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

(click on images for a larger view)

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.