The Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center (NAVSUP FLC) Norfolk hosted a Contracting Town Hall meeting November 27 at building W-143 onboard Naval Station Norfolk.

According to Lt. Cmdr. Carrie Paben, the purpose of this meeting was to provide a Contracting 101 for shipboard Supply Officers and their teams on basic requirement submission, habitability and husbanding processes as well as give them an opportunity to ask questions to the subject matter experts of NAVSUP FLC Norfolk’s Contracting Department.

“The goal is to make sure they have the tools they need to support their commands as well as the resources and points of contact for assistance,” she added.

During the meeting, the supply officers were introduced to NAVSUP FLC Norfolk leadership, briefed on the basic requirements for submissions, habitability and husbanding support.  The afternoon wrapped up with a question and answer period.

“The part that was most helpful was the habitability portion,” said USS Monterey (CG 61) Supply Officer Lt. Christina Sullivan, who attended the event.  “Almost all SUPPOs that go through any sort of maintenance availability will want to rehab some of their spaces. This can be an overwhelming process if you haven't had any training or experience with contracting packages in the past.”

Sullivan added that the meeting provided the information and details needed in order to be successful in submitting a package for a habitability contract.

Paben said she reflected on her experience as a shipboard supply officer when setting up the itinerary for the meeting, and viewed it as a way to help “bridge the gap” between the technical experts at NAVSUP FLC Norfolk and the command’s customers. 

Sullivan agreed that this level of service is crucial to shipboard supply officers’ success.

“I have only been in the seat for six months, but have already had to reach out to FLC several times for urgent requirements,” Sullivan added. “Each time I was able to get the help I need in order to meet mission requirements.” 

One of the pillars of the NAVSUP enterprise-wide reform initiative is customer presence, and Paben says she sees things like the Contracting Town Hall as a way to help provide transparency for the command’s customers and increase communication. 

She added that while the Contracting Department has done presentations before as part of seminars about products and services familiarization available to the fleet, she believed this contracting centric town hall was the first of its kind at NAVSUP FLC Norfolk.  

NAVSUP FLC Norfolk is one of eight FLCs under Commander, NAVSUP.   Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.

Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/navsup and https://twitter.com/navsupsyscom.

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