MTMC CHANGES DOMESTIC FREIGHT, FUELS ACQUISITION PROCESS

MTMC CHANGES DOMESTIC FREIGHT, FUELS ACQUISITION PROCESS    The U.S. Military Traffic Management Command has started on an aggressive plan to change the way it buys domestic freight and fuel transport services.
   The military’s surface transportation logistics unit will comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation. MTMC Commander Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Privratsky ordered full implementation of the regulation in March. The transition is expected to be completed by Sept. 30.
   To help with the transition, a MTMC Integrated Process Team was organized. The team has met with freight transportation providers at meetings in Houston and Atlanta. Proposal conferences for fuel transport providers were held in Washington, St. Louis and Los Angeles.
   “This is our first step in compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation,” said Col. Jan Frye, MTMC’s principal assistant responsible for contracting. “In the past, we have complied with the legal definition but not the standard.”
   MTMC used to contract for domestic freight transport via the Guaranteed Traffic Program. This program generally solicited transport providers through annual rate tenders in heavy freight traffic lanes. Transport providers could abandon the contracts without penalty.
   MTMC will continue to use some voluntary tender procedures for shipments not covered under long-term contract. The agency said government bills of lading-based moves also continue to be recognized as exceptions under the Federal Acquisition Regulation.