A 13News Now investigation found the U.S. Navy is weeks away from awarding a new contract that will disrupt how it has long supplied the stores on its ships.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The process by which the U.S. Navy supplies the stores on its ships could soon change.
Right now, dozens of businesses work to supply more than 6,000 items to the Navy’s Ships Stores Program.
But a 13News Now investigation confirms the Navy is now looking to dismantle the current system, and it has some small business owners crying foul.
The Small Business Model
For decades, a big chunk of Cynthia Chillous’ business has been with the U.S. Navy.
Her business, Destinee Distributors in Newport News, supplies everything from potato chips and coffee mugs to beef jerky and belt buckles to sailors serving overseas.
Chillous said she operates on a contract that she first inked 25 years ago with Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP). But now, …