DAHLGREN, Va. – What does building a body have in common with building small business relationships at the Navy Warfare Centers?
According to Carlos Duran – the new deputy for small business at Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division – bodybuilding and his current duty at Carderock have three things in common: determination, dedication and discipline.
Duran found the combination of bodybuilding and small business fascinating soon after his retirement from the Marine Corps.
The workout enthusiast took up physique bodybuilding last year after connecting with a fellow retired Marine who is now his trainer.
Meanwhile, Duran connected with Kris Parker, the NSWC Dahlgren Division deputy for small business who filled in as the acting deputy for small business at NSWC Carderock for about six months.
Duran considers his experience working with Parker as “nothing but exceptional” during their collaboration at the NSWC Dahlgren small business office, Oct. 29.
“His business acumen, experience, willingness to share his knowledge, and desire to help are admirable,” said Duran after spending a day with Parker to better develop his foundation in the small business arena. “It allowed me to be more familiar with certain critical areas and electronic platforms that we use in the contracting and the small business realm. Seaport is one of the many platforms that are essential to our day to day operations, and Kris is without a doubt a fountain of information in that system, and many others.”
SeaPort Next Generation (NxG) – the Department of the Navy's mandatory vehicle for procurement of professional support services – provides an efficient and effective means of contracting for professional support services and enhancing small business participation. SeaPort-NxG refers to both a set of Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity multiple award Contracts and also an electronic platform to solicit, award and administer task orders.
One of Duran’s objectives is to increase small business contracts awarded by NSWC Carderock Division. He believes that an increase in the command’s partnerships with small businesses will have a positive impact on innovation and creativity in Carderock’s technical programs.
“Collaboration and close communication are paramount to the success of any program and specifically in small business,” said Duran who was a contracting officer in his final years as a Marine. In 2016, he transitioned to a civilian career as a supervisor procurement analyst for the Regional Contracting Office at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
In his new role in the NSWC Carderock Small Business Branch, Duran will be able to use much of what he learned from his position at Quantico to help the command better service small businesses looking to obtain government contracts.
“Throughout my career in the Marine Corps, I was able to work in the small business side of the house, but only on a part-time basis,” Duran said. “But I found it very fascinating, and that’s why I made the move here.”
“I appreciate working with Carlos because he clearly has a passion for the job,” said Parker. “The more you collaborate with other Warfare Centers, the more consistency is achieved across NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command). Our collaboration and consistency helps industry better understand our needs and, ultimately, benefits the entire acquisition community.”