{"id":5390,"date":"2022-03-22T20:59:33","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T20:59:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/03\/22\/the-plan-to-fix-troops-household-goods-moves-hits-another-roadblock\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:05:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:05:11","slug":"the-plan-to-fix-troops-household-goods-moves-hits-another-roadblock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/2022\/03\/22\/the-plan-to-fix-troops-household-goods-moves-hits-another-roadblock\/","title":{"rendered":"The plan to fix troops\u2019 household goods moves hits another roadblock"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Connected Global Solutions, an unsuccessful bidder for the $6.2 billion worldwide household goods moving contract, has filed a protest in federal court, again delaying Defense Department efforts to fix many of the long-standing problems<\/a> plaguing service members who must change stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new contract essentially outsources the management of the household goods moving process, although U.S. Transportation Command will oversee the program. The winning bidder will pull together a network of moving companies from across the industry and coordinate military moves and warehouse services, integrating functions that are currently performed by more than 900 commercial movers. The contractor will be fully responsible for these moves, bringing accountability to the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following U.S. Transportation Command\u2019s Nov. 4 decision to award the contract to HomeSafe Alliance, a joint venture of KBR Services LLC and Tier One Relocation LLC, the two unsuccessful bidders \u2014 Connected Global and American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. \u2014 filed protests with the Government Accountability Office. GAO denied both protests March 3<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connected Global then filed a protest March 14 in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the next option for unsuccessful bidders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TRANSCOM began the transition period with HomeSafe Alliance March 4. The contract includes a transition period of nine months and a three-year base period, but with option periods the value of the contract could grow to about $18 billion over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday, TRANSCOM announced it has agreed to a stay of performance, putting on hold the work on the new contract until the litigation is concluded. The delay could extend the timeline for implementation of the new program well into 2023, depending on the time the case remains before the court and whether its decision sends TRANSCOM back to the drawing board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this year\u2019s moving season<\/a>, service members will still move under the current household goods program, in which more than 900 commercial companies handle about 325,000 shipments year at a cost of about $2.2 billion. Service members often have more than one shipment with their moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of the shortage of quality movers, capacity has long been a problem in the military moving arena, with shortages of truck drivers and labor for packing, loading and unloading. Service members have had trouble getting moves scheduled and having their household goods delivered on time, and the pandemic has exacerbated the delays. Damaged and lost belongings have also been a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\t