JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
From contracts aimed at improving Airmen’s quality of life, to providing assets supporting rapid global mobility, operations carried out at Joint Base Charleston are able to conduct each mission through the support of the 628th Contracting Squadron.
The 628th CONS directly supports all Department of Defense personnel in the 628th Air Base Wing, 437th Airlift Wing, the 315th Airlift Wing and a variety of mission partners.
“Our squadron provides agile acquisition support and contract execution to the base’s mission partners and the mission-ready forces to combatant commanders,” said Maj. Antony Barrios, commander of the 628th CONS. “The significance is the mission here fails without this unit. Our squadron’s members provide the connective tissue which allows the bones and muscles of our mission partners to move out with a purpose.”
The unit is comprised of three sections; the commodities and services flight (PKA), the construction flight (PKB) and the plans and programs flight (PKP), all of which are made up of a team containing over 50 personnel. The team executes over 1,000 contract actions worth over $70 million annually.
“PKA provides contract support on the acquisition of commodities and services greater than the limits established for unit government purchase cards,” said Barrios. “These individuals execute all types of requirements, including land mobile radios, furniture, surveillance camera systems and medical services support contracts. Overall, there are approximately 100 services and utility contracts in which PKA administers.”
Much like the PKA flight, the PKB flight provides contract support, but focuses solely on construction efforts executed by the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron and multiple mission partners across JB Charleston. Construction requirements include repairing runways, paving roads, building fire stations and maintaining water irrigation systems across the base. The PKP flight’s mission is to support information technology needs and programs, managing the government purchase card program and contracting officer representative program.
“JB Charleston has over 60 mission partners and we execute and administer contracts which enables all of their missions,” said Barrios. “It houses both the DoD’s busiest Airlift Wing, the Army’s busiest seaport operations, a Naval Brig which can house up to nearly 300 inmates, and two Nuclear Power Training school houses which train and certify the majority of the nation’s naval nuclear fleet. This makes us have one of the most unique operations with a contracting squadron I’ve seen.”
The 628th CONS supports a variety of missions at JB Charleston by awarding contracts. Through these contracts, the squadron has been able to maintain the installation’s readiness. Examples of this include the renovation of the base’s locomotives and the establishment of transportation for students during hurricane evacuations. From construction and services, to commodities and revitalization, members of the 628th CONS team have a hand in a variety of missions across the installation.
“Our shop contains a group of highly trained and qualified military and civilian members with a diverse background from all walks of life,” said Barrios. “I couldn’t be more proud of the outstanding work they do and the professionalism they show each and every day as they execute their duties.”