Tinkerer thinker saves taxpayers money, puts repurposed resources to good use

Photo By No Data | These Hesco barriers are an example of the types of material that Tracey Shaw, a contracting officer with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Afghanistan District, was able to repurpose thus saving the government money on a critical infrastructure project in Helmand province. (Photo courtesy of Tracey Shaw)  

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

08.30.2013

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Transatlantic Afghanistan District

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Perhaps it’s because he is a tinkerer who finds utility in even the most mundane materials. Or perhaps because he is a public servant committed to good stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Regardless of the reason, Tracey Shaw got to thinking about how he could make use of excess materials in order to put them to good use for the benefit of Afghans while saving U.S. taxpayer dollars.

Ultimately, this thinking tinkerer found a way to make use of excess building materials to save $1 million.

“Logistics in land-locked Afghanistan is no easy task,” explained Tracey Shaw, a contracting officer based in Kandahar with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Afghanistan District.

Shaw has served as a contracting officer in Iraq, too. Everything from tough terrain, to potentially-heavy tariffs, to unpredictable events make moving materials across multiple borders an industry requiring courage and skill, he said.

So when Shaw got word last month the prime contractor on a USACE critical infrastructure project was having a tough time getting specific construction materials delivered to the project site in Helmand province, Shaw got to thinking about all the possible solutions.

Shaw recalled a possible source for materials.

Sometimes due to delivery delays, construction materials will arrive at forward operating bases too late to be used for their original purpose, said Shaw.

The government has already purchased these late-arriving goods and in some circumstances these materials could just get donated to the local population, he explained.

He decided to go to Camp Leatherneck, the FOB nearest the project, in search of unused materials that would be suitable for the project.

According to his conversations with the contractor, Hesco barriers (collapsible wire-mesh and canvas containers filled with dirt that can absorb blasts), lumber and metal were needed. Within hours of perusing material yards on Camp Leatherneck, Shaw found what was needed.

He coordinated with a U.S. Marines supply support activity and Transatlantic Afghanistan District logistics and followed proper property transfer processes to transfer the materials to the contractor.

The government-furnished materials are valued at about $1 million and will be deducted from the project contract amount. Essentially the contractor will give the government a credit, since the materials were provided by the U.S. government and not the contractor.

Shaw has worked in the contracting career field for 12 years. He holds a Level III Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Certification, a Bachelor’s of Science in business operations, and has completed numerous construction and program management courses.

“I am committed to doing everything within my scope, legally and ethically, to support completion of critical infrastructure projects,” said Shaw.

Shaw normally works in Huntsville, Ala., at the Space and Missile Defense Command.

Away from his job he enjoys wood working, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, and spending time with his wife and son. Shaw also knows how to stretch a dollar if his work here is any indication.

• Date Taken: 08.30.2013
• Date Posted: 08.30.2013 17:05
• Story ID: 112932
• Location: KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AF
• Hometown: HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, US