A team of four U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Norfolk contracting specialists provided on site husbanding support to the Navy ships that participated in Fleet Week New York May 22 to 28.

According to Edwin Roberts, a supervisory contracting specialist with the NAVSUP FLC Norfolk Contracting Department, the contracted services included tugboat services, trash, transportation, fuel, products related to force protection efforts and a variety of goods and services required when a ship pulls into a liberty port.

NAVSUP FLC Norfolk arranges husbanding services for ship’s that pull into non-Navy ports on the east and west coasts of the United States, along with ports throughout the Caribbean, Central America, South America and Mexico.

“Coordination of an event as massive as Fleet Week is multi-phased and begins approximately nine months before the first ship ever pulls in to port,” said Roberts.  “Communication is key with these events and weekly stakeholder discussions are held to guarantee seamless operations.”

The contract specialists coordinated with the crew of the five ships that participated in this year’s Fleet Week - USS New York (LPD 21), USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), USS Hue City (CG 66) and USS Tornado (PC 14). They also worked with with several other entities including Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and the Navy Exchange Service Command.

Roberts explained that the stakeholders’ needs are communicated to prospective husbanding service providers and contracts are awarded to those who provide the best value to the government for their services. After the husbanding service providers are selected, they are encourages to also participate in the planning conferences and engage with the end users to ensure alignment of all services.

Roberts was one of four NAVSUP FLC Norfolk contracting specialists on site for Fleet Week, along with Richard Mateljan, Lt. Ryan Sawko and Lt. Jesse Gale. They were on hand to authorize any additional husbanding support items needed and help with any additional requirements or concerns as they arose.

“The most rewarding part of this experience with engaging and building relationships with our fleet counterparts, we have forged valuable relationships that translate into the ability to overcome any challenge and ensure accomplishment of our mission,” Roberts added.

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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