Fort Buchanan strengthens small-business partnerships to support Army readiness
Ulises Marrero, Fort Buchanan acting garrison manager, participated in a roundtable at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Latin America and Caribbean District headquarters in San Juan.
The engagement brought together representatives from USACE, the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce, the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, the College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico, and members of the island's business community.
Dr. Kathrine Freeman, USACE director of the Office of Small Business Programs, hosted the discussion, which focused on the construction small-business framework, current economic challenges and the role local companies play in Puerto Rico's recovery and reconstruction.
Participants also discussed barriers businesses face when competing for federal contracts and opportunities to better connect qualified companies with federal requirements.
"It is important that we educate our local contractors on how to compete for federal opportunities," Marrero said. "Fort Buchanan can help connect them with training and resources so they are better prepared not just to bid, but to compete successfully."
For Fort Buchanan, developing relationships with the local industrial base also supports mission readiness. Local companies provide construction, maintenance and specialized services needed to sustain installation infrastructure and capabilities.
Pedro Acevedo, who leads the APEX Accelerator program for the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce, said opportunities at Fort Buchanan extend beyond major construction projects.
"Fort Buchanan is our community," Acevedo said. "When people think about doing business with the federal government, they sometimes think it is almost impossible, but the opportunities go far beyond major construction projects."
The APEX Accelerator helps Puerto Rico businesses understand government contracting requirements and compete for opportunities to provide products and services to federal agencies.
Mariano Torres Feliciano, chief of the Office of Small Business Programs for the USACE Latin America and Caribbean District, connected small-business participation directly to mission accomplishment.
"Giving Puerto Rico's small businesses greater visibility and opportunities to work with us supports the local economy while also supporting the mission of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers throughout our area of responsibility," Torres Feliciano said.
Francheska J. Rivera Luciano, president of the College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico for 2026-2027, and representatives from the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce and local businesses also provided perspectives on federal contracting and Puerto Rico's construction industry.
The roundtable strengthened communication among the installation, USACE and Puerto Rico's business community, while reinforcing the connection between military investment, local industrial capacity and military readiness.
As the Army's home in the Caribbean, Fort Buchanan provides infrastructure, logistics, training and installation support that enable military forces operating in Puerto Rico and throughout the region. Strengthening relationships with businesses capable of supporting those requirements contributes to the installation's ability to enable Army readiness and sustain the warfighter.
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