DLA extends deadline for modernization proposals

Officials from the Defense Logistics Agency have extended the deadline for contractors to submit proposals on how to modernize the Defense Department’s distribution system. The new deadline is Jan. 15, and previously it was Dec. 15. 

DOD officials want to modernize those tools and improve the distribution program, according to a recent announcement from the DLA’s Defense Distribution Center.

The distribution center wants to evaluate new products or services, or improvements to existing products or services, officials said Dec. 8.

Improving DOD’s distribution program is important as budgets get tighter, said Robert Luby, vice president of supply chain management public sector leader for IBM. Shifting service members out of Iraq and increasing forces in Afghanistan will also increase the need for a more efficient system.

“I think the days of several hundred billion dollar budget supplementals are over, and that will drive the DOD to modernize the technology, to modernize the technical infrastructure and to get more leverage out of their supply chain,” Luby said.

With today’s system, sometimes several of the same items are shipped, just to make sure one gets to the destination on time, he said.

Any new tools or system must encompass all classes of supplies, according to DLA. The tools should also eliminate duplicative efforts across the supply chain.

The distribution center also wants the new tools use commercial best practices of tiered distribution and synchronized and scheduled delivery.

DOD should be able to reach its supply chain goals without scrapping all its existing systems, he said.

“The technology is there,” Luby said. “There is very powerful middleware that exists now that lets you leverage legacy systems so you don’t necessarily have to throw everything away.”