Housed Passed 2013 NDAA

Last week the House passed the final version of the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes nearly $527.5 billion for the Department of Defense, $88.5 billion for overseas contingency operations, and $17.4 billion for the national security activities of the Department of Energy, and includes a number of provisions that will help encourage growth in our economy, and provide enhanced opportunities for small businesses.

Language intended to improve the opportunity and capability of U.S. small businesses to compete for Defense contacts includes:

• Provisions that improve the transparency and enforcement of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.
• Provisions making it more difficult for businesses to fraudulently pass through contracts meant for small businesses to large businesses.
• Increases to the size of bonds the Small Business Administration can guarantee at no cost to taxpayers.
• Removal of the dollar caps on set aside contracts for women owned small businesses.
• Requirements that small business advocates be part of federal procurement and acquisition planning processes, and requirements that acquisition plans address how small businesses will be utilized.

The bill also authorizes $200 million for the Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF), a competitive, merit based program aimed at accelerating the transition of technologies developed by phase II Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) projects, defense laboratories, and other innovative technologies into defense acquisition programs. Information for funding on RIF programs in FY2013 will be posted to the Defense Innovation Marketplace.

For more information on the entire FY2013 NDAA conference report, click here.

WA State Steps Up Competitive Position

Today Governor Chris Gregoire announced her final proposed budget. 

 

She met with a group of local defense advocates from across the state in August, and stated the need for an aggressive time frame to conduct a report about how Washington State fits into the Department of Defense Strategic Plans, so she could make investments in her budget. 

 

You will find the final report, Retaining and Expanding Military Missions, Increasing Defense Spending and Investments (http://ofm.wa.gov/reports/mil_report.pdf).  Also here is a link to a summary brief of the Governor’s proposed investments based on the recommendations of this report (www.governor.wa.gov/priorities/economy/BRAC.pdf). 

 

The Governor proposes:

-          Hiring a Director of  Military Affairs; 

-          Creating military community support grants ($500,000);

-          Improving quality of life by improving schools at JBLM ($11.9M);

-          Continuing transportation infrastructure improvements.

 These investments are an important step in continuing the momentum begun this summer.  Thanks to Denny Miller and Associates and Hayek & Fix, Inc. for their great work on the analysis and report and thank you to all the members of the Washington Military Alliance who are supporting this project and make it possible.

Vet & Employer Networking Event

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Noteworthies with a Local Link

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta announced today that the President has made the following nomination: 

Army Col. William K. Gayler has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Gayler is currently serving as deputy commander, 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. 

7th ID CG at Military Forum

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM

 

Date & Time: WEDNESDAY, January 16, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Place: La Quinta Inn, Cedar Room

          LaQuinta Inn, 1425 E. 27^th St., Tacoma 98421

Price:  $13.00 pre-paid by Jan. 14, noon

          $15.00 pre-paid after Jan. 14

          $20.00 walk-ins/at the door

Information: Janice Hutchins, (253) 627.2175 X100

RSVP:  DUE 12 noon, Jan. 11 (Friday) ß

REGISTERHERE!

 

Event Speaker: 

Maj. Gen. Steve Lanza, Commanding General, 7^th I.D.

 

 

Major General Steve Lanza,
Command General, 7th Infantry Division, JBLM






Major General Steve Lanza is the Commanding General of the 7th Infantry Division. The 7th Infantry Division is responsible for the training, deployment readiness, and health and welfare of approximately 18,000 Soldiers in 5 Brigades, 2-2 SBCT, 3-2 SBCT, 4-2 SBCT, 16th CAB, and 17th FiB located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Event Speaker: 

Greg Mowat, Veteran and Business Specialist

Greg Mowat, Veteran and Business Specialist

 

The new Veteran and Business Service of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber is designed to bring the winning attributes of veterans and the Chamber’s business members together for success. A partnership between the Chamber and Workforce Central; this program will strive to assist Chamber member employers understand the benefits available as well as the skills, knowledge and abilities that veterans bring to a workplace and direct avenues to access Veterans as employees.

NEXT MEETING: February 13, 7:30 a.m.

Chamber Has Vets Specialist for Business Assistance

                                                                                                                   Greg Mowat, Veteran & Business Specialist

“Experience, maturity, a winning attitude, organizational maturity – these are great reasons to hire a world class employee. Veterans possess all of these and more,” said Greg Mowat, the Chamber’s new Veteran and Business Specialist.

