[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49338-49339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24728]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Proposed Implementation of the Defense Table of Official
Distances (DTOD) for the DoD Freight Movements Program
AGENCY: Military Traffic Management Command, DoD.
ACTION: Notice (request for comments).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC), as the
Department of Defense (DoD) Traffic Manager for surface and surface
intermodal traffic management services (DTR Vol 1, Pg 101-113), intends
to utilize a new automated distance calculation product known as the
Defense Table of Official Distances (DTOD) in the DoD freight program.
The DTOD will replace existing distance calculation products used
within the DoD, such as the Rand McNally TDM Milemaker System, and the
Household Goods Carriers' Mileage Guide. The DTOD will become the DoD
standard source for distance information worldwide. Commercially, DTOD
is known as PC*MILER by ALK Associates, Inc. The DTOD/PC*MILER will be
used by the DoD for all distance calculations, analysis, and for
transportation payment/audits. Carriers and third party providers may
continue to use other mileage sources for their own business purposes.
However, carriers and third party providers participating in the DoD
freight program must agree to be bound by the DTOD/PC*MILER distance
calculations for payment and audit purposes.
DATES: Comments must be submitted by November 16, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Headquarters, Military Traffic
Management Command, ATTN: MTTM-O, Room 108, 5611 Columbia Pike, Falls
Church, VA 22041-5050.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning use
of the DTOD in the MTMC Freight Movement Program can be obtained by
contacting Mr. Ed Dickerson (703) 681-6870 or Ms. Patty Maloney (703)
681-6586. Information regarding DTOD complaint commercial software and
other technical information can be provided by contacting ALK
Associates, Inc. at 1-800-377-MILE, or on the Intenet at
www.pcmiler.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. The proposed effective date for the use of the DTOD in the DoD
freight movement program will be 1 March 1999 and will effect all MTMC
sponsored freight traffic programs where mileage is used for
negotiation, analysis and/or payment purposes. All shipments picked up
on or after the effective date will be governed by the DTOD.
2. In accordance with the implementation process the following MTMC
rules publications will be amended to remove any reference to existing
mileage guides or tables and replace them with DTOD with an effective
date of 1 March 1999:
(a) Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC) Freight Tariff
Rules Publication No. 1A, Page 9, Item 5, Paragraph 2b.
(b) MTMC Freight Tariff Rules Publication No. 10, Page 12, Item
20 Paragraph 1b, 1f, and 1g.
(c) MTMC Guaranteed Traffic Rules Publication No. 50, Page 1-3,
Item 15, Paragraph 1c.
(d) MTMC Freight Rules Publication No. 4A, Page 1-7, Item 50,
Paragraph 1b.
(e) MTMC Standard Tender Instructions Publications 364A, Page
12, Item 200.
3. Where rates or other services are based on mileage, the distance
or mileage computations shall be those provided in the Defense Table of
Official Distances (DTOD). Mileage for freight shipments, except
certain hazardous materials (HAZMAT), will be based on DTOD shortest
distance. Mileage for munition shipments will be based on the DTOD
HAZMAT Module and the mileage for overdimensional/overweight shipments
will be based on DTOD practical mileage calculation. DTOD and PC*MILER
will produce identical distance calculations. Carriers and other
parties who seek more information about PC*MILER may contact ALK
Associates, Inc. at telephone 1-800-377-MILE, or via internet at
www.pcmiler.com.
4. Proposed Implementation Dates: The schedule for use of the DTOD/
PC*MILER in distance calculation, payment, pre- and post-payment audits
for shipments under the DoD freight movement program will be 1 March
1999.
5. Background. Currently, several sources for highway distance
information are being used to support various DoD transportation
programs, such as travel, travel entitlement reimbursement, freight and
personal property movements. Moreover, separate products are used to
calculate overseas distances. The result is a variance in distance
computation produced by different products and a high cost to DoD of
licensing and maintaining multiple mileage sources.
a. Until 1996, DoD was required by law to maintain an official
mileage table for payment of travel and transportation allowances,
known as the Official Table
[[Page 49339]]
of Distances. The FY96 Defense Authorization Act deleted this
requirement, thus providing the opportunity to use a commercial mileage
product. MTMC announced a plan to convert to a new automated mileage
standard calculation product in a previous Federal Register notice (Vol
62, No 218, Page 60692) Wednesday, 12 November 1997. In seeking a
single integrated source of automation highway distance calculations,
the MTMC contracted with Science Applications International Corporation
(SAIC) to perform a market survey of available products (Phase I) and
to provide a product that would support DoD transportation programs
(Phase II). SAIC, in turn, conducted a commercial competition to
identify and acquire commercial-off-the-shelf, point to point distance
calculation source that would meet all the DoD requirements. PC*MILER
was chosen by SAIC to be that source. PC*MILER, developed specifically
to serve the trucking industry, will contain Standard Point Location
Codes, military locations and other worldwide locations required by
DoD. Updates and version control of DTOD and PC*MILER will be
consistent with industry practices.
b. In surveying and evaluating vendors and products, SAIC's
criteria considered compatibility with existing and planned automated
systems, consistency in calculation, and adaptability to various DoD
network applications and transportation programs used. SAIC also
compared commercially available distance calculation products to
identify viable candidates for the competitive selection process.
Following vendor selection, a comparison of the 100 highest volume
shipping routes resulted in finding an average variance of 2.0% (+/-)
amongst the vendors of evaluated products. Upon written request a copy
of this comparison will be provided.
c. The DTOD/PC*MILER product will calculate both ``shortest'' and
``practical'' mileage. Currently, the DoD and the general freight
carrier industry use ``shortest'' mileage to calculate the distance
used for payment purpose. ``Shortest'' routes represent distances and
routes that a driver would take to minimize total distance traveled
while still following a truck-navigable route. DoD will continue to use
the ``shortest'' routes for freight shipments, the HAZMAT module for
munitions and radioactive yellow II/III shipments, and practical
mileage for overdimensional/overweight shipments.
d. Carriers and/or other parties who choose to use PC*MILER will
have opportunities to provide feedback to ALK Associates, Inc., the
provider of DTOD software, regarding routings, database suggestions
such as distance differences, road preference suggestions, road
reclassification, new locations, etc. ALK Associates, Inc., will
provide all interested parties the capability to license PC*MILER, to
ensure the ability to consistently determine the exact mileage that the
DoD uses for payment and auditing.
e. Interested parties are invited to provide comments concerning
the use of the DTOD in the DoD Freight Movement Program and the
proposed implementation dates to the address above. Comments will be
accepted for a period of 60 days from the publication date of this
notice.
6. Regulatory Flexibility Act. This change in acquisition policy is
related to public contracts and is designed to standardize distance
calculations for line-haul transportation. This change is not
considered rule making within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility
Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612.
7. Paperwork Reduction Act. The Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C.
3051 et seq., does not apply because no information collection
requirement or recordkeeping responsibilities are imposed on offerors,
contractors, or members of the public.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-24728 Filed 9-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M