Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center (NAVSUP FLC) Yokosuka held a post award conference for the 23 husbanding service providers (HSP) selected for the command's largest ever HSP multiple award contract (MAC), June 5.

The 7th Fleet area of operation (AOO) MAC is valued at over $5.7 billion dollars over the next five years. It is a major milestone in the shift to standardize HSP contracting worldwide for the U.S. Navy and is a major push to increase competition for husbanding services.

According to Bengu Isguder, a NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka contracting officer and conference coordinator, the key to ensuring mutual understanding of contract requirements, terms and conditions, is communication.

"The goal of the conference was to reiterate the importance of keeping the lines of communication open between the HSP and the government. I believe we were able to get that message across at this conference," said Isguder. "We had 20 out of 23 contract awardees attend. They asked a lot of good questions and we were able to provide clarity and answers to those questions. It was a great opportunity to stress the importance of communication, in order to prevent any delays or problems in providing services to the fleet."

Some of the topics covered during the conference included guidance on what to do in the event there are damages to government property; clarification of port tariffs, fees and host country agreements; a regional breakdown; explanation of basic contract and task order level topics; and port visit execution and management. Contracting officer representative (COR) duties and responsibilities were also outlined, including a detailed explanation of the reconciliation checklist and invoicing requirements for quarterly HSP contractor performance evaluations.

Commander, US. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) HSP Deputy Program Manager Dana Calvin said the conference provided a good venue for everyone who attended.

"The post award conference was a great opportunity for the COMPACFLT HSP port visit management teams to meet with potential husbanding service providers to review the new MAC contract together," said Calvin. "It ensures the CORs, contracting officers and providers all have a clear understanding of what is expected from each other going forward when providing husbanding services for visiting U.S. ships (USS) and U.S. naval ships (USNS) throughout the 7th Fleet AOO."

The 7th Fleet AOO MAC provides for the procurement of non-personal husbanding services for USS and USNS, including Military Sealift Command, U.S. Coast Guard, Air Force and Army and other DOD activities, such as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or other foreign vessels, participating in U.S. military exercises or visiting any of the commercial or military ports located throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

With the indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) MAC, task orders will be issued for an indefinite quantity of supplies or services during a fixed period of time. It includes a wide range of husbanding services, such as utilities, power, potable water acquisition and oily waste handling and removal; chartering barges and arranging for fenders, brows and fleet landing; providing guards, physical barriers and picket boat patrols for force protection; hiring drivers and facilitating transportation; acquiring communications for cell phone and land lines; or any number of other services, such as reception hosting or material and cargo forwarding and handling.

Xavier Monroy, president, DK Marine Service Co. Ltd., reiterated the value of the conference to ensure mutual understanding of contract requirements.

"This conference has given me the opportunity to meet all the other HSP providers, interface with the government and ask a lot of questions," said Monroy, whose company has been doing business with the Navy and DOD for more than 10 years. "Being here today has given all of us a chance to air our concerns and clarify terms. It's been a positive experience to hear the issues from both sides, because, in the end, it's all about how we can best support the customer."

All 23 husbanding service providers selected under the MAC will utilize a standard list of supplies and services at fixed contract prices. They will be required to ensure that ordered supplies and services conform to the general requirements of the contract as outlined in the performance work statement. The geographic scope and region covered will include all commercial and military ports located in the 7th Fleet region, an area that covers more than 48 million square miles and is the largest of the U.S. Navy's numbered fleets with continuous forward presence.

NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka Director of Contracting Capt. Nicola M. Gathright said awarding the IDIQ husbanding MAC is a culmination of months of hard work and teaming with all stake-holders.

"I am extremely proud of our team of incredibly responsive and talented acquisition professionals who worked tirelessly to award this MAC IDIQ in a short seven months from the date of solicitation," said Gathright. "The ultimate goal of the MAC is to increase competition, minimize potential for fraud and abuse, enhance financial improvement audit readiness compliance and maximize customer support. I believe we will achieve those goals."

NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka is one of eight fleet logistics centers under Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP). Headquartered just 26 miles south of Tokyo, it is the Western Pacific region's largest U.S. Navy logistics command, networking more than 14 sites with a mission to deliver supply and logistics solutions that enable deployed maritime warfighter readiness in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

NAVSUP provides U.S. naval forces with quality supplies and services. With headquarters in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP oversees logistics programs in the areas of supply operations, conventional ordnance, contracting, resale, fuel, transportation, and security assistance. In addition, NAVSUP is responsible for quality-of-life issues for naval forces including food service, postal services, Navy Exchanges, and movement of household goods.

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