Subject: Update on Transition to the Federal Procurement Data System--Next Generation (FPDS-NG).

OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

3000 DEFENSE PENTAGON

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301-3000

AUG 01 2005

MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTORS DEFENSE AGENCIES

DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY (POLICY AND PROCUREMENT), ASA(ALT)

DIRECTOR, ARMY CONTRACTING AGENCY

DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY (ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT), ASN(RDA)

DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE (CONTRACTING), SAF/AQC

DIRECTOR, DEFENSE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AGENCY

DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR LOGISTICS OPERATIONS (DLA)

DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

SUBJECT: Update on Transition to the Federal Procurement Data System--Next Generation (FPDS-NG)

I am taking this opportunity to provide you with an update regarding the Department of Defense's (DoD)'s transition to the Federal Procurement Data System--Next Generation (FPDS-NG). I recognize the continued hard work and dedication displayed by those many individuals who have contributed to ensuring that DoD continues to set the standard for contract action reporting.

DoD continues to work closely with the FPDS-NG system steward, the General Services Administration (GSA), identifying the key DoD requirements that need to be properly in place for a successful, seamless transition to FPDS-NG's machine-to-machine environment. GSA is diligently working on developing a program plan that will support the transition, but that plan is still in development. As such, given we have entered the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, I want to provide our field operations with the information necessary to adequately plan ahead.

In my January 24, 2005 memo, I explained that the majority of DoD contracting activities will continue to use DD Form 350s to report contract actions greater than $2,500 through FY05. All activities should continue to operate in this manner. Accordingly, you are expected to continue reporting DD Form 350 actions to the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) (formerly the Directorate for Information Operations and Reports--DIOR) pursuant to the monthly schedule set forth in my memo dated March 2, 2005. We expect a normal year-end closeout in October 2005 (for which a specific schedule will be issued later in September 2005), after which DoD's FY05 reporting data will be migrated to FPDS-NG. We continue to support pilot sites that are interfacing directly with FPDS-NG (e.g., Fort Sill, the Defense Contracting Command--Washington, and the DoD Education Activity).

Although work on the FPDS-NG transition continues, we are committed to taking a conservative approach that has minimal impact on the Depoartment's ability to report timely and accurate information as well as on the ability of the public and Congress to access that information. Therefore, we will continue to report via DD 350s into FY06, and, accordingly, basic FY06 edits are being prepared and will be published as soon as possible. Since the transition to FPDS-NG occurs during FY06, FY06 edits are to be considered guidance and specific implementation of edits in Component reporting systems is at the discretion of the Components. Please note that the Department's Standard Procurement System's (SPS)'s Procurement Desktop-Defense application will maintain currently programmed edits.

If GSA meets its current schedule, we anticipate an orderly transition of our contract writing systems to interface directly with FPDS-NG during the Q1-Q3 FY06 timeframe. DoD contract writing systems and contract action reporting offices should plan accordingly. As the SPS program is already certified and positioned to transition, we plan to transition SPS sites first during Q1-Q2 of FY06 after FY05 close-out. Other contract writing systems and manual users will follow in Q2-Q3. Please work with your DoD FPDS-NG Core Team representatives identified below as they develop the specific site transition schedules for your Component. Contracting offices using contract writing systems that do not timely complete the interface certification process with FPDS-NG will be required to use the FPDS-NG manual Web portal.

Thank you all for your continued cooperation, patience, and support. Again, my action officer for FPDS-NG is Lisa Romney, [e-mail], [phone], ext. 107. Additionally, please contact your designated DoD FPDS-NG Core Team representative identified below for specific Component information:

* Department of Army and Other Defense Agencies: Brian Davidson, [e-mail], 703-604-4572

* Department of Navy: Patricia Coffey, [e-mail], 202-685-1279

* Department of Air Force: William Bishop, [e-mail], 703-588-7045, and Kathryn Ekberg, [e-mail], 703-588-8616

* Defense Logistics Agency: Judy Lee, [e-mail], 703-767-1376

* Defense Contract Management Agency: Barbara Roberson, [e-mail], 703-428-0856

* Standard Procurement System: Joyce Allen, [e-mail], 703-460-1507

* Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization: Sharon Drago, [e-mail], 703-588-8618, and Kathryn Ekberg, [e-mail], 703-588-8616

Deidre A. Lee

Director, Defense Pocurement and Acquisition Policy