Fort Buchanan strengthens ties with Puerto Rico businesses during APEX Day 2026
HATO REY, Puerto Rico — U.S. Army Garrison Fort Buchanan strengthened its connection with Puerto Rico’s business community and expanded awareness of federal contracting opportunities during APEX Day 2026: Strategic Connections with Federal Buyers event, held Oct. 23 at the Center for Entrepreneurship in Hato Rey.
The Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce and its Federal Contracting Center hosted the event, which brought federal agencies and local businesses together to promote collaboration and clarify federal procurement requirements. The engagement aimed to help Puerto Rican companies compete more effectively for government contracts.
Carlos J. Ríos Pierluisi, secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce, welcomed everyone.
“Puerto Rico has the talent to compete for the same federal contracts as businesses in any state,” said Ríos Pierluisi “The key is understanding requirements, aligning capabilities and building partnerships that create opportunities for growth.”
APEX Day gave Fort Buchanan’s contracting team a chance to connect with businesses able to support installation needs and expand the pool of qualified federal contractors.
Fort Buchanan’s acting garrison manager, Ulises Marrero, joined contracting officer Félix Marrero and contract specialist José M. López from the Mission and Installation Contracting Command. Their participation underscored the installation’s dual role as a military readiness platform and a driver of local economic activity through federal investment, employment and contracting.
“The event provided an excellent opportunity to connect with and educate contractors who offer services we rely on to keep Fort Buchanan operational,” López said.
He noted that the event produced immediate results by introducing firms that had not previously worked with Fort Buchanan or the federal government.
“We engaged contractors new to the installation and companies entering the federal marketplace for the first time. We even connected with a contractor offering a service that previously had only one provider,” López said.
López emphasized the human impact behind every small business seeking federal work.
“Behind every talented small business owner is a Puerto Rican family whose livelihood depends on that business’s success,” he said.
Pedro Acevedo, who leads Puerto Rico’s APEX Accelerator program, highlighted the broader value of these interactions.
“This is an excellent opportunity for us to learn about your businesses and for you to connect with one another. Many companies operate in the same industry without knowing each other, and these engagements can open the door to partnerships,” he said.
Fort Buchanan’s involvement in APEX Day 2026 reinforces the link between military readiness and local economic development, strengthening the installation’s supplier base while supporting business growth across Puerto Rico. With an annual budget exceeding $500 million, Fort Buchanan supports about 15,000 active-duty personnel, Army Reserve Soldiers, Puerto Rico National Guard members, Marine Corps Reserve members and Navy Reserve personnel. As the Army’s home in the Caribbean, the installation provides infrastructure and services that enable military forces to train, mobilize and deploy worldwide.
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