Over the past two years, personnel from Naval Supply Systems Command Global Logistics Support and the greater NAVSUP Enterprise successfully developed the Navy's first-ever Multiple Award Contract (MAC) strategy for husbanding support services, or port services.

The strategy culminated in NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Yokosuka awarding the first MAC contracts in June 2016 for services in Singapore.

The contracts, awarded to Singapore contracting companies Parsh Marine and The GDL Group, is the first time a MAC contract has been introduced as a contracting solution to support port visits.

Implementation of the MAC strategy worldwide is expected to be complete by the end of 2017. This gives regional FLCs a new role in liaising with competing contracting companies within their respective regions in order to ensure that pricing and other contract variables are reasonable, and to deter potential abuses.

In essence, the MAC concept introduces vendor competition for each U.S. Navy port visit.

"With increased FLC involvement in overseas port visits, MACs will be awarded within smaller geographic areas, encouraging more players and more vendors, especially local vendors, to compete in the contract awarding process," said Capt. Robert Heck, NAVSUP GLS lead contracting executive and Code 20 department head. "Competition drives better pricing, directly engaging local, regional firms that are in austere locations."

NAVSUP GLS has eight regional FLCs worldwide in the following locations: Manama, Bahrain; Jacksonville, Florida; Norfolk; Pearl Harbor; Puget Sound, Washington; San Diego; Sigonella, Sicily; and Yokosuka, Japan.

In the multiple-award contracting environment, multiple vendors and contracting companies may be awarded business contracts with the Navy, such as is the case in Singapore.

"The MAC awards are very important to the U.S. Navy, as it is a key piece in our overall strategy to improve the accountability of the husbanding process," said Heck.

NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of approximately 6,300 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.

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