Formation of Tribally Owned 8(a) Joint Venture Mill Creek Firelake JV
Mill Creek, the JV protégé, is a tribally owned 8(a) business specializing in design, equipment planning, procurement, warehousing, installation, testing, and activation of furniture, fixtures, equipment, and technology (FFE&T) in medical facilities. They have worked for healthcare, private, and government sector clients across the nation. Mill Creek’s recent projects have included work at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, West Point, Edwards Air Force Base and Fort Carson.
“The formation of Mill Creek Firelake JV is a significant stepping stone in our growth strategy. By combining our specialized expertise and leveraging our various designations, we can access new customers and diversify our past performance, strengthening our capabilities in government contracting,” said Mill Creek Vice President Rockell Otero.
Firelake, the JV mentor, is a Native American and woman-owned general contractor based in Lawrence, Kansas. Firelake has an extensive record of successful performance on government contracts across four primary platforms – new construction, renovation, repair work, and maintenance. They have successfully completed over 500 projects nationwide and supported more than 20 government agencies, including DoD, DOI, USDA, NASA, FAA, EPA, and GSA.
According to Firelake Vice President of Business Development, Scott Siegwald, “Early in the discussions with Mill Creek, it became apparent there was excellent synergy between our organizations due to cultural alignment under the Potawatomi Tribe and close proximity of our Kansas-based operations. We also considered our respective technical capabilities to be largely complementary. We have enjoyed the relationship with Mill Creek to date and look forward to jointly pursuing federal contract opportunities for years to come.”
Prior to forming the JV, Mill Creek and Firelake have been successful as a teaming partnership, winning three contracts with Mill Creek as a prime contractor and Firelake as a subcontractor, including:
- Square D Electrical Repairs, USDA, Manhattan, KS
- NBAF Boiler and Chiller Inspection and Testing, USDA, Manhattan, KS
- Equipment Calibration, USDA, Manhattan, KS
Through this JV, Mill Creek and Firelake will have the opportunity to leverage each other’s past performance on proposals and gain exposure to a wider customer base. Since formation in May 2024, Mill Creek Firelake JV has submitted several proposals and is currently pursuing additional work.
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