Robins to get regional contracting center Published March 7, 2008 By Kendahl Johnson 78th ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, GA -- As early as fiscal 2010, Robins will be the home to a regional contracting center. The new center will handle Air Force contracting for bases in five southeastern states and will bring several hundred new jobs to Robins. The new center is one of several changes taking place as part of the Installation Acquisition Transformation, an initiative that will help streamline the way the Air Force contracts with small businesses. Currently, each Air Force base handles its own contracting operations. The transformation calls for the consolidation of contracting operations to five regional centers throughout the United States. Col. Mark Hobson, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, visited Robins March 3 to discuss the initiative. He said transformation will enhance the Air Force's ability to identify and tap into small businesses' capabilities. "The transformation is an effort to gain efficiency and save the Air Force money," Colonel Hobson said. "It is not a manpower reduction; it is not intended to reduce the bottom line by cutting people." The Warner Robins regional center, which will be one of five across the Air Force, will service bases in Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Alabama and Georgia. Base officials are currently looking at nine spots to house the regional center. Lt. Col. Kurt Bergo, 78th Con-tracting Squadron commander, said the addition of the regional center at Robins will have a positive impact. "In the short term, it will provide growth and have a strong impact on the Robins community and the Southeast region," he said. In addition to the regional center, each base will have an installation acquisition squadron. The squadron will be a direct liaison with the local community. Business advisors and specialists will be available to assist business owners and help administer contracts. "Our relationship with small businesses is critical," Colonel Hobson said to local small business owners. "We can't get our mission done without your support." Colonel Hobson said the intent is to keep those relationships with small businesses strong and hopefully make them better. He also said small businesses will be able to compete for a wider variety of acquisition dollars, but they will be competing regionally rather than locally. The transformation only applies to base-level contracting within the continental United States, or approximately $15 billion per year in contracts. The transformation does not apply to major weapon systems, logistics support to weapon systems, laboratory support, research, development and test and evaluation. The groundwork for the transformation has been laid, and the entire change will take three to five years to complete.