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Joint Concept Development and Experimentation Directorate (J9)

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USJFCOM to hold re-compete for joint concept development and experimentation

U.S. Joint Forces Command will hold a re-competition for the command’s Joint Concept Development and Experimentation Directorate contract.

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By Robert Pursell
USJFCOM Public Affairs

(NORFOLK, Va. – Sept. 17, 2008) -- U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) announced before industry representatives here today at a Tidewater Association of Service Contractors (TASC) luncheon that it will hold a re-competition for one of the command’s larger contracts.

USJFCOM’s Joint Concept Development and Experimentation Directorate (J9) contract is set to expire next summer and the re-competition should allow more companies, large and small, to compete for multiple contracts to support the command's experimentation efforts rather than competing for just one large contract. 

In this case, the expiring contract has a value ceiling of more than $478 million.

Navy Capt. John Polowczyk, USJFCOM’s business manager, said that this is a win-win for everyone involved.

“We’re breaking [the contract] up into smaller ones, making them more manageable and doing some things that’ll foster greater competition where everybody will win,” he said.  “I think the taxpayer will win. We’ll get increased competition, increased downward pressure on price through added competition at both the contract and individual task order levels, we give more of industry a chance to compete and win work as a prime contractor, not just as a subcontractor, so it’s goodness for all, and USJFCOM gets more efficient access to talent.”

According to its website, TASC consists of business personnel dedicated to excellence in contracting in the public and private sectors. Members work together to ensure the highest standards of performance in their specialized fields. 

Polowczyk said this is the ideal audience because USJFCOM is strongly considering the use of multiple award contracts and it’s going to try to provide a higher degree of competition with room for more awardees whenever it’s practical to do so. 

This approach is very consistent with Congress’ direction in the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act to minimize single-award contracts of this magnitude according to the captain.

“What were trying to do is make sure everybody understands that this is for real, we are changing behavior,” he said.  “The bottom line is we’re trying to be more pro-active with industry, provide people with a real opportunity to compete, and for USJFCOM to garner more competition to benefit the warfighter and the taxpayer.”

The re-competition process will begin in the next month, with hopes to have solicitations in place by the end of 2008.