Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) Organized a Small Business and Industry Brief at the University of Mary Washington Dahlgren Campus, Oct. 21.
More than 220 business executives attended the event and were provided with in-depth answers on all their business-related question, including the NSWCDD services acquisition forecast.
Kris Parker, NSWCDD associate deputy director for small business, said:
The event provided unprecedented insight into each of our technical departments, acquainting attendees with specific roles, responsibilities, and upcoming procurement opportunities.
The bulk of the audience members consisted of small business representatives, but large businesses were well represented, offering a great opportunity for networking and partnering.
Guest speaker, Jerome Punderson, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) director of contracts, discussed the current acquisition environment and the procurement process while the business professionals – representing 140 businesses – listened to his insight regarding NAVSEA’s “better buying power” strategy to promote real competition.
Punderson told the business executives and entrepreneurs that “the focus of better buying power is to improve the productivity of DoD’s acquisition of both products and services,” through initiatives in areas such as affordability, cost growth control, and incentivizing productivity and innovation.
Ten NSWCDD leaders – including Technical Director Dennis McLaughlin, Commander Capt. Brian Durant – briefed the business executives and program managers on the command’s mission, capabilities, future initiatives, and support to Navy programs ranging from Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, the littoral combat ship, and DDG 1000 to the electromagnetic railgun, chemical biological and radiological defense, and defense critical infrastructure.
NAVSEA wants to reduce the number of single competitive bid contracts for several reasons, particularly to improve buying power.
This initiative to promote competition on contracts combined with the capabilities of small businesses to provide rapid, cost-effective technological solutions is enabling Navy leaders to reduce costs.
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Press release, Image: US Navy