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# DLA, Small Business Administration leaders commit to stronger partnership

By Beth Reece

                FORT BELVOIR, Va.  –              
Defense Logistics Agency and Small Business Administration leaders strengthened their alliance in early July while sharing ideas at DLA Headquarters on how to maximize opportunities for America’s small businesses.

Francine Morris, director of government contracting for SBA’s Office of Government Contracting and Business Development, met with DLA Acquisition Director Matt Beebe, DLA Small Business Director Daniele Kurze and acquisition executives from the major subordinate commands.

DLA is required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation to coordinate solicitations for goods with SBA procurement center representatives, or PCRs, assigned to each of DLA’s MSCs. PCRs review proposed acquisitions to ensure they are structured to maximize small business participation based on market research and according to regulations.

“We’re committed at DLA to supporting small businesses. At the same time, we have a responsibility to put acquisition strategies in place that support the warfighter and are the most effective,” Beebe said while describing the importance of the DLA-SBA partnership.

Meeting warfighter needs while bolstering America’s small businesses is sometimes a balancing act, he continued. Morris agreed that the more SBA understands about DLA’s warfighter support mission, the better it can help the agency strengthen its small business program.

Although PCRs are aligned with each MSC, they also review solicitations for other government organizations. DLA can help PCRs make timely decisions on DLA solicitations by including SBA early during acquisition strategy development, Kurze added.

“If we know there is an urgent or complex situation where a PCR may question the strategy, we can call and talk it through in the beginning versus waiting until it’s submitted, when delays could impact the acquisition timeline and the customer’s mission,” she said.

Acquisition executives from DLA’s MSCs outlined the items their teams buy, challenges and opportunities to refine acquisition strategies. Bill Kenny, executive director of contracting and acquisition management at DLA Troop Support, described his team’s challenges finding small businesses that have capacity to meet unique specifications for items like military clothing.

Morris acknowledged the loss of small businesses in the defense industrial base. The actions government agencies take now to support small businesses including the small business socioeconomic programs will impact the DIB’s health 10 years from now, she added.

DLA looks for new ways to attract small businesses by hosting webinars on specific supply chains and how to do business with the government. DLA and SBA are strategic partners in supporting and strengthening the defense industrial base, and the meeting was an opportunity to discuss how the agencies can work cohesively to support a mutually beneficial relationship, Kurze added.

The SBA’s Dynamic Small Business Search database is one example of how DLA can use SBA data to increase small business participation. The system, which is currently being modernized, helps government agencies by listing small vendors seeking government contracts.

SBA and DLA leaders agreed to meet every six months and to work together toward building a strong, resilient small business industrial base that’s paramount to both DLA and SBA missions. Future meetings will feature open dialog about how the agencies can work effectively toward shared priorities.

Kurze and Beebe stressed that support for small businesses stretches beyond their staffs.

“Many DLA team members have the ability to impact small business success, extending beyond the acquisition teams to include those involved in onboarding new entrants, forecasting, customer engagement and process enhancements,” Kurze added.

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Small BusinessacquisitionSmall Business AdministrationCollaborationindustryDefense Industry Baseprocurement center representativePCRacquisition strategy