Navy Exchange Service Command providing food service

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, Nov-Dec, 2002

"Man does not live by bread alone" is a sentiment that the Navy Exchange Service Command took to heart. Thanks to the hard work of NEXCOM's food service team, the military and civilian personnel working in the Washington, D.C., area have a lot more than bread to choose from when making food purchases at work.

The food service developments at the Pentagon and the expanded retail and food services now offered at the Washington Navy Yard TownCenter are two more examples of the success of NEXCOM's Public Private Venture (PPV) program. "I believe these projects demonstrate the value the PPV concept provides the government," said Ron Carlson, manager of NEXCOM's food services branch. "By forming partnerships with the commercial sector and enlisting the collective support of the government commands and organizations we have delivered significant improvements to the quality of life for both the military members and the civilian work forces at each location."

Since the mid-1980s, NEXCOM has worked to establish partnerships with the leading firms in the food service industry. "I believe the future for PPVs in our organization is bright and feel we can continue to improve the quality of life for our customers using this development methodology," said Carlson.

Over the past several years, NEXCOM has leveraged its various business partnerships to develop two new and innovative food service programs for the Pentagon and Washington Navy Yard. What is different about these two projects is that NEXCOM partnered with civilian organizations within the military structure to develop these services.

Discussions began in 1996 with NEXCOM, Washington Navy Yard, and the civilian Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) organization of the Naval Support Activity to provide food and retail service at the Washington Navy Yard. It was determined that the population of the base would double in size by 2000 and there were not enough food operations to handle the influx of workers. NEXCOM was identified as the most appropriate organization to provide the food and retail services at the Navy Yard since NEXCOM was already providing the service as part of its mission. Working in tandem with the Washington Navy Yard, NEXCOM's team spent a great deal of time envisioning what the project would look like and how it would work.

An agreement was developed under a NEXCOM contract for a single contractor to provide all services. Eurest Support Services, a division of Compass Group, Inc., was awarded the competitively solicited contract to put food and retail services in building 22, known as TownCenter, and food service in the Naval Sea System Command's new headquarters in building 197.

"The creation of TownCenter has been a unique experience," said Mark Fitzurka, director of civilian MWR at Washington Navy Yard. "From the start NEXCOM was very skilled going through the public/ private venture process. They did a great job walking me through the entire process."

TownCenter is located in a former gun factory that was built in 1858 at the Navy Yard. It is one of the oldest remaining buildings on the Navy Yard. Working with the Washington Navy Yard Public Works Center, Progressive Contracting, and GTM Architects, NEXCOM worked to keep the history and architecture of the original building intact. Customers at TownCenter can still see the crane tracks that were used to move the gun and gun barrels along the ceiling as well as original brick work on the exterior of the building. The black and white pictures that adorn the walls depict the building and its workers throughout the years.

NEXCOM and Eurest Support Services created an innovative plan to provide customers a wide variety of food and retail services. TownCenter offers eateries such as Au Bon Pain, Seattle's Best Coffee, Sbarro and Coyote Jack's Grill. The retail portion features OutTakes, which offers a variety of products including grab-and-go sandwiches, health and beauty aids, and refrigerated and frozen products. Compassmart features apparel, themed gifts, flowers, newspapers, magazines, and prepaid phone cards. There's also a Bank of America, GNC (General Nutrition Center), and Starcuts hair care service.

Customer reaction to TownCenter has been very positive. Its first day's sales were more than $7,000 with more than 1,400 customer transactions.

"This is a fantastic facility," said Fitzurka. "In addition to the great services, we also receive a commission on the sales. This has allowed me to fund additional events for civilians who work on the base, such as incurring the costs at the MWR gym so civilians can work out for free. The money from this project comes back to us in so many ways."

While working on the TownCenter project, NEXCOM received a request from the Department of Defense Concessions Committee (DoDCC) to see what food service brands and concepts it could provide to the personnel working at the Pentagon and Federal Building #2 (Navy Annex).

"At that time, the Pentagon's current food service contract was ready to expire," said Carlson. "They decided it was the right time to research new avenues for food. Workers at the Pentagon had been telling them they wanted name brand food service. Through the memorandum of agreement (MOA) we signed with the DoDCC and an armada of contractors, we are able to provide a variety of very strong name brand food services in those locations."