COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 7) — The Department of Defense has scheduled a "Tire Privatization Industry Day" at its Defense Supply Center Columbus for March 9.
The aim of the event is to gain input from tire industry professionals and others about tire supply, storage and distribution logistics in the wake of the Base Realignment and Closure bill passed by Congress last year, according to DSCC Contracts Specialist Mark Stanley.
Under the new statute, Stanley explained, the current DOD tire supply, storage and distribution functions will be parceled out to the private sector, with the agency retaining only its supply procurement function based at DSCC. Organizations such as Team Tire with the U.S. Tank Automotive Command will be dismantled within a year or two, he said.
The Tire Industry Association has been helping to publicize the event, largely because it means a big opportunity for at least some TIA members, said Paul Fiore, TIA director of government and business relations.
"Wholesale distributors, retreaders and even some retailers will be able to take advantage of this," Fiore said.
For more information on Tire Privatization Industry Day or the privatization effort, contact http://www.dscc.dla.mil/programs/tiremgmt/.