[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33683-33684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14154]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Proposed Mandatory Use of USBank's PowerTrack System by 
Department of Defense Personal Property Transportation Service 
Providers

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC), as the 
Department of Defense (DOD) Traffic Manager for the Household Goods and 
Personal Property Program, proposes the mandatory use of USBank's 
PowerTrack System as the transaction and payment system for all DOD 
Transportation Service Providers (TSP), beginning with the 
implementation of Phase I of the Defense Future Personal Property 
Program, (Families First). Furthermore, the use of MTMC's Centralized 
Web Application (CWA) will also be mandatory. Implementation of 
PowerTrack at all Military Services and Coast Guard installations is 
the goal of Families First, which is the first stop in moving toward 
the reengineered Personal Property Program of the future.
    This announcement is being made to afford TSPs ample time to 
comment and plan for potential future data feeds to PowerTrack. The 
Electronic Billing and Payment portion of the Families First Web site 
is located at http://www.mtmc.army.mil, under the Personal Property 
Program. The site offers industry access to updates on the Business 
Rules, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and System Interface 
Specifications.

DATES: The initial rollout of PowerTrack and CWA is proposed to begin 
October 1, 2003. Comments must be submitted on or before 30 days from 
publication.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]; or 
by courier to: Headquarters, Military Traffic Management Command, ATTN: 
MTPP-PD, Room 10N35-58 (George Thomas), Hoffman Building II, 200 
Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332-5000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Thomas at (703) 428-2237.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The initial rollout (see DATES) is proposed 
to serve as the Evaluation Period for the Phase I process, and involve 
a limited number of Personal Property Shipping Office's (PPSO) and 
TSP's. Expansion to the remaining PPSO's and TSP's is proposed to 
commerce on or about April 2004. It is important to note that not all 
PPSO's will be impacted during the Evaluation Period. For this reason, 
TSPs should file their rates for the Winter Cycle assuming that 
PowerTrack and CWA will not be used.
    Transportation Providers wishing to transport personal property 
shipments for the DOD must have an agreement with USBank and be 
PowerTrack certified for the electronic payment of commercial 
transportation services. It is important that TPs begin the PowerTrack 
signup process by calling USBank at 1-800-417-1844. Additional 
information on PowerTrack is available at http://www.usbank.com/powertrack. Only those TPs that are PowerTrack certified will be 
eligible to receive personal property shipments.

I. Background

    On 7 July 1997, the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) issued 
a memorandum, which required the reengineering of defense 
transportation documentation and financial processes as part of an 
effort to revolutionize DOD business practices across all Military 
Services and Agencies. A major component of the reengineering effort is 
the implementation of USBank's PowerTrack System. Powertrack has been 
implemented for DOD freight shipments for all modes of transportation 
and now is under consideration for DOD personal property shipments. In 
June 2002, the USTRANSCOM Personal Property report was released, and 
USTRANSCOM directed that work begin on the future Personal Property 
program. USTRANSCOM tasked MTMC, in conjunction with the Military 
Services and Industry, to map our

[[Page 33684]]

Families First by August 31, 2002. As a part of the Families First 
effort, DOD declared that PowerTrack would be utilized as the 
commercial business-to-business payment system.
    To begin moving forward with Families First, MTMC developed a 
CONOPS outlining the implementation of Phase I. Key elements of Phase I 
CONOPS are electronic bill payment and the CWA. The CWA will be used 
for approval authorization and for costing shipments, based on the 
current Military Rate Tender.

II. Objective

    The objective of Phase I is to implement the new electronic bill 
payment portion of Families First. The electronic bill payment 
processes for Phase I will:
    [sbull] Use USBank's PowerTrack system to pay Transportation 
Service Providers;
    [sbull] Use CWA as a tool to track and approve services performed 
by Transportation Service Providers; and,
    [sbull] Provide information visibility for Stakeholders (Personal 
Property Shipping Offices, Military Services, General Service 
Administration, Transportation Service Providers, etc.).

Regulation Flexibility Act

    This action is not considered rule making within the meaning of 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3051 et seq., does not apply 
because no information collection or record keeping requirements are 
imposed on contractors, offerors or members of the public.

Thomas Hicks,
Chief, Personal Property Division.
[FR Doc. 03-14154 Filed 6-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M