MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The 23rd Contracting Squadron founded a Business Innovation Cell in October 2021 at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.
The cell’s mission is to connect mission partners and commercial industries, improve and automate contracting tasks and be an epicenter for any and all ideas within 23rd CONS.
“We listen to our peers and focus on changing things for the better,” said Senior Airman Lucas Cristaldi, 23rd CONS Business Innovation cell contracting officer. “This includes improving communication with local vendors, automating contracting tasks and offering contractual solutions to all units of Moody AFB.”
Focusing on ways to improve different areas of 23rd CONS creates an environment that advances the unit’s mission.
“We’re now able to get after those things we wished to improve, but never had the time for,” said 1st Lt. Matthew Brien, 23rd CONS Business Innovation Cell officer in charge. “Having the time to properly look into certain issues we’ve always wanted to address or making some small quality of life adjustments that are felt throughout the entire unit are noteworthy payoffs along the way to attacking the larger priorities.”
For example, the Business Innovation cell discovered a way to attract small businesses to register with 23rd CONS.
“There are a lot of small businesses in the local area that don’t know how to do business with the government,” said Cristaldi. “(23rd CONS) is trying to close that gap by incorporating a website that allows them to see what contracting services we offer. From there, they can register and be the first to receive the 23rd Wing’s Annual Spend plan.”
In addition to the website, 23rd CONS re-designed their SharePoint to assist mission partners.
“If an (organization) on the base wants to buy something using their GPC,” said Cristaldi, “they will be able to go to the 23rd CONS SharePoint that has a step-by-step process to purchase any product they need for their unit.”
The Government Purchase Card, or GPC, program is the preferred method for military organizations to purchase goods and services.
In the future, the Business Innovation Cell hopes to positively affect change through their consistent acts of innovation.
“I don’t know what problems we will face in the next few years, but I do know many of the solutions are going to come from right here in the Innovation Cell,” said Lt. Col. Adam Derentz, Mission Support Group deputy commander. “I can’t wait to see what these empowered Airmen accomplish. I know our future is bright with them hard at work.”
For more information, visit www.moodyafbcontracting.com.