Fortifying industry partnerships is vital to help the Defense Logistics Agency meet budget reductions, DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek told a group of military clothing and textiles suppliers at a Sept. 28 trade association meeting in Philadelphia.
Harnitchek shared the agency’s industry priorities – quality products, fair pricing to the taxpayer and respectable profits to a healthy industrial base – with about 200 members of the American Apparel and Footwear Association’s government contract committee. The director attended the meeting as part of a Department of Defense initiative to strengthen partnerships with the military industrial base.
Harnitchek outlined current initiatives and future goals for the agency, including his “10 in 5” strategy to save $10 billion in the next five years. This goal supports his key theme to significantly improve DLA’s performance to warfighters while dramatically reducing costs.
“You’re going to have to help us get there, too,” Harnitchek told attendees. “But you can only help us if you’re viable, if you’re out there and you’re a strong industry.”
According to the association’s website, the government contracts committee keeps members apprised of government needs and requirements with respect to procuring clothing and the problems faced by the industry in its supplier relations with the government.
“The committee meetings provide the opportunity for the government to update their clothing and individual equipment suppliers on purchasing forecasts to better enable companies to plan production,” committee Chairman Michael Mansh stated.
Harnitchek entertained questions on a range of topics, including reverse auctions, service uniform changes, fabric shading requirements, and contract award time.
“There are plenty of things we can fix,” Harnitchek said. “Bring to the table issues that are beyond your own business. If it’s a big problem, we’ll fix it to whatever extent we can. I want to have a great partnership with you guys.”
DLA Troop Support’s Clothing and Textiles Director Air Force Col. Jody Cox and Director of Supplier Operations Gary Shute also presented at the conference, discussing the relationship between industry and DLA, and the clothing and textiles supply chain’s direction for the future.
Shute outlined the directorate’s projections, including its purchasing budget of $1.7 billion in fiscal 2013, a new electronic procurement system rollout in November, and upcoming contract opportunities in fall 2012 and early 2013.
Harnitchek also expressed appreciation to the assemblage of suppliers.
“Let me thank you all for what you’re doing here,” he said. “No matter what you’re doing, whether you’re making socks, [Army combat uniforms] or combat boots, sunglasses, gloves, you name it, it is … appreciated by all the folks who use it and especially by me.”