1 00:00:01,769 --> 00:00:04,242 - This helmet belonged to a soldier whose life was saved 2 00:00:04,242 --> 00:00:05,931 while on patrol in Iraq. 3 00:00:05,931 --> 00:00:08,523 The Army will present this and many others like it 4 00:00:08,523 --> 00:00:10,117 to soldiers whose lives were saved 5 00:00:10,117 --> 00:00:11,869 because the equipment they were wearing 6 00:00:11,869 --> 00:00:14,181 or using worked the way it was supposed to. 7 00:00:14,181 --> 00:00:17,526 For them, it's a product that works and it should be. 8 00:00:17,526 --> 00:00:19,609 What they don't know, is that it takes a team 9 00:00:19,609 --> 00:00:22,149 of more than 10,000 professionals working around the globe 10 00:00:22,149 --> 00:00:25,255 to make sure military personnel are protected. 11 00:00:25,255 --> 00:00:27,890 Hello, my name is Lieutenant Colonel Jason Good 12 00:00:27,890 --> 00:00:29,153 and this is the story 13 00:00:29,153 --> 00:00:32,653 of the Defense Contract Management Agency. 14 00:00:32,751 --> 00:00:35,584 (classical music) 15 00:00:56,357 --> 00:00:58,574 - [Voiceover] So how do soldiers get their gear? 16 00:00:58,574 --> 00:01:01,175 For your typical infantryman, it's pretty simple. 17 00:01:01,175 --> 00:01:03,834 They check gear out from supply units. 18 00:01:03,834 --> 00:01:05,257 The supply units receive gear 19 00:01:05,257 --> 00:01:07,305 from military distribution centers. 20 00:01:07,305 --> 00:01:09,338 They work directly with service program offices 21 00:01:09,338 --> 00:01:11,580 to get products from the manufacturer. 22 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:13,913 This is where DCMA comes in. 23 00:01:16,965 --> 00:01:20,010 DCMA is involved in every aspect of making sure equipment 24 00:01:20,010 --> 00:01:23,927 makes it from raw material to finished product. 25 00:01:24,817 --> 00:01:26,817 - I make sure that this, 26 00:01:27,077 --> 00:01:28,410 turns into this. 27 00:01:29,722 --> 00:01:31,890 - My job is to witness and track the production 28 00:01:31,890 --> 00:01:34,260 of equipment for our service men and women. 29 00:01:34,260 --> 00:01:36,181 - These products will ultimately be used by personnel 30 00:01:36,181 --> 00:01:37,139 around the world. 31 00:01:37,139 --> 00:01:39,117 So we have to ensure everything is done the right way. 32 00:01:39,117 --> 00:01:40,998 - We provide oversights for ground vehicles 33 00:01:40,998 --> 00:01:44,652 like the ones we have here, military tanks, aircraft, 34 00:01:44,652 --> 00:01:48,157 weapon systems, and even satellites for NASA. 35 00:01:48,157 --> 00:01:50,657 - We witness testing, accept products 36 00:01:50,657 --> 00:01:54,032 on behalf of the government, conduct risk assessments. 37 00:01:54,032 --> 00:01:56,439 - And provide insight to the military's program office 38 00:01:56,439 --> 00:02:00,283 to ensure the quality product makes it out the door. 39 00:02:00,283 --> 00:02:01,694 - Hi, I'm Major Brent Odom. 40 00:02:01,694 --> 00:02:03,007 I'm with PEO soldier. 41 00:02:03,007 --> 00:02:05,434 I understand the value that DCMA brings to the fight, 42 00:02:05,434 --> 00:02:07,107 because a plate that they inspected, 43 00:02:07,107 --> 00:02:09,879 along with effort from my soldiers, saved my life. 44 00:02:09,879 --> 00:02:11,798 In the end, DCMA ensures soldiers 45 00:02:11,798 --> 00:02:14,465 get the best equipment possible. 46 00:02:17,487 --> 00:02:19,078 - When a contract comes into the office, 47 00:02:19,078 --> 00:02:21,737 we analyze it, we conduct contract receipt and review. 48 00:02:21,737 --> 00:02:24,020 After that, we assign oversight based on expertise 49 00:02:24,020 --> 00:02:26,689 to enable DCMA's contract administration office 50 00:02:26,689 --> 00:02:28,544 to manage the contract effectively. 