JACKSONVILLE, Ark. --
The 19th Contracting Squadron hosted a hybrid Industry Day Aug. 26, 2026, at the Jacksonville Community Center, bringing together government and industry partners to discuss the acquisition strategy for Little Rock Air Force Base’s future $600 million Multiple Award Construction Contract (MACC).
Approximately 25 participants attended in person, including representatives from the construction industry, the 19th Contracting Squadron, the 19th Civil Engineer Squadron, the Arkansas APEX Accelerator and the Small Business Administration. More than 45 additional participants joined virtually, expanding the discussion to industry representatives and government partners supporting the acquisition effort.
The event provided industry an early look at the Air Force’s planned acquisition approach while also giving the government an opportunity to hear directly from companies interested in competing for the requirement.
A major focus of the Industry Day was the Air Force’s planned use of a Highest Technically Rated Offeror (HTRO) acquisition methodology.
Representatives from the Air Mobility Command (AMC) program office (AFICC/KM-PMO), located at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, briefed participants on the HTRO process and discussed how the methodology will be applied to the upcoming MACC competition. Additionally, the AFICC/KM Contracting Office at Scott AFB participated virtually alongside the Little Rock AFB acquisition team.
The Arkansas APEX Accelerator also briefed attendees on resources available to businesses seeking to compete for government contracts, while Small Business Administration representatives participated in the event to engage directly with industry.
Their participation helped reinforce the broader partnership between government and industry and provided vendors, particularly companies with less experience working with the federal government. This also gave participants access to resources and representatives who can help them better understand the federal marketplace and position themselves to compete for future opportunities.
Members of the 19th CONS and 19th CES teams provided additional insight into Little Rock AFB’s anticipated construction requirements, acquisition strategy and mission needs.
Throughout the event, industry representatives were encouraged to ask questions, identify concerns and provide feedback on the developing strategy.
“Our goal was not simply to brief industry on what we intend to contract for,” said Maj. George Severson, 19th CONS commander. “We wanted to create a meaningful two-way conversation. Early engagement gives us an opportunity to better understand the market, identify potential barriers to competition and ultimately develop a stronger acquisition strategy for this major acquisition.”
The future MACC, with a publicly announced ceiling of $600 million, is intended to provide Little Rock AFB with a flexible vehicle for executing a broad range of commercial and institutional construction requirements across the installation.
For Little Rock AFB, those construction requirements are directly connected to readiness.
The installation supports the 19th Airlift Wing, 314th Airlift Wing, 189th Airlift Wing and 913th Airlift Group, bringing together Active Duty, Air Education and Training Command, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve missions at the Home of Herk Nation.
Those organizations rely on installation infrastructure to support C-130 operations, training, Airmen and their families.
“Whether we are improving a hangar, renovating a facility or addressing critical infrastructure, these projects ultimately enable Airmen, aircraft, training and operations,” Severson said. “Quality construction is readiness and maintaining a strong and competitive industrial base is essential to our ability to deliver that capability.”
The Industry Day reinforced the importance of communication and partnership between government and industry throughout the acquisition process. Questions and feedback received during the event will help inform the acquisition team as it continues refining its approach and progresses toward solicitation of the future MACC.
The inclusion of APEX Accelerator and SBA representatives also supported a broader objective: reducing barriers to entry and expanding awareness of federal contracting opportunities among capable businesses that may not traditionally pursue Air Force work.
For the 19th CONS team, the event represented another step toward establishing long-term construction capacity for Little Rock AFB while promoting competition, transparency and continued engagement with industry.