SOUTHWEST ASIA -- With only 22 Airmen, the 379th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron is one of the smaller wing-level contracting squadrons in the Air Force. However, that doesn't stop them from procuring more items or spending more money than many large and medium sized bases in the United States.
"This year, we are going to spend about $90 million on behalf of the base on about 3,500-4,300 things, whether that thing is something you can touch or it is a service," said Maj. Owen Stephens, 379th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron commander. "Basically all of the things you see around you and all the workers you see who don't have military uniforms on -- we buy all that."
"If you compare us to large and medium size bases in the U.S., we are at the top for actions, second or third for dollars, and at the bottom for manning. Back in the U.S., a squadron doing this much work would have between 60 to 70 people."
The 379th ECONS is divided into three sections. The commodities section purchases any items used on base. The services section oversees the contracts hiring companies to do things like cook in the dining facilities or clean cadillacs. The construction section is responsible for any new construction contracts worth less than $750,000 and nearly all repair construction contracts regardless of dollar value.
"Probably one of the most interesting purchase requests I've seen was from the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron for gym mats as a mission-critical purchase," Major Stephens said. "Ordinarily you wouldn't think of gym mats as a mission critical purchase, you'd think of it as nice to have. But after a little conversation with the commander, we discovered they wanted the gym mats to place under fuel bladders so they wouldn't get damaged by expanding across the rough, abrasive concrete."
In addition to purchasing items for Airmen around the base, the squadron has an important role in making sure the base can continue its transition from expeditionary to enduring.
"We are getting ready to start a new vehicle lease contract starting Oct. 1 and we are doing a 5-year agreement verses a short term, 1-year agreement, and we are doing the same with the wireless internet contract" Major Stephens said. It's all part of a 'sustain the base' mentality rather than a 'let's fight the war and get out' mentality."
Regardless of what's being purchased, no one in the squadron works without some level of oversight. All contracts go through a very methodical and rigorous review process, the major said. Contracts worth more than $25,000 are reviewed by a flight commander and when they get to be more than $100,000 the squadron superintendent and commander will look at them. At higher dollar values, contracts are also reviewed by Air Force Forces contracting or U.S. Air Force Central Command contracting.
"We do that because large dollar value contracts tend to get more complex and it's hard for one person to catch every little thing that needs to be caught," Major Stephens said. "So we do multiple reviews to make sure we get the best contract vehicle - compliant with law and the most appropriate for our customers. Because in the end, that contract needs to give them what they need, or we failed."
One of the more difficult tasks contracting officers have is they need to be knowledgeable about what they are buying in addition to how to write contracts.
"Not only are we business advisors, but we have to be semi-technical experts at the same time," Master Sgt. Greg Jensen, 379th ECONS superintendent. "Whether that item is a titanium tube bender for the maintenance squadron or something else, we have to try and advise them to make sure the wing gets the best bang for its buck and the tax-payers get the best bang for their buck.
"There's a good saying that describes what we do," said the McMinnville, Ore., native. "Contracting is responsible for everything around you except the air that you breathe. And if you're a pilot we are responsible for that too."
"Contracting is part of a team that works together to provide the base its needs," Maj. Stephens. "No matter how well contracting performs, without the whole team working together, nothing gets done."