Small businesses turn out for NAS outreach session

  • Published
  • By Bob Pullen
  • NAS Transition Communications Manager
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  More than 75 small business representatives from across Tennessee and Alabama turned out for the National Aerospace Solutions Small Business Outreach event held June 22 at the Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center.

The event was co-hosted by the Manchester, Franklin County and Tullahoma Chambers of Commerce, in conjunction with the University of Tennessee Procurement Technical Assistance Center and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center.

The deputy general manager for NAS, Doug Pearson, welcomed the business representatives by talking about who NAS is, and what they represent.

"NAS is a limited liability corporation that was established for one reason, and that's to manage the Test Operation and Sustainment contract at Arnold Engineering Development Complex," Pearson said. "We understand the complex work that goes on at AEDC, and we are proud to be a part of that."
Pearson also explained how the small business community would be essential in the success of NAS.

"We are looking for partners from the local business community that will work with us under the same values NAS stands by," Pearson said. "We want businesses who will be ethical, represent integrity and who will perform their work safely. If we find out a business is not working like that they won't be working with us."

Dave Porter, the acquisitions manager for NAS, spoke to the crowd about how they can learn more about doing business with NAS and how that process will work.
"We are moving into a new era at AEDC as NAS takes over responsibility for the TOS contract," he said. "Many of you will find that we will be doing business a little differently than you've been used to in the past."

One change is a centralized acquisitions approach, according to Porter.
"NAS will develop commodity based type agreements in support of mission execution and base operations providing AEDC a more effective approach to meet cost and schedule demands," he said.

The attendees were also given the opportunity to register their businesses to be included into a centralized database to be used as NAS assumes operations. A "supplier portal" has also been established on the NAS website at www.nas-llc.us for businesses to learn more about working with NAS.

National Aerospace Solutions is a limited liability corporation represented by Bechtel National, GP Strategies and Sierra Lobo, established for the sole purpose of meeting Arnold Engineering Development Complex's objectives for Test Operations and Sustainment. Teaming subcontractors include nLogic and Chugach.

-AEDC-