Small businesses can thrive on Kirtland AFB

  • Published
  • By Michael Kleiman
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  Small Business Office benefits installation and off-base companies

"There are 300 to 500 small companies currently doing business on Kirtland. In the past 13 months, I have conducted four quarterly meetings and we invite many of the primary on-base organizations to attend."

-- Francisco Tapia, Kirtland AFB Small Business Programs director

Business is booming at Kirtland Air Force Base, especially for small companies.

To accomplish an even bigger bang in commercial partnerships with off-base entities, the installation's Small Business Office seeks to maximize opportunities to increase contract awards such as interacting with interested, qualified parties during quarterly networking sessions to address, and ultimately satisfy, customer needs.

"There are 300 to 500 small companies currently doing business on Kirtland," said Francisco Tapia, director, Kirtland AFB Small Business Programs.

"In the past 13 months, I have conducted four quarterly meetings and we invite many of the primary on-base organizations to attend including the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, the 377th Air Base Wing, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Sandia National Laboratories, National Nuclear Security Administration, General Services Administration, Small Business Administration, New Mexico Procurement Technical Assistance Program, Operationally Responsive Space office, Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Space Development and Test Directorate.

"During our last quarterly networking meeting on Jan. 26, approximately 130 people representing local small businesses and state and federal agencies participated in the free session. Part of the event involved networking with federal agencies and potential small businesses on opportunities."

Identifying companies
Serving from two separate offices located at opposite ends of the base, Tapia works with the installation acquisition team and small businesses to initially identify local and national companies that can provide the required services or commodities. For example, both AFRL organizations, the Directed Energy and Space Vehicles Directorates, purchase commodities related to their primary mission of research and development, but for most of the other units on Kirtland, needed services met by small businesses can run the gamut from A to Z. Occasionally, both the AFRL and AFNWC Contracting offices, as well as the various program managers, have already identified certain small entities to do the needed work due to previous commercial transactions.

"The Secretary of the Air Force established the service's Small Business program to assist the acquisition community such as the contracting sections and program managers in ensuring small business received an equitable part of the dollars from the Air Force," Tapia said.

"Our mission is to figure out what capabilities that are out there that small businesses can accomplish for the Air Force. The program goal is 85 percent of every dollar received by the base purchases services from small businesses, which is great.

"The AFNWC Contracting office does a superb job of supporting the small business community and the nuts and the bolts of required installation services such as construction, plumbers, electricians, etc. For the two AFRL directorates, about 40 cents of every dollar spent goes to small businesses which is also good."

For off-base commercial purchases of $10,000 and above, the AFNWC and AFRL Contracting offices submit an Air Force Form 2579 daily to the Small Business Office for review, concurrence, and/or appeal.

During his examination of the document, Tapia ensures the purchase's justification and then decides whether the acquisition should move forward as a sole source, competed amongst small companies or opened up to all entities regardless of size.

The Small Business Programs director, however, can either sign off on the form or appeal it by returning it to the respective contracting section for resubmission.

How to contact
"Right now, the way it is going is that a lot of people will do a Google® search, and they'll find the Air Force Small Business Offices for each base," said Mr. Tapia, a 35-year career federal government employee.

"That's how a lot of people find me. A lot of people also find me through word of mouth as the two base contracting offices I work with refer people to me. In addition, the outside community sends people my way, and we discuss opportunities and we consult. I am here to help and serve small business."

To learn more about Air Force Small Business, visit www.airforcesmallbiz.org/ or contact Tapia at 505-846-8515.

"To me, it's easy to do business with any given air force base or any DOD agency," Tapia said.

"The easiest part is to come and meet me, come talk to me and then tell me about your key business, what your interests are, and what your company's focused on. I am always looking to find opportunities for small business."