The new Veteran and Business Service of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber is designed to bring the winning attributes of veterans and the Chamber’s business members together for success. A partnership between the Chamber and Workforce Central; this program will strive to assist Chamber member employers understand the benefits available as well as the skills, knowledge and abilities that veterans bring to a workplace and direct avenues to access Veterans as an employees.

The Chamber hired Greg Mowat to lead this new service. Mowat comes to the Chamber with three decades of experience with workforce development, employment standards, labor relations, alternative dispute resolution, and organizational assessment and development. He is a veteran of U.S. Army service in Southeast Asia and the owner of a small business that is a member of the Chamber.

Contact Greg Mowat, gregm@tacomachamber.org, 253.682.1724 at the Chamber to learn more about opportunities to employ veterans.

Tank Transits Port

A fully-restored Sherman tank rolled onto the Port of Tacoma's Terminal 7 Monday. The vintage, WWII tank will be transported by truck to Paine Field in Everett, Wash., and displayed with the Flying Heritage Collection.

Operated by the U.S., Russia and the United Kingdom during WWII, the U.S. manufactured more Sherman tanks than any other tank. With an uncomplicated design, the tank could be produced in factories that made automobiles, trucks and train cars before the outbreak of the war.

The tank that arrived in Tacoma was built at Pressed Steel Car Company in Chicago. After it was accepted into the U.S. Army in 1943, it was released to the Dutch Army in 1945. C&C Military Services in England spent the last two years restoring the tank to WWII form.

Noteworthies with a Local Link

Air Mobility Command prepares for a change of command ceremony Friday at 10 a.m. at the Parade Field as Gen. Raymond Johns Jr., relinquishes command to Gen. Paul Selva. Officiating the ceremony will be the Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark Welsh.

Johns, who took command of AMC in 2009, is retiring after serving 35 years on active duty. Selva arrives from Hawaii where he served as vice commander for the Pacific Air Forces at Joint-Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. He was stationed here previously with the 618th Air and Space Operations Center (TACC) and with U.S. Transportation Command.

Both Gen. Johns and Gen. Selva are former commanders of McChord AFB/62nd AW (now JBLM-McChord Field). Full coverage of the event will be posted online at www.scott.af.mil after the ceremony.

Hiring Vets

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Avoid the Fiscal Cliff

The Tacoma-Piece County Chamber is working through several venues to encourage Congress and the Commander-in-Chief (President) to solve the dilemma posed by the self-mandated fiscal cliff adopted earlier as a budget-balancing incentive.  Always considered to be an incentive to get national adoption of budget and tax compromises, the looming implementation date of the fiscal cliff and its sequestration component pose significant harm to our national defense and our fragile economy.

The Chamber participates in the Association of Defense Communities which recently issued a letter encouraging adoption of a solution to the fiscal cliff and sequestration, which details ADC’s 2012 positions on specific pressing issues for the ‘lame duck’ session.  This letter was distributed to the leadership and senior ranking members of the Senate and House  Armed Service Committees, Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees, and the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, as well as the Defense Communities Caucus leadership. 

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WA AFA Chapter Presents Awards

The Washington State Air Force Association honored several of its leaders with special recognition at their last meeting.  Pictured are the recipients (l to r) as Mary Moss, Washington State Chapter President, presents the awards:

 

Rick Sine is the Regional AFA President, received the Exceptional Service Award. In 2010 when Rick became Regional President, one of his biggest challenges was the Greater Seattle chapter's loss of a very active president.  Mr. Sine promptly enlisted the assistance of other chapter leaders to keep the Seattle Chapter functioning.  At one point, when the chapter might fold, he contacted Seattle chapter’s general membership as well as specific groups within the chapter for help. His leadership led to continuation of the Greater Seattle Chapter.

Mary Moss, Washington State AFA Chapter President presenting awards.

Bill Striegel, President for the McChord Chapter and Vice-President for State Chapter, received the Medal of Merit Award. Bill accepted the role as Co-Chairman for the Chapter Foundation Scholarship Golf Tournament, the Foundation’s primary fund raising activity.  His oversight, initiatives and personal efforts last year insured the most successful tournament in the last decade. His dedicated efforts were responsible for finding new donors in both areas.  He also assisted the Community Partner Chairperson in identifying several new Corporate Partners members.

