NAVFAC's Strategic Vision: Prioritizing Partnership, Planning, Risk Management, and Affordability

In a recent lecture, Rear Admiral John VanderLey, Commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) and 46th Chief of Civil Engineers, discussed the organization's strategic priorities in the face of growing demands and developing obstacles. As NAVFAC continues to shape the infrastructure that serves the Navy and Marine Corps, Admiral VanderLey's insights provide a road map for navigating the complexity of military construction and engineering.

One of the key foundations of NAVFAC's strategy is its emphasis on collaboration and governance. Admiral VanderLey emphasized the need of collaborating with industry partners. He emphasized the necessity of a governance framework that not only enables individuals on the ground to address concerns and promote progress, but also allows for the escalation of unsolved problems to leadership levels. This method keeps projects on track, encouraging a productive and responsive collaboration between NAVFAC and its industrial partners.

Equally important to NAVFAC's success is the emphasis on precise planning and scope development from the start of projects. Admiral VanderLey stated that the foundation of any successful endeavor is the first planning phase. By removing internal obstacles between planning and design and improving external processes, NAVFAC hopes to ensure that projects are well-defined and aligned with strategic goals from the start. This proactive approach to planning is viewed as a critical factor in the overall success or failure of undertakings.

In terms of risk allocation, Admiral VanderLey recognized the changing landscape of military construction projects, which are becoming larger and more complicated. He underlined the need to shift away from existing approaches that lay the greatest degree of risk on industry partners. Instead, NAVFAC is looking into measures including economic price changes and early contractor involvement to better share risk. This change in risk allocation is designed to promote a more fair and equitable approach to managing large-scale projects.

Finally, NAVFAC prioritizes cost, particularly as the Navy and Marine Corps continue to spend extensively in shore infrastructure. With building demand far exceeding budget allocations, NAVFAC is actively seeking collaboration with industry experts to find alternate construction methods and cost-cutting solutions. This emphasis on affordability is critical to ensuring that NAVFAC can achieve its infrastructure goals without sacrificing quality or strategic value.

Federal contractors should take the following measures in accordance to NAVFAC's strategic priorities:

1. Strengthen Partnerships: Given the emphasis on collaboration and governance, contractors should actively engage with NAVFAC and other relevant stakeholders to foster effective working partnerships. This entails understanding NAVFAC's expectations and matching project objectives to their strategic priorities.

2. Improve Planning procedures: Contractors should prioritize improving their planning and scope development procedures. This could include investing in technologies or processes that improve project planning and requirements formulation from the start.

3. Reevaluate Risk Management: As NAVFAC moves toward more balanced risk allocation, contractors should reconsider their risk management practices.

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4. Focus on Affordability: Contractors should look for new ways to make their projects more affordable. This could include looking for alternative construction methods, materials, or technologies that can lower costs without sacrificing quality.

Admiral VanderLey's words were delivered at a panel discussion with over 500 military engineers and industry leaders, emphasizing the collaborative spirit that supports NAVFAC's strategic objective. As NAVFAC addresses the challenges of modern military construction, Admiral VanderLey's priorities serve as guiding principles for striking a balance between innovation, efficiency, and fiscal prudence.

FedFeather Frank says:

“This blog post is important for federal government contractors because it provides insights into NAVFAC's strategic priorities, helping contractors align their practices with the agency's objectives and expectations. Understanding these priorities enables contractors to better position themselves for successful partnerships, improved project planning, and enhanced competitiveness in bidding for NAVFAC contracts.”