51 00:02:28,544 --> 00:02:30,455 We also want to make sure everything that gets done 52 00:02:30,455 --> 00:02:32,672 in the contract can be done and that our work 53 00:02:32,672 --> 00:02:35,486 does not overshoot the limitation of the agreement. 54 00:02:35,486 --> 00:02:37,201 At any time, DCMA is handling 55 00:02:37,201 --> 00:02:40,014 more than 340,000 active contracts. 56 00:02:40,014 --> 00:02:42,614 And that's at least 1.8 trillion dollars. 57 00:02:42,614 --> 00:02:44,569 To make that happen, we work closely 58 00:02:44,569 --> 00:02:47,110 with our industrial specialists to ensure the work is done 59 00:02:47,110 --> 00:02:50,054 in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract. 60 00:02:50,054 --> 00:02:52,367 - Industrial operations is about how things get done. 61 00:02:52,367 --> 00:02:55,668 At DCMA, we focus on processes and system optimization. 62 00:02:55,668 --> 00:02:58,570 In other words, we try to make contractors more efficient 63 00:02:58,570 --> 00:03:01,752 so things work better, are produced faster, and cost less. 64 00:03:01,752 --> 00:03:03,599 We do this through regular interaction 65 00:03:03,599 --> 00:03:05,090 with the production and management team 66 00:03:05,090 --> 00:03:06,399 at the contractor's site. 67 00:03:06,399 --> 00:03:08,630 - If we see areas where the company might be able 68 00:03:08,630 --> 00:03:10,182 to save money, we send it over 69 00:03:10,182 --> 00:03:12,682 to our cost and price analyst. 70 00:03:13,657 --> 00:03:16,172 - I look at the cost for the production process, 71 00:03:16,172 --> 00:03:19,709 material procurement, facilities, labor, and overhead. 72 00:03:19,709 --> 00:03:21,443 And it doesn't stop there. 73 00:03:21,443 --> 00:03:23,176 Once a contract is awarded, 74 00:03:23,176 --> 00:03:26,183 DCMA monitors the contract's cost control systems 75 00:03:26,183 --> 00:03:28,235 and practices to make sure costs 76 00:03:28,235 --> 00:03:30,757 are contained within the bounds of the contract. 77 00:03:30,757 --> 00:03:34,924 DCMA authorizes about 455 million dollars a day in payments. 78 00:03:35,368 --> 00:03:38,075 So making sure the contractor's operating efficiently 79 00:03:38,075 --> 00:03:39,158 is important. 80 00:03:39,415 --> 00:03:41,935 The fact is, every aspect of a government contract 81 00:03:41,935 --> 00:03:44,594 is reviewed, analyzed, and evaluated 82 00:03:44,594 --> 00:03:46,961 throughout the life of the contract, 83 00:03:46,961 --> 00:03:50,854 all to ensure the tax dollars are not being wasted. 84 00:03:50,854 --> 00:03:53,474 We all play a vital role in keeping our troops equipped 85 00:03:53,474 --> 00:03:54,557 and prepared. 86 00:03:54,850 --> 00:03:58,326 No one has to tell you how important that is. 87 00:03:58,326 --> 00:04:00,800 - Whether it's large programs such as military aircraft, 88 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:02,967 ships, or ground vehicles, 89 00:04:02,969 --> 00:04:05,160 or smaller products like bullet-proof vests, 90 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,152 night-vision goggles, or even weapons 91 00:04:07,152 --> 00:04:09,738 for our service members, DCMA is there 92 00:04:09,738 --> 00:04:11,718 making sure a quality product is delivered 93 00:04:11,718 --> 00:04:13,385 on time and at cost. 94 00:04:13,474 --> 00:04:14,967 We save taxpayer money 95 00:04:14,967 --> 00:04:17,111 and provide valuable insight to our customer, 96 00:04:17,111 --> 00:04:19,690 14 federal agencies, plus our NATO allies 97 00:04:19,690 --> 00:04:22,549 to make sure they can make the best decisions possible. 98 00:04:22,549 --> 00:04:24,879 At the end of the day, it's all about the end user, 99 00:04:24,879 --> 00:04:26,727 protecting our men and women in uniform, 100 00:04:26,727 --> 00:04:29,071 and enabling them to accomplish their mission. 101 00:04:29,071 --> 00:04:30,904 That's what DCMA does. 102 00:04:37,381 --> 00:04:40,214 (classical music)