ECONS builds toward enduring presence in AOR Published April 7, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Jasmine Reif 379th Air Expeditionary Wing SOUTHWEST ASIA -- As the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing builds an enduring presence in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, a group of Airmen are assisting the effort by purchasing everything from salt shakers for the dining facility to tons of concrete used to build and repair base taxiways. Behind the scenes, the 379th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron is hard at work writing contracts to enhance the war fighting capabilities of the 379th AEW and associate units. Since January they have written contracts totaling nearly $17 million. "We write contracts for almost everything on base," said Staff Sgt. Shaun McGinnis, 379th ECONS contracting officer. "Some of our more notable contracts are the laundry and food service contracts, vehicle lease contract, and all base facility construction and road pavement contracts. Basically, 'if you got it, we bought it.'" A few of the larger projects that will carry the wing into the decades to come are currently under construction or are in planning stages. "We have awarded contracts to construct buildings for Navy operations, flightline aircraft maintenance pads, new latrines throughout CC and PAX terminal sunshades," Sergeant McGinnis said. Due to the size of the wing, the contracting officers are assigned to work with specific units. For instance, one is the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, that needs equipment to repair cadillacs and facilities and another is assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, that leases hundreds of vehicles from a downtown company. Sergeant McGinnis writes contracts for the 379th ESVS and says most of his requests come from lodging and the fitness center. "I have purchased new wall-lockers, footlockers, bunk beds and mattresses for 250 rooms in the CC," Sergeant McGinnis said. "I have also purchased replacement furniture for Memorial Plaza, weight racks, treadmills and the broadcast vision for the fitness center, which allows you to listen to the television while working out." Most contracts written are given to local businesses and the contracting officers go downtown almost daily to negotiate and build relationships with local business owners. "Whether it's going downtown with our military customers to pick out office furniture or negotiating cell phone service payments with the providers, we are constantly in town," he said. The local companies, with whom the contracting officers do business, value building relationships and frequently ask them to visit their offices or meet them for lunch. "We usually don't because we are strapped for time; however, we occasionally sit, have tea or coffee and talk with them," Sergeant McGinnis said. "They love when we know terms like 'Mafey Muskala,' which means 'no problem' or 'Jayed Juduh,' which means 'very good.' It shows them we are interested in their culture and helps build good business relationships." The contracting officers see that through good relationships with local businesses and the number of contracts awarded, their work enables mission capabilities to expand. When asked why the 379th ECONS mission is important to the wing mission, Sergeant McGinnis said "Every contracting officer in ECONS directly enables their customer's mission. For example, Senior Airman Daniel Huston buys liquid oxygen allowing pilots to breathe, Staff Sgt. Michael Clevenger buys security surveillance systems enabling base security, Tech. Sgt. Antwan Royster buys tools maintainers use to fix the aircraft and Tech. Sgt. Johnnie Smith ensures the custodial crew satisfactorily clean our facilities. How could the 379th ECONS not be an important part of the mission?" "Each and every day, our contracting officers receive new requirements," said Capt. Jodell Dereus, 379th ECONS Infrastructure Flight commander. "Our job entails more than just buying; it requires us to follow-up on deliveries and ensure paperwork is processed for each contractor's payment. With every delivery made and project completed, the 379th ECONS is making a difference on the base and to its mission.