According to Young Bang, principal deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, the service branch is engaging in multiple efforts to join forces with small businesses, which offer a number of new warfighting capabilities.
One of these programs is Project Vista, which he noted during a panel discussion at the Potomac Officers Club’s 4th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit in February.
Young Bang will deliver a keynote address and participate in a panel discussion at ExecutiveBiz’s Army Acquisition Priorities: Balancing Readiness and Modernization Forum on Nov. 8. The event will bring together Army leaders and industry experts to consider the ways in which the service branch is restructuring its approach to acquisition to meet the demands of modern warfighting.
Don’t miss your chance to hear from Bang in person! Click here to learn more and register for the event.
Intended to address the “valley of death,” or the gap between the creation of a prototype and the issuance of an associated contract, Project Vista offers a way for small businesses to team with larger organizations by prioritizing prime contractors who integrate Department of Defense-funded technologies into their proposals.
Similarly, the Army’s Mentor-Protege Program gives large contractors incentives to help small businesses tackle various challenges.
The service branch has multiple other small business engagement initiatives, one of which is the Service-Disabled/Veteran-Owned Small Business Program. This effort follows six components spanning from the identification of potential SDVOSB partners to offering prime and subcontracting opportunities through collaborations.
Other Army small business outreach programs target companies in historically underutilized business zones, small disadvantaged businesses and women-owned businesses. The service branch also offers programs supporting historically black colleges and universities and general small business technology development efforts.
During the forum’s panel discussion, Bang will be joined by Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis, commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Davis has decades of experience within the Army, and has held multiple roles centering modernization, including chief of staff for the Army Futures Command. In his current position, he works to help the service branch meet its recruiting goals and shape the future force for mission success.
People are a major focus for the Army in its modernization efforts, and Davis has spoken extensively about the importance of people in ensuring a strong force.
“In the end, it’s all about the people. We must invest in their training, assignments, family, and many other things that may not have been previously at the forefront of recruiting,” he said.
Click here to register for the Army Acquisition Priorities: Balancing Readiness and Modernization Forum and hear more of Davis’ insights!