Gary Brackett, the State AFA Government Affairs Officer, was honored for the role he played in the 2011 Air Mobility Command (AMC) Rodeo, especially insuring a warm welcome specifically to the international teams.  Gary’s work coordinating and assisting resulted in a very successful International Team Reception, held at the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum. Volunteers in the effort raised $12,000, coordinated the meals, obtained entertainment, sent out invitations and worked with JBLM to transport the teams to and from the event.

Honoring Vets

Thank You to Everyone Who has Served our Country!

On Sunday, November 11th we all will be celebrating Veterans Day. As this honorable day grows closer I wanted to express my very deep gratitude to those who have served us in the past and to those who are serving today - from the bottom of my heart -- Thank You!

 

Recently one of my daughters Abby wrote an essay for her 5th grade class called 'What Makes America Great' and she concludes with this statement "We all have our own voice in America, and I'm proud to be an American." I too am proud and grateful to be an American. In a time when we have been in war for the past 11 years I think it is very imperative that we all use our own voice to reach out and to thank those who are around us and that have been protecting our freedoms. As many families and friends of the military know best, our freedom is not free!

 

I am touched by the many stories of why individuals have signed up to serve us but one I carry with me all the time are those who after the atrocities of September 11, dedicated themselves to our country and committed their lives to serve all of us here in America and continue to serve us today! These sacrifices are made across this nation by individuals who make up our military and ultimately make up the fabric of our society!

 

Additionally, I thought I would share a great video tribute that was created by Boeing which includes employees of the company. It will be airing in the next few days to honor those who serve Boeing Tribute.

 

Again, thank you to our Veterans. I am grateful for the men and women in this great county that served us, those here at JBLM, as well as those across this great country and around the world!

 

Hope you have a blessed Veterans Day and great weekend!

 

Best wishes,



Tom Pierson

President & CEO

 

34th Military Citizen Announced

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber presented the 34^th annual John H. Anderson Military Citizen of the Year Award to Sergeant Robert Pangaro today. Sgt. Pangaro is currently an active duty servicemember assigned to Rear Detachment, 2^nd Battalion, 3^rd Infantry Regiment, JBLM.

 

MG Lanza (7th ID, JBLM), Amy Tiemeyer (ACU), Stephanie & Robert Pangaro, Tom Pierson (Chamber)

 

 

 

Sgt. Pangaro volunteers at the Park Lodge Elementary School in Lakewood, Wash. and currently serves a two-year term as the PTSA President for Park Lodge. His role includes being responsible for the overseeing decisions for the allocation of the non-profits funds, including school bus transportation, field trips, field days and extracurricular events such as school dances and graduation for the 350 students at Park Lodge.

 

Sgt. Pangaro volunteered for every PTSA sponsored event, whether it was a book fair, a sock-hop, a curriculum night or a spruced-up date for the school grounds.

 

For the upcoming Veteran’s Day assembly at the school, he arranged for a color guard unit to attend, to bring a more exciting and professional feeling for the event.

 

Sgt. Pangaro also takes requests for funds from teachers to help offset their personal purchases in classrooms and arranged for parents to vote for allocation of funds online.

 

Last year, Sgt. Pangaro helped start a local Watch Dogs program, (Dads of Great Students), where father figures, (fathers, step-fathers, grandfathers, uncles and others), work with kids in group or individual settings.  This year, he is a volunteer Watch Dog – having handed over the coordination to another person.

 

To help all parents, deployed soldiers or civilian, Sgt. Pangaro leveraged social media and other sites as a way for parents to engage and be a part of their child’s school experience. He spends time emailing meeting minutes to deployed servicemembers whose children are students at the school and then posts to their social media pages.

 

Sgt. Pangaro is helping reestablish a PTA Council and is putting together the first PTA Presidential Committee.

 

Sgt. Pangaro is also a member of the Clover Park School District DTAP (District Teachers and Parents Team) and a member of the Site Council for Park Lodge Elementary – deciding on how the transition to a Title 1 School (a vast majority of poverty-level students) will take place next year.

