Q U A R T E R L Y N E W S L E T T E R

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M R . D A V I D K L E S S

D L A En e r g y D e p u t y C o m m a n d e r

Industry

I officially joined the DLA Energy family as the new deputy commander on July 19, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be

part of such a mission-focused group of people. DLA Energy has a global mission, one that is critical to our nation’s

defense. It’s a mission that requires us to have strong and trusting relationships with our industry partners. That is one

of the first things I noticed when I joined the team; DLA Energy’s strong commitment to building meaningful and

valuable relationships with our industry partners.

Q4, FY 21 features

DLA Energy's Aerospace

Energy Program

The results are in!

A recap of the 2020

survey results

Climate Change

& SAM Announcement

In the new DLA Strategic Plan 2021-2026, you’ll notice that Warfighter

Always is the agency’s number one priority. DLA Energy is very clear that

the only way to ensure the warfighter remains our true north is if we

work hand in glove with industry, and we’re doing just that.

The supplier advocate team is heavily involved in coordinating virtual

supplier engagements and continues to adapt to our new normal; our

acquisition professionals are staying connected to their suppliers

through teleconferences and virtual meetings, and new communication

tools, like this newsletter, are getting better every quarter and reaching

more people than ever before. Our senior leaders continue to emphasize

the importance of clear and direct communication.

Not only am I impressed with how well DLA Energy has adapted to the

new virtual world, I am also impressed with how well our suppliers are

adjusting. We’re seeing more calls and emails from new businesses who

want to partner with us to support the warfighter and we’re starting to

receive inquiries about exhibiting at the 2022 Worldwide Energy

Conference, our premiere command event. All of this is great news!

I’m so glad I had this opportunity to thank you for staying engaged

during these uncertain times. None of us knows how long we’ll be

working like this. I do know as long we have trustworthy industry

partners and a committed acquisition workforce, DLA Energy will

continue to provide globally resilient energy solutions to the warfighter

and our whole of government customers.
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When people think of DLA Energy, often the first thing they think of is traditional petroleum fuel, and

with good reason – fuel support is critical to the warfighter and DLA Energy whole of government

customers. However, there are talented professionals in San Antonio, Texas, who also provide critical

support to the nation. They often fly under the radar, but the mission they support sure doesn’t!

These acquisition professionals from Aerospace Energy provide

essential propellants for space launches, among other nontraditional fuels and gases. Two missions they recently supported

are worthy of the spotlight – NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover

landing on the red planet, and a Delta IV Heavy Rocket launch, in

support of the National Reconnaissance Office and its NROL-82

mission.

Landing a spacecraft on another planet is a major

accomplishment that takes more than astronauts and a skilled

technical team to make it a success. It also takes specialized fuel,

logistics and the right people who know how to procure it.

In the case of NASA’s successful Mars Perseverance rover landing,

Aerospace Energy provided the hydrazine used in the landing

engines, which made touchdown on Mars possible. But that is how

the story ends. The beginning of the story started seven months

and 293-million-miles earlier when Aerospace Energy provided

rocket propellant – 1 for the Atlas V rocket, the launch vehicle used

to start the rover’s path toward Mars. NASA’s trip to Mars literally

started and ended with DLA Energy provided products.

For the Delta IV Heavy mission at Vandenberg Space Force Base,

CA, Aerospace Energy provided large quantities of various

products, which put a huge strain on the industrial gas market

and industrial gas drivers. The business unit provided bulk liquid

hydrogen to fuel the Delta IV; liquid oxygen, used as the oxidizer

on the rocket; and gaseous nitrogen used as a pressurant, a

purging agent and to environmentally condition the space craft

and launch pad. Luckily for all, that mission successfully launched

on its first attempt.

Aerospace Energy Director Doug Smith graciously thanked their

suppliers and all the great work they do on behalf of the Aerospace

Energy customers. Quality products are essential when making

highly important, long-distance trips, and Aerospace Energy

demonstrated, again, its propellants are tried and true, he said.

He also praised the Aerospace Energy workforce.

“Supporting space launches is just a portion of our mission,” he

said. “We also provide bulk cryogens worldwide for use on flight

lines, and helium in support of the Departments of Defense and

Homeland Security aerostats – none of this could be done without

the dedication and hard work of the employees at Aerospace

Energy.”

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P H O T O C R E D I T : U N I T E D L A U N C H A L L I A N C E

D L A E n e r g y R o c k e t P r o p e l l a n t

F u e l s N A S A R o v e r t o R e d P l a n e t

P H O T O C R E D I T : N A S A J E T

P R O P U L S I O N L A B , C A L T E C H

M o b i l e A s s e m b l y S h e l t e r ( M A S )

R e t r a c t i o n : D e l t a I V N R O L - 8 2

P H O T O C R E D I T : U N I T E D L A U N C H A L L I A N C E
Please send an email to: energy.industry-engagement@dla.mil with any ideas/comments/questions.

Contractors are reminded in most cases that registration in SAM is required in

order to receive an award. SAM.gov registration is FREE. There are NO FEES to

register or maintain your SAM.gov registration. If you get an email, text, or

phone call from a company asking you to contact them right away about your

SAM.gov registration or if you are asked to pay money to complete or renew

your SAM.gov registration, be cautious. These messages are not from the

federal government. You may complete or update your registration at

www.sam.gov.

The Department of Energy announced Aug. 3, nearly $34 million in

funding for 11 projects that will support high-impact research and

development to improve and produce biofuels, biopower, and

bioproducts.

The Department of Defense is committed to tackling climate control.

Read more about it on the department's website.

The Biden Administration has issued executive orders, formed working

groups and launched international partnerships to fight climate change.

Read more about their efforts at the White House website.

One-hundred-forty-seven suppliers responded to the 2020 DLA Supplier Satisfaction Survey. The four

factors on which DLA Energy suppliers were asked to rate the organization include, DLA

Communication, Growth and Profit Potential, DLA-Supplier Relationship and DLA Effectiveness. Using

a rating scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning strongly disagree and 5 meaning strongly agree, the average

rating was 3.57. This was an increase of .31, when compared to the 2018 survey. DLA Energy suppliers

rated the organization higher in all 17 areas of the survey. Please standby for an update on how DLA

Energy will address the results of the 2020 survey. 

SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM) REGISTRATION ANNOUNCEMENT

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