Fiscal year's end has its intricacies

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Aron Krischel
  • 60th Contracting Squadron commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The mission of the 60th Contracting Squadron is to acquire the goods and services necessary for the operations and maintenance of Travis Air Force Base.
Between half and three-fourths of the annual funding for these goods and services is received during the last quarter of the fiscal year, July through September. Operations and Maintenance funding is only good for one year at a time, so CONS is responsible for ensuring that all the money received in the last quarter of the fiscal year is placed on contract (obligated) before midnight on Sept. 30.
You might be asking yourself, "So what? Why is he telling me this and why should I care?"
Well, what this means is each year from December through June, squadron and group resource advisors throughout the base work really hard with their units and wing leadership developing "wish lists" in hopes of receiving fiscal year-end funds to procure items unattainable within the standard operating budget. Then, July through September, CONS personnel spend countless hours ensuring those requirements are ready for execution.
This year's wish list requirements are valued at $66 million.
This is definitely our busiest time of year. In addition to preparing for "wish list" requirements, we are also issuing new funded contracts, exercising option periods for recurring contracts and removing excess funds from existing contracts to ensure all available funds are expended prior to Sept. 30. It is a tremendous amount of work for a squadron of 50 people, but as always, we are committed to making it happen.
Of course we can't do it alone. It takes a lot of preparation and coordination with numerous customers to make fiscal year end successful and to meet everyone's requirements.
During this time of year, CONS meets with customers throughout the base, especially members from Civil Engineer Squadron, the Medical Group, and Force Support Squadron on a daily basis. In addition, both the Comptroller Squadron and the Legal Office play a huge supporting role in helping CONS meet the fiscal year-end responsibilities. JA provides legal reviews of contract files to ensure the contracts comply with all federal acquisition laws and CPTS provides funding and assists CONS with keeping track of funding execution.
So during the next few months, when you start seeing a lot of new things around the base like dorm furniture, a rubberized running track, gym equipment, carpeting in buildings, repaving of roads, playground equipment, large-dollar office equipment and supplies, rock climbing walls, library equipment and furniture, etc., just know these things didn't just magically appear.
All of those items were procured and contracted for by your mighty 60th CONS who are "making it happen!"
Finally, I'd like to remind everyone of the Air Force contracting motto, "You got it, we bought it!" Its not just a cliché, but CONS lives it every day.