2006 David Packard excellence in acquisition award winners: Krieg honors five teams at PEO/SYSCOM Commanders' Conference luncheon on Nov. 8, 2006.

On Nov. 8, 2006, Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) Ken Krieg presented the David Packard Award for Acquisition Excellence to five program teams at the fall Program Executive Officer/Systems Command Commanders' Conference luncheon held at Fort Belvoir, Va. The Packard is given to Department of Defense civilian and/or military organizations, groups, and teams who have demonstrated exemplary innovations and best practices in the defense acquisition process.

"Our acquisition workforce is composed of thousands of ethical, conscientious professionals who have dedicated their lives to make acquisition a strong organization capable of sustaining our national security. I'm particularly proud of the efforts of these winning teams," Krieg said.

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For using a comprehensive creative acquisition strategy that resulted in competition for the first time in over 25 years in the award of the government's hydrazine requirements. Inventive contracting tools included obtaining 20-year contracting authority to encourage small business participation, application of multiple indices for Economic Price Adjustment provisions for both product and labor contract line items, and the use of a commercial sales clause that allows the contractor to use its facility for commercial business with an equitable credit to the government. Continuous process improvements included issuance of a draft solicitation to industry for comment. The solicitation also examined multiple business process scenarios in order to develop the business case to determine which business process was in the government's best interest. The team's acquisition strategy produced over $220 million in savings in present value dollars at the time of contract award.

The Offices of Project Manager, Close Combat Systems (PM CCS) and Project Manager, Infrared Countermeasures (PM IRCM)

For their outstanding achievements, working in concert with each other while rapidly equipping U.S. Army fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft with the Common Missile Warning System (CMWS), a critical lifesaving suite of force protection capabilities that directly supports Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The teams' rapid development, production, and successful fielding of unique individual platform/model installation A-Kits, universal CMWS B-Kits, and expendable flare counter-measures achieved an exemplary outcome--the resounding success of the Common Missile Warning System in preserving Soldier's lives in battle. Largely due to their efforts, not a single CMWS-equipped aircraft has been lost to a Man Portable Air Defense System in the global war on terrorism.

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EA-6B Improved Capability (ICAP) III and EA-18G Program Teams

For superb accomplishment through collaboration on producing the next Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) system. Both teams shared AEA subject matter expertise across their respective programs to ensure the ALQ-218 airborne electronic attack (AEA) system operates in each airframe. This synergy was a catalyst for innovative acquisition development and reuse of the ALQ-218 system, including its highly sophisticated soft-ware code that reduced cycle times and avoided significant cost. Strong collaboration reduced schedule risk while introducing new and highly complex avionics, leveraging the EA-6B ICAP-III development of the ALQ-218 system for the EA-18G program. The EA-6B program developed and operationally tested the ALQ-218 AEA system not only for current capability enhancement, but also for future functionality in the follow-on airframe, the "EA-18G." Through tireless commitment to excellence and sharing of engineering and analytical skills, the EA-18G remains ahead of an aggressive schedule for producing the next generation AEA capability.

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