Introduction and Major Command Points of Contact

This handout covers your contracting opportunities with the United States AF as outlined in chapters 1, 2, and 3. Chapter 3 also provides a list of the equipment, supplies, and services typically bought for the day-to-day operations of an Air Force base (AFB); and furnishes points of contact for those interested in doing business with commissaries and exchanges. Chapter 4 provides you the name, address, and telephone number of your small business (SB) point of contact for every AF activity having a contracting function (organized by state, city, and then AF base). Chapter 5 provides information on the Air Force Outreach Program Office (AFOPO). Chapter 6 cites Internet market research info.

If You're Interested in Supporting the Air Force Mission:

We in the Air Force (AF) are pleased that you have expressed an interest in contracting with us. To assist you, we have instituted the AF Small Business Home Page, which will be your gateway to doing business with us. As an example of the information contained therein, we have extracted the attached handout. This will give you insight into the type of information that is readily available from our home page. To keep current, be sure to download future updates of this handout from the home page. I encourage you to read it thoroughly and then contact the Small Business (SB) offices at the particular bases with which you plan to do business. They are prepared to assist you with your marketing approach and any problems encountered.

The bases are assigned to "parent" commands. The commands have different missions within the AF, so in addition to buying the equipment, supplies and services required for the daily operation of an AF base, some contracting offices buy to support their command's particular mission or the needs of the AF world-wide. Because of its size and decentralized nature, there is no centralized point of contact in the AF to make your capabilities known--so eventually you'll need to contact each contracting office with which you wish to do business.

You will also want to checkout the Air Force Interactive Electronic Mall (IEM), Long Range Acquisition Estimate (LRAE), FedBizOpps.gov, DoD Business Opportunities (centralized web site for posting solicitations); and then register as a supplier in the Federal Government Central Contractor Registration. All of these can be accessed on this web site at http://www.selltoairforce.org/procforecast.htm.

Study this handout and other home page resources carefully (checking the IEM, LRAE, FedBizOpps and DoD Bus Ops frequently) and contact the nearest Small Business Specialist if you have any questions. If you are new to government business, generally it is best to focus on one or a few bases to learn the basics of doing business with the AF. At least on a conceptual basis, there's not that much difference in marketing between private industry and the government. You need to figure out how to and let your customer know that you can provide a better product, delivery, and price than the competition. Checking FedBizOpps and the information available on http://www.selltoairforce.org/ are important but only first steps in marketing your new government customer. There is no substitute for personal contact! Good luck in your efforts and thank you for your interest in supporting the AF mission.