DLA Business Alliance Awards honor 22 private industry partners, customers

Photo By Teodora Mocanu | Defense Logistics Agency Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek (left) presents Renee Griffin, acquisition specialist in the Aviation Airframes Division at DLA Aviation, with the award for the 2014 Outstanding DLA Acquisition Professional Supporting Small Business. Griffin received the award during the 17th annual Business Alliance Awards Ceremony Oct. 22 at the McNamara Headquarters Complex  

FORT BELVOIR, VA, UNITED STATES

10.24.2014

Story by Amanda Neumann 

Defense Logistics Agency   

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - The Defense Logistics Agency’s relationship with its partners in private industry is crucial to supporting warfighters across the globe, DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek said Oct. 22 during the 17th annual Business Alliance Awards Ceremony at the McNamara Headquarters Complex.

“One of the guiding principles we have here at DLA is that relationships are key,” he said. “We’ve got over 25,000 people working at DLA in 48 states and 28 countries. We’ve got nine supply chains that cover almost everything the warfighter needs, from food and fuel to medical and construction supplies, and last year, we provided over $36 billion in sales and services in fiscal 2014. But none of that happens without the great efforts of our partners in private industry.”

Business Alliance Award candidates are nominated each year by DLA field activity commanders, Harnitchek said, adding that this year’s winners have been vital to helping the agency meet its mission.

“It’s a small token, but these awards distinguish those who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to our mission,” he said. “I say it all the time, ‘We don’t make anything here.’ You do that. We just work to get it out to our warfighters as fast as possible. And in addition, you’re very mindful of cost. … Without you, we simply couldn’t do what we do. It’s a real thrill to be able to recognize your outstanding efforts here today. You have demonstrated those efforts over and over. Together, DLA, industry, the services and the combatant commanders, have built a flexible and responsive logistics network that is highly configurable to any need, anywhere.”

As Operation United Assistance ramps up in West Africa, DLA will continue to rely heavily on its industrial partners to solve problems and achieve smart savings, Harnitchek said.

“This past year, we’ve had some tough times,” he said. “We’ve dealt with an unpredictable fiscal environment with the sequester, the Budget Control Act and of course, the government shutdown. But in spite of all that, we, together, continue to grow our relationships and weather this storm together.”

This year, there were 40 nominations, resulting in 22 awards in eight categories including Vendor Excellence, Outstanding Ability-One Program Vendor, New Contractor of the Year, Innovative Business Performer of the Year, Outstanding Readiness Support, Recognized Cost Saver, Department of Defense Customer of the Year and the Commander’s Choice Award.

In the Vendor Excellence category, awards are presented to businesses with superior product quality, on-time delivery, exemplary customer service, reliability, dependability, consistency and accuracy. They included:

-- Sea Box Inc. (small business).

-- CFM International (large business).

-- SZY Holdings LLC dba Ever Ready First Aid & Medical Supplies (women-owned small business).

-- J2 Systems and Supply LLC (service-disabled veteran-owned small business).

Awards for the Outstanding AbilityOne Program Vendor are presented to nonprofit agencies affiliated with the AbilityOne program that exhibit extraordinary customer support, superior product quality and on-time delivery. They included:

-- Lighthouse Works Inc. (NIB).

-- Peckham Industries (SourceAmerica).

GNU Technology, Inc., a small disadvantaged business, was named New Contractor of the Year for exceeding expectations on its first DLA contract in fiscal 2014. After DLA’s request to expedite delivery, GNU successfully performed first article testing on a product two weeks ahead of schedule, which resulted in no quality or delivery issues.

The Innovative Business Performer of the Year award is presented to vendors that implement progressive business practices, such as prime vendor and tailored logistics support solutions. They included:

-- JGB Enterprises Inc. (small business).

-- National Fuels Corporation (large business).

The Outstanding Readiness Support Award recognizes extraordinary customer support directly applicable to a crisis or contingency situation. They included:

-- Atlantic Diving Supply Inc. (small business).

-- Lubwell Corporation (large business).

-- Olgoonik Technical Services LLC (small disadvantaged business).

-- Transcendence Incorporated (small disadvantaged business and service-disabled veteran-owned small business).

The Recognized Cost Saver Award is given to vendors whose efforts result in cost savings to the government. They included:

-- Sage Energy Trading LLC (small business).

-- Washington Gas Energy Services Inc. (large business).

The Program Executive Office for Littoral Combat Ships was named DoD Customer of the Year for its support of DLA business initiatives to ensure LCS platform success.

Four people were recognized in the Commander’s Choice category for their support on programs affecting DLA’s mission success. They included:

-- Jeremy Traxler, senior accounting technician, Defense Finance and Accounting Service Columbus, Ohio.

-- Navy Capt. James B. Poindexter III, acting director, Medical Logistics Division, Defense Health Agency.

-- Mary McGovern, Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.

-- Julie Praiss, vice president, Tactical Aircraft and Weapons Support, the Boeing Company.

Two DLA employees were recognized for their work with small businesses. Sheryl Woods with DLA Disposition Services was named the 2014 Outstanding DLA Small Business Professional of the Year. As the sole focal point for all DLA Disposition Services small business decisions, her efforts helped DLA Disposition Services meet and exceed its small business and socioeconomic goals. Renee Griffin with DLA Aviation was named the 2014 Outstanding DLA Acquisition Professional Supporting Small Business for awarding more than $7.9 million in contracts to small businesses, exceeding her small business goal by more than 100 percent.

Harnitchek concluded the ceremony by providing the winners with personalized flags made by DLA Troop Support in Philadelphia.

• Date Taken: 10.24.2014
• Date Posted: 10.29.2014 09:58
• Story ID: 146430
• Location: FORT BELVOIR, VA, US