 

“There is no question that Sgt. Pangaro devotes countless hours and boundless energy to improving and serving his community,” said Amy Tiemeyer, award sponsor America’s Credit Union’s representative.

 

Award Sponsor:

America’s Credit Union has been serving the military here at Joint base Lewis McChord (JBLM) since 1954; ACU has been active in creating a community that is aware of soldiers needs and able to serve our military who give so much for all of us. Amy Tiemeyer America’s Credit Union’s Military Relations Liaison is a veteran herself and presented the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s 34^th John Anderson Military Citizen of the Year award.

 

About John H. Anderson:

The Chamber created the John H. Anderson Military Citizen of the Year Award to honor an outstanding military citizen to commemorate the civic contributions by our resident military personnel. John H. Anderson, a veteran, served as Tacoma’s mayor in the early to mid-1950s. An accomplished civic leader, he is also a past Chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Board of Directors, as well as a successful local businessman.

Veterans Day Discounts 2012

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Honoring Service to Vets

Several Washington residents will be honored this Saturday with Outstanding Service to Veterans Awards for their contributions to Washington State’s veterans and their families during the past year.

 

The awards -co-sponsored each year by the Governor's Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee (VAAC) and the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs - recognize individuals who devote time and energy to improving the lives of Washington's veterans.

 

The awards are presented at a special luncheon in Auburn, following the awardees participation in the City’s annual Veterans Day Parade. Parade starts at 11 am and luncheon begins at 1:30 pm.

 

2012 Award Recipients:

 

Outstanding Patriotic Service to Veterans

Tami Michaels lives in King County and is one of the most effective advocates a veteran could have in our state. Last year, Tami advocated for Fisher Broadcasting and KOMO TV to do a documentary on Washington’s veterans and the struggles they face coming home from war. This documentary made sure that our community does not forget about the all-volunteer military who risk their safety and well-being for our freedoms.

 

Outstanding Veteran Service Officer

Richard Calef is a resident of Stevens County and a Veteran Service Officer for the American Legion. In addition to exceptional service officer work, Richard created the 9-1-1 Memorial Ride which is known throughout the Tri-State region. Richard was also instrumental in the development of the VA Outreach Medical Clinic in Colville. Rick is a member of the National Association of Medics and Corpsmen and maintains a unique Memorial Complex to All Combat Medics on his ranch in Eastern Washington.

Outstanding Employee

Michael Flood, a resident of King County, is the Vice President for Community Relations for the Seattle Seahawks/FC. As a board member of Camp Patriot, Mike has ensured there are enough sponsors to cover expenses for disabled veterans to participate in the yearly events of climbing Mt. Rainier, riding the Pony Express and hunting. Mike was also instrumental in getting Washington’s first Veterans Raffle advertised during Seahawks games and coordinating the 2011 Raffle kick-off events with NFL Hall of Fame Player Steve Largent.

 

Outstanding Veteran Volunteers

The Washington State Women Veterans Advisory Committee was established in 2008 and is composed of an all-volunteer group of women veterans from all branches of service across the state. In the span of 4 years, this group of women veterans demonstrated vision and actions on behalf of the over 60,000 women veterans. Each year, they have organized a women veterans summit with resounding success. Through the summits, they have connected women veterans to benefits and services they might be entitled to, resulting in a 15% increase in the number of women veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. The committee works hard on behalf of their fellow women veterans and has provided the WA Department of Veterans Affairs with sound advice on how to better serve women veterans in our state. They provide their services and time selflessly and abundantly.

 

Outstanding Volunteer Veteran Service Officer

Lawrence Strozyk lives in Douglas County, serving as a volunteer service officer for the past 10 years with VFW Post 3617 in East Wenatchee. Larry’s success rate for submitted benefits claims for veterans has been at a steady 92%, resulting in veterans receiving well over $1.7 million dollars in retroactive payments. When Larry is not performing his service officer duties, he recruits, volunteers and organizes the Post’s Honor Guard for funeral duties and does the same for the Post’s Color Guard participations in local veterans and civic parades in Douglas County.

Outstanding Male Non-Veteran

Hal Bernton is a Seattle Times reporter and has been the military/veterans community voice since reporting as a war correspondent from Iraq in 2005. Hal’s reporting has helped shed light on an unfortunate situation faced by many returning combat soldiers, involving “other than honorable discharges” for misconduct. Hal’s investigative reporting has brought attention to the fact that many of these misconduct incidents can be directly attributed to being diagnosed with PTSD prior to the behavior change.

