**[Quality Partnership Council]{.underline}**

***May 16, 2006***

***1:00 pm to 4:00 pm***

***Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center***

***San Antonio, TX***

***Chairperson: Dobbin Callahan***

Approximately 150 corporate partners, customers and GSA associates
attended the 62^nd^ Quality Partnership Council meeting which addressed
topics such as Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), Best Practices of
Market Leaders, and Air Force Standard Case Goods for Lodging. COL James
P. Holland gave an overview of how BRAC impacted the U.S. Air Force.
Phil Strylund of The Summit Group discussed the importance of creating
Business Value for federal customers. Bruce Spainhour provided a
Business Development Update, and Kim Cornette discussed Standardization
of Case Goods in Air Force lodging facilities.

**[Welcome]{.underline}**

 **Jack Williams- Assistant Regional Administrator, Federal Supply
Service, Mid-Atlantic Region**

Williams began the meeting with a welcoming address that acknowledged
our industry partners' participation in this year's GSA EXPO. He thanked
attendees for their continued support for our customers and also for
their involvement in the QPC. Willams then asked all attendees to
introduce themselves, and then welcomed Ann Everett, Acting Regional
Administrator of the National Capital Region, to address the audience.

 **Ann Everett- Acting Regional Administrator, National Capital
Region**

Everett spoke of her appreciation and inspiration for our industry
partners in delivering products and services to federal customers. She
praised GSA and industry on its "...honor, integrity, and adherence to
the highest standards." Everett touted GSA EXPO as a way to renew our
commitment to federal customers and industry partners. She believes that
Multiple Award Schedules are the best choice available to federal
customers. Everett announced that July 4, 2006 was the date for FSS and
FTS standing united as the new Federal Acquisition Services, and
encouraged all to live the credo "Communication is Key."

**[Air Force Base Realignment and Closure]{.underline}**

 **COL James P. Holland, Director, BRAC Program Management Office,
United States Air Force**

COL Holland provided a detailed overview of the BRAC review and its
results. Under BRAC law, implementation must begin within two years and
be completed within six years, which for the Air Force is September
2011. The purpose of BRAC is to transform current and future force
structure to meet new threats, eliminate excess physical capacity,
rationalize the base infrastructure with defense strategy, maximize both
warfighting capability and efficiency, and examine opportunities for
joint activities. All BRAC actions must support one of three priorities:
Winning the Global War on Terrorism, Developing and caring Airman, and
Modernizing and recapitalizing aircraft and equipment. He provided
handouts outlining the Air Force's structure. Holland noted that there
are 500 upcoming construction projects, ranging from \$750,000 \--
\$4,000,000 in value.

**[Best Practices of Market Leaders]{.underline}**

 **Phil Strylund, President, The Summit Group**

Strylund spoke on creating value for customers, and encouraged industry
and GSA to utilized the assets that make them unique and wrap them
around their products and services in order to give them a competitive
edge. He also advised attendees that sometimes the answer to the
customers' problem is simple. Styrlund emphasized the importance of
phatic communion, or what is often perceived as "small talk" because it
helps establish a rapport that can lead to real, productive
conversation. He requested that attendees take with them the following
words from the presentation: Them, Us, Fit, and Proof.

**[Business Development Update]{.underline}**

 **Bruce Spainhour, Director of Marketing and Business Development,
GSA National Furniture Center**

Spainhour noted that sales have increased 4% over the previous quarter.
He highlighted the NFC's partnering efforts with the Public Buildings
Service (PBS), and said that the NFC is focusing on Target Account
Selling and increasing use of the Customer Service Director (CSD)
network nationwide. Spainhour asked for input from industry partners
that trumpet their success stories from projects they completed.

He also discussed the upcoming Outreach Europe 2006 taking place in
Heidelberg, Germany in October, and noted that more information could be
found by visiting the Outreach Europe 2006 booth during the GSA EXPO.
Spainhour encouraged attendees to exhibit because it is the premier
trade show for marketing to customers in Europe, Africa, and the Middle
East.

**[Air Force Standard Case Goods for Lodging]{.underline}**

**Kim Cornette, Contract Specialist, Non-Appropriated Funds Purchasing
Office, United States Air Force**

Cornette announced that the Air Force is currently in the process of
issuing a Request for Proposals to provide Standards for the Case Goods
to be used on Lodging. Contracts will be Firm Fixed Price for a
five-year term with three option years. The outcome of the procurement
process is to render six (6) contracts for the following themes:
Mission, Modern -- Contemporary, Pacific Rim -- Oriental, Traditional,
Tropical -- Floridian, and Transitional. The approximate cost for
construction and interiors is \$38 million. Other elements will be
required to satisfy the interior requirements for Lodging, including
Artwork, Carpeting, and Lighting. Vendors who are suppliers of these
types of commodities should create a working relationship with one of
the Air Force contract vendors who will be providing a total room
solution. These vendors are known as Non-Appropriated Project Agreement
contractors.

**[Conclusion]{.underline}**

**James Price, Acting Director, GSA National Furniture Center**

Price thanked everyone for their continued participation in the QPC,
their support of federal customers, and of the NFC.

*The next meeting will be on August 29, 2006 from 1:00 -- 4:00 PM in the
DC metro area.*