GAO rejects legal challenges to multibillion dollar military moving contract

The Defense Department’s attempt to fundamentally restructure its household goods moving system for military members overcame a major roadblock on Thursday as the Government Accountability Office denied five separate protests losing bidders had filed.

GAO ruled against each of the pending challenges to the multibillion dollar award — three by American Roll-On-Roll-Off Carrier Group (ARC) and two by Connected Global Solutions. The protest arbiter has not yet published public versions of its decisions, but found that each of the protests were “without merit,” Ralph White, GAO’s managing associate general counsel for procurement law said in a statement.

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The Great Supply Chain Disruption – 2022

Unpredictability Is The Forecast for 2022

The initial shock of the unprecedented container shipping rate hikes that sent prices skyrocketing may have waned, but continued volatility and even further price increases remain.  Domestic shipping rates for moving goods by rail and truck in the US are up about 23% over 2020.  The availability of warehousing space continues to tighten, with prices increasing over 14% in some parts of the world.

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U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Issues Rule to Reduce Reporting Burden

CMV drivers would no longer be required to annually submit traffic violation convictions to the agency

Earlier today, the U.S. FMCSA issued amended current regulations to eliminate the requirement that drivers operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce submit a list of their convictions for traffic violations to their employers annually.

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USTRANSCOM Non-Peak Season Call (3 Mar)

Please see slides and notes from the USTRANSCOM Non-Peak Season call (3 Mar). A few notable updates:

• The new rate season TDL will be released 14 March. TSPs should be able to view their position in the TDL a few days before that.
• Transit Time updates are still going through senior leader coordination. Once complete, they will be released. TRANSCOM wants to get the transit times updated prior to the TDL being released; this is causing the delay to the TDL release.
• DoD made an update to mask policy on 1 March; therefore TRANSCOM is incorporating this update prior to issuing the updated advisory on health protection protocols.
• IAM was made aware of a customs issue at the Port of Baltimore; the CBP Director there was holding shipments, and requiring a power of attorney for all HHG shipments…even normal Code 4.  This has since been resolved. The hold on those shipments has been released.

Coming Up at IAM Learning

A number of sessions are currently scheduled and more are being planned to help IAM members learn what they need and to make connections to help them do business better. Currently in the lineup and ready for your registration:

• IAM CEO Forum - Planning Session - March 15
• US Government & Military Affairs Update - March 16
• Electronic Inventories: Drivers Weigh In On Upcoming Requirement - March 23
• US Government & Military Affairs Update - April 13

Here are some recent popular sessions you may have missed:

• What it's Like to Work for a Family-Owned Business
• You Provided a Service - Now Make Sure You Get Paid
• Diversifications - Professional Office Moving
• IAM CEO Forum

Portal Magazine

In every issue of the Portal, we invite our authors to share their experiences, success stories, learning experiences, and vision with others in the moving and forwarding industry. In addition to our regular columns, feature articles for each issue are united by a central theme. 

Industry Training Program Award Taking Applications

The Alan F  Wohlstetter Scholarship Fund will be awarding up to $500 per person annually to offset professional development costs when taking courses at one of our many great industry training programs. Pre-approved training programs include but are not limited to IAM Learning, FIDI, LACMA, and EuRA. There are NO LIMITS to applicants per company. Apply now; applications are quick and easy. Applicants must be employed by an IAM Member, a dependent of an employee of an IAM Member, or be a Student Member.

IAM Country Guides

IAM’s Country Guides provide customs information for more than 170 countries and territories around the world.

USTRANSCOM Conditions Based Movement Call (1 Mar)

Please see attached slides and notes from the 1 Mar USTC/Service/JPPSO/Industry call.  A few items of note:

• TRANSCOM anticipates GAO should release their findings on the protest of the GHC by 3 March.
• TRANSCOM is transitioning the CSS process to their CSS contractor, and will take it out of DPS and the phone process; they believe it will increase the response rate from 16% to over 40%. Advisories with details to follow. No change to the questions being asked on the CSS, just the timing of when they are asked.
• Aged invoices over three days shot up since last week to over $9.6M due to DPS latency issues on the government side in the invoice module. The issue took 5 days to correct; but is back to normal and Services are working to catch up.

USTRANSCOM Conditions Based Movement Call (23 Feb)

 lease see attached slides and notes from the 23 Feb USTC/Service/JPPSO/Industry call.  It was a relatively quick and quiet meeting.  None of the Service reps had any updates, questions or concerns raised. Of some note:

• Code T & J shipments will transition from McGuire AFB to Dover AFB starting around 1 May.
• The DPS “Modernized Claims Module” is still creating problems for industry and the Services. DPS Division will send out an updated email message soon to service members who mistakenly received emails telling them incorrectly that they had outstanding claims that needed to be resolved.
• DoD is holding a lithium battery policy call 24 Feb with some industry representatives to discuss potential courses of action.