[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]


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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).

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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