AFLCMC Small Business Office promotes small business solutions Published April 13, 2016 By Brian Brackens 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Acquiring and supporting war-winning capabilities is the mission of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and key to those efforts is the AFLCMC Office of Small Business. Led by Dr. Mary Haley, the Office of Small Business is comprised of a team of professionals that are passionate about small businesses and what they can offer AFLCMC. "Each member of my team is here because they have a passion for small business," said Haley. "They are the best in the business at what they do and are really driven to make sure we are doing right by the small businesses that trust us." Part of the team's responsibilities is to bring small business to the "table." When organizations within AFLCMC decide to acquire a new system or service to support Air Force needs, Haley and her team help them consider if small business could do all or part of the acquisition. "Part of our mission is to make sure that everyone in AFLCMC is aware of small business alternatives, because they can lead to reduced costs at the same or better levels of performance and at reduced schedule," said Haley. "In addition, including small business promotes innovation and growth." Alicia Draines, a Small Business specialist, added that working with small business is important not only because it helps the economy, but because they bring a lot of technology and expertise to the table which helps the Air Force. Haley and her team meet regularly with small businesses to educate them about AFLCMC and opportunities that are available to them. Currently, the Office of Small Business is working to implement the 'Smart Guide' throughout AFLCMC locations to give small businesses a better understanding of specific acquisitions so that they can fully understand what it will entail. Created by Denise Baylor, a Senior Small Business professional for AFLCMC's Business & Enterprise Systems Directorate, the Smart Guide has been heralded as a 'must-have' by the small business community. According to Haley, her office has a critical mission. "As Air Force acquisition dollars continue to tighten, we need to find innovative approaches to meet the mission," Haley said. "Utilizing small business can help us achieve all or part of that." For more information about small business opportunities contact the Office of Small Business at aflcmc.sb.org.mailbox@us.af.mil.