GSA presents the 2006 Ida M. Ustad Award for excellence in acquisition.

The General Services Administration is pleased to announce that the recipient of this year's Ida M. Ustad Award for Excellence in Acquisition is Barbara Gerace, contracting officer, U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command Acquisition Center, White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

Gerace was instrumental in awarding a production contract to produce the improvised explosive device countermeasure system to provide support to our U.S. forces. Radio-controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIEDs) are the enemy's weapon of choice in the global war on terror. Over the last year, the use of these weapons in Southwest Asia has soared to as many as 30 a day. Their increasing use has confirmed the urgent need to develop and deploy suitable countermeasures.

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Survivability/Lethality Analysis Directorate, in conjunction with a contract to New Mexico State University, a minority institution, designed and developed the improvised explosive device countermeasure system (ICE) to satisfy the urgent need to have RCIED countermeasures provided to U.S. forces.

Gerace and her team reviewed 10 large and small businesses. The firms had to demonstrate they could manufacture these units and meet compressed time schedules for proposal, award, production, and delivery.

Gerace led a team of contracting and technical experts from the army research laboratory to award a production contract to produce the units. They went from concept to initial fielding of the systems in just five months. Her strategy was to proceed quickly from design and development to production by utilizing existing electronic warfare support contracts, government engineering, and extensive military input.

As a result of this acquisition strategy, the government owns the design and components of the ICE system, and all projected options are commercial off-the-shelf items. That adds up to a great value for the government and taxpayers in the production phase, and critical protection for our troops in harm's way.

Gerace was selected from 10 finalists for the award. The Ida Ustad Award is given annually in the memory of GSA's former senior procurement executive who was well known for her commitment to public service and the federal acquisition community.

Cromer is with Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer, GSA.