Agencies join forces to expedite supplies to troops

Leaders from the U.S. Transportation Command, Defense Logistics Agency and General Services Administration established this week a formal customer support partnership to expedite supplies to troops in combat.

The agreement established an executive steering committee comprised of senior executives from each agency to oversee joint working groups, which will monitor shared performance measurements and efficiencies. The partnership is specifically aimed at improving information sharing among the agencies. It provides "an excellent opportunity to better align supply chain management and solidify interagency partnerships in support of the warfighter," said Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz, TRANSCOM commander. TRANSCOM operates its own fleet of ships and aircraft to move troops and supplies around the world.

"This arrangement demonstrates how DoD's strong partnership with GSA is ensuring taxpayer savings through best value strategies," said GSA's acquisition commissioner Jim Williams.

The partnership potentially will reduce delivery times by days or even weeks and save millions of dollars by fine-tuning inventory management. It will improve oversight "of the various supply chain segments [supplier, transporter, theatre] to better understand and resolve bottlenecks," said GSA spokeswoman Viki Reath.