdown efforts by demolishing existing buildings and consolidating (the) security forces footprint here," said Colonel Tryon. "From a host nation development prospective we are giving local national contractors an opportunity to develop their engineering capability and economic opportunities by coming on base to complete projects."