Plan to limit base purchasing powers delayed

[unhappycamper]

Plan to limit base purchasing powers delayed
By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jan 15, 2008 12:36:58 EST

The Air Force has delayed implementation of a plan that would take away bases’ control over purchasing decisions by creating five regional centers under Air Force Materiel Command that would handle most base purchases.

The Air Force told New Mexico business owners Friday that it has canceled a pilot program for the first of the regional centers — the Southwest regional center in San Antonio — that was scheduled to begin this month, according to a spokesman for Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., who has criticized the Air Force plan.

A press release from Wilson said the Air Force has decided that instead of launching the pilot program this month, the Air Force will instead conduct only “internal transition planning” for the next 18 to 24 months.

Wilson called Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne to express her concern that the purchasing consolidation plan would hurt small, local businesses near Air Force bases, according to her press release. The Air Force then decided to delay implementation of the program.

The plan, the basics of which Wynne approved in August, is supposed to save the Air Force $1 billion per year on everything from office supplies to landscaping.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/01/airforce_procurement_delay_080115w/



uhc comment: The plan was announced on 1.12.2008 --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=9757