 

Outstanding Female Non-Veteran

Venay K. Money, a resident of Clallam County, has been active in the VFW Auxiliary for the past 25 years. Venay participates in the Port Angeles Annual POW/MIA Program, Veterans Day Parades, and is very instrumental in the yearly stand downs in Clallam County. Her passion for helping veterans and their families in stems from her experience being married to a Vietnam Era veteran. Venay has been instrumental in increasing the Disabled American Veterans Van volunteer drivers from 3 to 11 in her community, providing transportation for local veterans to the VA Facility in Seattle.

 

Outstanding Legislators

Representative Barbara Bailey, District 10, Oak Harbor

Representative Bailey has served as a member of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs since 2007 and currently serves on the Executive Committee as the Joint Committee Co-Chair. In this capacity, Representative Bailey has heard and supported numerous veteran initiatives including the creation of the Veterans Innovations Program which serves veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan and the Veterans Raffle which now provides funding for the Veterans Innovations Program. As the spouse of a military retiree and mother of two children serving in the United States Armed Forces, Representative Bailey is also a staunch supporter of military personnel and has supported legislation that helps separating military personnel translate their military experience into Washington State certificates or licenses. In 2012, she sponsored a bill that would provide a free Discover Pass to 100% disabled veterans, as well as voting in favor of several other bills for veterans and their families.

 

Representative Larry Seaquist, District 26, Gig Harbor

Representative Larry Seaquist is a former US Navy warship captain and Pentagon strategist who served for 32 years in the U.S. Navy. His passion for serving veterans and military personnel has carried over into his legislative career where he advocates for veterans who are pursuing their higher education goals using the GI Bill benefits they earned. In 2012, he sponsored legislation which would have provided additional funding for colleges to develop programs to serve veterans on their campuses. He also co-sponsored a bill to bring establish a fourth State Veterans Home in Walla Walla in addition to voting in favor of several other bills for veterans and their families.

 

Counting Those Who Count

Most Washingtonians got their ballots either Saturday in their post office boxes or perhaps delivered to street addresses today.  Service members and other overseas voters' ballots were mailed or emailed long ago.

UPDATE 1:
Two precincts receiving incorrect ballots are so proximate to JBLM, you might want to check with the Pierce County Auditor for correct ballots. More here: http://tacomachamber.blogspot.com/2012/10/two-precincts-in-10th-cd-receive-new.html

UPDATE 2:
1,422 voters will receive a letter alerting them to the error and instructing them to return the correct ballot.

Julie Anderson, Pierce County Auditor, briefed the Chamber's Military Affairs Forum on UOCAVA (Uniformed & Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) efforts by the Pierce County Auditor's Office.

There are 13,062 UOCAVA voters registered in Pierce County, 9,700 of which are assigned to JBLM and registered in Pierce County (others may be registered in Thurston or Yakima Counties).  That's from the 43,375 assigned soldiers and airmen plus 56,188 dependents who are potential voters. Of course, most reside (home of record) in another state.

Washington is in the Top Five (5th) states for numbers of UOCAVA voters, 56% of all UOCAVA ballots. 

Return ballots may be received anytime prior to election certification (65-day window), as long as they are dated on or before election day.  A postmark date is irrelevant.

Washington counted 99.1% of all its UOCAVA ballots returned - the bet of the Top Five states with the largest number of UOCAVA qualified voters.

Military Affairs Chairman Rick Stevens presented Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson with a Chamber challenge coin recognizing Pierce County's exemplary job in insuring our service members and overseas voters get count too!

Noteworthies with a Local Link

The Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert announced today Rear Adm. (lower half) Robert M. Hennegan, will be assigned as commander, Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command, San Diego, Calif.  Hennegan is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Nine, Silverdale, Wash.

Aerospace Boom

Boeing this week begins assembling the first refueling boom for the U.S. Air Force's next-generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft in the KC-46 Boom Assembly Center that opened today at Boeing Field in Seattle.

"We're pleased that this facility opened on schedule," said Maureen Dougherty, KC-46 vice president and program manager for Boeing. "The KC-46A will feature a modernized fly-by-wire boom based on the proven system on the U.S. Air Force's KC-10 tanker, which will give it advanced refueling capabilities, allowing it to refuel any fixed-wing receiver aircraft anytime and on any mission."

