QU A R T E R L Y N EWS L E T T E R

Vol. 1, Issue 5 

March 2022

As the deputy director of DLA Energy Supplier Operations I think it's fair for me to say we have 

been pushed out of our collective comfort zones these past two years. Ensuring the DLA Energy 

mission of delivering energy to the warfighter and our whole of government partners is successful 

is quite a feat during the best of times, but during a pandemic? Well, it has certainly forced us to be 

creative, to say the least. 

INDUSTRY

CONNECTIONS

IN THIS ISSUE

A MESSAGE 

TO OUR

INDUSTRY 

PARTNERS

PROGRAM

SPOTLIGHT

Nowhere but UP ...

Utilities Privatization

DID YOU 

KNOW?

The DLA Industry

Engagement Plan 

is out!

Light at the end of the tunnel

Our teams worked from home taking advantage of every new tool available to them to keep the 

lines of communication open with you, our industry partners. I can honestly say being forced to be 

creative and find new ways to do business has not been a bad thing. We have had to be more 

patient, agile and adaptive than we ever have before, because not delivering fuel or energy to our 

customers simply is not an option.

We are not the only ones who have been forced to do business differently, you have been too. You 

also had to work from home at times, you had health and safety concerns on your minds and just 

like us, you had to learn where the mute button is and how it worked! We recognize we haven't 

been working in a bubble these last two years and I personally want to thank you for being on this 

long, strange ride with us. It's not possible for us to do our jobs without you, a committed group of 

suppliers who are as dedicated to the warfighters' success as we are, so thank you.

Kevin M. Ahern

Deputy Director, 

Supplier Operations

It feels like we are entering a new phase this spring and there actually might 

be a light at the end of the tunnel. No one knows what this next chapter will 

look like or will bring us, but I do know that DLA Energy will continue 

supporting the warfighter and our whole of government partners. I also know 

that we can continue to count on you, our trusted industry partners who have 

never let us down.

No matter what happens, please continue to stay safe.
The good news is those of us who work at or visit the McNamara 

Headquarters Complex on Fort Belvoir, Va., and many other 

military installations throughout the country, don't have to worry 

about being without those utilities thanks to the DLA Energy 

Utility Services contracting team. 

As the contracting agent of choice for the Army, (as well as for the 

Air Force and Navy) the team awarded long-term utilities 

privatization contracts in support of Fort Belvoir in 2006 and 

2009. The two contracts ensure military members, their families 

and individuals working on the installation have what they need 

when it comes to everyday living and working conditions.

These privatization contracts help installations in other ways, too.

Since catastrophic events can happen on an installation at any 

time, having utilities privatization contracts in place is a

tremendous benefit.

When Hurricane Michael hit the Florida coastline in 2018, system 

owners at Tyndall Air Force Base readied for cleanup and repairs 

to their utility systems as soon as the area was declared safe. The 

base's UP contracts were put to use and the rebuilding effort

began, focusing on resilience and new technologies for the utility 

systems. The Air Force has dubbed Tyndall the “base of the 

future.” 

Asset recapitalization is another important part of the UP 

program.

For example, West Point’s wastewater treatment plant was 

constructed in 1955 and designed to treat 2 million gallons of 

wastewater a day. The plant is in failing condition, leading to 

multiple violations. Thanks to the existing UP contract, the system 

owner provided a solution to refurbish and expand the plant. 

Utility Services Director Martha Gray is very proud of the staff, 

which is 75 people strong.

"They are experts in what they do to provide this complex 

contracting support to our privatized installations, helping to 

ensure safe, reliable and resilient utilities," she said.

Visit the DLA Energy Utility Services webpage for more 

information.

March 2022 Issue 5

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Nowhere but UP ...

Utilities Privatization

In this day and age, rarely do we think about how or why we automatically get

fresh water from drinking fountains, or why the lights turn on when someone flips

a switch. We know it's not magic or luck but few of us think twice about it until, of

course, we're without fresh water, or lights or heat or a functioning septic system.

Utilities privatization 

contractor repairs sewer line in 

Oahu, Hawaii.

Photo credit: Aqua Engineers

DLA Energy Utility Services is the 

centralized contracting agent for 

the military services' utilities 

privatization programs. 

Support includes contracting and 

technical pre- and post-award 

support for the following 

utility systems:

*Water distribution

*Wastewater collection

*Electric distribution

*Thermal

*Natural gas distribution

*Water plant

*Wastewater plant

All Utility Services solicitations 

are available at www.SAM.gov. 

Search Contract Opportunities for 

"SP0600" under keyword.
March 2022 Issue 5

DID YOU KNOW?

If you have questions about DLA Energy or would like to see something in the next 

newsletter, please contact us at energy.industry-engagement@dla.mil.

DLA’s strong relationship 

with its supplier 

community is critical to 

the agency’s ability to 

successfully carry out its 

mission as the Nation’s

Combat Logistics 

Support Agency.

-Matthew R. Beebe

DLA Acquisition Executive

DLA Industry Engagement Plan 

Refreshed and Published

Early in March, DLA published a refreshed version of the 

Industry Engagement Plan. This publication is a good 

supplement to the DLA Strategic Plan 2021-2026 that DLA 

Director Navy Vice Adm. Michelle Skubic revised and released 

shortly after she arrived at the agency. 

The first IEP was published in 2018 and reflected DLA's 

commitment to strengthening industry partnerships. The strong 

relationships DLA Energy has with its suppliers is critical to the 

organization’s ability to successfully carry out its mission. The 

plan highlights DLA's commitment to the warfighter and 

reiterates the importance of continuing to strengthen the 

relationships between DLA Energy and its industry partners. 

Click this link for an electronic version of the plan.

2022 DLA Energy

Worldwide Energy 

Conference

As a reminder, even though we 

postponed the 2022 DLA Energy 

Worldwide Energy Conference, 

there will be other opportunities 

to meet DLA Energy leaders and 

the acquisition workforce in the 

months to come. 

Please check the DLA Energy 

Industry Engagement website for 

future event updates and don’t 

hesitate to reach out using the 

email below.

Here for You & Ready to Help

The DLA Energy Supplier Advocate team 

was initially established to help maintain 

strong relationships with existing industry 

partners and build new relationships with 

perspective partners. We've had to be very 

creative in our relationship building 

during the last two years of working from 

our home offices. It has been exciting and 

it has meant we needed to find new ways 

to engage with industry in the virtual 

environment. Hopefully, those virtual 

events will turn into hybrid events and 

then into in-person events soon. 

Stay tuned! Contact us at the email below

with any questions or comments.