SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill., (USTCNS) --- The U.S. Transportation Command, in coordination with the U.S. Air Force and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, is forging ahead with the implementation of the Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System (DEAMS).

“We expect the software solicitation activities to begin within the next 60 days,” said Scott Olgeaty, deputy acquisition program manager for DEAMS at Wright Patterson Air Force Base

According to Olgeaty there will be a competition among General Services Administration schedule vendors with Joint Financial Management Improvement Program qualified software packages for this contract.

Initially, DEAMS will aid in performing accounting procedures for personnel at USTRANSCOM Transportation Component Commands (Air Mobility Command, Military Sealift Command and the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command), and other organizations, here at Scott AFB for Air Force general funds.

“DEAMS will replace the current accounting system, known as the General Accounting and Finance System.. GAFS is used for general funds and the transportation working capital fund. DEAMS will also replace the billing system USTRANSCOM uses, known as the Airlift Services Industrial Fund Integrated Computer System,” said Leon Hunton, the DEAMS lead for interfaces in USTRANSCOM’s, Directorate for Program Analysis and Financial management (J8).

Ultimately, “DEAMS will bring finance and accounting for the Air Force into compliance with existing financial regulatory guidance using commercial off the shelf financial software,” Hunton said.

As envisioned in the concept of operations, DEAMS will support and replace an array of existing financial processes to include the general ledger, budget distribution, fund control, budget execution, customer order and customer billing, collections, purchase request, obligation, receipt and acceptance, accounts payable, cost accounting, analysis and decision support and property.

“Of course there are differences between current interface systems and the data contained in the General Accounting and Finance System and the general ledger,” said Hunton. “From a purely accounting standpoint, the current system doesn’t meet requirements. The true financial activity that supports accounting data is not contained in the General Accounting and Finance System and can’t be accurately traced,” he added.

“Financial data is a mirror of business activities. For example, if you buy a given widget, the data should reflect how many you bought, what you paid for them, and the true costs of manufacturing, such as construction costs, warehousing and the administrative overhead costs,” Hunton explained. “DEAMS will also have a time and attendance module to allow managers to track labor costs at whatever level they desire.”

With DEAMS, USTRANSCOM, Air Force and DFAS personnel can look forward to timely, accurate, and reliable tracking of a variety of financial activities to include purchase requests and travel orders.

This improved financial visibility is important for USTRANSCOM, the Department of Defense Distribution Process Owner. The combatant command is responsible for directing and supervising strategic distribution and for synchronizing all participants in end-to-end supply, transportation and distribution.

“DEAMS will improve the commander’s ability to retrieve real-time information about financial operations and will enable them to rapidly move from the larger financial picture to smaller transactions at their desks,” said Pat Kavanaugh, a contractor with the DEAMS program. “For the field, DEAMS should limit data calls and provide information that supports better decision-making processes.”

“DEAMS will meet its goals by using Joint Financial Management Improvement Program qualified commercial off-the-shelf software and commercial business practices and procedures,” said Hunton. “COTS software is less costly to maintain in out years than government uniquely developed software.”

“We want to use software already available commercially to capitalize on proven business efficiencies,” Hunton continued.

“However, once it’s been selected, the resulting DEAMS must comply with public law specific to federal government and DOD specific rules and regulations,” he added.

The architecture will be Business Management Modernization Program approved and must meet Chief Financial Officer and Joint Financial Management Improvement Program standards and regulatory guidelines.

According to Olgeaty, the DEAMS acquisition strategy has been approved by Dr. Marvin Sambur, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. The Acquisition Program Office continues to pursue formal coordination and approval of the Acquisition Strategy Report at the Air Force and Assistant Secretary of Defense levels.

Final approval will provide the authority to begin the competitive acquisitions associated with the program, said Olgeaty.