DLA works to expand logistics support to federal agencies

Photo By Beth Reece | DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Harnitchek describes how DLA can support federal agencies during a Value Added Opportunities Summit at the McNamara Headquarters Complex Dec. 15. (Photo by Beth Reece)  

FORT BELVOIR, VA, UNITED STATES

12.17.2014

Story by Beth Reece    

Defense Logistics Agency   

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Federal agencies can take advantage of the same tailored logistics support enjoyed by military customers, Defense Logistics Agency leaders told federal representatives Dec. 15 during a Value Added Opportunities Summit at the McNamara Headquarters Complex.

The summit highlighted numerous areas in which DLA can potentially provide logistics support at lower costs to almost 20 federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs. Topics ranged from clothing and textiles to fuel, property disposal and storage.

“The effort here is to start a dialog with all of you on what DLA does and then see if there’s anything we can help you out with. I believe there are probably some big opportunities out there. We’re a pretty large outfit in terms of dollars, and we operate on working capital funds, and that allows us to do some stuff that most folks can’t do on their own,” DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek said.

The director cited the agency’s formal agreement to provide 1 million Meals, Ready-to-Eat and 200,000 gallons of fuel per day to the Federal Emergency Management Agency during disaster response operations as an example of how DLA can support federal agencies.

“In Hurricane Sandy, we went from about 200,000 gallons of fuel a day up to about 800,000 gallons. We were even putting fuel in gas stations. We also went up to 1 million MREs a day, and our salvage operators were pumping water out of tunnels and basements while powering up apartment buildings,” he said.

Similarly, DLA supported the Department of State as it assumed U.S. operations in Iraq in December 2011 by using existing contracts to provide food to 13 dining facilities and fuel to 11 bulk fuel sites. DLA also helped State Department officials establish their own support contract and provided assistance with operational logistics planning, as well as acquisition and financial management.

While DLA is used to providing large-scale logistics and getting better prices using economies of scale, DLA Logistics Operations Director Vince Griffith assured attendees that the agency can also tailor support to suit smaller organizations and missions.

“At DLA, the customer defines success. When we work with you, your metrics are how we’re going to measure this, not our metrics. So the one-size-fits-all approach isn’t applicable here,” he said.

Dave Kless, who oversees DLA’s support to federal agencies for DLA Logistics Operations, said potential customers have shown interest in such areas as warehousing and property disposal. In many cases, it just doesn’t make sense for federal agencies to perform tasks that aren’t included in their missions when DLA already has the expertise, he added.

“For example, we already have the ability to warehouse and distribute worldwide. And not only can we help get material to the customer; we can also deal with excess material in warehouses that is either obsolete or no longer used so other federal agencies aren’t contracting for that service on their own.”

Harnitchek stressed that while DLA’s goal is to avoid duplicate logistics solutions within the federal government, it’s important that DLA’s support improves other agencies’ effectiveness and efficiencies.

“If we can help you do something for less cost, then there’s definitely an opportunity there. And if we can’t do it as well or better and for less cost, then honestly, it’s probably something you need to keep,” he said.

In addition to the presentations, a video detailing DLA's capabilities was shown to attendees.

Another summit will be held in January to expand support to the military services.

• Date Taken: 12.17.2014
• Date Posted: 12.19.2014 10:23
• Story ID: 150731
• Location: FORT BELVOIR, VA, US