Contracting squadron 'opens up' for bidding

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jason Lake
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Last fiscal year, Kadena Air Base's contracting officials awarded more than $240 million in construction contracts. According to 18th Contracting officials, most contracts were awarded to firms based in mainland Japan, not Okinawa, due to local vendors' lack of business experience with the base.

In an effort to improve the local economy and expand the pool of Okinawan bidders for base construction projects, the 18th Contracting Squadron kicked off a two-part orientation seminar in Urasoe City Oct. 21.

More than 50 Okinawan construction representatives learned about the basics of Kadena's contract processes and were introduced to base leaders involved in the processes such as Col. Roftiel Constantine, 18th Mission Support Group commander, and Lt. Col. Phillip Hendrix, 18th CONS commander.

"I took the similar lecture in Tomishiro City about two years ago, but this lecture was much better because specifically focused on construction work and shared practical examples for the bidding systems," said Hana Machida, a local construction worker. "I thought getting into construction work with the U.S. military would be very hard due to the lack of professional relationships between us and the unique construction process and specifications. Contracting Officer Hiroshi Higa was very good at explaining the system and now, I'd like to make competitive bids."

Colonel Hendrix said he hopes the seminar will build up a base of local vendors who can compete for, and win, contracts as prime contractors instead of subcontractors for larger firms based in mainland Japan.

"We are trying to open the aperture as widely as possible to give companies a chance to compete for and win contracts," explained Colonel Hendrix shortly after he addressed the contractors in their native language. "It's -- they have to know where we post our business opportunities, how to provide a responsive bid, they have to be registered in a centralized system, be set up with various codes in order to receive payments electronically, and so on."

The contracting commander said both the base and the Okinawan community would benefit if local companies compete for base projects.

"We are trying to positively impact the local economy thru contract awards to local vendors," he said. "This creates further goodwill between the United States and our host nation. It brings jobs, bolsters the economy and promotes competition that can further yield efficiencies and innovation within a given industry."

The 18th Contracting Squadron is scheduled to wrap up the second half of the seminar Oct. 28.