The U.S. Air Force’s security and protection category council has implemented the category management approach to help the service streamline its procurement processes and achieve cost savings.
Scott Heise, council director at the Air Force Security Forces Center, said in a statement published Thursday a five-year contract the service awarded to a small business for pre-printed M4 and M9Â targets serves as a category management example.
Heise noted that the service expects to realize man-hour savings worth approximately $1 million through the contract.
He added the council has leveraged the federal category management framework to build up readiness and lethality of the service’s platforms and has teamed up with the Transportation Security Administration to help come up with a sourcing strategy that could help the Air Force achieve standardization with its explosive detection tools and cargo screening equipment.
Col. Brian Greenroad, AFSFC commander, serves as the category manager.
The service said the council has realized $10 million in process and rate savings and reduced duplication since its inception in January 2017.
