WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Preparations at McConnell Air Force Base for the arrival of the new KC-46A air refueling tankers are expected to boost contracting opportunities for businesses.
A recent groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of the first $197 million in new construction projects. Congress has allotted a total of $219 million for the tanker work at the Wichita base.
The Wichita Eagle reports that while most of those new contracted opportunities are construction related, officials say there are other contracting possibilities at the base.
The Small Business Administration says federal contract opportunities in Kansas average between $1.5 billion and $2 billion annually. About 23 percent are open to bid by small businesses.
SBA usually refers businesses starting out in contracting to the Kansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center at Wichita State University.