USTRANSCOM delays start of Global Household Goods Contract shipments

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. — The Defense Personal Property Management Office (DPMO) at U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) continues to focus on improving the relocation experience for Defense Department and Coast Guard personnel and their families through the implementation of the Global Household Goods Contract (GHC).

That goal is at the heart of why the command has decided to delay the implementation of GHC as part of a continued deliberate, conditions-based, phased transition.

In August, the command conducted testing of information technology systems for the contract and identified challenges that required attention prior to making the systems available to customers. Initial projections announced in September looked to have those challenges addressed with solutions ready at select locations by the end of 2023. Due to the complexity of system issues needing to be resolved, the command has not yet been able to test the systems again as originally planned.

USTRANSCOM is working with HomeSafe to schedule testing dates between mid-December 2023 and the end of January 2024. The outcomes of the testing will determine whether issues previously identified by the command have been adequately addressed. The testing will also identify any new deficiencies that would need to be addressed before customers use the systems and shipments can be processed.

“This next round of testing will allow us to have a better understanding of what additional work needs to be done to ensure interoperability between MilMove and HomeSafe Connect,” said Andy Dawson, director of DPMO. “Having that work identified will allow us to make more well-informed decisions on how and when we begin the deliberate phase in of shipments under GHC in 2024.”

USTRANSCOM developed a system called MilMove, which customers will use to upload permanent change of station orders, share contact information, and initiate a request for their new shipment to be scheduled. HomeSafe Alliance has developed HomeSafe Connect, which will be used by customers, the government, and industry to manage and track the shipment after it is initially sent from MilMove. These two systems must be fully compatible and integrated before USTRANSCOM will begin awarding shipments under GHC.

When local shipments under GHC begin, they will be in small numbers and at specific installations. Once the first few orders are successfully executed and the required conditions are met, more shipments will be assigned for movement under GHC, and additional areas will be added. As more IT capabilities come online and are integrated, shipments other than local moves will be ordered under the contract. In the meantime, all other personal property shipments will continue to move under the legacy household goods program. 

“Service members and their families are our number one priority as we work with the military services and the prime contractor, HomeSafe Alliance, to test and implement these new systems,” said Dawson. “Moving your household is stressful. The technology being built for GHC is designed to positively improve the relocation experience and decrease that burden and stress. That’s why we’re excited to launch these IT systems and committed to making sure they function as intended before we ask customers to use them.”

Additional information about scheduling a move and GHC

Service members, civilians and their families can find information about how to schedule their upcoming move at the Moving Your Personal Property page at Military OneSource (www.militaryonesource.mil/personalproperty). The page provides all the latest information for customers, no matter which program they’ll be moving under. There’s also a page dedicated to the Global Household Goods Contract, where readers can learn more about GHC, how it will improve the moving experience, and the transition plan (www.militaryonesource.mil/GHC). 

About USTRANSCOM

U.S. Transportation Command is a warfighting combatant command that projects and sustains military power at a time and place of the nation’s choosing. Powered by dedicated men and women, USTRANSCOM underwrites the lethality of the joint force, advances American interests around the globe, and provides our nation’s leaders with strategic flexibility to select from multiple options, while creating multiple dilemmas for our adversaries.