The effort began in December 2020 with six Navy Reserve supply officers from different backgrounds and qualifications who left their civilian posts to come on active-duty orders to fill Active-Duty for Operational Support (ADOS) roles. Their challenge, to resolve delinquent deliveries on more than 53,000 assets.
“There was an abundance of data we needed to prioritize,” said Cmdr. Brian Tahlier, NAVSUP WSS Acquisition Policy Special Projects officer. “At times, contract closeout and asset delivery didn’t receive the same scrutiny as the contract award which lead to incomplete follow ups causing a backlog of deliverables and tying up the money associated with these contracts.”
Each OTD team member was assigned to a specific section of the NAVSUP WSS Contracting Directorate, establishing relationships with the teams and expediting contract modifications to draw down the backlog. The OTD team briefed leadership weekly on their progress ensuring visibility throughout the command.
The OTD team tackled delinquent contracts through two phases of effort, Delinquent Contract Validation and Contract Delivery Forecasting.
“In phase one, we provide initial-level analysis of the contract looking for systems data mismatch, data discrepancies, etc., and coordinate with the directorate-level for prioritization of resources,” said Tahlier. “In phase two, the team provides clear visibility to the respective codes on upcoming delinquent contract line items in the form of 30, 60, and 90-day forecasts, with measurable performance metrics to ensure line items stay out of delinquency status.”
Since December, the OTD team has slashed delinquent assets by more than half. The initial six-member OTD team is now four, and their active-duty orders expire at the end of the fiscal year. To build on the successes of the current team, NAVSUP WSS plans to bring a new team on-board.
“The progress made by our OTD Team has just been phenomenal,” said Cmdr. Matt Duncan, NAVSUP WSS Director of Acquisition Policy. “Not only did they reduce delinquent assets by over 50 percent, but more importantly, they laid the groundwork for NAVSUP WSS to effectively manage contract deliveries moving forward.”
The OTD initiative aligns with Naval Sustainment System-Supply (NSS-Supply), which is a combination of commercial best practices, process improvements, governance and oversight to maximize effectiveness while prioritizing and balancing costs. Under NAVSUP direction, NSS-Supply will initiate a multi-year journey focusing on deepening supplier partnerships and integrating existing supply chain resources toward a common goal.
NAVSUP WSS is one of 11 commands under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter. Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/navsupwss and https://twitter.com/navsupsyscom.