In a town hall discussion held Oct. 25 in the Frank B. Lotts Conference Center, Defense Logistics Agency Aviation procurement analysts, contract specialists and acquisition analysts learned how Defense Contract Management Agency’s quality assurance representatives and industrial specialists work together to deliver needed supplies, parts and equipment to the warfighter.
Kerri Radziszewski, a quality assurance specialist, and Bart Stewart an industrial specialist, from DCMA Springfield, New Jersey offered their expertise and insights into their work with contracts originating from DLA Aviation.
For the last two years, Rob Baker, division chief, Contract Administration Division, Supplier Operations Commodities Directorate has been visiting members of the DCMA team to solidify the partnership.
“Getting started with visits to DCMA helped to move us in the right direction but we needed to get the people at the heart of the work together,” Baker said. “We invited DCMA to come down and share their experiences with post awards.”
Baker praised the audience for the amazing work they do each and every day.
“Thank you for what you do every day,” he said. “We started the fiscal year at 84.78 percent for on-time delivery increasing it to 89.11 percent. We’ve increased more than any other supply chain over the last year which is amazing. That includes DCMA and everyone in this room helping.”
Baker also mentioned that DLA Aviation is reducing delinquencies greater than 30 and 90 days both by double digits.
Stewart walked the audience through the processes DCMA uses and how DLA can interface with them.
Radziszewski presented material demonstrating her duties in relation to DLA-originated contracts.
Bill Reneau, contracting officer, Supplier Operations Commodities Directorate, said the face-to-face meeting was a good opportunity for more experienced individuals to have a refresher and new DLA employees to learn what the QARs and ISs do for us.
“It was a good reminder to all who attended how each agency is dependent on the other to get the much needed supplies to the warfighter,” Reneau said.
Also during the event, Baker presented two employees the Susan Perkins Award: Annette Bailey, a Supplier Operations Equipment Manufacturer Directorate contract administrator, and Ann Lacks, a Supplier Operations Commodities Directorate, purchasing agent. The award, named for a recently retired leader in the Post-Awards Division, is given, quarterly, to employees that perform at an exceptional level.