MARINE CORPS SYSTEMS COMMAND, QUANTICO, Va. -- The Secretary of the Navy announced last month that Marine Corps Systems Command’s (MCSC) Family of Field Medical Equipment (FFME) team, part of the command’s Combat Equipment Support Systems (PG16) program, earned a Department of the Navy Competition and Procurement Award for fiscal year 2006.
The award recognizes military and civilian personnel who have made the most outstanding contributions to competition and innovation in Navy and Marine Corps procurement.
“As a result of the hard work and dedication of these award winners and all others in the Acquisition Workforce, our Sailors and Marines benefit in terms of a higher state of readiness, improved quality and more effective mission accomplishment,” said Donald Winter, Secretary of the Navy, in a message announcing all the winners.
Award winners and FFME Team Members include: Lt. Cmdr. David Schoo, Master Chief Michelle Jennejahn, Margaret Livesay, Charles Bolin, Tina Hairfield, Mary Horn, Ted Salas, Jack Wine, Gary Berkheimer, Barbara Bennett and James Besser.
“The Medical Support Team’s goal is to develop and field systems in response to the warfighters’ needs while continually looking for new and better ways to deliver and support world-class medical products and capabilities,” said Schoo, FFME program manager. “What is unique about our acquisition process is rapid fielding and continuous modernization through AMAL reviews. We bring all of our subject matter experts together and do five to six reviews each year.”
Authorized Medical Allowance Lists (AMAL) are blocks of medical materials configured to provide medical support to Marines in operational and training environments.
“The AMAL process is data driven. The FFME team uses data from the Naval Health Research Center,” added Schoo. “They have a database which tracks injuries seen in combat. By tracking injuries, the team is able to tell what type of equipment is needed to meet the required capabilities.”
Saving tax payers money is another reason the team earned the award
“FFME cut procurement costs,” stated Schoo. “We took over modernization and procurement for the program. The team used to go to the Defense Logistics Agency and order items line by line.”
By this process, items were purchased with surcharges as high as 43.8 percent. The team switched to a prime vendor with a surcharge of 1.9 to 2.9 percent and experienced significant costs savings. They also experienced savings using the Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) program. JWOD organizations do not have to go through the competitive process because they use firms that hire mentally challenged adults.
“This allows us to save on procurement lead time and administrative costs,” said Schoo.
Another successful innovation was created when the Interservice Supply Operation Team started consolidating all supplies. They now sort products by customer and capability. As an example, they may have part of their warehouse dedicated to the I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) operating room and another dedicated to the II MEF Forward Resuscitative Surgery System. Some orders come in two days and others come in two weeks. Orders are held and forwarded to supply battalions when the complete order is ready.
Some of the orders fielded by the team include the Modernized First Aid Kit. The kit includes a new item called Quick Clot.
“This product has the consistency of cat litter and it stops bleeding,” stated Schoo. “That’s the bottom line.”
Additional new medical equipment the team is working on includes the Casualty Evacuation System (CASVAC), which will provide medical supplies for two hours of treatment of injured Marines.
“This equipment takes care of Marines and Sailors from the point of their initial injuries until they are evacuated to hospitals in Germany or the United States,” said Schoo.
The Vehicle Medical Kit (VMK) is another new item. It’s stored on every vehicle in theater. The team fielded 6,000 of these in regard to an urgent Universal Urgent Needs Statement in 2006.
“It’s like an Individual First Aid Kit on steroids,” said Schoo.
The award-winning FFME continues its mission providing the newest and most up-to-date world-class medical equipment and supplies to the field, helping to care for injured Marines and Sailors, and saving dollars in the process.