IAT Road show rolls through Columbus

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Parie
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
"We can't do what we do without small business"

This was the common theme of the Installation Acquisition Transformation briefing by Col. Mark Hobson, Air Force Materiel Command, Chief of the Resource Management Division, Directorate of Contracting at HQ Air Force Materiel Command, March 28 at the Columbus Public Library.

More than 30 local businesses were in attendance to hear more about the Air Force's IAT initiative and how it will affect base level contracts.

This initiative, approved by the Secretary of the Air Force in August 2007, drives a fundamental organizational structure change which transfers acquisition management and oversight to Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, geographically re-aligns continental United States contracting activity into five Regional Centers and significantly reduces the size and scope of installation contracting squadrons.

Colonel Hobson started off the brief by explaining that full implementation of the transformation is expected to take three to five years.

"We've got the time to be thoughtful about the transformation," he said. "People with concerns should make them known; we still have time to change things. These relationships the bases have built with local businesses are too critical to us to lose in this transformation," Colonel Hobson said. "Their support of each base's mission directly affects our ability to put bombs on target."

While this transition will provide small business with more opportunities on a regional level, he added. It will also require business to compete against more companies.
"Keep your local Air Force Base Small Business Specialist apprised of your capabilities, interests and areas of possible competitive advantage," he said. "Consider leveraging your capabilities by 'teaming' with other small businesses to pursue larger procurement opportunities."

The IAT Roadshow began in February and will visit each affected CONUS installation to ensure the contracting workforce and local businesses understand the transformation.

"This transformation is historic change for our Air Force," Colonel Hobson said. "We all have to work together and make this a success for everyone involved."

For more information about the IAT visit http://www.selltoairforce.org