LAS VEGAS — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District showcased an innovative contracting method during an Industry Day event March 5, aimed at attracting contractors for a series of strategically important projects at Nellis Air Force Base.
The work at Nellis centers on an upcoming “aircraft beddown” program. An aircraft beddown is the process of stationing and integrating new or relocated aircraft, which involves extensive infrastructure development — such as building or modifying hangars, fueling systems and maintenance facilities — to accommodate the fleet.
To manage this work, the district is launching a new Advanced Pre-Qualification Sources List framework, building on the standard Pre-Qualification Sources List, or PQSL, which is a list of contractors who have been pre-screened and approved by a government agency as technically qualified for specific projects.
The purpose of the PQSL is to create a pool of trusted firms to streamline the bidding process, but the Advanced PQSL takes the concept a step further, said Sean Sackett, chief of the LA District's Contracting Division.
“We’re going to be doing something that’s very innovative and different that, to our knowledge, no one in the enterprise is executing,” Sackett said. “We’re taking that concept and putting some innovation in it to engage industry early on in the design process before it actually goes to the construction solicitation and award.”
One of the main goals of the event, he said, was to gather direct feedback from industry leaders.
“It’s something we’ve heard from industry that they like that concept and they want to continue to participate,” Sackett added. “So, we’re trying to listen to industry and show it to them for the first time to see what they think.”
Engaging industry leaders during the design phase is intended to encourage early business teaming, which can help local small businesses partner with larger firms and provide a boost to the regional economy, Sackett said.
The forum provided an avenue for these types of potential partnerships to form.
Grace Harris, president of Jeremy Harris Construction Inc., attended the event with that goal in mind.
“We are an 8(a) company in Riverside, California, and have been working with the LA District,” Harris said. “We’re interested in creating new partnerships within the industry to better support USACE.”
That sentiment was shared by Bobby Ameen, president and CEO of 24HRC, who said his goal is to help restore the nation’s vital infrastructure.
“Ultimately, my company was founded for the purpose of being in service,” said Ameen, whose company also holds an 8(a) designation.
He praised the direct access to USACE leaders at the event.
“Today was a blessing,” he said. “They had a lot of chiefs here. I said, ‘All right. This is awesome.’”
Sackett confirmed the district is seeking firms for the new process over the next three to six months and expressed confidence in the turnout.
“We’ve got a lot of large general contracting firms that are very interested in the program, so that’s always a good sign,” he said.