Throughout corporate America, geographically dispersed workers and collaborative teams that form and disband on a project-by-project basis are growing at a rate expected to exceed 30 million by 2004. With the enhancement of telecommunication technologies; companies have been able to exploit the virtual world, find innovative ways to maintain their competitive edge, recruit and retain key individuals, and enhance the quality of life by removing the requirement that tied workers to a particular office building.
The notion of virtual office was addressed in a study conducted by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, acknowledging that telecommuting will increase and remote locations may be the hallmark of the early 21st century in private industry and Government. This suggests a need for the Air Force to search for ways to allow its people (both military and civilian) to work effectively and efficiently from remote, home-station locations while involved with centralized acquisition locations.
This paper addresses the feasibility and issues associated with one of the first Air Force source selection that utilized the concept of telecommuting with multiple users at multiple remote locations. It describes the F-16 Modular Simulated Aircraft Maintenance Trainer (MSAMT) team's streamlined selection processes that exploited the newly automated capability of the Acquisition Support Division. The need for a progressive acquisition approach stemmed from significant decreases in Government funding, specifically for F-16 training systems. The networking of four (4) remote locations to a centralized acquisition facility saved TDY (travel) time and scarce funds. This advancement in telecommuting allowed participants to continue day-to-day operations at their primary duty station while continuing to integrate their assessments and periodic interaction with the selection decision process. This allowed the project manager to use the expertise of key, off-base Government personnel (users from the Air Combat Command, the Air Education and Training Command, and the Air Logistics Center).
The proven success of the F-16 MSAMT source selection process is one demonstration of Government telecommuting. With further consideration, the results of this approach could have application for future Air Force source selections as well as throughout the Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition community.