Boom assembly marks the program's shift to production from design activities.

"It's a big day for the KC-46 Tanker Program and the U.S. Air Force," said Maj. Gen. John Thompson, U.S. Air Force Tanker Program Executive Officer and KC-46 Program Director. "Boeing continues to make good progress toward delivering the KC-46 Tanker on schedule."

The first boom will enter testing during the third quarter of 2013 at a System Integration Lab (SIL), known as SIL 0. It is one of five labs designed to reduce risk for avionics and aerial refueling integration. Boeing invented the air refueling boom and has been building, upgrading and modifying them for more than 60 years.

Boeing's KC-46 program remains on track to deliver 18 combat-ready tankers by 2017, and for the next major Air Force contract milestone, the Critical Design Review, scheduled for the summer of 2013.

Production of the KC-46 aircraft begins next summer in Boeing's Everett, Wash., factory. The aircraft will be a 767-2C variant of the commercial 767-200ER airplane. Boeing will build 179 next-generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft to begin replacing the Air Force's aging KC-135 tankers.

Boeing Receives $2 Billion C-17 Aircraft Sustainment Contract

Boeing will continue assuring the worldwide availability of C-17 aircraft, which provide vital military and humanitarian airlift capability, through a $2 billion follow-on contract it recently received from the U.S. Department of Defense.

The C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program (GISP) provides support services such as forecasting, purchasing and material management for the C-17 and all C-17-unique support. This Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) program, which started in 1998 with 42 aircraft, now covers 246 worldwide. It provides lower costs through economies of scale from supporting the entire global fleet. The latest contract covers fiscal years 2013 through 2017.

Under a PBL arrangement, a customer receives an agreed-to level of system readiness, as opposed to a traditional contract for specific spare parts and support services. This integrated logistics approach -- in which Boeing manages U.S. assets as a designated Inventory Control Point -- has allowed Boeing to apply innovative spares forecasting and modeling tools to maximize aircraft availability while lowering costs. In many cases, Boeing has provided readiness levels beyond those spelled out in the agreements.

The Department of Defense recently recognized the U.S. Air Force-Boeing GISP team with the 2012 Secretary of Defense "system-level" PBL Award.

"This contract award and the recognition from the secretary of defense are testaments to the long-standing partnership between the U.S. Air Force and Boeing," said Gus Urzua, Boeing vice president and GISP program manager.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 61,000 employees worldwide.

Milcon Report for JBLM

Victor Ramos, MCA Program Manager, Seattle District, USACE, gave his updated milcon report, focusing on JBLM.

The acquisition strategy will use local competitive contracts where possible with small business considerations evaluated on all acquisitions.  The MATOC (Regional Multiple Award Task Order Contracts) will be used on just a few FY13 projects.  It is noted that local MATOCs will be used where it make sense, but are limited to $10 million per Task Order.

Highlights of the report include:

• There are 16 contracts valued at $252 million in design
• There are 11 contracts valued at $138 million in pre-award (corrected)
• Current construction is for $156 million in FY12
• Five facilities will be turned over to JBLM ($55 million) in Oct/Nov 12

Those desiring more information may contact Veronica (Ronni) Kammler, Small Business Officer at 206-316-3990 or Victor Ramos, Army Program Manager at 2096-764-4478.

Programmatic Change Affects JBLM

The Department of the Army announced today the relocation of 61st Chemical Company, 62nd Chemical Company, and Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 23rd Chemical Battalion from Joint Base Lewis-McChord to the Republic of Korea.

The Chemical Companies will provide Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) reconnaissance, equipment decontamination and consequence management assistance to support military forces.  This action supports HQDA initiatives involving U.S. forces conducting a sustainable pace of presence operations abroad, including rotational deployments and bilateral and multilateral training exercises.  These activities reinforce deterrence, help to build the capacity and competence of U.S., allied, and partner forces for internal and external defense, strengthen alliance cohesion, and increase U.S. influence.

This force structure change represents an increase of 290 Military and zero Civilian authorizations within the Republic of Korea and a corresponding decrease in authorizations at Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA.  The Army will complete the stationing action by January 16, 2013.