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Show Nov. 24, 1993 Yates says competition gives taxpayer 'best defense for the buck' - WASHINGTON As part of the defense drawdown, mainongoing tenance depots are the chopping blocks as a place for possible cuts. And, if Air Force maintenance depots are not competitive, the commander of Air Force Materiel Command will be the first to ask that they be closed. "There is no question we need to downsize the defense depot structure," Gen. Ronald W. Yates told the audience during a panel discussion at the recent Aviation Industries Association government industry forum. Yates was in Washington to present the Air Force's view of the best course' of action for reducing defense depots. "The question is, how should downsizing be done while still preserving a strong, viable depot maintenance structure in support of our armed forces?" he asked. Depot activities include everything from routine maintenance to modifications, overhauls, conversions and system upgrades. The Navy has already shut down half of its aviation depots, and the 1993 Base Closure and Realignment Commission listed the Air Force depot facility at Newark AFB, Ohio, for closure. Yates' view and that of the Air Week-Aerospa- 66 (Competition) is the only rational way to sort out who is best able to do any given workload for the best price. It is also the only rational way to determine what facilities provide the best value and capability during our downsizing process. 99 Force is that the depots should stay open. To make that determination, he advocates conducting a "vigorous" competition between the service depots. He said the Air Force wants to compete within the Defense Department to determine what depots should be problem and requires a vast vision of maintained and how big they should be. the defense industry and how to a major effort While the service also wants to commanage its drawdown level mainwith national at to with drive participation pete industry tenance costs down, Yates stressed from industry and all branches of that there is no strategy, saying the government, he said. Yates said the American taxpayer Air Force is competing with it in order to keep the depots open. and the nation get the "best defense g for the buck" via competition, adding His customers, the Air Force's lowit benefits the government by driving "demand" commanders, er prices, "and the only way I can the entire cost of Air Force operations lower prices, without some significant down. investment, is through the "Competition is a proposition where we all win." mechanism of competition." If the prime defense contractors deAt an' Air Force Association sympocide they want to be part of the depot sium this summer, Yates said he bemaintenance business, they must reor- lieves so strongly in competition ganize, Yates said. They must create because he is convinced it is the "only a company that can com- rational way to sort out who is best not with Air Force depots, able to do any given workload for the pete only but also with the other commercial best price. firms out there. "It is also the only rational way to While admitting competition will determine what facilities provide the not answer all industrial-base- d best value and capability during our quesis Yates convinced it's the first downsizing process." tions, To support Yates' philosophy of step in a long process. It is a vast most-competitiv- e, least-costl- y war-fightin- up-fro- Hilltop Times nt low-overhe- v "v a Gen. Ronald W. Yates Commander, Air Force Materiel Command competition, Ogden Air Logistics Center has aggressively pursued workloads through the competitive process. Of the 13 contracts Hill has bid on, it has wone nine, including the only e contract major FA-1the Modification, Corrosion and Paint Program for more than $60 service-to-servic8 million. Other workloads Hill has won are: D The 6 Block 4042 Structural Modification Program for $24.5 F-1- million. B An aircraft wheels contract for $15 million. The total dollar amount of the nine contracts Hill has won is $126 million. Mike Amidan, director, Ogden ALC Bid Office, said, "We're well on our way to establishing Hill's reputation as an aggressive competitor. There are a lot of reasons for this, but probably the main one is that our people know they are competing to preserve their jobs, so they're performing at 125 percent." hL.j fliir BORROW UP TO $200 x. CASH INSTANTLY! can get CASH with your personal check for up to $2UO instantly! -With our two locations, your not far from You rv INSTANT CASH! Check Expressions is here to help you. Come in and see for yourself, tr WJ VmmVt T6 He-T- VJI 3$. VU ihosa times: Monday - Thursday 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Friday 10:00 A.M.-5:3- 0 aiurday 1 0:00 A.M. -- 2:00 lasi ana inenaiy service ioo. 'EXfPSSions 713 NORTH MAIN, LAYTON 5633 SOUTH 1900 WEST, ROY NOW OPEN: 85 W. 33RD SOUTH, SLC 546-277- 8 825-644- 5 K "" -- II llll I III 466-707- 0 P.M. J |